If you shop at Wal-Mart... - Page 3

[Sativarain1]

$65 is kind of a lot imo for those three items you purchased. or maybe I'm just super frugal. I buy my kids shoes at Target or Payless for $10-12 each. And jackets at yard sales or resale shops. Most of the clothing is next to new and inexpensive. I personally do not like Walmart's clothing too cheap looking and not well made. I don't really shop at Walmart except that I've been buying their kitten Max food because it's comparable to Nutro Natural Choice, which is a lot cheaper and my kitty likes it much better. nobody should make someone else feel bad about where they purchase their items tho, I see a lot of downtalking towards others and it's just not right.

Valerie

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by Heavenly

I'm glad you are all so well-off that you can avoid Wal-mart but as someone who's family makes $28000 a year I am very thankful for Wal-mart as it is the only place I can afford to buy my children new clothes. Or are "poor" people like me just supposed to dress our kids in your cast-offs at the thrift store? I was just at Wal-mart today and managed to buy my kids each a new pair of shoes, really nice spring jackets and sunglasses for $65 dollars. Yep I'm lovin' Wal-mart. If I went to a local store I would walk out with maybe one pair of shoes or one jacket for that price. Glad you're not that "desperate" but I am.

I make less than half of that a year.

I would rather buy my children quality clothes at thrift stores than poorly made clothing "brand new." I gladly accept hand-me-downs from friends and relatives. My children may not get "new" clothes for Passover this year but they WILL have plenty of clothes that fit!!

[Belleweather]

Originally Posted by girlndocs

One other thing: It's true that the general run of big-box businesses (Target, Fred Meyer, etc) is not exactly saintly. The point here is that WalMart is *far beyond* the general run. To say, "Well, none of them are perfect, so it doesn't make a difference" is like saying "Well, it's hot outside today, so I might as well switch my oven on to Broil and climb in."

Amen, GirlinDocs! I grew up in Minneapolis, which is the home of Dayton-Hudson Corporation, the owners of Target, Mervyns and whatever they're calling the store that used to be Dayton's these days. I've worked for them as a teenager working customer service at Target, and made $2.50/hr over the minimum wage to start with health benefits after 60 days. They treat employees fairly, have good labour practices, promote women, offer maternity leave, and don't lock their maintenence people in overnight. I cannot find any evidence of anything even close to resembling the HUGE class action suits that have been filed against wal-mart (and, mind you, which wal-mart has consistently settled or lost) about Sexual Harassment, Gender Discrimination, Employee Maltreatment, or exploiting undocumented aliens. I'm less than happy about Dayton-Hudson's use of sweat shop labor, but all in all, I sleep better giving them my money than I do giving it to Sam Walton!

(That said, why in the world is it that the good sugar-free candies that calm my morning sickness are made only by Wal-Mart? It's like torture, I swear!)

[cloudswinger]

I found this article interesting ... http://www.fool.com/News/mft/2005/mft05031101.htm

but the interesting part was that "For a two-hundred-employee Wal-Mart store, the government is spending $108,000 a year for children's health care; $125,000 a year in tax credits and deductions for low-income families; and $42,000 a year in housing assistance. The report estimates that a two-hundred-employee Wal-Mart store costs federal taxpayers $420,000 a year, or about $2,103 per Wal-Mart employee. That translates into a total annual welfare bill of $2.5 billion for Wal-Mart's 1.2 million U.S. employees."

How much do I really save at walmart?

[mnnice]

[QUOTE=yoopervegan}

Even if I wanted to break down and go there, I cannot. I have a very recognizable car, this is a small town, and I have written too many letters to the editor.......[/QUOTE]

Just drive to Appleton, WI like all the other people in the UP. (Just kidding). I avoid Wal-Mart for many reasons, but have never out and out boycotted it. I bet I spent less than $100 in there in the last 12 months and darkened the door just 3-4 times. I bought DVD's at xmas time for my neice and nephew there only because if they already had the same DVD the could be returned easily.

I also live where the grocery business is very competative and Wal-Mart is definitely not the cheapest, doesn't have the best selection, or the best shopping experience. For this I will be eternally greatful.

I also love the thrill of the hunt with thrift shopping. I want to go were Dready Mama goes to find the Hanna stuff though. I think I find way better stuff for less $ that way. And if something gets wrecked I usually only out a dollar or two.

[jannan]

if you want to shop at walmart more power to you, i just choose not to and i can..........there is everything i need here close by

[alliegad]

Just a little support for the OP---
I am so not ashamed in the least that I shop at wal mart for many household items because it IS the cheapest, and that is where our family is at right now-- buying what we need for the obviously cheapest prices.
I will be entering that contest that you posted about, and I thank you for informing me about it. I am there at least a few times per month, and every $25 would help!
Thanks for sharing.

[DebraBaker]

Allie,

I can understand your perspective but Walmart sells junk and they format their stores in a manner that many (dare I say the vast majority) of shoppers buy things that they didn't go into the store to buy.

Along with finding the best prices for goods it is also important not to buy things you don't need!!! So perhaps walmart is good on the one hand but it is horrid on the other.

db

[root*children]

Originally Posted by DebraBaker

Allie,

I can understand your perspective but Walmart sells junk and they format their stores in a manner that many (dare I say the vast majority) of shoppers buy things that they didn't go into the store to buy.

Along with finding the best prices for goods it is also important not to buy things you don't need!!! So perhaps walmart is good on the one hand but it is horrid on the other.

db

I've never met a store that DIDN't do that!! Every grocery store in Amerika has candy in their checkouts, and items nicely displayed so you'll buy more. that is the reason ANY store has a sale. Is to make you come in there when you normally wouldn't - with the added hope of you buying things there you didn't intend to buy. Our natural foods coop has nice magazines and candies in the checkout, as well as samples set throughout the store trying to make you buy things you didn't come there to buy. Even the thrift shop sells gum trying to make even that extra quarter.

BACK to the topic!! I still keep forgetting to ask Walmart about that contest! I go there very infrequently, so I need to hurry up and remember! Does anyone know when it ends?