Save Money or Waste Money?

[nageov3t]

going to my walmart is a demoralizing experience that involves spending an hour trying to get a parking space, fighting my way through crowds of people and shittily laid out aisles, and then waiting in line for an hour.

I don't mind "wasting" money to get higher quality meat/produce and a significantly better shopping experience.

 

[Aikouka]

going to my walmart is a demoralizing experience that involves spending an hour trying to get a parking space...

That's why I always park near the back in Wal-Mart.

Although, when I do that, I always see all the shopping carts (buggies, trollies... whatever you weirdos call them) littering the parking lot, which makes me start muttering about lazy people. I usually take any carts that are close to my path to the store and put them in the cart return. One time, I saw a lady that was parked next to a cart return actually place her cart on the opposite side of the car (that the return was on). I couldn't believe it.

 

[nageov3t]

That's why I always park near the back in Wal-Mart.

Although, when I do that, I always see all the shopping carts (buggies, trollies... whatever you weirdos call them) littering the parking lot, which makes me start muttering about lazy people. I usually take any carts that are close to my path to the store and put them in the cart return. One time, I saw a lady that was parked next to a cart return actually place her cart on the opposite side of the car (that the return was on). I couldn't believe it.

I'm pretty sure the back of my Walmart is an extension of Detroit... I don't think I could walk 10' from my car without getting raped, mugged, and sold into slavery.

 

[Aikouka]

I'm pretty sure the back of my Walmart is an extension of Detroit... I don't think I could walk 10' from my car without getting raped, mugged, and sold into slavery.

Wow... all I get is beggars asking me for money 😛.

 

[CPA]

Mmm I still don't agree with the "cheaper than Wal-Mart" part, but that may also be partly due to what we buy. I tend to buy frozen stuff (surprisingly, you can get some with decent calorie counts, but not all are that way), and Wal-Mart will easily have the same item for $1+ less than Kroger. If I remember correctly, you're married with children, so chances are you may buy more... ummm "normal things" where the price disparity may not be nearly as bad.

Kroger did have a pretty nice deal on Mountain Dew 2-liters last week... you bought 4 and got 2 free, so the end price was something like 84 cents per 2-liter. I made sure to pick up some of my caffeine free diet Mountain Dew 🙂. Wal-Mart doesn't usually go that low, but the prices are consistently $1-1.25 for a 2-liter (sometimes back up to the normal $1.45). Target can cost up to $1.79 for a 2-liter 😱.

It's probably location based as well. Yes, I do have a family so I am very conscious of the pricing variations as I do the shopping.

 

[zerocool84]

There's two 24hr Walmarts near me and every time I pass by them no matter what time there's always a ton of cars in the parking lot. It's the same for every Costco near me, no matter what time they are always busy. Costco is worth it for me to wait in line since I never spend less than $200 there for any trip. Walmart attracts the scum of the universe plus too many damn people.

 

[smartpatrol]

I don't mind buying from large chains like Wal Mart or Amazon. Their whole business is about getting me the stuff I want in the cheapest, most efficient way possible. Why is that so evil? Sure, small businesses may have better-informed and more "helpful" staff. . . but for any non-trivial purchase I do my homework for myself. I will research a purchase online, and if I'm buying it at a brick-and-mortar store, I pretty much just want the clerk to keep their mouth shut and sell me the product I came there to buy.

That said, I am lucky enough to live near a great local supermarket that specializes in international foods and sells tons of fresh produce for excellent prices. I do most of my food shopping there.