Why do many people choose not to shop at Wal-Mart?

Page 4 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

goog40

Diamond Member
Mar 16, 2000
4,198
1
0
It's too crowded. It's a hassle just to park and get out, and to walk down the aisles without bumping into, or being blocked, by someone.

Originally posted by: Feldenak
I avoid shopping at Wal-Mart b/c of the rudeness I've experienced at the hands of the employees, so I take my business elsewhere.

That too. It seems like they don't care about customer service at all. The people skills of the guys working the register at any fast food joint is vastly superior to the WM employees in my experience.
 

Xavier434

Lifer
Oct 14, 2002
10,373
1
0
I do not refuse to shop at Wal-mart but I tend to stay away from it because most of the products that I want and Wal-mart sells can either be bought cheaper at a club like Costco/BJs or the quality is crap. I also do not like their business practices like many people, but while that is kinda of important to me it is not as important as the other reasons.
 

imported_Lothar

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2006
4,559
1
0
Originally posted by: jjanders
Prefer to support small local businesses

So by that comment I take it you don't shop at Home Depot, Lowes, Target, Best Buy, Circuit City, Staples, Office Depot, Giant, Safeway, Shoppers, Costco, CVS, Walgreens, etc...?

How are those any more local than Wal-Mart? :confused:
If you don't shop at any of those I listed, please list the names of the "small local" businesses you shop at.

Note: By "small local", I'm assuming you don't mean driving distance, and large corporations.
 

GagHalfrunt

Lifer
Apr 19, 2001
25,284
1,996
126
I don't give a damn about the corporate machine, the supposed damage they do to the community (BS) or the substandard wages they supposedly pay (bigger BS). I do care that the stores are GARBAGE and the clientele is even worse. I'd rather spend a couple of extra dollars and shop places where the stores are not pig sties and where the employees don't act like they're doing you a favor taking your money. Target is 1000% nicer and about 1% more expensive.
 

lokiju

Lifer
May 29, 2003
18,526
5
0
If it's an in and out thing then I have no issue going there.

I refuse to do my grocery shopping there though.

So frustrating.
 

imported_Lothar

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2006
4,559
1
0
Originally posted by: Xavier434
I do not refuse to shop at Wal-mart but I tend to stay away from it because most of the products that I want and Wal-mart sells can either be bought cheaper at a club like Costco/BJs or the quality is crap. I also do not like their business practices like many people, but while that is kinda of important to me it is not as important as the other reasons.

The 3 closest Costco stores in my area are all between 19-21 miles going in different directions. Not worth the drive the 25mins driving distance to go there.
BJ's is closer here also than Wal-Mart, but there's Sam's Club right next to the Wal-Mart if I need those kind of wholesale discounts. Only 2 mins drive difference between BJ's and Walmart/Sam's Club.

It doesn't make much sense for us to be paying yearly membership fees for Costco, Sam's Club, and BJ's all at the same time when you can just pick one wholesaler and shop your remaining things at Wal-Mart/Giant/Shoppers/Target/any other stores that don't require paid membership for discounts.

I don't care about their business practices. Every business does it.
 

imported_Lothar

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2006
4,559
1
0
Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
I don't give a damn about the corporate machine, the supposed damage they do to the community (BS) or the substandard wages they supposedly pay (bigger BS). I do care that the stores are GARBAGE and the clientele is even worse. I'd rather spend a couple of extra dollars and shop places where the stores are not pig sties and where the employees don't act like they're doing you a favor taking your money. Target is 1000% nicer and about 1% more expensive.

QFT. Your entire post. Especially the bolded part.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
166
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
Originally posted by: Special K
Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
they hurt small business wherever they appear.


Who wants to pay more at a local small store for the exact same item though?

Unfortunately, they're often not the "exact same item", merely an item of good enough quanlity that it passes for "good enough" for too many people. The result is cheaply made crap that has a fraction of the lifespan of a quality manufactured item, and the local specialty shops simply don't sell a high enough quantity of the better quality to stay in business. End result: everything is disposable. Once again this year, we tried to find a badminton set. No one carries quality ones, because they need to sell the cheapest possible in order to remain even slightly competitive with walmart.

And, for the "they have the lowest prices..." for high volume items, true. For lower volume items, their prices are more expensive more often than you would believe, else the item is manufactured at a lower quality.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,483
8,344
126
I'm just curious how much the internet played on the death of Mom & Pop and specialty shops instead of Walmart.
 

m1ldslide1

Platinum Member
Feb 20, 2006
2,321
0
0
Always too crowded. I don't really mind that there are large women in sweat-suits powering down the isles; I mind that there are so many of them that it's like combat-shopping.
 

imported_Lothar

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2006
4,559
1
0
Originally posted by: vi edit
I'm just curious how much the internet played on the death of Mom & Pop and specialty shops instead of Walmart.

Considering most people here get their hardware from Newegg rather than Funcoland, Staples, or Office Depot...Hmm....
 

Xavier434

Lifer
Oct 14, 2002
10,373
1
0
Originally posted by: Lothar
Originally posted by: Xavier434
I do not refuse to shop at Wal-mart but I tend to stay away from it because most of the products that I want and Wal-mart sells can either be bought cheaper at a club like Costco/BJs or the quality is crap. I also do not like their business practices like many people, but while that is kinda of important to me it is not as important as the other reasons.

The 3 closest Costco stores in my area are all between 19-21 miles going in different directions. Not worth the drive the 25mins driving distance to go there.
BJ's is closer here also than Wal-Mart, but there's Sam's Club right next to the Wal-Mart if I need those kind of wholesale discounts. Only 2 mins drive difference between BJ's and Walmart/Sam's Club.

It doesn't make much sense for us to be paying yearly membership fees for Costco, Sam's Club, and BJ's all at the same time when you can just pick one wholesaler and shop your remaining things at Wal-Mart/Giant/Shoppers/Target/any other stores that don't require paid membership for discounts.

I don't care about their business practices. Every business does it.

Well, not every business but most of the big ones do it. Some do it more than others too. Walmart is pretty high up there from what I understand. Regardless, I still shop at Target a lot and I am sure they do it too. Walmart is farther away. BJs is much closer for me.
 

m1ldslide1

Platinum Member
Feb 20, 2006
2,321
0
0
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: dainthomas
Originally posted by: Shadow Conception
Is it because of the lack of brand-name/designer clothes, relentless using of Chinese people, less-than-minimum wages, or what?

Because their are none on the west side of Portland. The closest is probably an hour away.

I have this same issue. The closest is halfway across town out on SE 82nd. It doesn't make sense.

My biggest complaints about Wal-Mart are that their stores are filthy (and I'm not talking about the people) and customer service is non-existent.

That's the exact store I referenced in my post. I used to work near there and would go in sometimes at lunch if there was something specific I needed... and it was a hellhole. No stank you.
 

randomlinh

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,846
2
0
linh.wordpress.com
Originally posted by: Lothar
Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
I don't give a damn about the corporate machine, the supposed damage they do to the community (BS) or the substandard wages they supposedly pay (bigger BS). I do care that the stores are GARBAGE and the clientele is even worse. I'd rather spend a couple of extra dollars and shop places where the stores are not pig sties and where the employees don't act like they're doing you a favor taking your money. Target is 1000% nicer and about 1% more expensive.

QFT. Your entire post. Especially the bolded part.

double QFT. I used to go there to get motor oil. But even now, it's not worth the $5-$10 savings of running into pepboys.
 

AndrewR

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,157
0
0
I rarely shop there simply because they are typically poorly maintained, always crowded, and just not pleasant. If we have an urgent need for something, we may stop there, but it's not one of our normal shopping outlets. If we need a similar store, we'll go to Target.

I do, however, think they treat their employees like crap and find it reprehensible from a company which has made so much money.
 

imported_Lothar

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2006
4,559
1
0
Originally posted by: AndrewR
I rarely shop there simply because they are typically poorly maintained, always crowded, and just not pleasant. If we have an urgent need for something, we may stop there, but it's not one of our normal shopping outlets. If we need a similar store, we'll go to Target.

I do, however, think they treat their employees like crap and find it reprehensible from a company which has made so much money.

Right...
Target doesn't treat their employees like crap.
 

NL5

Diamond Member
Apr 28, 2003
3,286
12
81
Originally posted by: vi edit
I'm just curious how much the internet played on the death of Mom & Pop and specialty shops instead of Walmart.

It created many more than it destroyed.

Walmart systematically eliminates the local competition.
 

middlehead

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2004
4,573
2
81
Originally posted by: Pabster
Yeah, that's been my experience too. Target has cleaner, brighter stores with cheerier folks. And it's definitely a slightly different segment of the population (on average) who patronize them.
I will say for Target, I try to go there if I can because that's where all the cute college girls work and shop. The ones at Wal Mart aren't necessarily ugly, they're just a peg or three lower than the Target girls.
 

Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
34,543
651
126
Originally posted by: amdskip
Originally posted by: RaistlinZ
2. It takes forever to check out. They make everyone use the self-checkout lanes now and it takes the average dope like 10x longer to use it than just having a cashier scan their items the old fashioned way. Most people I see in Wal Mart aren't tech-savvy, and typically need a store clerk to come over and help them use the self-check out lanes, which totally defeats the purpose.

I find Target to be much better, and a faster check-out process.
Walmart is removing all self checkout machines as they remodel stores, apparently they did not work as planned.

Probably b/c the reasons RaistlinZ mentioned. Yet, they are welcomed by customers at other stores.
 

bignateyk

Lifer
Apr 22, 2002
11,288
7
0
The only stuff I get from wal-mart are toiletries and dry food items. I never buy fresh produce/meat at walmart due to quality. I also never clothing shop there (also quality).