Open chat / Someone else summed up why I hate Wal-Mart / Mileron 18 years ago

Someone else summed up why I hate Wal-Mart

http://www.steve-olson.com/10-reasons-target-is-better-than-wal-mart/

10 Reasons Target is Better than Wal-Mart
October 20th, 2006 by Steve ----Bookmark on del.icio.us----

I feel ill visiting Wal-Mart – Am I alone? Target doesn’t have this effect on me. I feel great in Target stores. 10 reasons why…

Crime
Why did the 911 hijackers buy their box cutters at Wal-Mart? Why do serial killers featured on Court TV buy duct tape and rope at Wal-Mart? Because they feel comfortable there. They’re with their people. Did you know (according to this study) the average Wal-Mart has almost 450% more police calls than the average Target store?

Target Doesn’t Destroy Small Towns
My parents live in the lake country of Northern Minnesota. It’s beautiful; please visit sometime. They live near Park Rapids (pop 3,300) and Wadena (pop 4,200), two quaint small towns about 30 miles apart. Wal-Mart is building a box store in each town. These cities have vibrant downtowns with ice cream confectionaries, candy shops, coffee shops, theaters, dime stores, bookstores, restaurants, and hardware stores. We know what happens when a box store opens on the edge of town, the downtown dies. Economists say that the little shops in town are economic dinosaurs. Maybe the economists are right, but I will still grieve the loss of these special places.

Target doesn’t build stores in towns with populations of 4,200 or 3,300 and it isn’t on their agenda (as far as I know).

Target’s Prices are Competitive
See the Cockeyed.com Comparison

I’ve Never Seen Anyone Wearing a NASCAR Shirt, Purple Sweat Pants, and Pink Fluffy Slippers at Target

Employees (An Anecdote)
Sunday Sep 10th 10:00 AM
Wal-Mart: I smiled at the people greeter. She didn’t greet me or anyone else. She stood there like a zombie looking straight ahead scowling.

After spending 15 minutes looking for a lunch box, I asked an employee where the lunch boxes were. She led us aimlessly around the store with no idea where they were. Eventually she asked another employee working at the jewelry counter, “Hey ya know where the lunch boxes are?”

She looked up from the phone, chewing her gum, said “Nope”, and returned to her telephone.

We didn’t find a lunch box.

As I left, I saw 25 checkout lanes. Two were open. The lines were 15 deep. After 60 minutes, I walked out empty handed and nauseous.

Sunday Sep 10th 11:15 AM
Target: The people greeter smiled and asked, “Can I help you?”

“Where are the lunch boxes?” I asked.

She whispered something into a microphone on her chest, paused, and said, “Behind aisle 8 against the back wall.”

Target had ten lanes open and two with no line. In less than ten minutes, I found what I wanted and left with a smile on my face.

I don’t know if Target offers higher pay or better benefits but I can tell that they attract different employees; employees that care. Wal-Mart employees appear indifferent.

Happy Customers
At the Target store near my home, I see energetic customers smiling, visiting, and laughing.

At Wal-Mart I see people moping around with frowns, yelling at their kids, and everyone looks depressed.

Cleanliness
In my experience, the difference in cleanliness between the two chains is dramatic, especially the bathrooms. I brought my son into the bathroom at Wal-Mart and it was so nasty I’ll never bring him there again.

Better Parking Lots
Wal-Mart: One way, narrow, and angled. I’d show you how bad it is but Wal-Mart could sue me if I post a picture of their store. Yet another reason to love ‘em.

Did you know that most Wal-Marts allow people to camp in their parking lots? Is that safe?

Target: Square, two way, parking lots which are safer and easier to navigate.
Target Parking Lot
Positive Atmosphere
Wal-Mart’s atmosphere is cheap and crass.

Target’s atmosphere exudes progress and style.

Go to each store and soak in the whole scene and you’ll know what I mean.

Wider Aisles
Wal-Mart: I’d show you how narrow, crowded, and disorganized their aisles are but…Wal-Mart could sue me if I post a picture of their store.

Target: Wide spacious aisles
Target Aisle
I have both a Wal-Mart and a Target five minutes from my house. There is no comparison in the shopping experience.

My first priority in life right now is to maintain a positive mental state. I’ve found it nearly impossible to maintain a positive mental state inside a Wal-Mart store. The place oozes negativity.

When I leave Wal-Mart I feel like I should go home and shower, like I’ve just visited a seedy porn shop or something.

When I leave Target, I feel energetic and I want to return.

Positive thinking tip:
Visit Target frequently and stay out of Wal-Mart.

This is an opinion piece, based on my personal experiences. I don’t work for Target. I don’t even own any Target stock.


Well said.

Trakhina 18 years ago
Lately I've preferred Target. The stores are cleaner and overall maintained better. I will, however, try to check prices at both stores before buying on occasion.
Vebran 18 years ago
Xandare;70281
I prefer target just because they dont have the same policies that wal-mart does... and at Target I have never seen toddlers wandering around by themselves at 3:30 in the morning while thier mothers look at rayon underwear..

do I need anymore reasons?


I would think so yes. Simply because I know of no Target tha would be open at 0330 and I've seen plenty of diaper only clad babies in Target.
Sarah 18 years ago
I've really been avoiding posting in this thread, but I feel like I should say something.

I don't agree with some of the policies of both Wal-mart and Target, but unless I want to pay incredibly high prices for the things I buy, I have to over look it.

Also there is a target around the corner from me and they are literally building a Wal-mart next door. I can walk there in less than five minutes.

The Wal-marts i this part of Austin are clea, well lit, with wide ailses, carts put away and parking lots clean. Austin has some very strict laws about litter in public places. The bathrooms in wal-mart are clean, and generally smell ok. However I will use the bathroom in the back of the store before the one in the front. There are always two people in the customer service center and atleast two lanes plus the self check outs open at both ends of the store.

At Target it is always clean, always well stocked and so on.

Both places have generally nice employees that are willing to help you, half the time I ca't get the person checking out my stuff at Wal-mart to stop talking to me.

It's not like that at either place i nthe DFW area, that I am aware, but then I haven't shopped in either place in that area in almost 6 years.
Masoyama 18 years ago
I can't believe no one is slamming K mart yet. Target and Walmart are leagues above the Big "K"
Den 18 years ago
We have ONE K-Mart in all of the Sacramento area...all the others closed down ages ago. I NEVER shop at K-Mart, or no more than once every year or so. It is in an older, more seedy part of town, and though the store seems to be maintained okay, they NEVER have enough checkers. The also had self check out for a couple months, but then removed it. Bad move. But since I didn't even shop there then with regularity, it only mattered to me for about 2 seconds.

Funny though, last week my mom was looking for a Halloween costume and thought maybe K-mart would have something (don't ask me why). Anyway I was with her so I went in and picked up a couple pair of sweat pants that were very cheap, and on sale as well. However, she didn't find anything she could wear, and the registers were typical, and I finally set the sweat pants down and just left. I'm sure it will be at least another year before I think of going back.
Temprah 18 years ago
OK... to me I find myself agreeing with the original post. Not taking into account how WalMart has caused the closing of numerous small, independantly owned stores as well as forced corporations to slash jobs and send work overseas to meet WM's constant demands for lowering prices I have been to at least 5 different WM's right around us... some in not so hot areas and others in well to do middle class neighborhoods. I can be in there less than 5 minutes and I am in a foul mood. To make a trip to WM is an ordeal for me. However Target is completely different, and the one I go to is a Super Target mearly across the Beltway from a newer than it WalMart. I make trips to Target in my spare time just to see what's new and putter around there. It makes me happy. People are a little friendlier.. you're still dealing with minimum wage workers so it's not THAT drastic of a difference IMO. But I will *GLADLY* pay a significant amount more just to not go to WalMart. And no I can't always afford to do it, but to me my state of mental health is more valuable, and I am going to be the cheapest person you know.. trust me.

I will also say that a long time and close friend of my sister's worked at WM for several years. They treat their people like CRAP. Everything you hear on the news about how little benies they offer and such is true, and more. How can I justify to myself giving that company my money and supporting such treatment? How can ANYONE?

The fact that X is right about a lower class of people shopping there and allowing their kids to run around unwatched and create messes is one more thing that bothers me. But that's more a reflection on the level of people you find there than the company in some ways. But I sure as hell don't want to be associating with them..

So lemme see, I don't like the destructive and manipulative corporate practices of WM, their shoddy treatment of their workforse and the level of some of their customers is low class. Why should I shop there again?
Den 18 years ago
I almost wish fewer people did shop at Walmart, cause then it wouldn't be so difficult for me to find a good parking place.
Verileah 18 years ago
As gamers I thought this article might prove to be relevant:
http://www.wired.com/news/games/0,2101,55955,00.html
Den 18 years ago
I had heard that before, and coincidentally bought my copy of WOW from Walmart. My copy of the expansion pack, BC I ordered through Best Buy.
Temprah 18 years ago
I have refused to buy software or music CD's from Wal-Mart just because of those heavy handed practices. (You have no idea how guilty I feel about getting the Garth Brooks boxed set they had exclusively as a present last X-Mas) No one should have the right to impose THEIR religious/ethical views on the masses just because they can.
Mylec 18 years ago
Temprah;70347
I have refused to buy software or music CD's from Wal-Mart just because of those heavy handed practices. (You have no idea how guilty I feel about getting the Garth Brooks boxed set they had exclusively as a present last X-Mas) No one should have the right to impose THEIR religious/ethical views on the masses just because they can.


Sure they should have the right. Its their company. While this particular topic is of interest to most of the people on this board, Wallyworld is far from the only seller/distributor of goods that places demands and specifications on manufacturers and their products.

But that's the great thing about this country. Its a free market. The manufacturer can choose to abide by Walmart's demands, or they can choose to peddle their wares elsewhere. And you are the perfect example of why the system works. You chose to purchase your goods from retailers other than Walmart (ok, excpet for the boxed set ) to show where you stand on the issue where it matters most (the bottom line). If everyone that feels the way you do would follow in your steps it would either

A. increase sales for other retailers making them bigger and more profitable to better compete with the Walmarts of the world.

B. show enough of a decline in sales at Walmart to make them perhaps reconsider their policies

C. Both

And the free market system wins again!
Larry 18 years ago
Thought I'd revive this thread so you could check out:

http://www.walmartcrimereport.com/

Put in your zip code to see the number of police calls for surrounding Wal-Mart locations.
Den 18 years ago
So, in 95678, the number of police calls generated by the Walmart near me, since 2002, were 76. :P
And without similar stats on Target, or the local mall, etc., these stats mean nothing.
Temprah 18 years ago
Well for me there are two listed and two that aren't. The two they hvae stats on are 187 (for the nicest neighborhood 0_o ) and 1036 for the one that's in a not so hot (but not BAD) area. Doesn't suprise me.

I wonder how much the ones around me have spiked since Katrina evacuees moved here. *glowers*
Darsa 18 years ago
The closest Wal-Mart is within spitting distance of my house... AND my work. The closest Target is an hour and a half away. SO! I'm a Wal-Marter. And probably will still be when Target gets here next year; but you bet your booties I'll be checkin' out Target as well; I find, when I've gone there in the past, they have some pretty cool lookin' stuff for my 11 year old girl. =)
ROzbeans 18 years ago
Why the glower over people who were forced out of their homes due to shoddy workmanship and poor response by the city/state and government officials? And why would crime spike because of those particular people, unless you mean the inevitable percentage of crime associated with a high influx of people moving to your state?
Mylec 18 years ago
ROzbeans;72527
Why the glower over people who were forced out of their homes due to shoddy workmanship and poor response by the city/state and government officials?


Shoddy workmanship is open to debate. I also dont think anyone was forced out of their homes because of poor responce times. They were forced our of their homes due to big frickin waves of water!
Temprah 18 years ago
Roz... I watch the news every morning, and believe me since Katrina there has been a sharp and dramatic increase in crime. A lot of it is directly attributed to evacuees by the media. (They will say so and so, a Katrina evacuee, was arrested, or some such thing) Even now you hear about large fights breaking out in schools between groups of former Louisiana students and native Houstonians. A *lot* and I mean a LOT of people here are fed up with the increased crime and problems that have happened since then. I looked at a few of the WalMarts in areas around town that are considered to be heavy with evacuees and you see numbers in excess of 2000 there. They were not the best areas before, granted, but still.. You can not deny the impact that has happened since the storm here in town.

I am NOT targeting this at any one racial group BTW. So no one try and say I am.
Beli 18 years ago
I don't agree with Wal-Mart practices so I don't shop there. I don't really sweat it or think about it because I'm not actively helping them prosper or force out mom and pop stores or encouraging their censorship. I'd rather pay the extra buck for a different product than sell my conscience. I do the same thing with Martha Stewart products -- her wares are cheaper than the competition, but I generally avoid them if I can. (I didn't like her long before her stock scandal, btw.) All I can do as a consumer is simply not to buy the products. Sometimes, for some people, Wal-Mart is their only option for miles around. Wal-Mart's been known to be aggressive in building several stores close to each other and when their competition goes out of business, they close down the extra stores and let the one store thrive with all the extra business. More cost effective that way. (They have a well-documented history of doing business like this. I've seen countless articles and threads discussing this very thing.)
ROzbeans 18 years ago
Temprah;72531
I am NOT targeting this at any one racial group BTW. So no one try and say I am.


I didn't, that's why I asked. I just think it sucks that displaced people get a bad rep from the few shitballs - local or not. Don't hit me, dang lol.