Yes and no. Yes, because the nice, classy grocery store that I used to shop at has had to majorly down-size because of the Super Walmart and I hate that.  Walmart's produce stinks here, so I end up going back to my grocery store for produce and some meat because I'm not sure about the Walmart meat. In our small, rural area, Walmart has taken over.  We have some friends who refuse to shop there.

 No, because it is by far the best value around here.  I am a stay-at-home mom of four kids (teens) who eat a whole lot!  I'm not one who loves going to 100 different stores to get the best deals, so it's easier to go there.  When I do feel a little guilty, I usually remind myself that I am spending less on essentials and leave it at that.  And my occasional twinges of guilt sure don't keep me away.

Pamelaw:

Did someone mention the documentary on how Walmart is bad for business

latenightleader:

I think they have every right to limit what they sell!  It's their store!

I don't feel a bit guilty for shopping at WalMart.  I know that people say they are putting the mom and pop stores out of business, but I have discovered several mom and pop stores that are doing that to themselves.  Case in point, there is a faucet store here that carries really nice, artistic type faucets.  I wanted one and every time I went to the store, they were closed.  There is a sign that says they are open 10 am to 3 pm on tues - friday.  I have been there during business hours on all of the days listed and there is never anyone there.  Another store, candles and stuff like that, they have their regular sized scented jar candles (without a lid) for 12 dollars.  I can get a huge 4 wick candle at walmart for 4 bucks and I can't tell a difference in the strength of the scent.  My nose isn't very sensitive, maybe for some the 12 dollar candle scent just knocks their socks off, but for me, I can buy 3 huge candles for the price of one candle at the other store.  Maybe walmart doesn't have ambience, but it's got stuff cheap and that's what I'm there for.

jeweledsunshine:

I don't feel a bit guilty for shopping at WalMart.  I know that people say they are putting the mom and pop stores out of business, but I have discovered several mom and pop stores that are doing that to themselves.  Case in point, there is a faucet store here that carries really nice, artistic type faucets.  I wanted one and every time I went to the store, they were closed.  There is a sign that says they are open 10 am to 3 pm on tues - friday.  I have been there during business hours on all of the days listed and there is never anyone there.

I have seen this happen with a mom & pop scrapbook store.  The owners leave early, leave for lunch, open late, etc.  It is discouraging to drive over there & have them leaving to go get lunch at 1 something in the afternoon.  Not just leaving but closing up to go get lunch when they advertise they are open from 10 AM-5:30 PM.  Or as my friend said ... she went at about 5 PM, right after work they were closing early to "go get my son".  I love scrapbooking but I can't count on that store to be open.  OH!  They also closed for 2 weeks during Christmas.  When they reopened I told them they were forcing their customers to go to their competition.

I believe in this case, scrapbooking was a good hobby for them that they wanted to make money from.  I have no problem with them making money but I believe the business end of it turned out to be more work than they thought it would ever be.  PLus the daily grind has become just that .... daily & a grind ... instead of a hobby they could do when they felt like it & it was still fun.

Blessings,

Cindy

Cindy,

I agree.  It's great if someone can make money from doing something they truly enjoy, but if someone is going to make money at it, being there is half the battle.  My dad is starting to get some ideas together for what he is going to do after he retires and he discovered these paper 3d model airplanes that you cut out and glue together.  He has bought a license to sell them and every weekend he goes to computer "shows" and craft "shows" and people buy the kits.  I think he has established a website, but not sure.  Either way, he knows if he is going to make this thing "fly" (pardon the pun) he's going to have to be out there showing it to people. It's the same with any business starting up and if people don't put the time into their business, they can't really complain when a huge chain wins their former customer base.

Cindy and Jeweled Sunshine...

I had the same experience with a lady who had a ceramic shop in her basement. And it was really frustrating b/c she lived three miles outta town, so you would drive out there during her normal "business hours" and she would have run to the store to get something or would have gone to visit her mom. We decided to move on to some new interests.

Walmart is hard on a small town. We are losing some of our business base downtown. But there is a difference in quality on some things.

 So, where quality is important, I will check Walmart but usually end up buying somewhere else. Where quality is similar or not as much of an issue (the exact same toothpaste, for example), I will choose the cheaper store. It is often, but not always, Walmart,

In our little town, most of the employers hire people just shy of thirty hours a week so they do not have to pay health care. They also do charming things like pay minimum wage, schedule split shifts (that way, people cannot go and get two jobs), so Walmart's practices are not restricted to just Walmart.

I boycotted Walmart several years ago and it is great!  I never have to deal with the lines, the rudeness, the guilt, and the crap I really don't need.

Questions what does a thread do to get the stars on it? just a lot of posts?

My Family's Interests:

Questions what does a thread do to get the stars on it? just a lot of posts?

A lot of posts gives it the stars, but anyone can rate it by clicking on the amount of stars you think it should have. It will then show an average rating.