How has Wal-mart's Super-centers & Home Depot effected your shopping habits?

[chilliwilli (imported)]

Our local Wal-Mart is two miles from the house. In most cases the grocery stores in town give me no reason to buy from them. They've cut staff to the bone and both chains in town have lousy managers in their stores.

I have stopped using the Wal-Mart pharmacy account bad service. I now trade with a family owned pharmacy that is in a different city, but does deliver to our home at no charge. Since the co-pay on my insurance is exactly the same at either store, I opt for the better service.

My mother lives in Florida. She does her grocery shopping at Publix. Spotless stores, well managed and friendly helpful staff. Yes, she pays the highest prices in the area, but it is worth it.

I detest Home Depot. We havea Lowe's 2 1/2 miles from the house. In general, I deal with them for tools, building supplies and appliances.

For clothing, we travel to another city which is 25 miles away. There is a new shopping center there with very nice department stores and shops. Quality goods are worth the drive.

Everything else, internet baby!

Speed

Before HD I worked at a traditional hardware store. People would walk in Doe eyed looking for a tool they did not know the name of or worse, asking me how to build a dog house or a fence and demanding about it. Woman with soft hand and nails or out of shape old guys, fantacizing they are gonna turn into some superhero for a day and hang that door or whatever.

I'm like...

"about the only thing physical you could do is wack your pud! Why don't you run this register while I go out and do something active."

on a rampage

chilli-

[meaty_10 (imported)]

I refuse to shop at Wal-mart. They treat not only their employees like crap, but also the vendors who seek to sell their products in Wal-mart stores. They have put some small business out of business over the years and come close to doing so to other well known brands... Vlasic Pickles is one that comes to mind. For others -- Levi Strauss, Snapper -- They've told those companies that they have to abandon their US factories and move their operations to China. Now they are telling some companies they have to abandon China and move to Viet Nam because manufacturing in China is getting too expensive.

There was a time when Wal-mart was proud of the US products sold in its stores. Now, I bet it would be a challenge to find a handful of US products.

Funny things is all of these towns where people are on limited incomes because the factories closed up and moved out of the country and the people there can only afford to shop at Wal-mart are in the mess they are in because of Wal-Mart in the first place.

[radar69 (imported)]

My brother and myself worked for WM at a time, maybe it's quite different in canada because they have the union up their A**, but the condition as a dpt manager and night shift manager where decent. 14.75$/h with basic dental insurance. Even at the beginning didnt took long as a common clerk around 10$/h many years ago.

I had to deal with a lot of slackers and wannabe boss with no clue of how to use a clock.... and the idea of being on time...

I Still shop a WM for differents things, like consumable (ink cartridge, some food) clothes (Work Overalls, jeans etc. basic stuff and i always to a raid in the christmas decorations dept. every years.

In Quebec nobody want to work at minimum wage because of the welfare.

they get 572$ per months with full med and basic dental cover. Most do little sideline at 10$/h cash. Every little convenience store (depanneur) have some staff paid cash every weeks. They have no incitative to go work for next to nothing. It's possible to get a decent apt under 500$ and the electricity doesnt cost that much.

Add to that the sales tax return and for many subsidised housing. WM , McDo, HD and others big low wages employers have big issues having staff. they actually have to pay them and treat them in a civilised way....

Radar69

[MacTheWolf (imported)]

I'm curious. How would Wally Mart change for the better if our own DarK Lord was suddenly thrust into the position of Wally Mart's CEO?

[jemagirl (imported)]

I've never shopped at Wal-mart. I have been to Home Depot a couple of times but I don't like it. I really hate to see the self service cashiers when it's time to check out. I just think wow that was some one's job and now it's gone.

[Blaise (imported)]

I would shop at Wal-Mart if the company treated its vendors and workers fairly. I am all for a good buy but the people who run the company push too far. Look at how Briggs and Straton responded to Wal-Mart. They couild have built a cheap mower for Wal-Mart but at the cost of undermining its regular customers.

[chilliwilli (imported)]

I would shop at Wal-Mart if the company treated its vendors and workers fairly. I am all for a good buy but the people who run the company push too far. Look at how Briggs and Straton responded to Wal-Mart. They couild have built a cheap mower for Wal-Mart but at the cost of undermining its regular customers.

How long did it take Briggs and Straton to build a motor with an OHC? I just quit buying there stuff entirely and strictly went to Honda. Whether WM had anything to do with this I don't know. Perhaps people finally got the information and that was affecting the market share.

The average person does not know how to look for quality. They are buying/selling something to solve an immediate problem, immediate gratification. And fewer people have taken on the skills to manage a home.

the disgruntled domestic

chilli-

[Riverwind (imported)]

I've never shopped at Wal-mart. I have been to Home Depot a couple of times but I don't like it. I really hate to see the self service cashiers when it's time to check out. I just think wow that was some one's job and now it's gone.

Our local supermarket has the self service cashiers. there are 4 of them and an employee is there to watch and assist when needed. I love it if I am going in for just 2 or 3 items, in and out quick but you would not want to use it for a weeks worth of food.

Of course, my super also has a drug store, post office, smoke shop, bank and cleaners. I love having the bank and post office there, now that is customer service.

River

[jane_says (imported)]

River, my WM SC has a Woodforest Bank inside. Is that what yours has? I have wondered if they are owned by Wal-Mart, but no one here seems to know. I've done a little searching around online and haven't been able to find out. They are open late and on weekends, so I wouldn't mind using them, but I wouldn't if they are owned by WM. Also, there seem to be a lot of complaints about them judging by a cursory search of the name.

[Blaise (imported)]

How long did it take Briggs and Straton to build a motor with an OHC? I just quit buying there stuff entirely and strictly went to Honda. Whether WM had anything to do with this I don't know. Perhaps people finally got the information and that was affecting the market share.

The average person does not know how to look for quality. They are buying/selling something to solve an immediate problem, immediate gratification. And fewer people have taken on the skills to manage a home.

the disgruntled domestic

chilli-

I don't know what that question has to do with my post. In the case of B & S, Wal-Mart asked the company to manufacture a cheap mower. B & S could do that, but they felt it undermined the dealers who usually sell B & S products. They declined having Wal-Mart represent its products.