It's the beginning of August and time for back to school shopping for my girls. I have my school supply list in hand and ready. Time to head out to Walmart and buy the supplies. Every year I do the same thing, I get the school supply list and head to Walmart, which I like to call Wallymart. And every year, I end up getting upset because of the stupidity of those in charge of running the store. Like the previous years, I show up get the basic supplies like pencils, paper, rulers, crayons, and color pencils; but I end up wasting time trying to find the 12x18 assorted construction paper, composition notebooks, and folders with brads that the school deems important. After finally finding someone who can help me, I learn that Wallymart just does not carry these things. What I don't understand is that when I walk right in the front door, there is the list for the school supplies for the local elementary schools, which are either Fort Worth ISD or Crowley ISD, but Wallymart does not carry some of the basic school supplies on those lists. From Walmart's commercials, I get the sense that they pride themselves of making shopping convinent while having competitive prices. If that is the case, then why would they not stock up on all the back to school supplies that the local school districts want. They have the lists, then they should know what to order. Another thing I really don't understand is if CVS and Walgreens can have composition notebooks, then why doesn't Wallymart?
Okay I am starting to digress, after finding out that I'm going to have to find these items elsewhere, I discovered another mother in the same predicament as me. I told her loudly, due that a Wallymart employee was close by, that she can find all this stuff at Mardels. I also made sure to drop the fact that Mardels' prices were just as good and some times better than Walmarts. I know the employee has really little input on the way things are at Wallymart, but who knows maybe she will tell her manager what she "overheard" me say and he can do something, but that is wishful thinking. So I paid for my things,went to Mardels, and finished my shopping.
When I got home, I had to tell my husband, Rob, all about my experience and what I really think about Wallymart. That is when a light bulb came on in my head. Everyone now has a blog, why not start a blog about why I hate Walmart. Rob thought this was an excellent idea. Of course I had to get some unbiased opinions, so I posted on Facebook my idea. I had some people who liked the idea and a couple who just couldn't live without Walmart. So I decided that I would blog about my loathing of Walmart while vowing not to buy one thing at Walmart for one year and hopefully never again!
So now here we are, I am starting this blog. I do want to clarify a couple of things. I will NOT buy things from Walmart for one year, but I probably will set foot in their stores during this year. Mainly due to the fact that when I go grocery shopping with my mom, she goes to Walmart. My other clarification is that I Will shop at Sam's Club. I know some of you think that I shouldn't shop at Sam's since it is affiliated with Walmart and I should shop only at Costco. I shop at Sam's Club because they have the exact same things as Costco and then some for cheaper prices. The parking at Sam's is better, and my membership is way cheaper than Costcos. Sam's is also trying to keep with the times and have electronic coupons you can add right to your Sam's card. Last I saw Costco did not do this, but I could be wrong. Besides my problem is with Walmart not Sam's Club.
Okay with that out of the way, I'm ready to ween my family off of Walmart and save tons of money in the process. During this process, please feel free to leave your own experiences and comments. All mature opinions and debates are welcomed.
I think the coupon queen can shop other places and still get good deals. Walmart always has long lines and bashed in milk.
ReplyDeleteI am kinda lazy and haven't gotten on the coupon bandwagon yet. I totally agree with your stance but I will probably still shop at Wallymart.
One day I might hit my limit and go your way!
Its tough to stop Wallymart cold turkey. It's scary to stop doing something familiar, but I can make it well worth it. With only 2 kids in tow, I can get all my shopping done in 2 hours and that is if I shop at 3 different stores. That is about the same time I would of spent at Wallymart.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to your blogging about hating wallyworld, that's what I call it on occasion but most of the time I say I'm goin wal-martin, could u please share where and when u find your couponds, where and when you use them, and shopping/meal plan for the week. I want to save money too but have no idea how. That's a way long run-on sentence.
ReplyDeleteI was very excited to see your blog! I was intrigued by the title yet still don't feel like I really get "why you are doing this?" The frustration over them not having advertised and/or listed items is not a problem with walmart alone. Especially school supplies just days before school starts. I mean, Kroger often advertises items that will run on sale for a few days and if you go on the 3rd day I promise you they will be out of lunchables! (every time haha) Toys r us...same thing. Christmas specials only last what..the first hour they're open and even that is like 4 am. Hahaa. Iguess what I'm saying is I expected an answer more along the line of 39 hour employees to avoid providing insurance, the monopolization of the consumer goods industry and so on. Inconvenient shopping? Thats everywhere if you ask me. (especially with 5 kids in tow!)
ReplyDeleteEmily I plan on posting how I spend less money and get more food without stepping foot into a Wallymart. Kaci, it's just not that Walmart never has what I need, when I need it; it's a combination of things. Their crappy coupon policy, their rude employees, the hours I spend there trying to find everything and never able to find a person who knows what they are doing, and that they are just not keeping with the times. It's almost like I feel like they have a God complex. We are WalMart therefore we rule the universe. It is hard to shop anywhere with any number of kids, I do get that, but with only an hour's worth of planning the night before, I can have my lists made, coupons separated, and game plan all routed out so that my shopping experience with kids and all goes as smoothly as possible. I do try to go grocery shopping either on a Thurday or Friday morning. I tend to escape the masses and there are still stuff on the shelves that I want. But through it all there will always be something that sucks about grocery shopping either at WalMart or any other place. Im just tired of year after year dealing with the craziness that is now called WalMart.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHey Alyson, I can definitely amen all those things! We had a lady call us out at walmart for 28 items in the 20 or less and 6 of them were hallmark cards and 5 of them were drinks the kids added after we got into line. It was one of our first trips out after maelin was born with all 5 kids and I was LIVID! (there was no one behind us and 2 other lanes were open with no customers!!) I went to the manager and threatened to never come back. He hooked us up with some free stuff and corrected her behavior and had her apologize. It was a small victory but a good one! haha. I really look forward to ur coupon tips! thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your success story with Walmart. I wish there were more managers out there like that. My new moto is, "If it's free, then I'll take it!" Even if it did come from Walmart.
ReplyDeleteI remember that incident Kaci! Sorry I have just really dove into this blog. I have to say I am excited to see how this goes. I hate Wal Mart and really wish I knew how to avoid it. My Wal Mart is always out of EVERYTHING I need. It is the worst Wal mart I have been to. Since we got an Aldi out here I have been able to avoid it a little bit better! I cant wait to read all your tips!
ReplyDelete