Why do I refuse to shop at Walmart?
The fellow shoppers are always rude, other customers crash into my cart without even acknowledging they did so, nobody says excuse me, and I hate waiting 45 minutes to check out. The end.
Just kidding. (Well, kind of.)
I think you can probably tell that Walmart and I don’t have a good relationship.
But those aren’t the only reasons I loathe Walmart.
No, it doesn’t stop there. Here are more reasons why I straight up refuse to shop at Walmart. (And maybe you should too.)
Walmart Does Not Save Me Money
Walmart doesn’t have sales. Their “everyday low prices” are their everyday prices.
Grocery stores (like Kroger) have sales. Heck, even K-Mart has sales.
I can save so much more money by buying in bulk during a sale than I can shopping Walmart’s everyday low prices.
I know what you’re thinking – why not price match? Let me tell you why.
A lot of the Cashiers Don’t Understand Their Own Store Policies
There’s nothing I hate more than trying to use a coupon and then being treated like a criminal for doing so. But that’s how I feel at Walmart. (And I’m talking like one or two coupons – I am far, far from an extreme couponer.)
When my youngest daughter was a baby I was working with a super tight budget and I had a coupon that would make our regular formula free. I went up to the register with my coupon and formula. I handed the cashier the coupon and she shot me a dirty look. She stood there reading and rereading the coupon before calling over a manger to check it out. (It came from the Sunday paper for crying out loud.)
By the time the manager came to okay the coupon, the express line I was in had piled up to ten or more people. In the end my coupon was accepted, but my time was wasted, and the cashier made me feel like a total idiot.
**Just a side note. I don’t think all Walmart cashiers are rude. But the majority of the cashiers that work in my town simply are. It’s not a one or two time occurrence or I’d just write it off as them having a bad day. It’s a consistent thing. Maybe it’s the work environment?!
Walmart’s Products are Inferior
Do you know how Walmart is able to “pass on savings” to you? It’s by having manufacturers create a lesser product for Walmart than they do for every other store.
Just a sampling of inferior products that come from Walmart.
- Digital Cameras, according to Business Week
- Wood Furniture (Which comes from illegal logging practices in protected Russian Habitats, according to CBS News)
- Laptops, according to me
- Garden Hoses, according to SarahTitus.com
- Levi’s Jeans (The Levis you see in Walmart are NOTHING like the real thing.)
Walmart Pushes Jobs Overseas (And Crushes Small Business Competition)
It’s no secret that many most of Walmart’s products come from China.
The sad thing is the pressure for such low prices they place on their vendors has pushed other large companies to take their factories out of the US and move them overseas, according to Fast Company. Not to mention they promote domestic sweatshops.
It’s not just Walmart taking away American jobs – its Walmart pressuring other big name companies to do the same.
And what about small businesses? When a new Walmart opens the local media starts talking about how many new jobs will be created. (My guess is Walmart pays them to say this.) It’s all a lie.
When a Walmart opens up, especially in a rural town, small businesses (like mom and pop shops) aren’t able to compete. In fact, FOR EVERY TWO JOBS WALMART CREATES, THREE JOBS ARE DESTROYED.
Walmart is killing jobs and in most instances offering lower pay to the now unemployed (average sales associate salary – $9.23/hour.) They’re also killing the hopes and dreams of thousands of entrepreneurs everywhere.
Walmart is a monopoly crushing the souls of small towns so that we can have cheap quality items and horrible customer service and so they can dominate the market with a greed culture.
How Walmart Costs You Money – Your Stuff Breaks and You Go Back and Replace It
I can say this because I’m guilty.
Walmart is literally the only retailer who sells computers where I live. After I got divorced in 2012 I ran to Walmart and bought a laptop so that I’d have something to occupy me in my free time. One year later the computer crashed and burned.
I had freelance writing work due and was in urgent need of another laptop. I ran to Walmart and bought another one. It’s been a little over a year and my laptop is once again about to bite the dust.
The mouse button fell off months ago, making using this laptop a complete pain, the screen goes out all the time, and the computer updates for hours on end. I actually thought it was going to die a couple weeks ago and had to run to my mom’s house at ten o’clock at night to finish an article!
When this computer finally crashes I’m not going to Walmart. I’ll drive myself an hour away to go and get a computer that’s going to last me longer than a year.
But it’s not just computers that do this. It’s garden hoses, clothes, shoes, toys, cribs, Chrismas trees, and so much more.
It’s a trap. If you would’ve bought quality in the first place you wouldn’t have to spend so much money replacing your stuff. (Like I said, this comes from my own experience.)
Is Shopping at Walmart Worth it?
Not to me.
For me it’s more than just the wasting money aspect. It’s a moral thing.
I step my foot in Walmart about once a year out of pure desperation. (I live in a small town, not many stores to choose from!) But I don’t even think I can do that anymore.
Any value Walmart provides in cost savings is quickly negated by their shotty business practices. My promise to you – I will never shop at Walmart ever again.
**I guess this means I need to give up Sam’s too. RIP Sam’s Club. It’s time to get a Costco membership!
Photo Credits: Flickr, Lian Chang,
MomoftwopRecioUsgirls says
It’s so weird to me that so many people complain about the cashiers at Walmart. I’ve shopped there in several states and I’ve never had a bad experience! I don’t like waiting in the CS line but that’s just a time thing. I’ve always had pleasant experiences! I do only shop there for certain groceries but what I do shop for is almost always cheaper (if not I use savingscatcher to get ad match prices). The ethical items you mention are probably all true, but I have a small budget to feed my family of four and limited time to run all over trying different places. I get my deli meat at Kroger because they are the only ones that have my brand. Household items and lunch snacks at Costco and much else at Walmart. Meat I actually go to a local butcher because they sell bulk for great prices.
I also don’t expect to pay $200 for a laptop anywhere and expect it to last. I rather pay the $1099 to buy a MacBook Air (11inch). I’ve had mine for 4 years now and never have a issue. My regular Mac before that was 7 years old and the guy we sold it to 4years ago still uses it!
It’s not for a lot of items that I e pact daily use from but what I do buy there I don’t have problems with.
MMD says
I think the “rude cashiers” thing is relative to where you live. I’m in Flint, MI and the staff at that Walmart (along with the clientele) is absolutely atrocious. I avoid the store at all costs.
Alexa says
You’re probably right with the laptop example! I just get so frustrated with it. But the mouse button fell off my computer a few months after buying it which I didn’t really expect. It’s a total pain. I really want a Macbook as my next computer. Hopefully I can save up the cash before this one finally burns and dies.
And I’m glad you’ve had pleasant experiences with the cashiers. Maybe it is the work environment in the store in my town.
MomoftwopRecioUsgirls says
I went with the base model and smaller screen. I think I paid another $100 to upgrade the ram (my husband’s suggestion). If you use google docs or external drives for your work stuff you can pack a lot on it! We are def an apple fan house but that is bc we have never had product issues and their service can’t be beat. I’m sure every retail business has bad service areas!
Alexa says
I actually just started using Google Docs for my important stuff because I know I’m about to lose it all! (As soon as this computer is done working.) I was also on the Apple website last night looking at prices 🙂 I’m thinking about going with the smaller model too. I think I can sacrifice a little screen space for a reliable computer.
MMD says
The thing I agree with the most is the inferior products comment. Almost everything I’ve ever bought from Walmart in the past breaks or doesn’t work (especially furniture). Over the last few years I’ve stopped by anything from them entirely even if they claim to have the cheaper price on what seems to be a comparable product. I’d rather spend a few extra bucks for something I know will last.
Alexa says
Yeah those cheaper products seem to come with far less quality. I’ve slowly but surely learned to pay more for something that I want to keep long term.
Michelle says
I am not a Walmart supporter (am a Target shopper) However, in general I have moved away from shopping in these big businesses specifically because I support small locally owned businesses. I try very hard to purchase things locally, go to small businesses in my area, etc. Every time I think of how we as Americans have tacitly supported American jobs being sent overseas it makes me crazy! We are paying for inferior quality items, supporting other countries, and not supporting our local economies. I am proud to say that I don’t even know where a Walmart is…and I haven’t gone to Target this entire year. Amazingly, I’ve survived and I have all the stuff that I need.
Alexa says
There is no Target where I live. We have 1 Kmart, 1 Walmart, a CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens, and a couple dollar stores. Oh and Kroger.
Being from a family that has retail businesses I try to shop locally too. In an economy like the one we’re living in, small businesses have taken a huge hit and I don’t want to give my money to a place like Walmart.
Lauren says
Great post, Alexa! I despise Walmart. There is one about 5 minutes from where I live, and it is a total dump. The store is a mess, and many of the items are garbage. They have a “policy” of not accepting any coupons that won’t scan, so they refuse to accept perfectly legit ones all the time. This is a company that I just don’t want to support with my dollars, for the reasons that you mentioned- crushing Mom and Pops, selling inferior products, paying low wages.
Alexa says
That is so weird. Is that part of the Walmart coupon policy to not take coupons that don’t scan?
Same here. I just can’t support Walmart there is too much going on that just seems unethical in my eyes.
Bonita says
I wish I could say I never shop at Walmart, but I still do. I have to psych myself up to go there and I only buy certain items that I find it difficult to get elsewhere. My kids say I start breathing like Darth Vader as I near the entrance to Walmart! Haha!
One thing that really turned me off to Walmart was what I learned years ago when my mom worked for a small company that supplied Walmat with a certain line of products. The reason they can keep costs low and that their return policy is so lenient is because when you return something to Walmart, it doesn’t cost them a penny. They pass that cost along to their suppliers as a chargeback. The supplier has to sign a contract agreeing to this in order to have their materials sold in Walmart. In the case of my mom’s former employer, they would often receive products back after years of use and totally worn out (not something that could be sold elsewhere) and this tiny company had to absorb the cost while Walmart never lost anything.
I also hate anything that resembles big government taking control of everything and Walmart reminds me so much of a big government that gobbles up everything that gets in its way.
That said, I know people who work for Walmart that tell me they take good care of their employees.
Love/hate relationship on my end.
Alexa says
Wow. I didn’t know that about the returns! That’s one of the problem that my Dad has with his returns. Big stores like Walmart will take anything back and then customers expect my Dad to take back shoes that have been clearly worn for a year and have went through the ringer because Walmart does.
I totally understand that sometimes it’s the only place you can go for certain items. (That’s how it is where I live too.)
And that’s funny about the Darth Vader thing because I always tell people if you want to see me in a bad mood take me to Walmart and give me about 45 seconds!
Charlee Anne says
Couldn’t agree more! I don’t shop at Walmart (very often) because when I buy food, the prices for some items inevitably ring up wrong, and I have to tell the cashier that it’s a different price. Sometimes I forget to check while they are ringing up my purchases, and then I find out while I’m looking over my receipt that I overpaid. I used to shop there for our food all the time, but now I only go there maybe once a month for paper towels or dish sponges.
Alexa says
In the past I tried shopping at Walmart vs. Kroger for food and for me Kroger has always come out to be less inexpensive. And where I live Kroger provides a much, much better shopping experience.
Christie says
Amen, Sister ! I hate Walmart and won’t go there.
It makes me Crazy that people use their credit cards to buy cheap crap from China that is made by slaves. ( Yes, I said slaves. If you are in a ” camp” and can’t leave then you are a slave. This goes for North Korea too.) So, Americans go in debt, and keep their own financial form of slavery to buy a bunch of non biodegradeable crap from China. Also, keep in mind that China has no enviornment / pollution laws and has theworst pollution in the world. Chemicals from China manufacturing plants have been traced to San Francisco as they get picked up by the winds and go over the Pacific.
Walmart can make a profit, The credit card companies make a profit. The American consumer … Big Loser. The debt will last longer then the product they bought.
Buy used. Pay Cash.
This is not PC …. but …. I have to drive by Walmart with my kids. They always point out the medically obese in the wheel chairs that are shopping their, in the parking lot, etc. They cal the place ” Whale Mart”. My kids are rude, but I think they are on to something ! I know Walmart has a health food section … but it the healthy food is on that one aisle, what is in all the other aisles ? ( Okay, this goes for most grocery stores)
Lydia says
This is a great and honest post. They do not treat their employees well, and I hate that they don’t have sales, and put small businesses under. I once tried to convince myself that Walmart would help my finances, but after comparing slips from my fav store and Walmart, my fav store won out because of…sales! Plus, it isn’t depressing to shop there!
Here’s an example of poor employee training at Walmart. Years ago, when I was a Walmart shopper, I had to reach up high to get a laundry time. Well, it knocked open, and the caustic substance flew into my eye. The label said it could cause blindness. I ended up sprinting to the contact section, where I grabbeda saline solution and fleshed out my eye. The workers, who were nearby, had NOT idea how to help me, or what protocol to follow. I ended up telling them what to do..it was horrible!!! I don’t even think they paid for my optometrist bill. That product should have been at mid-level, and they should have known how to respond to an emergency,
Walmarts are awful!!!!!!
Lydia says
Item and flushed..should have spell-checked
Susan says
It’s interesting reading all these comments because I feel the same way about Walmart, too. I don’t breathe like Darth Vader, but I DO have as close to a panic attack as I’ve ever had every time I am there. I am EXTREMELY stressed out when I go in there, so much so that I almost never go there. I think it’s because of the rude, dumbed down people on the check-out lanes, and the soul-less crap that they sell….. Nothing seems like it’s good quality there anymore, and I hate buying cheap junk that is really just expensive junk in disguise. Overall, I like Sam’s club, but I hate Walmart. Hate it, hate it!!
jefferson says
I”m totally with you on this, Alexa. I go into a Wal-Mart maybe once or twice a year, usually when it’s 1:00 in the morning and we need a socket wrench or something. The way that they only open a few registers while the lines swell just drives me totally insane.
Jenna says
I tend to not shop at Walmart either. This is because 1) I buy everything on Amazon (it comes to me!) except groceries 2) All the fresh food at Walmart doesn’t look that good and spoils quickly.
Kemkem says
Hah hah Alexa! It’s ironic that the ads that come up on this page are for applications for Walmart employment and Walmart money center.. 🙂 . They are stalking you, thanks to cookies. There was a Walmart close to us when we lived in Houston. The neighbors put up such a ruckus when it opened! They do have a way of crushing small businesses. If memory serves me right, l think they were forced to close some of their stores in China, along with several European ones. I guess they know best what crap they are, but as long as America keeps buying their crap, they will keep selling it. A lot of people complain about jobs moving overseas etc, but then shop at these companies. I hope you get your mac (made in China too, but assembled in the U.S) ! :-).
Regina says
I shop at Wal-mart because its close and convenient. I too live in a rural area and until the town expands it will be the only major retailer close to our home for some timet. I have no issues with the cashiers there and I’m usually able to fine lower pricing on groceries versus at other stores. Savings catcher as well as old-fashion couponing has also worked well for me at Wal-mart. I’ve also shared with other single moms on my blog how to save 60% or more on groceries there if needed. I do understand some of the strong, almost political views against Walmart however the Waltons had a vision for their family business years ago and today it is one if not the most successful retailer across the world. Although I’m not here to take a stance for or against their business practices, I do acknowledge their success and will continue to shop there selectively for bargains.
Regina says
Forgive the typos, it is after 2:30am here and I’m drafting posts…the life of a blogger. 😉
karen b says
first I would like to say NOT ALL Walmarts are created equal…………… second I am TIRED of several BLOGS BASHING this retailer!!!!!!!!!! NOT VERY CHRISTIAN LIKE IF YOU ASK ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YES I agree I do NOT buy a ton of items @ Walmart but do get a few items you just have to be choosy on what you buy!!!!!!! I do most of my grocery shopping @ Kroger because we have one of them fairly close & do very little grocery shopping @ Walmart.
Patty says
Walmart paints itself as red, white, and blue to the core. Truth is, it is the biggest corporate welfare sinkhole in the country. Walmart saves money by paying its employees next to nothing with diddly in the way of benefits. Those employees are forced to turn to various forms of public and private assistance to attempt to make ends meet. Rather than step up to its responsibilities to its employees, it lets the American taxpayer foot the bill.
Watch the documentary “Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price.” It’s a few years old, but is a real eye opener and a stomach turner.
You’ll never catch me in one.
Alexa says
I’m gonna watch that! What turned me onto the Walmart scams is a book I read a few years ago. (I think it was called “Wally World”) And it went in depth about Walmart’s shotty practices. It’s mind blowing.
David Kennedy says
Some of the management is the worst. A manager was extremely rude to me 5 or 6 months ago. I told her she was rude. The next time I ran into her she lied to me and I called her out on it. She had me kicked out of the store. I did not yell at her or call her names. It’s the sporting goods manager from 1800 Ne 12Th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32641 store.
I officially complained about her months before……they don’t care…..they pay minimum so they know they have to scrape the bottom of the barrel.
Supporting Walmart is supporting the Communist Chinese.
Tone says
Wal mart. Mart – martial. Wal – law. Martial law. I don’t shop there anymore.
Tone says
Wal – law (backwards). Mart – Martial. Martial law. I don’t shop there anymore.
Jayme says
I am glad to say I am done shopping at Wal-Mart as well! I had a return to make from as recent Wal-Mart purchase and my experience was so bad I was about in tears. I had purchased a bra that didn’t fit correctly (I ordered it offline & was directed to return it to my local walmart) & a DVD. After waiting in line for around 30 minutes I gave the returns cashier my items & my receipt. She treated me like a criminal in front of many other customers announcing they can’t take back my DVD (mind you or was brand new in its plastic my mother had bought me the same one for my birthday) due to the fact I could have copied it and there are copy right laws…after many minutes of this embarrassing tirade I asked for the manager who said it was fine to return a DVD but the no longer allow anyone to return bluray discs. After I finally recieve my money the cashier rudely says you are only allowed one more return for the year of 2017. I told her this was the first return I had made since January of 2016 and she informed me it is now Wal-Mart’s policy that customers are only allowed 2 returns per year now regardless of why you are making the return. I am not sure if the cashier was confused about policies or if this is true…however, I will never be going back! Thanks Wal-Mart for finally making me stick to this as I have said it many times.
Molly says
I quit shopping at Walmart years and years ago on principle. They destroy small communities and manipulate foreign governments and they’re Walton family or some of the most corrupt people in this country. But they want to be patted on the back for donating pitiful sums of money to schools in the very communities they have helped to destroy. I will do without something before I will shop at Walmart for it. There is nothing any human needs badly enough to set foot in a Walmart. If I can’t find it locally then I will search for someone producing it ethically somewhere else so I can feel good about exchanging my hard-earned money for material Goods. To be honest it’s been so many years since I set foot in a Walmart that I tend to forget they even exist… What a wonderful wonderful feeling! It helps that I got rid of television years and years ago as well of course. My head is not always filled with manipulative lies designed to make me feel incomplete unless I go spend money on crap I don’t need. Life is better without Walmart because I don’t feel badly instead I feel good when I go to a place to shop and I know that my business is helping to keep another ethical family in business.
Nope never again says
I stopped shopping at Walmart last night, and will never return. I was walking through the store pushing my buggy, I was loaded down with my monthly cleaning products and such. A man and woman (from a booth set up in the Walmart) approached me about buying Internet service. I calmly told them I don’t like solicitation while I’m trying to shop. I walked on, proceeding with my heavy not to mention expensive buggy full of merchandise. I was flabbergasted when that man and woman began to make rude comments about me., in a very noticeable voice. The man followed me and my daughters through the store.
I left my buggy and its contents right there in the isle. I spoke to two managers, one was really rude, and the other was kind enough. This was the final straw. Cashiers at 3 of the walmarts I use to frequent were always rude. Prices are getting higher, the merchandise is second rate, the 3 stores in my area don’t like to take things back, even with a receipt. My dd bought boots, last week, never wore them because the soles were falling off. She didn’t even take the tags off.
I went to my van a cried, after I apologized to my kids for the way we were treated. we drove 5 miles to Target where I bought most of the items I needed and many of them were cheaper than Walmart. Inside Target I was not approached by any soliciting sales pitches. The cashier was almost too friendly. I was not overwhelmed by the environment like I am at Walmart. I will not return to Walmart.
blahblah says
I used to be an avid Walmart shopper when I was single. Then I met my fiance, and she was an avid supermarket shopper while I stuck with Walmart.
I started to notice that the price I pay for my groceries at Walmart was pretty much what she paid at the supermarket. So.. there’s no cost-savings.
I used to think I’d “just be a minute” going to Walmart. But, every trip lasted an hour or more. Get there, park out in the boonies, walk in, walk around, get held up waiting for other customers to move their carts (the aisles seem to be getting smaller and smaller.. can barely fit carts past each other now), rude customers don’t care if they’re in your way, walk clear across the store to get pharmaceuticals vs. groceries, check-out lines are perpetually backed up. Fiance makes trip to supermarket, she’s back in 30 min. I make trip to Walmart, I’m back in an hour or more. “Where did you go?” “Walmart.” “Really? You’ve been gone more then an hour!” “Hmmm…”
The location of Walmart really makes a difference. Walmarts in low-income neighborhoods don’t seem to understand that their customers often work 2nd or 3rd shift jobs, so they’re going to get slammed with customers STARTING at 9pm.. this is right around the time Walmart closes all lanes but two. (smh) Rich-neighborhood Walmarts have tons of checkers; they’re begging for folks to shop there, but those folks go to supermarkets b/c they consider Walmart to be ghetto. Nice neighborhood walmarts can be nice, but the products are still lackluster.
And products.. the produce is lackluster, the meat is iffy (the pork is so injected with “solution” it tastes like hot dogs, and the beef is flavorless). Every other non-consumeable item seems to be made-in-china junk that breaks easily.
But, I’m a creature of habit. I stick with something until I reach a straw that breaks my back.
That straw was today. I noticed they’re doing receipt checks at the door. I don’t know when this started, but it just ticks me off royally.
I understand that at some places like electronic stores some high-value merchandise may be moving through. I don’t mind stopping for a receipt check at those places.
But, when someone stops me to check my $40 bags of groceries… receipt checks at a grocery store… smh .. give me a break.
Walmart is the one that decides they’re going to be the “all in one” store, having electronics and groceries and stuff all in the same place.
I’m just there for groceries.
But, if I’m going to get stopped like some criminal at a nazi border check being asked for my papers and scrutinized heavily over my $40 of groceries to determine if, in fact, I may have snuck anything valuable in the box of rice crispies I’m buying… it just ticks me off to no end.
So, I’m finally done with Walmart.
You can over-charge me for groceries.
You can sell me made-in-china garbage.
You can waste my time with the size of your store and check-out lines.
But, when I feel like I’m being treated like a criminal and my right to privacy is being violated.. yeah.. I’m done.
Eric says
I have to agree with not wanting to shop at Walmart. The store is an evil entity in disguise that is training people to be poor. As you pointed out, most of the things in the store are inferior products. You can buy things cheaply, but you will have to repeatedly buy and throw away. The result is spending three times the money as opposed to purchasing one quality product for slightly more investment.
Everything in Walmart is practically imported from China and probably toxic or flammable. I am sure they things they sell are increasingly adding to landfill problems.