Tuesday, August 05, 2008

WalMart - Friend or Foe?

I have a confession. I heart WalMart. In a time where gas is topping $4 a gallon and coffee can go for $3 a cup, I'll take bargains where I can get them. I've even been shopping there more than my favorite store in the world, Target. I don't get why Target isn't as vilified as WalMart - should I not like WalMart as much as I do?

Not for nothing, but the staff at the ones I go to are almost always helpful and friendly. The stores are clean. The aisles are wide enough to get down with a cart. And the prices are seriously unbeatable. This is not to say I purchase everything at WalMart, but I do as much as I can there and save quite a bit of the green stuff. I bought a 4-cup coffee maker for $10. And it's a nice little stainless steel version that looks classy on the kitchen counter. I buy cute little separates there that I can wear to work - shirts for $10, dresses for $15-$20. Seriously. I mean, I love love love the Isaac Mizrahi line at Target, but $40 dresses are a little out of the family budget right now.

So what's the deal? Is WalMart a good thing? A bad thing? I know that one of the arguments is that they shut out the little mom and pop stores, but honestly, here on Long Island, there were few and far between those to begin with. And with gas rising, one-stop-shopping really makes a whole lot more sense.

3 comments:

Cakespy said...

I'm not sure. I don't go to Walmart much, but I think that is not in a "I don't go there" sort of way, but more because they're just not within my walking radius (I don't have a car). I know there's some talk of them being the Evil Empire (isn't there even a documentary on the subject?) but I am not sure.

Jay said...

People like to harp about big corporations, but when they're keeping money in our pockets, well, it's hard to resist.

Big Pissy said...

Wal-Mart is the only store we have here in Hell.

And I mean the ONLY one...

so...as much as I bitch about it...say I hate it..blah blah...I'd be lost without it.

And the prices ARE good.