This week a reader asked me why, if I am The Frugal Girl, I don’t shop for groceries at the store that has “Always Low Prices!” as its slogan. That’s certainly a fair question, given that Walmart has a reputation for being a money-saving place to shop.
I rarely set foot in Walmart (usually only on vacation, when I have to get by without my beloved Aldi!), and it’s not because of some strong commitment to ethical shopping, though I understand the downsides of their business model. No, I avoid shopping at Walmart mostly because I don’t like shopping at Walmart, and because I can save more money on my grocery bill by employing other frugal strategies.
Here are a few things I dislike about Walmart.
- The store is enormous. I know that this is one of its selling points (you can buy motor oil and cilantro at the same store! Woo!) but I loathe the size of Walmart’s stores. If you’re buying orange juice and then remember you want some bar soap too, you have to trek all the way across the store to do so. This is no big deal if you shop by yourself, I guess, but when I have all four kids with me, the last thing I want to do is traipse around a huge store. Aldi and most other grocery stores are much less overwhelming in size.
- It’s really, really busy. I hate shopping with crowds, I hate waiting in long lines at the register, and I hate having to park a half mile from the store (again, I don’t hate walking, but walking through crowded parking lots with my 4 kids makes me very nervous, as other drivers are less than careful sometimes). At Aldi and Weis, and I can always find a close parking place, the aisles are not crowded, and I hardly ever have to wait in the check-out line for more than a few minutes.
- The prices aren’t overwhelmingly cheap. Of course, items are less expensive than they’d be at a nice grocery chain, but Walmart’s prices are not nearly as low as Aldi’s prices are. And even at a regular grocery store I can often find deals that beat Walmart’s deals simply by buying the items that are on loss-leader or similar sales. I know Walmart offers a price-matching policy, where they’ll give you the sale price on an identical item if you bring in the flyer from a local grocery store, but this is a major hassle both for me and for the cashier and I am not remotely tempted to incorporate this into my weekly shopping trip.
I suppose you could say that both my dislike of Walmart and my love for Aldi basically stems from the fact that I prefer to keep things simple and low-key. Walmart is huge and hectic, whereas Aldi is small and simple. I like that there is one brand of milk at Aldi, one jumbo pack of toilet paper, one brand of butter, and so on. Because Aldi stocks a limited number of items, I don’t have to stand there calculating pi to the 20th place in order to find the best deal on toilet paper…I just buy the multi-pack and move on. And because they stock a limited variety of items, their store is delightfully small. If I get to the end of the store and remember I forgot something in the first aisle, it’s no big deal. You can only get so far away from the first aisle in such a small store!
I know I said I don’t avoid Walmart on ethical grounds, but I do feel more comfortable supporting Aldi than I do supporting Walmart. Aldi’s pared-down business plan allows them to hire fewer employees, which means they can pay them fairly well. Also, their money-saving model causes them to be more environmentally friendly than most stores…they stock only foods that sell well so that they don’t have to waste food (this, of course, earns them points with me!), they employ energy-saving measures in their stores, and they don’t give disposable bags away (they sell paper bags, which encourages people to bring their own bags. I bring cloth ones with me each week).
p.s. I would be remiss if I ended this post without acknowledging that my avoidance of Walmart comes from a place of privilege. I don’t live in an upscale area (it’s not that kind of privilege!), but I happen to live in what you might call grocery shopping heaven…there are two Walmarts nearby, of course, but there are also about 10 other grocery stores within 5 miles of my house, which means that I have the luxury of choosing exactly where I want to shop. I know not everyone has the plethora of choices I do, and that in many places, Walmart is the only place to shop.
So, what do you think of shopping at Walmart? Love it? Hate it?
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I generally only go to Wal-Mart as a last resort (if I need an ingredient I haven’t found elsewhere) or if it’s 3 a.m. and I’m baking (my way to de-stress) and need something. Otherwise, I too am not a fan of the crowds. And another random thing, in most grocery stores, their produce and freezer sections are cold, but the rest of the store is okay. I’ve found that Wal-Mart is cold all over, and my poor little veins hate it! Random, but something I always have to keep in mind if I don’t want to ache from the cold.
You know, that’s another nice thing about Aldi. They have doors and lids on almost all of their refrigerated/freezer sections (to save energy), which means you don’t have to experience a blast of cold air when you’re buying milk and eggs.
I totally agree with you. Wal-Mart is COLD, overcrowded, too big and too convenient. Most times, I go with a list…toilet paper, syrup, tomato paste…and walk out with that cute little shirt that cost $3 and a box of cheezits in addition to “my list”. I have not been to an Aldi yet, but I’ve just moved to an area where I think I can find one! I’ll try it out.
I used to love Aldi when we lived in Germany. Unfortunately we don’t have one here in Huntsville. I hope they expand their locations.
Aldi’s is my go-to store for staples – flour, sugar, butter, chocolate chips and graham crackers. I heart that they’ve started that Fit & Healthy line, and they have giant fudge bars that rival WW’s flavor, if not the price. However, it’s my second choice. I usually hit the loss leaders at Meijer, since they double coupons. I’m also much more impressed with Meijer’s produce. And, after a bad experience many years ago with Aldi’s sausage, I have a hard time buying meat there. As for Walmart, um, you’re right. It’s brilliant for them to place the shampoos/soaps on the other side of the store from the groceries, because I’m sure those extra steps we make past the books and clothing boost impulse buys, but for me it’s just an irritant. I’ll be happy to use their Site to Store if it’s the best deal on a particular item, though. The bottom line is, it’s all about saving money. Realizing WM wasn’t the be-all and end-all of frugality was a lesson a long time coming. You believe what you hear (“Always Low Prices”), and it’s hard to chisel through the hype.
Living in a rural area, my grocery stores are limited. Walmart is usually it, although
I would much prefer a “real” grocery store. I don’t like that Walmart doesn’t pay their employees well.
I second the hugeness of Wal-Mart. Definitely not a fan. In my little Fareway I can get everything without having a panic attack. They offer carry-to-your-car service which is a good option for people juggling a lot of kids, or enough groceries to feed a lot of kids.
They also offer a low-price guarantee, so even if I can get an item cheaper elsewhere, they will match it. So why bother chasing around for the lowest price?
So yeah, Wal-mart is reserved for late-night emergencies, which I don’t have many of because I meal-plan.
Fareway was awesome, we had one when we lived in Iowa. Miss that store!
I understand your point of view. We moved from So. CA to Wal-Mart country almost 4 years ago and my, it was a shock. Early on I really missed my upscale grocery stores and it took some time to get “climate-ized” to shopping at Wal-Mart, and a super center nonetheless (happens to be closest to our home). But now that I know the layout of the store (and yes, it’s huge), and for our area, is much more affordable than the other grocery store chain, I continue to shop at Wal-Mart. It is what it is, as many things in life are.
Kristen, Thanks for answering my question!! i really appreciate your time and experience. I would really like to limit my Walmart excursions to a minimum. The temptation of buying things we don’t need is always an issue there. I am trying to decide what my better choices are. I live in a small town and the choices are few. The Aldi is about 25 minutes away. There is a Save-a-lot close by but it is not the best kept store. As far as the larger chains we have Food Lion and Shop n Save. I think I will try Aldi’s once a month, Save a lot the other 3 weeks and Food Lion for the “Brand” items I might need. I am curious to see how much this will impact my budget.
Even though there’s 6 grocery stores within 10 miles, we also shop at Aldi because of the prices and the limited selection. We sometimes shop at Super Walmart just because hubby works there and we get a discount
When we move to North Carolina sometime this year, the nearest Aldi will be like 40 min. south of where we’ll live and there’s like 2 Super Walmarts 30 min. north. We’ll still be going to Aldi, even though not every week to save on gas. Maybe have like a bi-weekly shopping trip.
We almost never go to Wal-Mart, which I’d like to say was a conscious ethical decision, but really is just because DH and I both dislike it there, and because, unlike most people in the U.S, it seems, we don’t have one nearby.
I agree about the size. Especially being 9 months pregnant now, I really, really appreciate how small Aldi is. I can actually manage a shopping trip without feeling like aI need a two-hour nap when I’m done. When we do our big shopping at Meijer, there is so much walking around and, as you mentioned, having to trek across the store for a forgotten item, that I am pretty much done for the day after shopping.
I’ve tried to stop shopping Wal-Mart more for ethical reasons now, though I am happy to hear they have models in place for more eco-friendly stores and practices. I am trying to give more of my business to smaller stores that are local and have a hard time competing with Wal-Mart. I usually go to Giant Eagle for hard to find, specialty items and use their weekly circular to find good sales. I also like Giant Eagle because the way their check out is set up allows me to easily give the ‘bag boy’ my own bags, rather than at Wal-Mart where the carosels make it difficult. There is an Aldi and Sav-A-Lot in the area that I will use as well depending on my needs. I do usually end up at Wal-Mart to buy a few items I can’t get at the other places like whole wheat flour and some frozen pretzels that I can’t find anywhere else.
I can totally understand not wanting to cart 4 chilren around a huge store, and Alid’s are nice and compact!
I live in an area with limited options on grocery stores – a small local market, couple of chain stores, and a Walmart. I do my weekly shopping at the small store that still has packers that carry the bags out for you. Their prices are a good deal lower than the other super market chains in the area and sales prices compete with Walmart’s every day prices – except for paper products and household cleaning items. Those I continue to purchase at Walmart as needed or at Sam’s Club on a quarterly basis when we travel out of town to see a specialist.
One thing I don’t understand about the Walmart complainers is if Walmart’s pay is that low – why are there some many workers that have been there easily 10 plus years at my local one???
I used to work at Walmart, and I think I can answer your question about pay. I don’t think they pay that much lower than any other grocery store or other similar job. In fact, when I worked in Alabama the minimum wage was just under $6 and hour and I got $9.
I think the reason those people work there for a long time is because they continue to get raises every year, Walmart does have good quarterly bonuses, and, maybe, they just don’t have anywhere else they are qualified to go to. With paid vacation for fulltime people, why would they start over somewhere else?
That’s just my experience, anyway.
What a great question! I do not like Walmart for groceries either. Same reasons apply, too big, too crowded. We tried to do grocery shopping one time, thinking we would save money. But did not like it. I’ll go to Target once in a while but not for all my groceries, only when several of our items are on sale.
We have a Wal Mart and Safeway only in our area and we prefer to use Safeway the Wal Mart in our area is huge (superstore), it HOT not cold, and the first 5 days of the month there is absolutely no way you can maneuver the isles there are so many people there, although Safeway is more expensive with coupons I can usually get good prices on sale items
Oh, I agree with you about avoiding Walmart! I used to go there because their prices were cheaper, but I would find that I’d stop in for one or two things and then end up spending $100 in toiletries, home goods, etc. It seemed that since I thought the prices were good, I would buy unnecessary items. Now I just go to CVS or RiteAid for, say, just deodarent or toothpaste, and leave with just that. Even if the price for those one or two items cost more, I spend less.
Also, I can’t deal with the inconsiderate people and unruly kids that seem to be at Walmart. I have no problem at all with people who take 4 well-behaved kids shopping – actually, I’m really impressed! But it seems like in Walmart especially people let their kids run wild, and it’s so annoying! That, and the people who take their giant carts and leave them in the middle of the aisles, and then give you a dirty look when you excuse yourself and ask them to move over… Oh boy, I am getting the heebie jeebies just thinking about it!
Kristen,
I pretty much limit my shopping at Walmart to when I need multiple items that I would otherwise need to get at separate stores (motor oil and cilantro).
I have access to a military commissary which is the lowest prices around (40-60% discount). I do the bulk of my shopping there.
Ironically enough, there is a Super Walmart and Aldi across the street from each other. There is another grocer chain around the corner from me. If I need something between commissary visits, I’ll probably go there.
But, like you….I detest the long lines and lack of close parking at Wally World.
Aldi also has good employment benefits (at least that’s what I’ve heard). And I like the way they manage to keep stray shopping carts out of the parking lot with the quarter deposit…genius!
I normally shop at Walmart for everything except for meat. We recently had an Aldi to open here and I have only been there a couple of times. I am not a snob to off brands, but I wondered how the brands they have compare to the “walmart brand”. I am going to grocery shop there this week to do my own comparison. Thanks for posting this today!
I dispise shopping at wal-mart. I have a 2 year old daughter and a 6 month old daughter, and another girl on the way. I swear everytime we go there we leave with a cold! Even if we disinfect the buggy, use disinfectant wipes and foam on the kids before going in and when coming out, we all still get sick after a trip to wal-mart. Wal-mart is a HUGE store with PLENTY of registers, but they only seem to have 3 or 4 open no matter what time of day it is. Why have all those registers if you will only have 3 or 4 open? And the self check out lines are always filled with people who haven’t used it before and it seems to take forever. When you have two kids under the age of 3, and are already run down from being pregnant and chasing the kids all day, the last thing you want to do is stand in a long line while they whine and cry. It’s just too stressful. I will stick to my coupons, and Food-lion or Bi-lo. If Aldi were closer to my home, I would be shopping there instead.
I just wanted to say, I came across your story the other day on the 700 club and I really like your blog!
I guess I’m biased because we’re a Walmart family. My husband has worked there since I met him when we were in college. He started as a cart pusher/cashier and has moved up through the ranks from there. He has ALWAYS been paid better and had benefits I did not have when I was in equivilant positions at other well-known retailers. Walmart gets a lot of bad press on the “ethical side” when in reality they’re doing more to make themselves sustainable (ecologically and otherwise) and a good corporate partner than other stores that get good press for being so “green” and “employee friendly”. Most of that bad press comes from union groups that are irritated that Walmart doesn’t force unions upon its non-management employees.
As for shopping there — we are lucky to have what is known as “Neighborhood Markets” in our area. They’re new and basically just the grocery side of a Super Walmart. It’s much less crowded and similar to a Kroger or Giant Eagle type model but the prices are much lower, especially on items like cleaning supplies and pharmacy items. I don’t fool with coupons and b/c my husband is an employee we get an additional discount on taxed items (non-food and around the holidays we get the discount on everything). I don’t bite the hand that feeds, and with the extra discounts and convenience of shopping in a Neighborhood Market I’m a very happy Walmart shopper.
I don’t like the long lines or the crowds. It is annoying. I try to get most of my groceries on sale at my local grocery stores. I go to Walmart or Sams about once a month to stock up on can goods and other things.
I totally agree with you. My reasons for not shopping at Wal-Mart are mostly ethical (though, like you, I must acknowledge my privilege here–I’m not condemning anyone who shops at Wal-Mart, especially those who have no choice), though I also find that I just a) don’t like the store’s atmosphere and b) don’t find prices to be considerably cheaper.
I love Walmart, never have a problem ad matching Aldi ads (and the closest Aldi is three towns away). The cashiers have so many people ad match that they are familiar with what’s coming and rarely even ask to see the ad if I go later in the week. I used to drive to Aldi anyway, because you just can’t beat some of their prices, but I hated that I could never find everything I needed and ended up at Walmart anyway! I usually go to Aldi about 2 times a year and stock up on canned items. Last summer I started gettting produce at the farmers market and my garden and canning it myself (from jars bought at 2nd hand stores-woot!), so now I really only have a need for Aldi about once a year. I also like that Walmart brings in nearly 50% of their produce from local growers-if feels good to support the little guys even when I’m shopping at the big guy.
I do not like shopping at walmart. They are not that cheap. And thier employees are not friendly. I feel if I’m supporting someones salary, they need to be helpful and friendly.I do get thier loss leaders if I have a coupon and I get the item for free. I currently travel 30 minutes out of my way to shop at Winco. Their prices are low and have a great bulk food dept. That way I only buy what I need and no waste:) Wich they had Aidi’s(mispelled) on the west coast. Thanks Kristin for your thots!
I live in Canada, across the border from Michigan, and I admit that I’m a walmart shopper but mainly for items like shampoo, soap, etc. The walmart near me is crowded but clean, the staff is pleasant, and many of their grocery prices are competitive. However, the walmart’s I’ve visited in Michigan are the complete opposite – unhappy looking workers, the store’s messy, nothing in stock, etc. So i’m guessing a person’s experience will vary depending on the store.
I’ve not shopped Walmart for 5+ years. I don’t miss it one bit! That was one step we took in getting out of debt. Like you said it’s too big, for me it has WAY too many options, and we would often just go there to buy things because we were bore. Other than Walmart we only have 2 other grocery stores, one that thinks they are the only place to shop on the planet (and their prices show it…they are expensive) and Save-A-Lot, which is my preference to do my grocery shopping, as there are less options and I don’t usually get tempted to buy things I don’t need. I buy everything at one of these 2 stores, non food items included. I also avoid Walgreens and other bigger stores like Target, for some of the same reasons we don’t shop Walmart. I prefer to shop as locally as possible…..mom & pop stores are the BEST! (even if I spend a little more.)
I have a Walmart about fifteen minutes away, which here is one town and a ridiculous hill that burns up gas like my little compact is an SUV. I don’t usually shop there, due to said hill, as well as your list as well – especially the hugeness of it and how tempting it is to look through clothes, or fabric as well while I’m there.
I finally bucked up and did a price comparison, and once gas was factored in I saved less than $2 per trip, which I usually go one once every week or two. Granted, that adds up eventually, but I’ve decided to shop in my town unless I’m already in Walmart’s area – our local Savemart is much smaller and easier to navigate, and I generally feel better about shopping there than at Walmart. That feeling might change once we get our supercenter about 5 minutes from here and minus the big hill, so we’ll see.
^that should have the word “away” at the end of the last sentence.
I do all I can to avoid Walmart, but I still shop at Sam’s some (business membership, I pick my things up when I get my work’s things). I can not handle the crowds, noise, wait, sheer size of the store and quantity of choices. It’s overwhelming to the senses and is more choas then I prefer. I’m fortunate to have two bent and dents close to us that have really helped to feel the gap (organics are always so cheap there, they don’t know the brands!!). That along with the farmers market, local health food store, amazon on occasion, local “yard” eggs, and our own garden we are doing ok.
Our Walmart doesn’t carry local produce either, I seldom find things not in a package from the usa, let alone our state. Sad.
How funny! I’ve never even heard of Aldi before today but I looked on their website and it looks like there is one a couple of miles from me. I will definitely have to check that out!
There are 6 grocery stores within 5 miles of my home. There is a small Walmart neighborhood store about 7 or 8 miles away. I only stop there if I just happen to be near there and need something. If it were closer to the house, I might consider it in my normal shopping. As it is, keeping up with the sales at 6 stores is enough.
I do not like to shot at WalMart.
My primary reason is ethical: I don’t like the way WalMart treats its employees. Discrimination, split shifts, lack of training, inadequate staffing and all its resulting problems, did I mention discrimination?
My secondary reasons are personal: the store is too darn large so it takes a long time to learn what’s where, and it’s too easy to buy things I didn’t intend to buy.
What groups does Wal-Mart descriminate against? I’m not asking because I disagree, I’m just curious. At the two Wal-Marts I’ve been to most, they seem to have a variety of races and ages working there. Not to mention people with disabilities such as those in wheelchairs, etc. Is this just a regional thing?
I don’t know if this is what William is referencing, but they were the subjects of the largest class action lawsuit in history for paying female workers far, grossly far, less than their male counterparts.
And not just one or two stores- it was a company wide thing.
I have to say, the lines and customer service at WalMart is enough to keep me away. I have to say, Aldi’s quality can be disappointing…enough that I haven’t been back. I know a lot of people who swear by Aldi, maybe I’ll try again.
Do you not take your own bags when you go shopping, you have a lot of plastic bags in your boot.
Ohh, I do! That picture is from our grocery shopping trip on vacation, when I didn’t have my reusable bags available (I did actually bring them on vacation, but they were packed with stuff…I use them as luggage bags!). Every other shopping trip of the year, I bring my own bags.
We also mostly avoid WM for similar reasons – size, crowds, register lines. I am spoiled though, by living in a big city. I have at least 7 options in a 3 mile radius, and even more as I go outward. We have found that some things at WM are less expensive, but generally we can save more by shopping the adds and using our coupons (we have found that our Target sells tea varieties for less than any other store…at their regular price, so even less with a coupon – I am always cold and a big hot tea drinker). We really need to do a price book.
I try not to shop at Walmart for personal reasons…I know that if I go into walmart with my husband and kids then I will easily have double or triple the amount of things that I needed. Times that I go alone, I hate how large the stores are, the lack of employee help (especially when you go for something that is locked up like an electronic item), the overall rudeness of employees and other customers. It is not worth my aggrevation. I also have found that the prices of many of the staples that I buy for our family can be bought cheaper at Kroger or Meijer or even Target (which is not a superTarget, just a regular one). Typically the only time that I feel I have to go Walmart for shopping is when I am going to get a present and I don’t even go into the food part of the store if I can help it.
I am blessed to live within 10 minutes of Kroger, Target, Walmart, Meijer, Giant Eagle, and Aldi. I choose to go to Kroger mainly because with their sales and produce I find the best bargains for what I buy my family. I do shop at Aldi once or twice a month to stock up on canned veggies, frozen waffles and a couple other things. I had to slowly convert my husband into allowing the Aldi shopping as he didn’t like the stores he had been in before, but I have slowly converted him into an Aldi believer.
When the WalMart supercenter opened in our town, I shopped it. It was cheap. Lots cheaper than the 3 other grocery stores (I’m not kidding – 3 grocery stores in a town of 40,000+ — Dillon’s by Kroger, Food 4 Less and Aldi). Within the last 6 mos. a HyVee store has opened and finally brought some competition to town. Dillon’s (my fave) has lowered their prices, added to their selection and is currently making improvements. Now I’m back to being a regular shopper at Dillon’s and I love it. I only venture to WalMart for non-food items as they are way cheaper there. My list is short when I go to WalMart and I only have to shop 1/2 of the store so it doesn’t take me long — in and out. Period. WalMart is a killer on the finances if you shop w/out a list and wander throughout the entire store!
Interesting note about Aldi’s — I’ve shopped it before and I don’t mind it. I always found it a hassle to need cash but since I’ve gone to an all cash grocery budget since late Dec. 09, I may need to go again and re-visit it. Thanks for the nudge. Also, we hosted a foreign exchange student in 2006-2007 who was from Germany. She was thrilled to see Aldi’s as that is their main grocery store in Germany….the upscale grocery store! Who knew?
Here’s an interesting read about WalMart’s recent produce initiative. We must admit that big box retailers can have a huge impact on the general population.
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/201003/walmart-local-produce
I do the majority of our shopping at Walmart, but I have to say that after seeing your photo above, I shuddered. That’s my life!
I do find the best prices for the things we need there and it is convenient to my house. We do have several other options for shopping in our area, but their prices are WAY too high. I also go to Aldi about once a month for staples like butter, sugar, flour, cream cheese etc.
I do not like the meat at Aldi or Walmart. The bulk of our meat purchases come from watching ads like a hawk and then pouncing on a good deal. I stock up and freeze. Meijer also has great deals on discounted meats each week, but you have to time it just right.
I totally see your point about shopping in such a large and crazy store with 4 kids. I’m lucky enough to do the bulk of our shopping while the oldest is in school, which leaves me with only one 2 year old to wrangle.
Great post…nice to see what everyone’s opinions are and how they deal with shopping.
I actually do most of our shopping at Walmart and the local farmers market. It is convenient for us, and try as I may, I’m not much of a coupon clipper!
They also are much more environmentally friendly than many people think. If you happen to be there again, take a look at some of their packaging (only concentrated laundry detergent for example), their “Locally grown” produce signs, their brand clothing made from “transitional” fields (to encourage farmers to transition to organic) and the sheer number of “made in USA” products that they have.
They are also the first large company to start requiring their suppliers to show a “chain” of production so consumers know what really went into that “organic” product.
I think its fabulous and should be applauded that a retail giant has realized the importance of sustainability. They have to potential to reach a vast number of people who otherwise may not have ever been concerned about being “green”. I only wish that they would stop with the plastic bags all together…no matter how much everyone would whine and complain about having to pay for them
USA today article on Wal-Mart Sustainability.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2006-09-24-wal-mart-cover-usat_x.htm
Love your comments. Aldi is the closest grocery store near me. Although I must admit, I go to a local (not close) ethnic store Valle Produce 5 miles away. It has the ethnic variety of Italian, Asian and Spanish items that are staples for dinner at my house. And of course, my beloved Trader Joe’s. I do this because I am sensitive to many food additives and it has affected my health. So I need organic and such.. I do know that Traders owns Aldi or vice-versa.
You are so informative and rational about your reasons on shopping Aldi. Where are you getting this info. Sorry to sound so stupid, just wondering, since I know how busy you are. Well, I am a new Frugal Gal fan and will enjoy your insights through this journey called life.
In Him.
HATE IT! I don’t generally us “hate” but I am ok with it in this instance. I can’t get out of there in less than 3 hours. It shouldn’t take 3 hours to grocery shop! When our Walmart first became a Super store. I thought, how great – one stop shop right? BOO! I ended up abandoning my cart in the checkout line after 3 hours of fighting the crowds in the isle sand standing in line in the checkout with the slowest person checking out. AAAHHH! Haven’t been back since. I am not blessed with an Aldi so I don’t really know what that’s all about but I shop Giant. It’s the best grocery store around me in terms of quality and cost. Plus, while giant is a chain of sorts, it is personal enough that they know me there. I like when I am remembered!
OK…so I just went on Aldi’s website…guess what? I have an Aldi! May have to check it out!
I agree with you whole-heartedly! I also live by numerous amounts of grocery stores, including 2 Walmarts. I don’t like to go into Walmart because there are SO many temptations for me there. If I go for groceries, then I’m sure that I’d look at the clothes, then remember to get something for the bathroom, etc. I ONLY go there if I can get some free items, is that cheap of me?
Wal-Mart has ruined scores of local businesses and decimated small towns throughout this country. They go into towns, receive tax incentives for opening stores, put the local businesses out of business, then pay their workers pathetic wages – their employees are actually encouraged to go on welfare to supplement their meager incomes (which ends up costing the taxpayers money!) Sure there might be some cheerful long-term employees, but Wal-Mart is absolutely notorious for their violations of labor laws. They might have some “eco” packaging and locally grown produce – but this is somewhat akin to McDonald’s offering up baby carrots in their Happy Meals. Good press, but irrelevant in the larger scheme. Sorry to rant – this is something I feel so passionate about! It IS possible to shop frugally AND ethically. Even Costco is actually a much more ethical choice on a number of levels – they treat their employees far better, have rigorous health requirements for the meat they purchase, etc. I wish we had an Aldi’s here, but Trader Joe’s is pretty handy for most of my purchases.
There is only one Wal-Mart in all of Portland, and every time Wal-Mart tries to build a store, the city and local communities successfully block it.
An interesting read is Barbara Ehrenreich “Nickel and Dimed: On Not Getting By in America.” In this book, the author worked a number of different low income jobs, and shows how it’s almost next to impossible to get ahead on minimum wage. One of the jobs that she took was at a Wal Mart. It doesn’t out-and-out bash Wal Mart, (which would be easy) as much as spell out how Wal Mart’s business practices are different, and how that affects the employees.
I used to go to Wal Mart when I lived in Albuquerque and I thought it was great fun. Sooo cheap! Sooo much to look at! Of course, this was before I had kids and when their schtick was how their merchandise was made in the U.S.A.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
Katy, I’m so glad you mentioned this book. I read it several years ago and learned a lot. It strengthened my resolve to never shop at Wal Mart. In addition to those issues mentioned in the book and their effect on “Mom and Pop” shops, I’m also so sick of their recent “greenwashing” campaign. I shop at our amazing local chain, Puget Sound Consumer Co-op here in the Seattle area. Also, Costco’s HQ is located 10 minutes away from my house and I know they treat their employees better.
P.S. I also shop at Trader Joe’s about 2 times per month, and also at a local small grocery store a couple of times a month because I can walk there from my house and I don’t want them to go out of business! As a vegetarian (85% vegan) eco freak, it’s really hard for me to find much to eat in a conventional grocery store. At the moment I am reading Jonathan Safran Foer’s “Eating Animals”, which will make you think twice before buying meat from a conventional factory farm at ANY grocery store in America. It is beyond horrifying.
I personally HATE walmart and don’t think they are that much cheaper than other places. Once in a while they might have a good deal on something but in order to not be trampled to death for the product, I have to go there at like 4am which is unappealing to me. Also, it is too big, too much, too much everything!
As a Canadian, I am not a fan of Walmart at all. They seem to kill all the small timers around here but a lot of people love them. I make a point of staying away.
I also loathe the idea of buying shoes and pickels in the same place. I don’t know why but I just do. That is my two cents. I also heard that Target is coming to Canada in 3 years. Also, not a fan. Too big, too much and will be competing with too many other stores here. I am not pleased with the idea.
I shop Wal-mart..my only other choices are Publix & Kroger…Wal-mart has their cost per calculations posted on every item at my store, so you dont have to pull your calculator out!
Jennifer (assuming you’re in the US) all grocery stores are required to post unit prices. Stores do play a bit, using per ounce on one size and per lb on another, but the law is quite clear.
Ha, ha, ha today I recived my new Walmart credit card and I am ready to go to shop, but reading your article I am going to think twice. My husband hate how long time I take admiring everything in the store, everything looks nice…I finish buying things what I don’t need. My Aldi is like 35 minutes from my home
I LOVE Aldi, but since I moved to Florida, we no longer have one nearby. The closest one is about 1 hour away. I’ve debated if it’s worth it to drive up there once a month to shop for staples/pantry items. I miss it dearly!
what about sam’s or costcos. I stopped going to walmart regularly and only rarely go. My neighborhood supermarket won me by sending store coupons and they have double coupons everyday under .50. they love when I send them opinions about their store. I do hate going to the store periodically for a staple item like flour or cheese. i love certain items in bulk what about you.
I concur with you on every point! The store is huge and I do not go there unless that is the onlyh place I can get what I want. It is always crowded and forever dirty and messy.
I would rather pay a higher price than shop at the big Super Walmart in Stockton, CA.
No Aldi’s where I live, but I’d love to check one out someday
For now, it’s Walmart for me! Have any other alternative store ideas besides Aldi’s?
I have to say, I am a Wal-Mart shopper. I like Wal-Mart. However, I also have to say, my family and I have mostly lived in smaller towns, through the years, that do not have a lot of options. Locally, now, we have a United Supermarket and a Wal-Mart Super Center. While I understand what you are saying about the hassle of the enormous size of Wal-Mart and how difficult it is to drag four kids around (I have four of my own), I also remember that it was a much bigger hassle to drag my kids to more than one store, just to save a few cents on a can of beans. To me the convenience of “one-stop shopping”, outweighs any of the negatives. I also understand some of the other girls comments that shopping at Wal-Mart causes them to spend too much time or too much money, which I agree can be true and has been true for me in the past. I think that anywhere you shop can be a disaster, however, if you don’t have a list and stick to it. To be fair with what some are saying about the crowds, I do have to say that is one thing I really don’t like about Wal-Mart. We happen to live in a smaller town with a pop. of about 13,000 and our own Wal-Mart. We live just 15 minutes south of a town of about 400,000. I HATE shopping in the WM’s in the larger town near us for that very reason – crowds. It is a pain finding a parking place and a pain getting past all the people in the store. I am very fortunate that the local WM has a much different vibe and is much less crowded. And I can usually find things, seasonal/holiday items, that the larger town stores have run out of. I also want to say that our local grocery store, United, is a VERY pleasant place to shop. Very friendly, clean and well managed. I will shop there on occasion, if I am in a hurry and only need a few items, and need to get in and out quick. The main drawback is that their prices can be a lot higher than what I would pay at Wal-Mart. All that being said, I think it is all a matter of perspective. Every Wal-Mart is not the same and every local grocery store is not the same. Friendliness, price and convenience is varied from location to location, just as personal preference is varied from person to person.
I have an Aldi near me.. but I’ve never gone. You’ve inspired me.
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