Who’s With Me?
I have never been in love with Wal-Mart.
I don’t care for their yellow smiley face trademark, their GreatValue branding or the way they nudge out every small business in their vicinity.
But I could never be as self-righteous about the superstore as I would have liked. Because I kept shopping there.
Despite poor customer service. At. Every. Visit.
Despite low quality produce.
Despite long waits because only three of the thirty-four check out lines are ever open.
I think I have kept telling myself that their costs are lower. That it’s just so convenient to buy everything in one place.
That my options were limited.
But tonight, as I waited for more than forty minutes to take home a product I had already paid for in a site-to-store online purchase, I decided that I had finally had enough. (Yeah. I decided that. Just read my tweet.)
As I waited at the counter, three different employees passed me, ignored me and left me waiting. One sad little employee sat on a bench, clearly on her sad little dinner break, eating the saddest little dinner known to man – a bottle of Mountain Dew and a package of unnaturally orange Nab crackers – and she reached over to a switch of some sort, while chatting on her cell phone, and pushed a button and muttered words in my general direction, “That’ll get someone for ya’.”
And that was the turning point for me.
If I received that type of customer service at a restaurant, I’d complain to the manager and never dine there again.
If my friends treated me like that, we wouldn’t hang out for very long.
If my favorite clothing store made me wait that long, spoke in rudeness more often than not and delivered mediocre selections . . . well, it wouldn’t be my favorite clothing store.
So why am I still patronizing Wal-Mart?
I don’t know.
Is there some siren song that I cannot resist?
I’m just not sure.
But I am ready to find out.
So here I go.
I have heard of others doing this before. I’m not pretending to be original here.
My plan is thus . . . .
From today, March 1, 2010, until one month from today, April 1, 2010, I will not enter into a Wal-Mart store to make a purchase. I will not spend my money on any item within its doors.
That is my pledge.
So.
Who’s with me?
(Seriously. Who’s with me?)
32 Comments
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Carlyn
I haven't stepped foot into a Wal-mart for like 7 years. I have no children and coupon clipping is obviously much easier for me but still I stand tall. 7 years ago I was a Senior in High School they tried to put a wal-mart on my grandmothers land by acting like snakes. I did research. I protested. We won. I will try to never give them a dollar. __p.s I love your blog it makes motherhood not so scary to common newlyweds like myself 🙂
laceykeigley
Oh – I would love to hear more about that story.
Sounds pretty exciting!
And thanks for reading!
abbey
Sarah and I were in Walmart in Roanoke this past week and I had an anxiety attack. Seriously. Walmart makes me queasy sometimes. I avoided it for like a year once. (Because mostly I was avoiding the anxiety attacks.) Lately, i have been going because their formula is so darn cheap – The Parent's Choice brand.
I suppose I could try again for another year.
wordsfromwise
I have ALWAYS disliked Wal-mart for the same reasons you stated earlier and more.
The bad service and questionable quality of their products just isn't worth what we pay for it… but another huge turn off is how the corporation is run, how they actually get their goods to our country and in our stores, and what countries this stuff is made in.
So I will join you on your quest…. in fact I won't be shopping there unless I absolutely have to.
As I was thinking about this I realized how much Wal-Mart has affected our world….. Wal-Mart has brainwashed our entire world. Seriously. And there is even one in China. Yes. China. I know, cause I've been there!! And even the Chinese believe that Wal-mart has the lowest prices…. ugh
LaceyKeigley
Yeah – I think I will make it my goal to find out some more those serious reasons to dislike Wal-Mart.
And – too sad for China – eh??
wordsfromwise
yeah…. especially when the Chinese people are some of those most affected by many of these big corporations uses of sweat shops. Pretty much everything sold in America is made in China.
Wal-Mart denies the use of these types of shops but I have also been to some of these shops while we were in China….. and they were making brands Wal-Mart sells… it was just another sweat shop… what's sad is that to the people I met and saw working in these shops, this is just life and those shops may be their only way of earning a living.
cindyheaden
There is no Target in Martinsville/Henry County, but since Aldi opened a store here, I have managed to go to Wal-Mart only once or twice a month and then just to get a handful of items I can't find at Aldi (and am too lazy to search for elsewhere!!!). Maybe, just maybe, your challenge will motivate me to get off my behind and look for those few items at some other local stores ;0)
jenny rollins
wow Lacey, I am with you all the way on this…..I hope you get this since, as you well know, us old fogeys barely know how to send e-mail, let alont 'tweet'. Is there a Target store near you? It's similar, but still more like Wal-Mart used to be. I never have like the big super stores, they make me dizzy, but I understand the benefit of one-stop shopping. lol
jenny rollins
ok
LaceyKeigley
Hooray that you were able to comment!
And I do see the beauty of one-stop shopping, but I am willing to sacrifice that.
marion
You got it…I'm with you. Actually, I don't shop there anymore. When you live in a college town, the only good time to go to WalMart is at 2 in the morning, and it's just not worth it. And I share your opinion about their poor produce, crappy customer service, etc. I have found deals that are just as good by using coupons, and shopping sales. buh bye walmart.
Jessica S.
I would say I am with you, but that would be a false sense of gratification – Wal-Mart is just 2 miles down the road and I will drive 5 miles to get to the Target (huge distances I know), but still. I haven't been a faithful Wal-Mart shopper for years, but on the other hand that may be my loyalty to Target due to my years of employment at Target. But to add numbers to your cause I am in.
On a "more important" note, I am ecstatic to see you say "Nab crackers". No one ever knows what I am talking about and my husband just laughs everytime I say it. So thank you for supporting my cause, well ok not a true cause, but to know I am not alone.
LaceyKeigley
I full heartedly support false senses of gratification.
And I support calling cheap orange crackers Nabs.
You are not alone!
Chris
I have a query. I am un-educated in the field of the evil wal mart. I just go because it is near, and I dont go often because I have no money! You do give a second option as target. I have always considered them nearly the same thing. What is the difference in the two? Convince me while I am young Lacey.
laceykeigley
Well. Chris.
So glad you asked.
For me, at this point, it’s all about two things – customer service and product.
I have rarely (if ever) received kind, helpful customer service at Wal-Mart. The same cannot be said of Target.
The items I purchase at Target seem better.
I may be wrong.
It is possible.
I think in trying to do EVERYTHING, Wal-Mart does little well. Target seems to focus more on non-grocery items.
I should actually pursue shopping at more local establishments in every direction to support the little man and the local economy in a more positive manner.
Don’t worry Chris – we’ll chat more.
Kristie
Oh my goodness…I had that SAME EXACT "site to store" experience! I couldn't believe all the people that walked by me and IGNORED me standing at the counter – waiting for HELP! It was unbelievable.
LaceyKeigley
ridiculous – isn't it?
nate
Oh captain my captain!!! Love it. I'm with you.
Walmart is absolutely soul crushing. not to mention that Jenn and I unnaffectionately call it "the lowest common denominator."
LaceyKeigley
This is like a double victory for me.
You're quoting Whitman and you are agreeing with me.
I will be recording this moment in my journal later.
Sarah W.
Lacey, I can't stand Wal-Mart either. We probably only go there only once a year…
LaceyKeigley
Once a year – you already rock then!
Kevin Keigley
Does this mean that I can't shop at Wal-Mart too? Since you are making the stand, am I, by default, a part of your boycott as well or can I get Where the Wild Things Are today? It does come out today. I guess I could buy it at a gas station and pay $50 for it. Is that okay? I will pay more to support the cause…again, if by default I am a part of it.
LaceyKeigley
I will not require you to join me, of course. (Please see Eric Miller's comment on facebook, however.)
But – you know . . . . there is this other store. It's called Target.
Oh – and amazon.com too.
Which, in fact, is probably the best option, except for the slightly delayed gratification aspect, because if you click through my page here – then WE make money and that helps our whole family – right?
See how easy that was?
Now, don't you WANT to join my forces?
Sally
YES! I pledged not to go there again, in January…and went in yesterday. For a printer cartridge. sigh… Time to push Reset.
LaceyKeigley
We can do this – I know that you have tried. I wanted to commit then but was unmotivated. Now I'm not. We can shop of Staples for hat printer ink, we can!
Amy
It's a wretch of a place, I say.
Problem is, my both of the nearby K-marts went out of business. I'm gonna try though! It may just be the most refreshing month of my life…..
LaceyKeigley
It is more difficult when you live in a rural place.
But I have faith in you Amy. I have faith!
@DavidBuckner
Not sure why this would be a struggle for you Ace.
Is it suspiciously like caffeine for you or something?
You don't realize you're addicted until you try to go without.
You should keep a "Wal-Mart temptation tally" during the month of March.
Then do a cross analysis of the causes for the temptations.
Thus finding the true source of this undesirable (for some) & stealthy Wal-Mart addiction.
LaceyKeigley
Yes, I'll start a tally and see when the problem arises most frequently.
Now . . .
are you in or not?
nikkie
girl, i'm with ya. actually, i've been there for a while. unless it's an emergency…..i mean an EMERGENCY…..i avoid walmart at. all. costs.
good choice.
ps….love your blog and you are so right~we have one or two things in common.
LaceyKeigley
Oh – Nikkie, I am so glad to see your name here. Thank you so much for taking the time to read here – it means a lot. (Isn't God funny?)
As for Wal-Mart, I guess we have to define emergency – huh? 🙂