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Originally Posted by subparplasma I made your post a bit more concise.

Well, I guess I have to agree with your addition!

Originally Posted by sarausagi Ugh. Wal-Mart bashers are a bunch of idiots. I don't want to get into a "mom and pop" debate, but, here are some key points... 1. Wal-Mart doesn't ridiculously overprice merchandise. New release DVD's are $14 the first days. Cell phone batteries [if they have them in stock] cost at the most $20, not the $60 that Best Buy and Radio Shack charge. Over the counter medicines are cheap, not blown up like at Walgreen's. Socks don't cost $10 a pair. 2. Wal-Mart may have a reputation but I've been to several Wal-Marts and frequently buy unrated DVD's, and notice that there are lots of M rated games and hip hop/metal CD's all in their unedited forms [by the way, why are these usually the only CD's that require editing...hmm? = )] 3. Wal-Mart will happily price match if someone beats them, they won't mind honoring coupons or mail in rebates, they'll try to help you as much as possible with returns even after the warranty period or what not [for example, when PS2 had disc read errors, if the serial on your receipt matched up with the serial on your box and the serial on your console, you'd get a replacement no questions ask..or store credit if you desired it] 4. Target caters to a certain demographic only. And I'll prove this through a few examples. My Target has an entire aisle of TV on DVD [Sex and the City, Gilmore Girls, CSI, etc] but got rid of their anime section [like all Targets] and cut their action and family section in half, but made their baby/preschool section twice as large Yet at Wal-Mart, I'm able to buy every new volume of Fullmetal Alchemist and Ah My Goddess, there's a number of Jackie Chan films new, and if I want anything animated in the US, their kid's section is ample enough. My Target has a huge clothing section, much bigger than Wal-Mart's. Mind you, I don't buy clothes at Wal-Mart that often, but if I'm in an emergency and need a pair of jeans, Wal-Mart will have sizes above a 14. Target has sizes above 14, but guess where? In the kid's section, girls 14-18, not plus sizes. And according to my boyfriend, he can fit an XL polo in any brand and look good, but at Target, even a 2X sticks to his body and is way too short. Yet they have tons of "vintage" tees [read: cheap T-Shirts a five year old girl could rip apart] My Target has a whole section of MLB 06, a whole aisle of Gamecube, and 10 copies of We Love Katamari. But they never even got Grandia III [got it at Wal-Mart] or Tales of Eternia, didn't get anything Xenosaga until it went greatest hits, and didn't even bother to stock up on Street Fighter Alpha 3 for PSP. Oh, and their 20 copies of Nintendogs but not even one copy of Super Princess Peach.. But what annoys me more is half an aisle of soda, but two aisles of coffee and wine..if you can't figure out what demographic Target's trying to cater to...I'll tell you later. Then there's the truth of it all, Target and Walmart have two things in common: horrible customer service, there's only one difference though. As horrible as Wal-Mart's service is, it's helpful. Scenario one: you're looking for a game, guy never heard of it: Target you get brushed off with a dumb response. Walmart "let me ask the stocker or get the manager for you" Scenario two: you accidently bought a DVD fullscreen, you opened it unknowingly: Target, "you already opened it, unless it's defective, go away." Walmart, "okay, get the widescreen from electronics, come back here, and we'll swap it out" Scenario three: you bought something last night, but it results you don't need it, but you lost the receipt: Target, "sorry, we don't take returns without a receipt". Walmart,"okay, let me see your ID, but only for store credit, okay?" Really, people, there's a reason Wal-Mart is so huge, it's a good store if you can get past a few things. Besides, haven't you all ever noticed how eerily quiet Target is? No background noise, no people shopping happily, a drone white floored white walled white light empty space with pale lifeless people moving slowly contemplating the end of their existence while listening to their iPod and drinking Starbucks.

This is all opinions. Let me translate *in a redneck voice* Target be to gosh danr fancy for me. *spit tobacco*

Originally Posted by zionoverfire In a sense I sort of like Wal-Mart, it give the Hicks a place they can afford to shop which tends to keep them out of stores I frequent. That and for some reason they have the best selection of frozen hamburgers and cheese in town.

Does anyone else see the correlation between these two posts.

Originally Posted by zionoverfire In a sense I sort of like Wal-Mart, it give the Hicks a place they can afford to shop which tends to keep them out of stores I frequent. That and for some reason they have the best selection of frozen hamburgers and cheese in town.

Ha ha

See you first line!

Honestly someone post up here why the Healthcare is so bad? Someone that actually knows what they are talking about please. Not the heresay.

I have been in the healthcare industry for many years now and I sell Commercial Health insurance for a living. I have roughly a 5 million dollar book of business and my wife is a manager at Sams Club. I have seen what is offered and its Blue Cross with many options.

So someone please chime in and tell me why its so bad? I am looking forward to this debate. Maybe in others states?

Also since we know a few managers at Walmart they supposedly are changing their odering system and giving more control to the individual stores. So that stores can order merchandise that that fits their demographic to be more competitive.

The Unions have also manipulated their stories way above what the reality of the matter is. How is the Union helping the GM workers right now? Ford workers? All those jobs are going over seas.. GM in Lansing is shutting their plants down as we speak and this is as near the "motor city" as you can get.

On top of that these "ghost town" stories are a bit far fetched from what I can tell. Lets take for example Saint Johns Michigan... Walmart was there they wanted to go to a super walmart.... the city said OK but you must pave our roads build these sidewalks (keep in mind this wasnt even on the walmart property) you must pay for us to install the new sewer system or else we wont approve of it... Five years later Walmart told the city to get screwed and moved 2 miles south outside of the city limits and built their super walmart... Now the original building is vacant BUT 7 buildings have popped up around the super walmart. land value went through the roof. A meijers is now going in less than 5 minutes from walmart and its still growing....

The sad part is the city then tried to illegaly buy land across from walmart to make future builders pay tax. and just recently they got that overturned by the county judge and had to return the land.

Anyway just a few personal stories that are OPPOSITE of the typical bashing.. It almost reminds me of the Madden fans and the hardcore fans talking about each other BUT in the retail world.

*edited to clarify the vacant story. The super Walmart is there as of december 05 and thriving well.

On a lighter note this is worth the read its old but fun!

Subject: Passing The Time At Walmart!

Fifteen things to do at Wal Mart while your spouse/other half is taking
his/her sweet time:
1. Pick up condom packages & randomly put them in peoples carts when they
aren't looking.
2. Set all the alarm clocks in housewares to go off at 5 minute intervals.
3. Make a trail of tomato juice on the floor to the rest rooms.
4. Walk up to an employee and tell him/her in an official tone,'Code 3 in
housewares,'...and see what happens.
5. Go to the Service Desk and ask to put a bag of M&M's on lay away.
6. Move a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.
7. Set up a tent in the camping department and tell other shoppers you'll
only
invite them in if they bring pillows from the bedding department.
8. When a clerk asks if they can help you, begin to cry and ask 'Why can't
you people just leave me alone?
9. Look right into the security camera and use it as a mirror while you pick
your nose.
10. While handling guns in the hunting department ask the clerk if he knows
where the antidepressants are.
11. Dart around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the theme from
'Mission Impossible.'
12. In the auto department practice your Madonna look using different size
funnels.
13. Hide in the clothing rack and when people browse through say 'PICK ME!
PICK ME!!!!!!'
14. When an announcement comes over the loud speaker assume the fetal
position and scream 'NO! It's those voices again.' !
and last but not least,
15. Go into a fitting room and yell real loud We're out of toilet paper in
here!!

Originally Posted by Snake2715 On top of that these "ghost town" stories are a bit far fetched from what I can tell. Lets take for example Saint Johns Michigan... Walmart was there they wanted to go to a super walmart.... the city said OK but you must pave our roads build these sidewalks (keep in mind this wasnt even on the walmart property) you must pay for us to install the new sewer system or else we wont approve of it... Five years later Walmart told the city to get screwed and moved 2 miles south outside of the city limits and built their super walmart... Now that building is vacant BUT 7 buildings have popped up around the super walmart. land value went through the roof. A meijers is now going in less than 5 minutes from walmart and its still growing....

If most people in St. Johns are like my grandpa (which I think they are), I'm not surprised a Walmart couldn't survive there. No interest in a big superstore.

The wal-marts around me have become the new K-marts. Whenever you need something, it's out of stock. Shopping carts and trash litter the parking lots. You can NEVER find someone in a department to help you. If you do manage to find an employee passing by, he/she just says "that's not my department" and walks off. The aisles are incredibly small, and they provide you with big-ass shopping carts that make it nearly impossible for opposing traffic to cross. The cashiers are even typically rude. I now take my business elsewhere whenever possible. As others have stated, it's a much more pleasant shopping experience at k-mart, target, sears, toys r us, etc.

And don't even bother shopping for groceries. Your frozen items will begin to thaw as you wait to check out.

Originally Posted by dudecool320 Most of the time I buy my shirts at Hot Topic!

It's the American way!

Originally Posted by botticus If most people in St. Johns are like my grandpa (which I think they are), I'm not surprised a Walmart couldn't survive there. No interest in a big superstore.

I edited my post. The original store is vacant the new super Walmart is doing pretty well from my understanding at it has caused all sorts of new business commerce in the area as well as competing companies to come in.

Originally Posted by Snake2715 I edited my post. The original store is vacant the new super Walmart is doing pretty well from my understanding at it has caused all sorts of new business commerce in the area as well as competing companies to come in.

Interesting.

I just hate Walmart because it causes the worst traffic patterns at the intersection by my apartment. But at the same time I go there for quick-hit shopping trips (when it's something I can't easily get at Target next door to my apartment) since it's twice as close as the next grocery store. I blame Walmart and the city planners for that one, though.

It sure was fun sitting in line at the "FastLane" self-checkout for 20 minutes last night (and every night) when three consecutive people paid by check. Yay! At least I've trained myself to stop going there just for the few cent savings. Target is so very much worth the extra cost.

Originally Posted by gizmogc I'm so not going to get into this with you. But nearly everything you said is simply an opinion. Every Target employee will brushyou off, while every Wal-Mart will help you? BS. Every Wal-Mart I have ever been in seems to higher only peole who speak little to no English and I would have to ask numerous employees to get one to actually help me. WTF is wrong with this country if I can't get an employee to speak ENGLISH in a store in AMERICA?

We have more old people working at Wal-Mart here than foreigners...