Oh, yeah. So many, many ways Walmart can enrage me. Once upon a time, when it was plain old Walmart, I loved that store. Got me through many rough times.
Then here comes the Superstore. God help us. Now, if you want to grab some Benedryl, get a pair of shoelaces, pick up a gallon of milk while you are in there you have to run a lap around the whole dang store! That's farther then walking down the sidewalk in downtown Silsbee and back.
People trying to run you over with their carts, can't wait two seconds for you to grab your jar of spaghetti sauce. Excellent pharmacy, but if you get there the time of day I come through town, expect to stand in line and wait for 30 minutes.
Speaking of lines! There'd be mornings I dashed in, they would have one checker open on the far end of the store and that was it. Any other time, during peak hours, they'd leave lane after lane closed while their patrons backed up four or more deep.
I stopped going to Walmart back last fall. Just for those reasons. I have a grocery store I stop at on the way home (Market Basket) that has excellent meats and good values every week and I never have to wait in a line there. If two people are waiting, someone comes and opens another lane.
For prescriptions, I moved to a pharmacy that has drive through. (Walgreens) My Rx's cost me $3.00 more each, but to save me the time and hassle in all types of weather, that's worth it.
For every thing else, I use another discount chain. (Dollar General) Occasionally I have to wait in there as well. But I don't have to hike all over a football field sized building to pick up three items either.
Went back into Walmart a few days after Christmas. Needed a couple of things other places don't carry. They had lots of registers open. I got checked out quickly. I said something about how rare it was. The clerk said it was their new policy.
To myself, I said sure. Soon as the after holiday bargain shoppers leave it will go back to normal. Last Saturday, about a month and a half later, I had to go in again for a few things hard to find anywhere local but there. There were things they were totally out of. But, once again, almost every check out lane was open! No waiting in line.
I was impressed. But not enough to go back to making it my regular shopping stop.
What about you, what environment do you prefer to shop in?
