I thought this would be a perfect title to use for my venting session about many people’s favorite place to shop, Walmart. But since I just used the title the other day, this will have to be take two on the title.
I have a love-hate relationship with Walmart. It’s a lot more hate than love at this point, but I try to be an optimist, view the cup as half full, that kind of thing. I used to love the place. That was when I had lots of other shopping choices. Also I wasn’t stuck there at least once a week for hours on end with crabby kids because I had fewer kids then, and for some reason, they used to like shopping there. But now that Walmart has put many of the other stores in my area out of business, and there aren’t very many other choices for local shoppers to make, Walmart is beginning to engage in a little bit of price gouging. Let me back up for a minute… what I loved most about Walmart when I first started shopping there were their low, low prices. This is no longer the case! I go to Walmart about twice a week. I try to go just once, but that plan never works in my favor – we either run out of something, I forget something, or something comes up, like an impromptu get-together or Pampered Chef party. But anyway, so I’m there twice a week, at least. And EVERY time I go, they raise the price on at least one of my “staple” items! Even if it’s only 7 cents or so, it’s still a big deal to me, because over years, it really adds up! And, in the case of the toilet paper I buy, it used to cost $1. The price went up to $1.24 in one visit! I’m no math wiz, but I think that is almost a 25% price increase in one visit! Also, it’s difficult to compare prices at different stores if the prices are constantly changing. But don’t be fooled – Walmart knows this. And that’s not the only trick they have up their sleeve either. If your Walmart is anything like mine, they are out of stock on things constantly! I think it’s a purposeful action so that they can force you into buying a similiar item that costs more just to avoid running out of the item yourself or having to take the time to go to another store – if there are any other stores left, that is. For example, let’s say Walmart is out of the Great Value (Walmart’s generic brand = same as Heinz but cheaper) brand of ketchup. Are you going to tell your barbecue guests you don’t have enough ketchup? Or are you going to make another stop at different store, unloading all your kids from the car just to run in for ketchup? Or, are you going to choose likely option #3, the one Walmart wants you to choose: you mumbling and swearing under your breath as you pay more for the Heinz ketchup, of which Walmart has so thoughtfully stocked plenty? If I had the time or any fewer kids, I would probably go with option #2 just on a matter of principle, but I just don’t have the time nor the energy to take a freaky stand against Walmart and their price gouging ways. In updating this blog I will keep you posted on what has changed by how much – it will be good to help me vent so my family and friends don’t have to hear all these gory details constantly. And, because I’ve rambled forever about Walmart, I will also save my gripes about their oil changes for another post. For now, I think I’m done wasting time droning on and on about Walmart… besides, it’s almost Oscar time!
