Wal-Mart: Why I Never Shop There
A Day in the Life of a Wal-Mart Shopper
The parking lot of most Wal-mart stores and super centers is an accident waiting to happen with the tight parking rows and spaces. I will know I have died and gone to hell when my life revolves around getting into a fender bender in the Wal-mart parking lot. I imagine waiting for the police to arrive while the sun beats down on the black asphalt heat block.
Harm to the Environment
I walk from my car across the hot, dirty parking lot. I see various discarded items lying on the hot asphalt such as spit out sticky chewing gum, stale popcorn, a half filled Sam's cola can with warm liquid spilling out onto the black asphalt. My shoes evade these items, but because my eyes are looking downward, I am almost hit by a car backing out of its parking space.
I remember hearing about Wal-mart's atrocious record of disregard for the environment. Given the apparent disregard for the "environment" of the parking lot, I am not surprised that Wal-mart would also disregard larger environmental issues.
Inadequate Health Insurance
After the near miss with the car backing out of its parking space, I am thankful my body is unscathed. I am also thankful that I am lucky enough to have decent health insurance. I think of all the news coverage of Wal-mart employees who are given no health insurance coverage. Despite the many employees' loyal service to Wal-mart, the employees are given little or nothing in return as benefits.
Stress Filled Entrance
If I were to get past the parking lot with my car unscathed, walking into a Wal-mart is even more stressful. I walk into the sliding glass doors into the area where there are shopping carts, vending machines, and countless screaming children. The smell of stale popcorn invades my nostrils. I notice that the soles of my shoes have become sticky from the dried soda spilled on the floor.
I barely hear the Wal-mart greeter because the noise is unbearable. Between the massive noise and the likelihood that the greeter has probably lost some hearing from working in such a loud environment for hours each day, I imagine that the greeter probably could not hear me if I were to respond. For a brief moment, I make eye contact with the Wal-mart greeter. I see his misery. I turn around and walk back toward my car, vowing to never give any economic support to the monster called Wal-mart.
Published by Lori Wheat
Lori Wheat is a progressive, reformed attorney turned freelance writer, gardener, and property manager. She lives with her wonderful husband and adopted greyhound dog in Norman, Oklahoma. View profile
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17 Comments
Post a Commentwhat a bunch of b/s
You have a vivid imagination. You "imagine" something in nearly ever sentence. You believe that ALL Walmarts are like yours.
I've shopped at dirty Walmarts and I've shopped at Walmarts that aren't so dirty. They reflect the neighborhood they serve. I guess we know what kind of neighborhood you live in.
The consensus in the comments seems to be along the lines of "I hate Wal Mart and wish they would pay their workers more, but I am going to continue shopping there and affirm their business practices with my dollars." Way to "stick it to the man"...
All of you do not get the point. EVERY corporate giant dealing with the general public in the retail market has a good marketing idea, with a great way to get rich quick. Typically they succeed, and when they do, they will have to have plenty of willing employees to keep their GRQ (Get Rich Quick) scheme alive. As long as people are willing to get stepped on, they will be. People love to make their own rules, and EVERY manager of Wal-mart does it. However, as someone who has worked for Wal-Mart in the past, and being quite a legal freak...the original qualities instilled in Wal-Mart by Sam Walton are quite great for the working man. If workers would actually read the original rules and regulations and enforced them to their managers like I did, they would have no problem with Wal-mart; making the environment better for the working employee, and even making things better for the customers.
My son is a college student who use to work for Wal-mart several months ago. He worked the over-night shift from 10p to 7a. He quit because gun toating theives were secretly robbing the store. He spoke to management about the problem and even requested that security is needed mostly during the over-night shift. One of the robbers threatend him and tried to pull him into their scheme, asking for his help to steal some televisions. He was terrified! Wal-mart gave him a death ear and would not hire over-night security because they said there weren't many shoppers over-night to keep on security. So he quit for fear of his saftey...I was glad! I even call the police and they said, "shame on Wal-mart for putting their employees at risk, they have the money for over-night security." That's only one of the reasons why I hate Wal-mart...they DON'T care about their employees!!!
I too have some family that works for Wal Mart HOWEVER it depends on which Walmart and where and the management for the store. Walmart is about to lose a lot of people's business and the workers there are disgruntled for a reason.. because the customers are as well. Imagine working somewhere where you can't pay for toilet paper in the hour wage that you work.
Sometimes I wonder why people seem to pick on walmart. They are much better to work for then target, my mom used to work for target and they were horrible to her and all the other employees. My expirience at walmart was a pleasant one and so was my co workers. My sister still works for them and is quite happy. Target always says how much they give back to the community, but if you were to look into walmart gives way more money to charity they just don't toot their own horn about it.
I agree with your opinions for the most part. But, I find it hard not to shop there, especially for someone like my mom on a fixed income, items are cheaper. Then again, if you are looking for a warm place to take a long walk...
Absolutely hate Wal-Mart so agree with you. Well we don't have them here in Thailand thank God, but every time I'm back in the US I won't go near the place.
Well said! Watch the South Park episode "Something Wal-Mart This Way Comes" to learn how to kill the beast.