Ok, so after some recent conversations and remarks I have had/heard from others, both here and outside the internet, I am curious about something.

I tend to shop at Walmart on the occasion, mostly due to convenience and lower prices. However, I absolutely do not agree with their labor practices and if I could find places that were on par price-wise, I would probably not shop at Walmart anymore. As it is, I only go there maybe once or twice a month.

Which stores do we shop at and why? Which stores do we hate and refuse to shop at? Why? This is only in regards to non-food items (i.e., video games, clothes, school supplies, bedding, etc..). Some of these stores are different in what they offer, so this is not a poll that compares each store.

Not too many of those listed in the Northwest. I avoid Walmart for the reason you stated.

I'd probably say Fred Meyer, which is very similar to Meijer (grocery/department store) or Target. For any kind of games, etc I go online only at this point.

So my vote is other.

Well, out of that list, I enjoy Best Buy the most -- because it's electronics. If I'm at Walmart, it probably isn't because I'm shopping for something fun.

I don't know two of those. And is Kmart/Sears one company? I didn't know.

We have the choice of Target or Wal-Mart in our neighborhood, and we choose Target for two reasons:

1) The store is newer/nicer

2) Customer service is better.

We actually stopped going to Wal-Mart after my wife ended up screaming, "Help!" in the store because the customer service was so bad. Of course I was standing right next to her, so several customers thought she needed help because of something I did!

Not good times.

Target is a good alternative to WalMart.

Walmart, because its cheapest. I don't get the hate. They pay crap because they hire low-skilled people. If I want someone to explain to me how a DVD player works, I'll go somewhere with better paid, more skilled employees. And I definitely don't want to pay for atmosphere. I always hear complaints about customer service, but since that's not something I'd ever avail myself of, it's not an issue. I just get stuff, give 'em money, and leave.

Not sure how you leave Target off of the list.

Wal-Mart is awful. If I want to go shopping in a ghetto-style warehouse, I'll at least head on over to Costco.

Yeah I am familiar with Fred Meyer. Not a bad store really. Not sure how the hell I forgot about Target though. :rolleyes:

I don't know two of those. And is Kmart/Sears one company? I didn't know.

Sears and Kmart merged about a year or two ago. Don't remember which bought out the other one, as I think they were both going down the toilet at the time.

I tend to shop at Walmart on the occasion, mostly due to convenience and lower prices. However, I absolutely do not agree with their labor practices and if I could find places that were on par price-wise, I would probably not shop at Walmart anymore. As it is, I only go there maybe once or twice a month.

No offense, and I'm sure it's not what you're looking for, but this paragraph made me laugh.

Our small city only has a Wal-Mart, yet we will usually drive the 25 miles to go to Target (for clothes, house stuff) and Meijer (groceries). We find that Meijer is actually cheaper, especially if you buy a few of Meijer's store brand stuff (which is infinitely better than Wal-Mart store brand) Wal-Mart's customer service and store cleanliness are not great and for some reason they seem to always hire managers that are either supreme jerks or absolute morons. But I guess if you are choosing to climb the Wal-Mart ladder, you probably have a limited skill set anyway.

Target's got to be there, easily my favorite.

No offense, and I'm sure it's not what you're looking for, but this paragraph made me laugh.

How so? All I am saying is that if there were a better option, I would probably never shop at Walmart. Unfortunately, they are fairly inexpensive and the convenience factor is there as well. I could really do without the moronic employees (not all of them, but enough to make you label the place) and the customer base is not exactly up to, say, Target's standards.

How so? All I am saying is that if there were a better option, I would probably never shop at Walmart. Unfortunately, they are fairly inexpensive and the convenience factor is there as well. I could really do without the moronic employees (not all of them, but enough to make you label the place) and the customer base is not exactly up to, say, Target's standards.

I think he might mean that if you didn't like their labor practices so much, you'd probably avoid shopping there altogether. I know a couple of people that avoid the store completely because of that, regardless of the cheap price and convenience.

As for myself, I like WalMart for certain things. Bought a lamp set a lot cheaper than other places for example, and I like that there's a 24-hour one close by. Helped in a few occasions.

Fry's for electronics, Target for everything else.

I think he might mean that if you didn't like their labor practices so much, you'd probably avoid shopping there altogether. I know a couple of people that avoid the store completely because of that, regardless of the cheap price and convenience.

Yeah I see what you are saying. However, I don't think it can be that black and white. This goes along with the concept of not buying gasoline because you hate the oil companies. They don't care if you buy it or not, because millions of others are still buying gas from them. Same with Walmart. I don't agree with some of the stuff they have done, but I don't believe they are an evil company either. They are about making money, isn't that the American way? Also, sorry to say this, but people don't HAVE to work at Walmart. They can work anywhere they want with the right education/training. One of my first jobs was at Meijer in Michigan, and I worked there for almost a year before quitting. I hated the way they treated their employees. I have a relative who worked there for over 20 years and was let go for someone cheaper. So, it isn't just Walmart that pulls this shit, they are the ones who get the media attention though.

Fry's for electronics, Target for everything else.

I found Fry's to be rather pricey.

Agree with others...Target over Meijer and Walmart.

Target as well. Being able to go into a store that's clean, well lit, always has what I need, and has plenty of open cashier lines is worth paying a modest premium for.

Online stores FTW

Target hands down. Best Buy might get the nod for electronics now that they've fixed the customer service in our local store, but they are in an inconvenient location and it's much easier to order from NewEgg or Amazon than drive over there. Target is definitely our general purpose store, and we only go other places for things they don't have and we don't want to wait to get online.

I just go wherever is closest or cheapest. I don't need customer service. I do it all myself. I'M A MAN.

Online stores FTW

+1

I hate shopping because I hate people in that type of atmosphere. If you showed me a store that was completely empty, it'd be my favorite. But I have a feeling they wouldn't be in business for too long :)

I just go wherever is closest or cheapest. I don't need customer service. I do it all myself. I'M A MAN.

Yeah, I don't exactly need a lot of customer service when I'm going to a store. Then again, I do most of my research and shopping online.

SI

Online stores FTW

I just go wherever is closest or cheapest. I don't need customer service. I do it all myself. I'M A MAN.

Pretty much a combination of these two for me. I cannot remember the last time I went into a store without already knowing exactly what I want, where it is in the store, go get it and leave ASAP.

Target for sure.

For games and electronics I prefer Best Buy because I can check to see if the store has stock beforehand, Wal-Mart and Target I have to call to find out. Best Buy also carries more games in stock, Target and Wal-Mart often don't have the more niche games.

Are Meijer stores a Northern/Western thing? I've never seen one.

This poll is dumb without Target.

If we are talking big box stores, it's Target for me as well. And I usually find Target has better prices, but Best Buy has more stock... but Amazon has better prices than both AND more stock than both.

Yeah, I don't exactly need a lot of customer service when I'm going to a store. Then again, I do most of my research and shopping online.

SI"Customer Service" can actually annoy me. If you ask me if I need any help and I reply no thanks, please stop talking to me and telling me about different products or suggesting what I might be looking for.

I like Costco and I guess CVS partially because it's close. For games or electronics I don't go to a store unless I've already picked it out and compared prices.

We actually stopped going to Wal-Mart after my wife ended up screaming, "Help!" in the store because the customer service was so bad. Of course I was standing right next to her, so several customers thought she needed help because of something I did!


No offense, but this seems a little drama-queenish.


Oh, and if Target is an option, then yes--I go there over Walmart.

Target FTW


Now that the one near us changed their food section it gets most of my grocery shopping too. Only go to Acme for meats, milk, cheese and if they have a sale on something that beats Target's price (which is rare as I have found that most of Target's items cost less than the Acme sale prices).


Plus (I have no idea why) there are always very hot women walking in and out of that store (of all ages to be honest). At least it seems that way to me. :devil:

I miss having a Fry's within reasonable driving distance.

I work at Best Buy, so most of my electronics shopping happens there. About the only thing I do Wal-Mart for is groceries from time to time and the occasional late night emergency (like a couple nights ago when I knocked a glass of water over on my keyboard while I was in the middle of doing some writing).

The K-Marts here, one is closing and the other is difficult to get into and out of, so I don't go there much.

The Targets here are much nicer than the ones back home were, though. I always felt dirty when I left a Target in CA. Not so the ones here.

"Customer Service" can actually annoy me. If you ask me if I need any help and I reply no thanks, please stop talking to me and telling me about different products or suggesting what I might be looking for.

What I mean by "Customer Service" is things like having someone available to get things that are locked up.

Uh, where the hell is Target... I would never go to the cesspoll that is Walmart.

Target FTW


Now that the one near us changed their food section it gets most of my grocery shopping too. Only go to Acme for meats, milk, cheese and if they have a sale on something that beats Target's price (which is rare as I have found that most of Target's items cost less than the Acme sale prices).


Plus (I have no idea why) there are always very hot women walking in and out of that store (of all ages to be honest). At least it seems that way to me. :devil:
Oh they have the need food section there with produce? Ours is remodeling to that right now! :)

And I agree about the hot women. I was walking through a Target a couple months ago, and this girl walks by me that was dressed like those Brazilian soccer fan girls are always dressed, mid-driff Brazil jersey top that is low cut, short blue skirt, she was an 11 on a 1-10 scale... It was so out of place.

Walmart, because its cheapest. I don't get the hate. They pay crap because they hire low-skilled people. If I want someone to explain to me how a DVD player works, I'll go somewhere with better paid, more skilled employees. And I definitely don't want to pay for atmosphere. I always hear complaints about customer service, but since that's not something I'd ever avail myself of, it's not an issue. I just get stuff, give 'em money, and leave.

+1

It's been two years since I've been in a Walmart, and I'm not hurrying back.

For general merchandise, it's usually a mix between Meijer and Target. Electronics I usually get online.

Yeah I am familiar with Fred Meyer. Not a bad store really. Not sure how the hell I forgot about Target though. :rolleyes:

This poll is dumb without Target.

Uh, where the hell is Target... I would never go to the cesspoll that is Walmart.

Yes, yes...I forgot Target. Not sure how, as I worked there after Meijer. I never understood the hot chick magnet that is Target either. Even the ones I worked with were hot.

LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT THE HOT GUYS AT TARGET

LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT THE HOT GUYS AT TARGET

Yeah, I do frequent the place from time to time. :D

I like to eat popcorn there and talk about what the people did that day when they come in. Some of those people are sick.

Count me as another Best Buy/Target combo.

I also like going to the small Gamestops in strip malls that have a lot of the old games that are hard to find. It seems like the larger Gamestops in bigger malls don't have that kind of variety for whatever reason.

There's a Shopko near my parents' house that they/we'll go to fairly often because it's close. I also like looking at their DVDs because sometimes they some pretty good sales.

For groceries, it's whatever's closest. I miss the small Quillin's near my fraternity house in La Crosse. It stayed open late and had a decent amount of stuff for its size. And when I had transportation, Festival Foods -rocked-. The IGA near my first apartment in Fayetteville was expensive and just kinda blah.

I think the nearest grocery store to my new apartment in Fayetteville is a Harp's, so we'll see how that goes when I'm down there starting next week.

dola,

And yes, Target has a ridiculously good hot chick magnetic field. It's the only thing that made the hell of working there one holiday season even remotely bearable.

trola,

Sometimes it's Wal-Mart just because it's the most convenient.

quadola,

K-Mart's electronics section is -TERRIBLE-. I can't remember the last time I bought anything from a K-Mart at all.

Oh wait I can. Little Caesar's. I love the in-store LCs.

quintola,

I love shopping, in case you hadn't noticed. :D

didn't read the entire thread, but my GF is a current Wal-Mart manager, and I'm also a former employee. Out here in Hawaii the customer service is absolutely fantastic and you can't find a better paying job on the minimum wage scale. They start at around 4 bucks more an hour ( 10.75 - 11.75 an hour(big difference now days!) for the lowest totem poll jobs comparatively around town, while all the other stores/fast food/ gas station jobs in my town start at 7.25 an hour or so.

Target. I really find it cleaner, friendlier, and just as inexpensive on a lot of things.


I hate Kmart. Kmart has no selection, inventory or customer service.

Target. I really find it cleaner, friendlier, and just as inexpensive on a lot of things.


I hate Kmart. Kmart has no selection, inventory or customer service.

Could be why Sears bought them up. That, and impending financial doom.

None of the above, most of my shopping is online, but if I have to go to a store like this it would be target

I'm a huge Amazon fan. Signed up for Prime a couple years ago and haven't looked back. Free 2nd day shipping and usually a much lower price. Especially when you consider we pay almost 11% sales tax around here.

Amazon for most things, even electronics if they're not absurdly huge and I don't need the instant gratification.

Best Buy for electronics if I do (like if I need headphones before heading to airport to catch a flight).

Target for the housewares/health & beauty/other things (including electronics "instant gratification" if I am headed that way--for those things, BB is closer).

I try not to shop at Wal-Mart (or Sam's Club), in part because I do not support their employment practices, but also in part because the ones around here are disgusting on many levels.

I think I've mentioned this before in another thread here at FOFC, but I've found that the Wal-Mart's in the more affluent areas are filthy, with piss-poor customer service (in my experience, it goes beyond "no" customer service because the workers are rude) and shopping there is generally a miserable experience. Wal-Mart's in less affluent areas are infinitely better. The one near my sister in West Lafayette, IN was clean, had reasonably nice-looking produce, and friendly, courteous staff. In addition, the other people shopping were friendly enough and remembered words like "excuse me please" (instead of just ramming into your cart or pushing your cart away to a different aisle). I have similar recollections of the Wal-Mart in Greenbrier County, WV. My dad once compared the Wal-Mart where he lives (he also lives in a fairly affluent area) as "the 7th level of Hell." I don't think he's too far off..

/tk

I'm a huge Amazon fan. Signed up for Prime a couple years ago and haven't looked back. Free 2nd day shipping and usually a much lower price. Especially when you consider we pay almost 11% sales tax around here.

NYers began being charged sales tax for Amazon purchases at some point last year. No other states caught on?

NYers began being charged sales tax for Amazon purchases at some point last year. No other states caught on?
Not yet. :)

Publix - I find the fruit and veg to be fresher than in our local Walmart and they have a greater variety of cheese available.

Amazon for most things, even electronics if they're not absurdly huge and I don't need the instant gratification.

Best Buy for electronics if I do (like if I need headphones before heading to airport to catch a flight).

Target for the housewares/health & beauty/other things (including electronics "instant gratification" if I am headed that way--for those things, BB is closer).

I try not to shop at Wal-Mart (or Sam's Club), in part because I do not support their employment practices, but also in part because the ones around here are disgusting on many levels.

I think I've mentioned this before in another thread here at FOFC, but I've found that the Wal-Mart's in the more affluent areas are filthy, with piss-poor customer service (in my experience, it goes beyond "no" customer service because the workers are rude) and shopping there is generally a miserable experience. Wal-Mart's in less affluent areas are infinitely better. The one near my sister in West Lafayette, IN was clean, had reasonably nice-looking produce, and friendly, courteous staff. In addition, the other people shopping were friendly enough and remembered words like "excuse me please" (instead of just ramming into your cart or pushing your cart away to a different aisle). I have similar recollections of the Wal-Mart in Greenbrier County, WV. My dad once compared the Wal-Mart where he lives (he also lives in a fairly affluent area) as "the 7th level of Hell." I don't think he's too far off..

/tk

So you are saying that the Walmart's in wealthier areas are actually worse than those in poorer areas? That is very interesting....

I also forgot to mention online stores like Amazon. I shop there a lot. I know that the government wants us to pay a use tax, which essentially equates to a sales tax for out of state online purchases.

As for other stores, I forgot to mention Kohls. I really like their clothing selection and the customer base is pretty classy as well.

Walmart, because of their site-to-store pickup.

My local Walmart is small store that does not carry anything anymore, since they became a superstore and did not expand there space. But, thanks to their site-to-store pickup I can have everything shipped there free. Kmart and JcPenny were trying to charge me over $100 dollars to have a chair and love seat delivered to there store, NOT my house, but there freaking store!!!

Now days I love shopping online at Walmart.com

another target fan.

Target, hands down.

I avoid Wal-mart like the plague for several reasons:

1) Poor customer service. They have the slowest checkout people I have ever seen.
2) Tight aisles which can only accomodate one cart, so I have trouble getting around the store quickly.
3) Pricing errors - there is always something that I buy that doesn't ring up at the right price. It happens too frequently for it to be coincidence - I believe they use that tactic deliberately. And because the customer service is so bad, it is painful to get the correct price. I usually just don't buy the item.
4) Treatment of employees and work practices - nuff said there.

As for other stores, I forgot to mention Kohls. I really like their clothing selection and the customer base is pretty classy as well.

Buy Unionbay stuff when you're there. Kthxbai.

So you are saying that the Walmart's in wealthier areas are actually worse than those in poorer areas? That is very interesting....

In my experience (which is admittedly a small sample size), this is exactly what I've observed.

Edit to add: the difference is night and day. COMPLETELY opposite ends of the spectrum, good vs. bad.

/tk

Could be why Sears bought them up. That, and impending financial doom.

Technically KMart bought Sears, but it was shady real estate stuff type devaluation maneuvers. Basically the board of directors at Hoffman are going to burn in hell at some point. Fuck all those people.

Interesting to see the love for Target, given that I could have understood it better a few years ago but not more recently. In Athens, the Target the clientele might be a marginally better class of loser (to borrow a phrase) but the price differential between them & Wal-Mart is pretty significant once again. Reminiscent of the old joke about mispronouncing their name as the faux-French "Tar-jhay" (or whatever the correct phonetic would be).

With the exception of occasional deal I've caught on a few video game titles or something very specific I was looking for that I knew they'd have, I can't say I've used them for anything in ages just because they're so much pricier for identical or similar products, neither the atmosphere nor the service locally justifies the difference to me any more.

Target, hands down.

I avoid Wal-mart like the plague for several reasons:

1) Poor customer service. They have the slowest checkout people I have ever seen.

Agreed. I feel myself aging while in line at Walmart.

2)Tight aisles which can only accomodate one cart, so I have trouble getting around the store quickly.

Also true. Yet more motivation for me to get in better shape.

3)Pricing errors - there is always something that I buy that doesn't ring up at the right price. It happens too frequently for it to be coincidence - I believe they use that tactic deliberately. And because the customer service is so bad, it is painful to get the correct price. I usually just don't buy the item.

Never had this happen at Walmart, but it happened all the damn time at Meijer (a midwest store, kinda like Fred Meyer or Walmart). Very aggravating.

4)Treatment of employees and work practices - nuff said there.

Interesting to see the love for Target, given that I could have understood it better a few years ago but not more recently. In Athens, the Target the clientele might be a marginally better class of loser (to borrow a phrase) but the price differential between them & Wal-Mart is pretty significant once again. Reminiscent of the old joke about mispronouncing their name as the faux-French "Tar-jhay" (or whatever the correct phonetic would be).

With the exception of occasional deal I've caught on a few video game titles or something very specific I was looking for that I knew they'd have, I can't say I've used them for anything in ages just because they're so much pricier for identical or similar products, neither the atmosphere nor the service locally justifies the difference to me any more.

Hot women. Short skirts. Tank tops.

Hot women. Short skirts. Tank tops.

Another aspect in which the Athens, GA store seems to be different from the other locations mentioned in this thread. I don't even see above-average cougars in ours much less anything the word "hot" could be legitimately applied to any more often than just random chance would have it. As for those wearing the short skirts & tank tops at ours, well, let's just say it'd be better for everyone concerned if they didn't.

I wonder where these wal-marts are that treat there employees so horrible. that sucks, I was treated fantastically when I worked there, and my gf as well.

Target 75% and the local grocery store 25%

Another aspect in which the Athens, GA store seems to be different from the other locations mentioned in this thread. I don't even see above-average cougars in ours much less anything the word "hot" could be legitimately applied to any more often than just random chance would have it. As for those wearing the short skirts & tank tops at ours, well, let's just say it'd be better for everyone concerned if they didn't.

LMAO at this. I thought southern girls were the way to go? Have you considered relocating? I would imagine that if the girls at Target are not attractive, the other stores in the area are probably even worse off.

LMAO at this. I thought southern girls were the way to go? Have you considered relocating? I would imagine that if the girls at Target are not attractive, the other stores in the area are probably even worse off.

Eh, I think it's a function of several dynamics at once with our Target. It gets less than half the coeds, as the college crowd leans toward WM presumably because of the price difference & the grocery shopping at WM (our Target isn't a Super, it's just got the very limited grocery selection). Then there's the relative isolation of the store here, it's only neighbors are a craft store & a GameStop with a car dealer across the street. The rest of the land around it is either empty or a below average apartment complex whereas WM is in the fast food + Lowe's + Home Depot + 2 shopping centers + < 1 mile from the loop around Athens corridor.

And remember too, it's not that there aren't any hot women there ever, it's just not above the norm for a random place you could pick in town, same as the "you really shouldn't have" tank top & short skirt thing I guess.

Eh, I think it's a function of several dynamics at once with our Target. It gets less than half the coeds, as the college crowd leans toward WM presumably because of the price difference & the grocery shopping at WM (our Target isn't a Super, it's just got the very limited grocery selection). Then there's the relative isolation of the store here, it's only neighbors are a craft store & a GameStop with a car dealer across the street. The rest of the land around it is either empty or a below average apartment complex whereas WM is in the fast food + Lowe's + Home Depot + 2 shopping centers + < 1 mile from the loop around Athens corridor.

And remember too, it's not that there aren't any hot women there ever, it's just not above the norm for a random place you could pick in town, same as the "you really shouldn't have" tank top & short skirt thing I guess.

Do you still have Piggly Wiggly's? That place cracks me up.

Do you still have Piggly Wiggly's? That place cracks me up.

Alas it seems the icons aka "The Pig" aka "Hoggly Woggly", are almost all gone now with just a relative handful still scattered around afaik. Wiki says there are still about 600 of them across 17 states in the midwest & south but I don't see many at all in the past 10-20 years.

Not only did I grow up with one of the traditional modern store layout Pigs but the first 7-10 years of my life I had an even older version. I guess you could picture it as a northeastern neighborhood grocery of sorts, complete with butcher cutting to order, not really bigger than a modern convenience store. That was just a short walk from my house and featured the PW logo cut into pink marble over the doorway (which happens when you live in the marble capital of the region).

Alas it seems the icons aka "The Pig" aka "Hoggly Woggly", are almost all gone now with just a relative handful still scattered around afaik. Wiki says there are still about 600 of them across 17 states in the midwest & south but I don't see many at all in the past 10-20 years.

Not only did I grow up with one of the traditional modern store layout Pigs but the first 7-10 years of my life I had an even older version. I guess you could picture it as a northeastern neighborhood grocery of sorts, complete with butcher cutting to order, not really bigger than a modern convenience store. That was just a short walk from my house and featured the PW logo cut into pink marble over the doorway (which happens when you live in the marble capital of the region).

I have a distant cousin living in Florida who worked for them. Not sure if she still does though. I just always thought the place was funny. Up north, in Michigan where I grew up, we used to have Stop N' Go. They were kinda like a 7 eleven. We always called them the Stop N' Rob, as they were always being robbed.

I had not heard "Hoggly Woggly" before. I don't even know what it means but it makes me chuckle.

SI

Hoggly Woggly was my nickname in college.

Hoggly Woggly was my nickname in college.

I can see that.

I don't really have anything against Walmart, but this can't be good for capitalism. Walmart needs competition, don't they?

Walmart's Project Impact: A Move to Crush Competition - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090909/us_time/08599192069800)

Haggen.

Because they have great quality food and selection, but they're regional out here so you guys probably haven't heard of them.

Back home, I always liked Meijer because it was like a better version of Walmart.

Dola.

Target's ok too.

Back home, I always liked Meijer because it was like a better version of Walmart.

Really? I always saw Meijer as a larger version of the dirtiest Big Lots you could imagine. Maybe I am biased because I worked there, and they treated their employees like absolute garbage (I have a relative who was let go after 25 years for someone cheaper).

Yeah, Meijer sucks.