I HATE WALMART!

[Pat Riot]

I go to Walmart here weekly. It’s definitely one of the better Walmarts I have been in. 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

I used to like some of the BIG box stores, then Sam's Club closed their local store and went down to Phoenix.

K-Mart and Albertsons closed.  A bunch of local places vanished and we are left with Fry's / Kroger, Safeway (best of the lot but still not great), Walmart, Costco (a shock to my soul, over-crowded, and seldom selling anything in packages smaller than for a family of ten +), Sprouts (some good stuff there and customer oriented, but pricey), Trader Joe's (see previous entry), and a bevy of little places trying desperately to hang on.  Many of them are customer friendly and trying to keep their prices down, but they are being starved by the big guys.

 

There are few weekend farmers' markets where you can find some wonderful products in reasonably sized packages, but, while some are also reasonably priced, be prepared to have a jolt when you see what they cost.   Also. they tend to have at least two or three tents with people paying the loudest, most inappropriate "music"  (AKA horrible noisy) anywhere.  You'll also find herds of uncontrolled "miniature people" (kids up tp thirty years old without any adults in charge).  Some people think they are cute.  I feel like they should all have been drowned in the womb.

[Stump Water]

28 minutes ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

I don’t trust Aldi’s either! The few times I’ve shopped there, some of the stuff I bought was past the use by date and their produce wasn’t really fresh.

 

I’m more conscious of those use by dates now, but back then I trusted the places I shopped a lot more.

 

Since the damnpanic you need to be a lot more diligent about sell-by dates, doesn't matter where you shop.  Then again, I always have.  Something my mother burned into my brain as a kid.   Finding "expired" items used to be pretty rare.  Now it's pretty common.

 

I'll agree about the produce.  On the other hand the one I go to occasionally has some of the best looking meat in town.   

.

 

Edited June 8 by Stump Water

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

4 hours ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

Forty, it's too bad that you had this problem. Here in Tucson, I've generally had just the opposite. 

The stores are for the most part clean, the employees usually happy to help. On many occasions, when I ask where something is, the employee will not only tell me, but lead me to the item I'm looking for. 

I'm sure that you also refuse to use the self checkout. I'm the same way. I don't work for Walmart, (or Fry's, or McDonalds, or anyplace else), and even at Walmarts that don't even HAVE an "Assisted Checkout", with the exception of one old biddy, I've always found that they've always been more that willing to run it for me, if they don't have one already open.

I'm at a Walmart several time a month, and I order stuff online from them too. Usually big stuff that I'm just too lazy to carry, but often stuff that I want/ need but I'm not going out that day, or that I can't get locally. They don't carry the Wrangler Jeans I wear in my size locally, but I can get them online for much less than anywhere else. And as long as you order more than $30 worth of products, delivery is free. AND if you order something online and need to return it, you can return it to a store that doesn't even carry it.  

Maybe I'm lucky, maybe it's the .45 on my hip, (I often get complimented on my carrying a gun, many times FROM Walmart employees), but Walmart has usually been good to me.

 

[Blackwater 53393]

One thing I WILL SAY about our local Walmart is that they do support the local community.  They offer discounts to teachers on school supplies and provide space for fire and police demonstrations and fundraising activities.  They also donate to the high school sports and arts programs.

[Cypress Sun]

3 hours ago, Stump Water said:

 

Why?

 

2 hours ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

I don’t trust Aldi’s either! The few times I’ve shopped there, some of the stuff I bought was past the use by date and their produce wasn’t really fresh.

 

I’m more conscious of those use by dates now, but back then I trusted the places I shopped a lot more.

 

This ^^^ and the fact that they've had many recalls of food items.

[Stump Water]

16 minutes ago, Cypress Sun said:

the fact that they've had many recalls of food items

 

Wasn't aware of that.  Thanks.

 

We don't go there much as most everything they have is an off brand.  I guess stuff is packaged/branded just for them just like every other chain store.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

53 minutes ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

One thing I WILL SAY about our local Walmart is that they do support the local community.  They offer discounts to teachers on school supplies and provide space for fire and police demonstrations and fundraising activities.  They also donate to the high school sports and arts programs.

Yeah, they do get involved in local stuff like packaged food for senior centers and such.

 

Not enough to win me back, though.

 

Not enough!

[Rye Miles #13621]

Not many places where you go and get groceries, tools, electronics, household items, prescriptions, first aid, toys, and ammo. I actually may have left a few things out! 🙄

[Subdeacon Joe]

I've been spoiled by online ordering and curbside pickup.   Started when I had the Fauci Flu and passed it to my wife.   Ordered from Safeway, went and picked it up.  They put it in the trunk. No contact.   

 

Now, the last week of the month I start putting together a "cart" in the Walmart app.  Come the 3rd of the month,  or whenever Social Security hits,  I place the order.   We drive down, I drop my wife at the door so she can go in and get dairy, lunch meat, and check the clearance racks.  I park in the pick up area, let the store know I'm there.  Usually they have it out in under 5 minutes.  Person bringing it out lets me know of any out of stock or substitutions.  About another 10 minutes and the wife comes out with the other stuff.   

 

The app lets us know what stuff is being shipped to us. Usually no more than 2 days wait.   

 

Really cuts down on impulse buying. 

[Rip Snorter]

Never much liked it, but it got a whole lot worse after Sam died.

[John Kloehr]

Did a "Wally Walk" when I got my carry permit years ago. Had been several years prior when I bought a Mr. Coffee drip coffee maker which did not have a clock or other fancy stuff. That prior trip was the last time I was in a Walmart until the walk.

 

I did not really even want to do the walk there but it made sense to get some initial comfort with carrying an arm in public. I had no problem with the infamous customers. The reason I had a problem came from the prior coffee maker  trip, it was near the holidays and I saw how the employees (mostly new) were exhausted, overworked, not enough of them, and how supervisors were treating them. The company culture had an illness. I doubt it has healed over the years.

 

I know many can not afford to shop elsewhere, but the best thing customers could do is stop patronizing the company so it can deservedly die, in hopes replacement companies would treat employees better as those employees could then possibly treat customers better. But as a customer and a former retail worker, Walmart does not deserve my business.

[Rye Miles #13621]

6 minutes ago, John Kloehr said:

Did a "Wally Walk" when I got my carry permit years ago. Had been several years prior when I bought a Mr. Coffee drip coffee maker which did not have a clock or other fancy stuff. That prior trip was the last time I was in a Walmart until the walk.

 

I did not really even want to do the walk there but it made sense to get some initial comfort with carrying an arm in public. I had no problem with the infamous customers. The reason I had a problem came from the prior coffee maker  trip, it was near the holidays and I saw how the employees (mostly new) were exhausted, overworked, not enough of them, and how supervisors were treating them. The company culture had an illness. I doubt it has healed over the years.

 

I know many can not afford to shop elsewhere, but the best thing customers could do is stop patronizing the company so it can deservedly die, in hopes replacement companies would treat employees better as those employees could then possibly treat customers better. But as a customer and a former retail worker, Walmart does not deserve my business.

You may be describing YOUR WalMart but the one I go to is nothing like that at all! There’s also another one near a shoot I go to that also nothing like you describe. I don’t think ALL Walmart stores can be put in the same jug! 

[John Kloehr]

14 minutes ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

You may be describing YOUR WalMart but the one I go to is nothing like that at all! There’s also another one near a shoot I go to that also nothing like you describe. I don’t think ALL Walmart stores can be put in the same jug! 

Fair enough. It does account for the few I have been in. But I will allow that not all are the same.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

1 hour ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

You may be describing YOUR WalMart but the one I go to is nothing like that at all! There’s also another one near a shoot I go to that also nothing like you describe. I don’t think ALL Walmart stores can be put in the same jug! 

Agreed. Like I said in my earlier post, the stores around here are pretty good. 

[watab kid]

On 6/7/2025 at 6:12 PM, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

I REALLY TRULY DO!

 

When I was growing  up I started working in mom and pop root beer stands and drive-ins, small neighborhood groceries, and locally owned gas stations.  Every one held the notion that the customer came first and , while not always right, hey were always The Customer.  Customer service was the first law of public relations.

 

No one (or very few) employees can even find the term in a dictionary these days.

 

Sam Walton and Joe Albertson, two men that  I met, worked for, and admired greatly, would be shocked and embarrassed by what their enterprises have become.

 

Crowded, rude employees, unions in charge of almost everything, vendors controlling the products that are carried. filthy, busted up and poorly maintained parking lots, cluttered and crowded aisles, poorly stocked shelves, crowded stores, and the list goes on.........and ON!

 

If I cool down I'll tell y'all about my experience today.  I made no friends and embarrassed some sissy customers.

 

I don't care...and I won.

its funny you said that - i was just talking of how it was when i was young at the gunclub tonight , 

 

we had mom &pop groceries every few blocks across town , some had great meat counters , these little groceries survived on the ;local neighborhood , i frequented a few , my grandparents frequented one , my folks frequented a couple , it was a different time of less mobility that caused that to exist and it was mobility that ended it , 

 

the store next to the school in grade school sold a lot of candy and soda but eventually folded as did all the others that i cou;ld drive yoy to - all located in residential , walking distance neighborhoods , it was a a different time - im glad i got to experience it , they knew the names of their customers , in many cases they knew the order about to be placed , they carried a tab ....i could pick up my grandmothers cigarettes for hetr when i was 8 ...and walk out with them , but she knew the pack would be intact when i returned to her house ,  im talking 50s here , i loved those days 

 

i could - never mind ill not share that right now about my folks as they are only dead a couple decades now 

[Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967]

Sooo... I packaged up the 55" TCI ROKU TV.  Bought it about three weeks ago when the last one died at two years of age.  (This time I bought the 'extended warranty!')

 

Anyway, the old dead set worked well until it didn't; crisp, bright picture.  The replacement I bought three weeks ago was terrible!  Picture was dark and picture quality horrid - fresh, broadcast programs had the appearance of soap operas fifty or more years ago.  So, finally I boxed it up and with dread hauled it back to Wally World.

 

Surprisingly painless!  The actual return and credit took about five minutes ~ ten minutes later I was checking out with a new replacement.  Had to argue with two young worker fellas that no, the old man really does not need help hauling it out and loading it in his truck. 

 

For some reason, off in the distance I kept hearing the Twilight Zone theme....   

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rye Miles #13621]

23 minutes ago, Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 said:

Sooo... I packaged up the 55" TCI ROKU TV.  Bought it about three weeks ago when the last one died at two years of age.  (This time I bought the 'extended warranty!')

 

Anyway, the old dead set worked well until it didn't; crisp, bright picture.  The replacement I bought three weeks ago was terrible!  Picture was dark and picture quality horrid - fresh, broadcast programs had the appearance of soap operas fifty or more years ago.  So, finally I boxed it up and with dread hauled it back to Wally World.

 

Surprisingly painless!  The actual return and credit took about five minutes ~ ten minutes later I was checking out with a new replacement.  Had to argue with two young worker fellas that no, the old man really does not need help hauling it out and loading it in his truck. 

 

For some reason, off in the distance I kept hearing the Twilight Zone theme....   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walmart has always had the easiest return policy! Glad ya got taken care of!😎

[Matthew Duncan]

19 hours ago, Pat Riot said:

I go to Walmart here weekly. It’s definitely one of the better Walmarts I have been in. 

We have a great WM too.  Entire packing lot was recent replaced and lines paint.  Inside is clean and the ladies restroom meets the wife’s high standards.  Most of the employees are two generation younger then I and still trying to learn how to.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

10 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

Walmart has always had the easiest return policy! Glad ya got taken care of!😎

I thought so, too....until this clust mess.  I have never liked Walmart but never had a problem until they screwed this up.

 

Kohl's has a great return policy, too.

[watab kid]

On 6/8/2025 at 6:57 PM, Rye Miles #13621 said:

You may be describing YOUR WalMart but the one I go to is nothing like that at all! There’s also another one near a shoot I go to that also nothing like you describe. I don’t think ALL Walmart stores can be put in the same jug! 

i agree , we have two walmarts here - one near me that is safe and normal , the other in next adjacent town is not so much , most avoid it 

[Dapper Dave]

The Walmart in Marana USED to be good, but I haven't been back there in years. The Walmart in Casa Grande is low class and getting worse with all thew hooligans we are importing from Commiefornia. I avoid the place. Light shopping, Frys up on the north side of CG. Nice people. Heavy shopping, we go up to the Costco and WinCo in Chandler, never a problem at either one. I love WinCo, wish they would open one down here. Alas, we are getting an Aldi's. We went into one to see what we were going to get, and walked out without buying a thing. 

One interesting thing is people always told me the applainces and such Walmart carries are the "lesser quality" even from name brands. I bought a vacuum cleaner from Walmart, and it failed in a few HOURS. I took it back, no problem exchanging it, and the next one last a few DAYS. Sometime later I was with my best friend at Best Buy, found a vacuum for a good price and took it home. Turned out it was the exact make and model I had purchased from WallyWorld. It lasted about 3 years. Coincidence? I tend not to think so. 

[Rye Miles #13621]

3 hours ago, Dapper Dave said:

The Walmart in Marana USED to be good, but I haven't been back there in years. The Walmart in Casa Grande is low class and getting worse with all thew hooligans we are importing from Commiefornia. I avoid the place. Light shopping, Frys up on the north side of CG. Nice people. Heavy shopping, we go up to the Costco and WinCo in Chandler, never a problem at either one. I love WinCo, wish they would open one down here. Alas, we are getting an Aldi's. We went into one to see what we were going to get, and walked out without buying a thing. 

One interesting thing is people always told me the applainces and such Walmart carries are the "lesser quality" even from name brands. I bought a vacuum cleaner from Walmart, and it failed in a few HOURS. I took it back, no problem exchanging it, and the next one last a few DAYS. Sometime later I was with my best friend at Best Buy, found a vacuum for a good price and took it home. Turned out it was the exact make and model I had purchased from WallyWorld. It lasted about 3 years. Coincidence? I tend not to think so. 

My bro in law told me the same thing but I know plenty of people that bought different electronics from them and they were fine. I bought a radio/cd player a few months ago and also a small tv that I still have it’s about 15 yrs old. It’s in the basement and doesn’t get used much at all. I tend not to believe that “lesser quality” theory.

[Alpo]

2 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

I tend not to believe that “lesser quality” theory

That's totally idiotic.

 

Rival, for example. Rival make small kitchen appliances. So they want to sell a griddle to Walmart, but Walmart onceWANTS it priced so cheaply that Rival can't afford to make it and make it good. So they make it junky and it lets you down a month after you bought it.

 

Are you going to say I BOUGHT A GRIDDLE FROM WALMART AND IT WAS CRAP, or are you going to say THAT DAMN RIVAL GRIDDLE I JUST BOUGHT WAS GARBAGE?

 

You're going to remember that it was a RIVAL, and not so much that you bought it at Walmart, and you will never buy another Rival kitchen appliance.

 

They might still make the cheap garbage griddle to sell to Walmart. But they won't put their name on it. They'll say it's an Equate griddle - Equate being a Walmart store brand. But it won't say anywhere on it it's a Rival, so when it fails you won't have bad thoughts about Rival.

 

No major company is going to sell junk with their name on it. Their name is too valuable. If RCA, for example, buys their televisions from the Shing How electronics company in Shanghai China, and they have a really cheap crappy one made especially for Walmart, they will sell it to Walmart with the name Shing How. But they're not going to put RCA on the box. The name RCA is worth too much money to put on garbage.

Edited June 10 by Alpo
almost got one by otto

[Gracos Kid]

My microwave of about 12 years died, so I went to Sam's and bought a new Panasonic brand.   It lasted on 13 months and died......I went back to Sam's and bought another Panasonic microwave, brought it home and before unpacking it, I googled to see what the prices were elsewhere.  I noted that some of the other listings showed as "Refurbished"....  I was curious so I called Panasonic and inquired as to whether or not my dead microwave and the new one still in the box were by chance refurbished units.  Neither were designated by serial number as having been rebuilt.  I was shocked to learn from Panasonic that both were in fact refurbished microwaves that were sold by Sam's......I would never buy a refurbished unit to put my family's food into.    I called Sam's, spoke with the manager who repeatedly denied having sold refurbished products of any sort.  Sam's did agree to reimburse me for the cost of both microwaves, and I vowed that I would never again buy anything electronic from Sam's......

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

4 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

I tend not to believe that “lesser quality” theory.

I don't think that it's lesser quality, but many of them have less FEATURES. It's my understanding that, for instance TVs that are Black Friday Specials just don't have the features that a higher priced version from the same maker might have.

Do you sometime get junk from Walmart? Sure. But I'd about bet that it's not any higher of a percentage that anywhere else. It's just that Walmart sells so many more of them.

 

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

7 hours ago, Dapper Dave said:

The Walmart in Marana USED to be good, but I haven't been back there in years. The Walmart in Casa Grande is low class and getting worse with all thew hooligans we are importing from Commiefornia. I avoid the place. 

Dapper Dave, I don't know how far out of Tucson you are, but I frequent the Walmart at Foothills Mall, and it's a pretty decent place. You might give them a try unless it's just further than it's worth for you to travel.

[Cypress Sun]

2 hours ago, Alpo said:

That's totally idiotic.

 

Rival, for example. Rival make small kitchen appliances. So they want to sell a griddle to Walmart, but Walmart onceWANTS it priced so cheaply that Rival can't afford to make it and make it good. So they make it junky and it lets you down a month after you bought it.

 

Are you going to say I BOUGHT A GRIDDLE FROM WALMART AND IT WAS CRAP, or are you going to say THAT DAMN RIVAL GRIDDLE I JUST BOUGHT WAS GARBAGE?

 

You're going to remember that it was a RIVAL, and not so much that you bought it at Walmart, and you will never buy another Rival kitchen appliance.

 

They might still make the cheap garbage griddle to sell to Walmart. But they won't put their name on it. They'll say it's an Equate griddle - Equate being a Walmart store brand. But it won't say anywhere on it it's a Rival, so when it fails you won't have bad thoughts about Rival.

 

No major company is going to sell junk with their name on it. Their name is too valuable. If RCA, for example, buys their televisions from the Shing How electronics company in Shanghai China, and they have a really cheap crappy one made especially for Walmart, they will sell it to Walmart with the name Shing How. But they're not going to put RCA on the box. The name RCA is worth too much money to put on garbage.

 

I'll agree with the premise. 

 

I do believe strongly that the tires sold/mounted by Walmart and Sams is NOT of the same quality as the same brand of tires sold at the smaller "actual" tire retailers.

[Stump Water]

1 hour ago, Cypress Sun said:

I'll agree with the premise. 

 

I do believe strongly that the tires sold/mounted by Walmart and Sams is NOT of the same quality as the same brand of tires sold at the smaller "actual" tire retailers.

 

An example:  You see your favorite brand of toothpaste at WM and it's cheaper then it is elsewhere.  BUT, it's a 4 oz. tube instead of the usual 6 oz.  WM dictates to toothpaste company: "You will package 4 oz. tube for WM exclusively or your toothpaste will not be in WM."

[Rye Miles #13621]

4 hours ago, Alpo said:

That's totally idiotic.

 

Rival, for example. Rival make small kitchen appliances. So they want to sell a griddle to Walmart, but Walmart onceWANTS it priced so cheaply that Rival can't afford to make it and make it good. So they make it junky and it lets you down a month after you bought it.

 

Are you going to say I BOUGHT A GRIDDLE FROM WALMART AND IT WAS CRAP, or are you going to say THAT DAMN RIVAL GRIDDLE I JUST BOUGHT WAS GARBAGE?

 

You're going to remember that it was a RIVAL, and not so much that you bought it at Walmart, and you will never buy another Rival kitchen appliance.

 

They might still make the cheap garbage griddle to sell to Walmart. But they won't put their name on it. They'll say it's an Equate griddle - Equate being a Walmart store brand. But it won't say anywhere on it it's a Rival, so when it fails you won't have bad thoughts about Rival.

 

No major company is going to sell junk with their name on it. Their name is too valuable. If RCA, for example, buys their televisions from the Shing How electronics company in Shanghai China, and they have a really cheap crappy one made especially for Walmart, they will sell it to Walmart with the name Shing How. But they're not going to put RCA on the box. The name RCA is worth too much money to put on garbage.

Exactly! My friend bought a name brand TV at Walmart, can’t remember exactly what brand but it was a decent price and he’s had no problems with it. I think it was a Vizio but not sure. 🤔 

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

2 hours ago, Cypress Sun said:

 

I'll agree with the premise. 

 

I do believe strongly that the tires sold/mounted by Walmart and Sams is NOT of the same quality as the same brand of tires sold at the smaller "actual" tire retailers.

 

23 minutes ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

Exactly! My friend bought a name brand TV at Walmart, can’t remember exactly what brand but it was a decent price and he’s had no problems with it. I think it was a Vizio but not sure. 🤔 

Tires, no matter where they're sold OR made, (China, Korera, etc.), must meet US DOT standards. Walmart can sell name brand tires simply because they can buy 200,000 tire at a time where Bob's tire shop might get a couple hundred at a time. The same way that they can sell Wrangler Jeans for less than Bubba's Cowboy Palace. Walmart is buying 50,000 of each size at a time where Bubba is only buying a dozen at a time. 

[Alpo]

2 hours ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

Walmart can sell name brand tires CHEAPER simply because they can buy 200,000 tire at a time where Bob's tire shop might get a couple hundred at a time

I think you left out a word. At least, to me, the sentence makes more sense with that word in it.

[MizPete]

On 6/8/2025 at 12:59 PM, Blackwater 53393 said:

I don’t trust Aldi’s either!

My local Aldi's is my go-to.  WallyWorld, not so much.  I still use it occasionally but I'd really rather bite the head off a bug.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

36 minutes ago, Alpo said:

I think you left out a word. At least, to me, the sentence makes more sense with that word in it.

You got me. I guess that my finger got ahead of my mind. The fact that I type with one finger should tell you something about my speed of thought.

[Alpo]

Blame otto. He's good about deleting words. Sometimes I think he would rather delete a word or two then misspell a word or two.

 

Anything to make the post confusing.