Why shop at the local store when WM is cheaper? Because..

[Silverhair]

I have seen some Wal-Mart bashing thread here, and all of them say, "Don't shop at WM because they are bad. WM is bad because ___________" (Fill in blank with favorite reason.)

I don't really like that kind of reasoning. It hits me as if I were being asked to give to still another charity. I don't like having everything I do being political. I'm sorry, but a lot of the time, which is actually most of the time, I just don't want to think about politics. But my wife & I do most of our shopping at our local stores anyway. Here is why I shop locally.

I get better service. My local druggist knows me I gives me better service than a big discount place could ever give. And his prices are almost as cheap. He helped my set up the refill schedules so that I can get all of my & my wife's meds on the one day of the month, ending numerous trips to the store. At my local grocery store, (A small supermarket)the butcher takes the time to tell me how to get the best buys.

Distance. My local stores are only a few blocks away. WM is about 12 miles.

Reputation. I use a local garage. I know he will do a good job at a fair price, and won't cheat me.

I know the people. I just like being able to chat a bit with the checkout person, or the mechanic, etc. It adds a bit to the quality of life.

So instead of avoiding WM, I just like my local places. Works out the the same thing, but the difference in emphasis makes a difference for me.

[jpgray]

1. Doing the right thing doesn't always need political motivation

Sometimes it comes naturally. :)

[wuushew]

2. Walmart is not always cheaper!

They are infamous for their loss leader strategy. In addition their shirts and pants are of the worst quality falling apart after only a few washes.

Support local business, support fair trade and support companies that do not support fucked up wacked out employee conduct practices.

[Silverhair]

3. I am tired of being told I'm supposed to hate some business.

Actually, I buy most of my clothes from a mail order house, (Now oline.) that I have been using for alost 20 years.

And on most things, I'm sorry, but WM does have cheaper prices. You can scream and howl all you want to but you won't change that fact. I have compared the prices on the ordinary stuff, not just the loss leaders.

I have listed the advantages of my local stores, and they make me happy.

I just don't care to live a political life 24/7/365-366, and I'n not going to. At some point I do take care of my own interests first.

[wuushew]

4. Please visit this site..small sacrifices you make are paid back 10 fold

Myth: Wal-Mart has "always low prices, always."


Fact: The local newspaper in Carroll County, Arkansas conducted a test of Wal-Mart's low price claim. Surveying a list of 19 common household items at six Wal-Mart stores over a one month period, the newspaper staff found that Wal-Mart was cheapest on only two of the items . The lowest register receipt for all 19 items was $12.91. The highest total for all items came from Wal-Mart at $15.86. The Real Story is the high cost of Wal-Mart's prices: lower wages, more imports, lost U.S. jobs, lower community living standards.


http://www.anti-walmart.com/badwalmart/index.html

[canuckagainstBush]

5. .

I go out of my way not to shop there because I know I'm doing the world a favour. I work in a locally-owned grocery store near where a Supercentre is about to go in too, so I'm all the more scared.