In a previous post, I wrote about why I don’t shop at Walmart. Although the main reason I don’t shop there is because their employees are really rude, I attribute that to the fact that they are treated like crap, and are seriously underpaid. Now I want to talk about the reasons that people still continue to shop at Walmart even though they know about their shady business practices, the sweat shops, the hiring off illegal immigrants, their many many issues with OSHA including not giving employees lunch breaks or paying for them overtime. This list could go on and on, but I really don’t have all year.

The reason people still continue to shop at Walmart is because they are brainwashed into thinking Walmart has the lowest prices around. I mean people don’t even bother to compare prices. If they did, they’d see that Walmart is no cheaper than any other store. Now, if you want to get into quality, that’s a different story. The products Walmart sells for “less” are sold at other stores for the same prices, and are of equally shitty quality. I learned a long time ago, Walmart’s products are almost all of poor quality and fall apart much quicker than the items I paid a little bit more for at Target. Another point regarding Walmart’s prices was made on this blog post that my friend Cetta linked me to. (Yes we sit around discussing Walmart, so sue us.) The point made there was that even though you might save 5 or 10 cents on an item you purchased at Walmart, they pay their employees so little that the employees actually have to get on welfare and state funded assistance that American’s tax dollars pay for just to feed their families. So in the end, you are still paying just in a different way. It’s somethign to consider.

Why would anyone want to give their money to a company like this anyway? I’ll tell you why.. ignorance is complete and total bliss. The more ignorant we are as a nation, the easier we can all rest our heads at night. Nevermind that we give our money to a company that refuses to pay more than a nickel over minimum wage, or that their employees yearly raises are no more than a quarter per hour tops. Nevermind that they’ll work their employees for 12 hours straight without allowing them to have a lunch break. Nevermind all that because your toilet paper cost 10 cents less at Walmart than it does at Target or Kmart!! Nevermind all that because you can get a Hanes T-shirt for $4.88 at Walmart instead of paying $4.99 at Target!!

I’m a hypocrite though. Yes, I’ll be the first to admit it. Although I only shop at Walmart once or twice a year at most, I do shop there sometimes therefore I can’t say “I don’t EVER shop at Walmart.” So I am just as bad as the rest of the nation. However, I can say that I go into that store knowing full well what they are. I don’t sugarcoat the facts. I don’t pretend to be ignorant of what walmart is. There just happens to be times I can’t find what I’m looking for at another store and Walmart has it. Usually it’s an item for my kid, but I’m not making excuses here. Greed leads me to the evil that is Walmart. I don’t deny this. When I come out of that store, though, I usually feel like a bad person for having given them my money. I don’t think they deserve it at all. But anyway, the point I was trying to make here was about the prices. I have seen some items for less (like Hanes T-shirts) and yes, I’ve bought them. Only the shirts I bought from Walmart have lost their shape after a couple of washes and look like pure shit. The shirts I’ve bought from Target, however, have not lost their shape and do not look like pure shit. Again, QUALITY. I’ve also noticed that, although some of their prices are a teeny bit lower, some of them are much higher too. I think they do that to compensate for the lower priced items. An example would be soda. They feel safe making their 12 packs of soda $4.00 a piece because they probably rationalize that not everyone drinks soda. So when Target or Kroger sells their 12 packs for $2.50-$3.00, Walmart is saving you 5 cents on t-shirts because well, let’s face it.. everyone needs clothes, right? This is just my theory, but admit it dammit, it’s a good theory.

In closing, I just want to say this. I know that almost everyone who reads this will shop at Walmart at least once for Christmas this year. Hell, I’m going to shop there. (Well, Walmart.Com probably.) But just consider spending your hard earned money in a place where they actually appreciate your business? For example, did you know that Target gives 5% of their income to various causes in the communities in which they exist? I know 5% doesn’t sound like a lot, but it adds up to roughly 3 million dollars a week. I’d much rather pay that extra nickel or dime at a place where I’m treated with respect and appreciation and some of my money is going back to the community, wouldn’t you? (No, this is not a Target commercial, people.) Just think about it. F*ck Walmart.

»Posted in Daily, Money, Stupidity

Commenters: Elriowiel, Julie

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