Yes, it’s true, I shop at Walmart on occasion, primarily due to convenience and expediency while we’re on the road.
But it’s come to my attention that we buy way more than we need at Walmart, mostly due to the fact that Walmart’s items are dirt cheap shit from China.
Dirt cheap shit is a real problem.
You look at something and think, “It’s only $9.97”.
Do that 100 times in any given year and pretty soon you’ve spent $997.00. That’s only due to picking up 1 extra item worth $9.97 during 2 visits per week.
But my guess is that most spend FAR more at Walmart during any given year…
According to the labor center study, “Living Wage Policies and Wal-Mart: How a Higher Wage Standard Would Impact Wal-Mart Workers and Shoppers,” the 12.5 percent of store customers who account for 54 percent of all Wal-Mart sales and average expenditures of $9,775 per year.
That’s a THIRD of a a $30,000 per year income… and I KNOW people who waste at least that much money per year on crap they absolutely do not need.
Wanna get rich?
ASK yourself if you really NEED that item before you buy it.
In most cases, the answer will be “NO”.
If the answer is “NO”, do NOT buy it. You will NOT miss it… ever.
Take the money you ‘saved’ and pay off your debt or invest it in a secure investment to GROW your assets.
It beats the shit out of going bankrupt while buying meaningless crap for only $9.97.
Did you have to use the “S?” word? It bothers me more you used it.
Hello Melody,
I’m sorry that it bothers you, but yes, I will use it as I see fit.
Cheers,
Ros
I just want to say “thank you” to you and everyone else who shops at Walmart — those of us who have the opportunity to work for them appreciate your business. In the times we are in, I am thankful every day for Walmart and the part-time job to supplement the social security that I’ve paid into all of my life, and am now old enough to receive on a monthly basis.
Many stores sell cheap stuff from China. Depending on the item, sometimes cheap stuff serves the purpose, but there are other times when paying the higher prices for quality items Made in the U.S.A. is the better deal. I prefer to buy items Made in the U.S.A. to keep American workers in jobs.
In my humble opinion, many people are tempted to pick up “impulse” items when they shop. Every store has “impulse” items. We have a few other stores in our area who have lower prices than Walmart, but for me it is too easy to go to them for a dollar item and end up spending ten or even twenty dollars before getting out of the store, so my better bet is to make a list of what I need to buy, and make a one-stop shop at Walmart and discipline myself to be a smart shopper.
On another note, if you are traveling, I would suggest you check at the customer service desk when you shop at Walmart. The store where I work will comp ads from other grocery stores within a 50-mile radius as long as the item in question is store brand for store brand or the same product, including weight. One of the newspapers available at our Smoke Shop checkout is a local “free” newspaper that has some local store ads that people refer to when shopping.
Wherever people shop, I would encourage them to be “smart” shoppers and buy merchandise that is of the quality that is acceptable to them at a price they can afford.
Thanks for sharing, Sharon. You make excellent points.
I just wish that Walmart would compensate their workers properly.
It actually costs citizens money when Walmart moves into their neighbourhood… in terms of lost jobs, lower wages and increased reliance on government subsidies needed by their underpaid workers.
The Walton’s don’t get away with being so greedy in Canada, thank goodness.
Just the same, it would be better if every major corporation followed the Costco model in terms of fair wages.
Cheers,
Ros
Great story. If everyone stopped buying merchandise made in China we would not have half the trash we throw away and by not buying Chinese….maybe we can bring back some manufacturing companies that belong here in the U.S.
Buy AMERICAN made GOODS PLEASE
Hi William,
With their cheap pricing and underpaid workers, Walmart has made it almost impossible to buy U.S. / Canadian made goods. Not only that, but because the average worker is making less money, they can less afford to buy quality goods… or perhaps they don’t care. Quite frankly, I’d rather have one great $35 t-shirt that looks great and lasts for years than 10 cheap crap t-shirts from Walmart. But that’s me. We’ve definitely gone down a sad path.
Cheers,
Ros
Ros,
Thank you for that wonderful post on Wal-Mart. I agree that most folks probably do spend way more than they should at Wal-Mart. Once thing that absolutely boils my blood about the store is that more often than not I can not find the particular brand of product I went in there for so what happens is that if you don’t want to spend the time going to another store that may stock that item you end up buying another like kind product that more often than not is more expensive. They are the masters at the “up-sell”.
The mental stress one endures in Wal-Mart is another reason not to shop any more or longer than you absolutely must in that store. I hate that *f—ing store!
Thanks,
Tammy
Hi Tammy,
Yup, if you want cheap Chinese garbage, Walmart is the place to get it. 🙂
Cheers,
Ros