As I type, Wal-Mart is expected to announce its second straight year of declining domestic same-store sales.
There is much hand-wringing and bloviating about where Wal-Mart went wrong. In chasing up-market shoppers, have they abandoned their core customer base? In moving more toward specials on specific items, and away from uniformly low prices, have they muddled their message?
Publix and Target get most of my business that might have been Wal-Mart’s. The reasons are no more complicated than they’ve ever been. I have no memory of ever waiting in a long line at either place. I also have no memory of ever encountering anything but a competent cashier at either place, and most of the time s/he’s even friendly. (Publix in particular is extremely good at hiring personable and smart people.)
I have an efficient and pleasant experience every time I shop at Publix or Target. Clearly, there are many someones at many different levels in these organizations who recognize that making that happen is important. Hey, Wal-Mart? You really suck at that. I was lucky to get that at your place one time in five when I actually used to come in there. Until I consistently encounter hearsay that makes me believe that’s climbed to 95 out of 100, you’ll never get me back.
No more complicated than that.
You might also like:
- A slight thaw in my Wal-Mart hatred
It started, perhaps fittingly, with one of my increasingly-infrequent-yet-not-quite-vanquished indul… - This is the post that bitches about Wal-Mart
This will not be a spittle-laden rant full of breathless claims about how Wal-Mart is raping the wor… - The Christmas retail report
Here is my report on retail establishments in the Huntsville, Alabama area this Christmas season: Ha… - Walmart still can’t get the narrative down
Do you have that vaguely promiscuous ex in your background? You have a great time together, lots of … - Yes, that is a black widow–a big one
Was off for Veterans Day, so went geocaching with my nearly-5-year-old this morning. You just never …
I haven’t stepped foot in a Walmart in at least 3 years. I find them to be filthy and disgusting, and their brands just plain suck. I would rather pay extra and have a pleasant shopping experience than to subject myself to that cesspool. If we ever have a need for something at our house that we can’t get anywhere else (which is rare), I send my husband. You know, since husbands get all the dirty jobs – taking out the trash, unclogging toilets, etc. 🙂
Jenny, it was October 2006 when I stopped going in there. Exceptions in September 2008 and October 2009 for Wal-Mart-exclusive merchandise; exception in July 2010 because it was the consensus stop of my road trip/camping partners.
And yes, they’re generally dirty. Target and Publix are spotless in comparison, as well as much neater.
I’m having heartburn with Target as of late, for much different reasons. Let’s just say that if I had a viable alternative, I’d use it.