Is Wal-Mart worth the hassle?

I'm so broke. After checking out that itty-bitty number in my bank account and after reading your advice about a 4th of July vacation to Texas, I'm opting for a staycation. I'm spending the first week of July relaxing at home, crossing things off of my mental things-to-do-around-the-house list.

So, I went to Wal-Mart twice this past weekend. Yes, twice. Being a Target girl, I usually avoid Wal-Mart like I avoid friends who have the flu. I feel claustrophobic and annoyed as soon as I turn into the parking lot. I hate the shoulder-to-shoulder crowding in the isles, I hate the long lines and sparse shelves, I hate that some stuff actually costs more there than at Publix and Target.

But I recently discovered wakeboarding. I fell in love with it and instantly became addicted, excited by the challenge and by how much it resembles my all-time favorite pastime, snowboarding. I had been using my friend Rob's lifejacket, which is an adult large, but every time I fell while trying to cross the wake, the jacket would ride up and push on my neck. So, I went to Wal-Mart to find a lifejacket that fits. I left with an adorable pink one that was marked $40 or $45, which was about what I was planning on paying. It ended up only being $35 when I got to the register, so it was worth the trip to Wally World.

I was actually planning to go to Target on Sunday. It was my birthday and I was treating it like New Years -- beginning a new year of my life called for resolutions. I decided to get organized, so I was going to Target to get some of those huge Rubbermaid containers to try to get my junk under control. But my friend Celeste needed to get a prescription and talked me into saving money by accompanying her to Wal-Mart. Bonus: she drove so I saved on gas!

By the time we left I was quietly hating all of the commotion. In addition to the containers, I needed groceries, but it seemed like every item I wanted was MIA from the shelves. I ended up spending about $50, including $15 on organization containers. I went to Publix yesterday to pick up the rest of the groceries on my list and spent another $23.

I've been paying a lot of attention to prices of items I buy frequently. I usually get the giant containers of coffee; they've gone up a dollar. The big containers of Goldfish crackers, also up a dollar. This time around I bought several bags of frozen veggies. I didn't want to risk my produce going bad before I could eat it. I am also a huge fan of frozen fruit. I like to snack on it and make smoothies with it. And I've been buying a lot of canned food, black beans, soup and whatnot, since they have such a long shelf life.

Though I probably saved a few dollars, I don't think Wal-Mart is worth the hassle for everyday items and food. I have to drive past Publix and Target to get to Wal-Mart, and the time and gas spent getting there isn't worth the little bit of savings. And since they never seem to have the foods I want, I'm hesitant to go there for groceries. But for something like the lifejacket, yes, it was worth the trip since I would have paid more at a sporting good store. I guess it's like relationships --  you have to pick your battles.

How are higher food prices affecting your grocery shopping habits? What are you doing to cope?

Oh, FYI, Celeste told me about a cool Web site that lets you know if you're paying too much for rent. You plug in  your address, the number of bedrooms in your house and what you're paying. It analyzes what similar houses in your neighborhood are going for, so you can see where you stand. Luckily my $500 a month rent falls just below the median of $575, so I'm getting a good deal. Check it out here.

Comments

[D J. Mac]

I go to WalMart only because it is cheaper. I will be the first to admit that I think that have poor service and most of the people that work there has a bad attitude problem. I have never been in a WalMart that I did not see someone upset about the service they received.

[carolyn]

Like you and the first commenter, I HATE Walmart, but go because I feel like the prices are better on the things I buy. I love shopping at Publix, but overall find that I spend more than I would at Walmart on the same items. I buy for my family of three and my routine weekly shopping has gone up by about $25/week. It is sickening, and I have cut back on dining out to make up the difference.

[Michael]

Yes, Wal-Mart is typically not a pleasant place to shop. The whole atmosphere feels like a govt. bureaucracy; however, why I do go there often is because of price-matching. You are able to buy items on sale from any other store at that store's price as long as you bring with that store's ad. As a bonus, it is comical as you can witness the store's inconsistencies. Some clerks are hard-line and just have to view the other store's ad to see their price, while other clerks could care less and just take your word for it. After a while, you get to know the "no hassle clerks". If it weren't for this one bennie, I would avoid that schlock house as much as possible.

[Jennifer]

I do shop at walmart for the most part, but mainly because where I live there aren't a whole lot of options. But for those of you that shop at Publix, CVS, and Walgreens there are some amazing websites out there that show you how to use coupons and the store sales to save TONS of money.

[alexb27]

By the way, nice call on the staycation. Way to go! As far as WalMart is concerned, I shop there once every in a while. But for groceries, I prefer Publix because they have the items I want and I can get in and out of there in a reasonable amount of time. Sure it costs more, but the Publix stores are closer to me than WalMart and more convenient for me when I combine my driving trips. So I agree with you, WalMart is not worth the hassle.

[Jack]

I love Walmart. They get a bad rap just because they are big and everywhere, but they offer a lot of great products at good prices.

I've never had bad service at a Walmart either.

Oh yeah, try taking something back to a Target. If you don't have a receipt, forget about it. Walmart will take anything back no receipt needed. They'll even take it back if the package is ripped apart.

[Eleanor]

I too hate WalMart. It's the place to go if you want to see all of the low-lifes of the world. I typically spend about $250 on groceries at a time but they only have one register open with an actual person. I can ring them up myself but the bagging area isn't really created for $250 worth of groceries. What I find so interesting though is that if I need to return something, there's five people standing behind the customer service counter waiting to help me! Wouldn't it better to have them at a checkstand where they are bringing in money?

I don't get it.

[Eleanor]

I too hate WalMart. It's the place to go if you want to see all of the low-lifes of the world. I typically spend about $250 on groceries at a time but they only have one register open with an actual person. I can ring them up myself but the bagging area isn't really created for $250 worth of groceries. What I find so interesting though is that if I need to return something, there's five people standing behind the customer service counter waiting to help me! Wouldn't it better to have them at a checkstand where they are bringing in money?

I don't get it.

[Eleanor]

I too hate WalMart. It's the place to go if you want to see all of the low-lifes of the world. I typically spend about $250 on groceries at a time but they only have one register open with an actual person. I can ring them up myself but the bagging area isn't really created for $250 worth of groceries. What I find so interesting though is that if I need to return something, there's five people standing behind the customer service counter waiting to help me! Wouldn't it better to have them at a checkstand where they are bringing in money?

I don't get it.

[Carol]

If you are looking for a great way to save on groceries, I have to recommend www.grocerygame.com or checking out www.hotcouponworld. com...You can also print coupons from www.afullcup.com for groceries at Target. I love your column and read it frequently but it sounds like the only area you really have flexibility in is groceries now....If you do the trial at Grocery Game it's only $1 for 4 weeks then you can cancel if it's not worth it. Clip coupons for at least 3 weeks before you join. Her method is based on coupons from several weeks prior. I routinely save 60% on my grocery bill using this method...Good luck and I hope I have helped you some!

[Lee]

I am excited to stumble upon your column!

I like to joke that I make an annual shopping trip to Walmart--I go at 2 in the morning and take a Valium before I go shopping. I hate Walmart. It's hard to imagine a hell worse than the Back to School aisle in August.
I recently went to Walmart to buy pool chemicals in bulk. I also decided to pick up some other items I needed. Of course I had to park 1/2 mile away. I couldn't find half of the items on my list. Either they were buried in some remote corner, or Walmart didn't carry them. I don't know because I couldn't find an actual salesperson to ask for assistance. I think the staff members were all busy shouting over the PA. I decided to end my shopping trip, because I was developing a severe case of "shopping cart rage" brought on by the narrow aisles obstructed with abandoned carts of merchandise.
I noticed that despite approximately 300 cash registers at the front of the store, only two were open. I waited in line an obscene amount of time before being met by a cashier who didn't even make eye contact or speak to me. She put approximately one item in each plastic bag. By the time I navigated my way to my parked car, I was beyond irritated, and still had to go several places to finish my shopping.
I studied my receipt, and I estimated that I saved less than $10 over shopping at Target. But I spent a lot more time at Walmart, and left with what was likely to be dangerously high blood pressure. I'm not working this summer, so I really have no money to spare. But I think I'd rather shop at Target and save my sanity (and time).

[Kim]

I've called Walmart the Deathstar for years. I live less than one mile away from one and that, combined with if I have a variety of grocery and non-grocery items on my list is the ONLY reason I still go and when I do, I still have to psyche myself into a calm state of mind first. It's so frustrating and I doubt Sam Walton's vision included this.

[Bill]

I quit doing business with Sam's and Walmart after Sam's tried to rip me off in their store. They tried to make me pay twice for a bill I had already paid before I could check out. After shopping for over 1 hour, I told them to keep it and walked out. Of course I received confirmation by mail 2 days later that they had received payment. When I asked for an apology, all I got was some BS from a flunky supervisor.

My company was a $10,000/year customer of Sam's. But not anymore. I'm now happy with Costco, and shop the deals at my local grocery stores. The products are better. I can buy in smaller quantities. I can use my American Express Card and not Sam's Ripoff card, and I'm saving money.

Costco is cleaner, nicer, treat you with respect, pay their employees fairly, and keep the profits in America.

You don't have to be treated like dogs, skip Sam's/Walmart, save money and keep the creeps out of your town.