Archive for March 10th, 2009

We made the switch to the local store, “City Market.” We were worried before we did this. We didn’t really do it to be patriotic, or buy local, though perhaps our sympathy for the local market and it’s far more traditional market employees tipped the balance in its favor. The real reason we stopped shopping at WalMart was we couldn’t stand it anymore.

What couldn’t I stand? Well:

1. Overcrowding. Huge carts I could hardly push, maneuvering among people shopping in groups. At our local market, most people shop alone. This is not some kind of party, people, we’re getting groceries.

2. Looking over the WalMart produce aisle, I just wasn’t sure. Had this stuff been properly checked for poisons from China or growing too near a nuclear waste dump? How would I know? This carrot with a double root end, it was a bad sign. Would WalMart care if this food were contaminated? Only to the degree that the resultant accidental death lawsuit would be costly and even worse, bad for public relations.

3. A feeling of futility in shopping for the same products, at the same prices, week after week, year after year, Cheerios, Dr. Pepper, Hormel pepperoni, Del Monte canned fruit, Kraft macaroni and cheese, where did it all come from? How many millions of boxes and cans of this stuff did our nation consume? Were there a million Walmarts? Probably not yet, but perhaps someday. Did I, as an individual human, make an iota of difference in the cosmic scheme of WalMart? I didn’t think so.

4. The checkers. Look, I don’t want to be mean, but much of the time you save by only shopping one store is used up waiting in line. The checkers are so slow. It’s not their fault; I’m firmly convinced that if any of them ever get fast, they leave and go to Albertson’s or Krogers and join the union.

You go to City Market, you get: 1) checkers who will rush through your order and yet simultaneously talk to you; 2) produce that might be local and appears to have been inspected by a produce guy; 3) local brands; 4) aisles you can navigate; 5) a “thank you” that’s heartfelt when you’re done.

We don’t really even spend any more money these days, in fact, somewhat mystically, it appears were are spending less. I have no explanation for this, but does it matter? What more could you ask? Each of us humans will only be here on this planet for a little while, so let’s not be anonymous and grasping for bargains, let’s enjoy life. Forget WalMart and shop your local market, people.