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.
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We don’t like shopping at Wal-mart but we do it for the prices. Especially in this great flourishing economy we have right now. lol!
I’m not a big fan of Walmart’s produce section. Since I cook everyday, I want to make sure that what I use for my casserole or native dish is safe or at least less artificial.
I agree with you with the local store scene. Most community stores really take care of their customers and it’s easy to build relationships with the owner. I like that personal touch with customers and stores.
Yes, another person who cooks! It’s now being said that cooking will become a more important skill with the economic downturn, though I don’t know, I think cooking was always a necessary skill for those who wish to live with civility, except those wealthy enough to employ a staff which does not include us.
I understand that sometimes it seems inescapable … we shopped there for years. But give local markets a try if you have a chance, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Basides, they might have a better selection of beers for Joe!
What do you mean, that people were not normally cooking??
What were they eating, then?
LOL. Indeed, I just learned about a family who goes out for dinner four times a week, but since they can’t afford much, they frequent the least expensive places – with the worst kind of food, you can imagine. Needless to say, if they did cook they would be eating much better for much less money.
If you would like an international perspective, food in this country is probably the smallest proportion of a family’s budget; it’s already one of the cheapest relative to income. So you are right – let’s not diminish it further by trying to spend even less on it while disregarding its quality.
There are some everyday expenses that are pretty flexible. However, food quality is non negotiable for me. It’s something that goes into your body. You can be dressed in cheap clothes, have one car per family or use public transportation, choose free entertainment, not go on vacation, but you can’t eat junk.
You are so right, shopping at local establishment is good for the community, too! I have decided to check out FW Farmer’s Market, although Saturday morning is a bit difficult for me
Ellie as you and I both know, people do not cook, they eat out and then they drive everywhere and wonder why they are so unhealthy. And Walmart is at the center of this system.
Of course I hope Europeans would never fall for this kind of situation. It’s one of the great domestic policy ironies that they are healthier than we are and yet we spend far more on health care. The reason is obvious: our livestyle is bad for us, the food is addictive, we drive everywhere … well I won’t go on a general rant.
I go to class every Saturday morning right across the street from FW Farmer’s market. I’ll try to go there this weekend and get everyone an update. I wrote on it last at
http://www.fwrenaissance.com/want-to-shop-local-vendors-for-organic-products-your-answer-is-cowtown-farmer%e2%80%99s-market/
Sonja
Wal-Mart’s bad – I can’t stand the place. If you’re going to go to a big-box store, a Super Target is much better. And you don’t have to go as far. And there’s little difference in prices in the grand scheme. Then there’s always Central Market (which isn’t as pricey as Wal-Mart shoppers might think), and the Fiesta I can ride my bike to in a few minutes.
Of course, in the future, as more people return to traditional city neighborhoods, places like this will hopefully start springing up around Fort Worth:
http://fortworthology.com/2008/12/30/urban-grocery-an-austin-example/
When I lived my first year in the Eco-Cottage, my roommates then wouldn’t shop at Wal-Mart because they considered it a human rights and environmental violation. Therefore, they wouldn’t go there (and I was dependent on them for transportation) and I stopped going. I’ve continued this trend however – right now, I prefer the Publix nearby, which carries better produce and has Shredded Wheat (Wal-Mart doesn’t). When I get a car I will start going to local food markets. Right now my roommates have little interest in that kind of thing, so I don’t ask them to take me there because it’s further away.
Interesting perspective, Sonja. Our WalMart doesn’t have food, so it’s not an issue, but neither can we get local produce at the local market. I agree, the aisles at WalMart are narrow. Therefore, we carry a basket rather than use a cart. We do buy predominately at local stores, but it is good to remember that WalMart hires locals and that money stays in the local economy. Most of the goods available for sale in locally-owned stores are also purchased outside the local economy, so the prudent household keeps a watchful eye on prices.
I certainly understand the need to keep an eye on prices. I’ve given up on ever forgetting about it! And we’ve shopped at WalMart for groceries for years before we decided to quit last month. I also didn’t mean to suggest I’d never buy things there, only that I’m going elsewhere for weekly grocery shopping.
Thanks for the comment Kevin. I am still trying to figure out exactly what, on the grand economic scheme, the effects of WalMart are. I guess I’m less concerned with the globalization angle than the simple junk angle — a high proportion of the stuff in there strikes me as being unnecessary and wasteful. And I’m not just talking about electric back-scratching machines and Hannah Montana backpacks, either.
My personal Wal-mart transformation began in college. I loved it; going there at 1am was very commonplace – who knows why. I was a zombie perhaps.
Then I moved to Boston where they do not have Wal-mart for some reason (scared of unions?). In my withdrawals, I would travel to the distant suburbs to get my Wal-mart fix until it just became too much of a hassle.
Moved back to TX and got re-introduced to Wal-mart after shopping at mom & pop stores for so long – which are far from perfect despite what some may claim. I loved the convenience of getting “mainstream” stuff at low prices, but that only held me for so long. I just got tired of the crowds, the parking lot chaos, the ghetto feel to it, the lines, attitudes, etc.
So, I’ve pretty much kicked the WM habit now. It looks like I’m not alone here. I think Albertson’s is a good compromise for my taste – big enough to keep prices in check and offer nice services, but not massive where you feel like just another brainless consumer.
[...] months or so now after I wrote “we don’t shop at Walmart anymore” we haven’t gone back there to do the weekly shopping. Instead, we have been going to City [...]