A Trip to Wal-Mart

Save money, live better, go to hell

Jessica Cassyle Carr [ Fri Jun 18 2010 3:32 PM ]

The Wal-Mart plague was first detected in the early ‘60s.

Today I went to Wal-Mart (or the Death Star, as my mother calls it) to pick up a ridiculously cheap prescription. As I stood miserable in the line at the pharmacy, a woman sitting in the waiting area behind me was jibberjabbering on a cell phone. Intermittently she would shout “Juanito!” at one of the four small children loitering around a shopping cart behind her. After one particularly piercing shout, I turned to see a three-year-old boy giving the cell phone lady a very confident middle finger. Learn more about the decline of Western civilization here, behold the spread of the Wal-Mart plague here.

Public Comments (13)

- sloppy
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- Since 2007-03-05
- Albuquerque NM USA
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If it weren't for Wal-Mart.. [ Fri Jun 18 2010 4:16 PM ]

..then the people in those pictures wouldn't be a symptom of decline. We'd be praising them as salt-of-the-Earth ordinary Americans. Damn you, Wal-Mart, for changing the meaning of those pictures!
- Jessica
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salt-of-the-Earth [ Fri Jun 18 2010 6:28 PM ]

"Salt-of-the-Earth ordinary Americans" can't exist in an age of high fructose corn syrup and breast implants.
- marisa
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- Since 2006-05-24
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Man, we love to post links to that site [ Sun Jun 20 2010 10:34 AM ]

Everyone's always talking about it. For the most part, I think the People of Wal-Mart site shows that even with the energy-sucking megaplex dictating the products most people consume, wear, etc., Americans are still freaks. I like it. Scarier would be a People of Wal-Mart catalog where everyone looks exactly the same.
- Greenley
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- Since 2006-06-01
- right behind you
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Cheap perscriptions [ Mon Jun 21 2010 3:37 PM ]

Costco's got 'em. You should never have to subject yourself to Wal-Mart.
- black
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- Since 2008-09-10
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Yeah.. [ Mon Jun 21 2010 3:56 PM ]

..because the shoppers at Costco are such a better class. (and snappy dressers too).
Maybe I just go to the wrong Costco.
- Jessica
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Costco prescriptions [ Mon Jun 21 2010 4:01 PM ]

Do they have the same Milton Glaser-designed pill bottles as Target?
[link]
- Greenley
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I've never had a problem [ Mon Jun 21 2010 4:16 PM ]

with Costco. Never rude shoppers. Never screaming kids. Workers are knowledgeable and friendly. I go to the one on Renaissance.
- glinwyn
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WalMart vs CostCo [ Wed Jun 23 2010 8:23 AM ]

I find them both to be enough to give me hives. Just pick the stores closest to you (walking or biking distance), shop THEM, stay economically loyal to your neighborhood, and buy less. You really don't need a box of tampons big enough to get you through to menopause, do you?
- Greenley
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prescriptions [ Wed Jun 23 2010 10:52 AM ]

When talking about cost savings on prescriptions, it can add up to a lot. And if you're talking about buying for a family, that can also add up. Costco definitely has it's perks. And from what I've heard they have decent business practices.
But yes, glinwyn, I agree we should shop local and close whenever possible.
- paoconnell
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- Since 2006-12-05
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Shopping... [ Wed Jun 23 2010 11:12 AM ]

"Just pick the stores closest to you (walking or biking distance), shop THEM, stay economically loyal to your neighborhood, and buy less. "
Unrealistic. The neighborhoods where I've lived in Albuquerque (the Heights, Downtown) have rarely been good places to shop. We do live near a small convenience store that has some stuff we need, but they are more expensive, and don't sell medicine, fresh meat or vegetables, that sort of thing. So--it's off to Walgreens, Costco, Albertson's, Smith's, Lowe's, and so forth...usually in our car.
- StormCrow
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- Since 2007-08-31
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Costco weekend Sample-walk lunch. [ Thu Jun 24 2010 10:35 AM ]

Went to visit Costco member in LA. We went Saturday to shop and take advantage of the
Free Sample munchies and drinkies. Hordes of folks bring their families of lots of kids to
try to get free lunch by getting all they can of each of the sample items throughout the day.
But you gotta be a member!
- jerry
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Walking/biking distance [ Thu Jun 24 2010 1:19 PM ]

Only a few neighborhoods in ABQ lend themselves to the bike-and-shop or walk-and-shop method, but it's definitely in your best interest to keep your local shops going. Otherwise you won't have any shopping options *except* those distant places you *have* to drive to.
In the North Valley, shopping would be a lot harder without the little outposts like Chase Hardware, the local Samon's, the three Fruit Basket locations, Out of the Blue Toys, and LaMontanita Coop. I'm SO glad I can get all the stuff I need quickly in small local stores without fighting traffic and crowds. However, this is still a driving excursion. I suppose I could switch to covered wagon.
- Jessica
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shopping and walking [ Thu Jun 24 2010 3:14 PM ]

I've tried this in Albuquerque when I lived along Central—take the bus to the Co-op and back home. If you only need a few items, and they aren't liquid, it works. But, if you need to stock up, lugging that crap back via the 66 REALLY sucks.
Similar problem in Chicago—take the el to Whole Foods or Trader Joe's, or walk to Jewel Osco. Have fun getting the groceries home. It's so much easier with a car.
I walk to Lowe's every now and then, though, if I'm out of butter or something and I quite enjoy those walks.