Would You Still Continue To Shop At Target And Wal-Mart If You Won $100 Million Dollars In The Lottery ? (poll, statistics)

[karfar]

Originally Posted by WalterK

I tried out the "support my local hardware store" once when I was new to my area. I walked in there, needed a screw to bolt back into my wakeboard but did not know the exactly length/name/dimension. I was met with total disdain (I assume because I was mechanically orientied) and scoffs the whole time the owner helped me find the right one as if, heaven forbid, I inconvienenced him with my problem. The layout was absurb, criss crossing all over the store to look for different sizes.

In the end, it wasn't the right size, I walked into Lowes, every screw of the same style was laid out in a line, didn't even need help, I just grab one of each size that was close and problem solved.

I'm not saying this is all small shops, but it is fictious to assume that you automatically receive better service at mom and pop shops.

Well, I'll say that the customer service that I have encountered at the chain stores is pretty horrendous. Those people could give a crap about doing their job. To tie it up w/your story, I go to the local hardware store on Brady St. here & have always been met w/nice people. Sure, there's exceptions for both scenarios, but on average customer service in chain stores is totally subpar.

[mimimomx3]

I don't shop at WM so of course, I wouldn't start if I had a million dollars. I love Target, so I would. Acutally, not. If I won millions, I'd be living on a desert island. I'd be ordering from them and they could drop it on my island, I guess.

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by DC at the Ridge

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The federal government did a study about the impact on local businesses when Wal-Mart comes to town, and did NOT find that the impact was consistently negative.

Oh, and we should certainly trust everything the federal governmnet says. Of course.

[WalterK]

Originally Posted by karfar

but on average customer service in chain stores is totally subpar.

I'm not contending this, I was just saying that mom and pop stores can have their nightmares too, and then there isn't a manager you can ask for.

Heh, one arena Wal-Mart wins hands down is returns, they'll take anything back for cash, no questions. Always had too much shame to do it myself, but some of my college buddies returned a futon after using it for a full year, full refund.

[highway29south]

I love Wal-mart and though I do shop at Target once in a while, I find them overpriced and the items pretty cheaply made. I've had many items I bought there break (one toy broke and I wasn't even down the street yet!) and taking them back is a hassle because of Target's return policies. Wal-Mart on the other hand, will take anything back. Yeah, Wal-Mart!

I've read that a lot of every day people become millionaires not only because they run businesses, etc, but because they are frugal with their money.

As for myself, I would definately still shop at Wal-Mart. Why waste your money on expensive items? You live with the basics now, so why do you need more?

[Swampmonster]

Originally Posted by DC at the Ridge

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The federal government did a study about the impact on local businesses when Wal-Mart comes to town, and did NOT find that the impact was consistently negative. What they determined was that in an economy that was already in trouble, local businesses that were precarious to begin with were more likely to go under. But in areas where the economy was not in trouble, but was actually vibrant, that local businesses able to individuate themselves from Wal-Mart actually benefit from the drawing power of a regional Wal-Mart.

Obviously, a store directly competing with Wal-Mart is going to be much more challenged. But in terms of employment, Wal-Mart will employ more people, and actually offer better benefits to those employees than the traditional mom and pop. Certainly the atmosphere suffers, and many downtowns will suffer. On the other hand, in the small towns dependent on downtowns, those downtowns were already stressed. It costs a lot of money to retrofit those old buildings, to make them energy efficient and handicapped accessible. They often have inadequate parking, and face other challenges, like individual owners refusing to participate in efforts to come together to upgrade and market the areas. And you have generational shifts, where children don't want to take over their parents' businesses, and they are unable to sell the local store because it's electrical wiring is from the 1940's and new owners can't get insured.

Wal-Mart paid over six and a half billion in income taxes this past year. Maybe they should have paid more, but there are communities that have been glad that in this economic downturn, the local sales at Wal-Mart have not faltered, and the local sales tax revenue from Wal-Mart was much needed.

I wonder how much money Wal-Mart donated to the study of THAT and how much money the fellow responsible for writing it ended up with.

[WalterK]

Originally Posted by muleskinner

I wonder how much money Wal-Mart donated to the study of THAT and how much money the fellow responsible for writing it ended up with.

Same can be said about the Union workers study....

[Workin_Hard]

When I win, I'll start sending my posse there to do my shopping for me. (Hmmm.. where does one buy a posse? Neither Walmart nor Target I imagine as I've never seen one at either store. I'll work on that and get back with a further comment I guess. )

[Wing Feathers]

Originally Posted by delusianne

This just shows brainless selfishness and greed... the key motivators of most LIBERALS.

Fixed

[Swampmonster]

Originally Posted by WalterK

Same can be said about the Union workers study....

I agree with you....I do not trust ANY of that crap and just go on how it's affected me personally.