Why do people shop at Walmart? (price, shops, Wal-mart, expensive)

[wabanaki]

I live in the city, there are Walmart stores 20 miles away, i could not find a reason to drive that far to shop. It mention regularly here in many CD threads people will drive 30 miles away to shop at Walmart.
Why?.

[Thomas R.]

Because not everyone in America lives in a city. Around 86% or so may live in a metropolitan area, but that means like 40 million people don't. Also some people like the convenience as it has many things in one store. Or they don't have the money to go to classier shops.

[Granny Sue]

To go with what Thomas says....
In most rural areas your shopping choices are very limited. It can be very cost effective to make the trip and stock up on your basic necessities.

As much as I would love to give my business to the local grocer...if I can provide the basic necessities for $40-$50 less at WalMart, that's $40-$50 more I have to pay the bills.

And the Tide you buy at WalMart is the same Tide you'd buy at a "classier" store.

[Sudcaro]

Originally Posted by Granny Sue

As much as I would love to give my business to the local grocer...if I can provide the basic necessities for $40-$50 less at WalMart, that's $40-$50 more I have to pay the bills.

And the Tide you buy at WalMart is the same Tide you'd buy at a "classier" store.

Same here.

[atlantagreg30127]

While I try to avoid Walmart as much as possible, there are a few things that I have to go there for until I win the lottery and money is no longer an object. For instance, one of my dogs is on a prescription drug that at Walgreens (drug chain) costs $35.00. At Walmart it's on their $4.00 list. The basics like mouth wash, dog treats, etc., are also much cheaper there, so I will buy a few of those there, too. However, whenever I can find the same stuff at Target stores and it's only slightly higher, I'll go ahead and pay the slightly higher price there as Target donates money into communities, and doesn't have that Borg, "you will be assimilated, resistance is futile", mentality about them.

I'd have to think about driving 30 miles to a Walmart, though. Guess I'd time it as to when I HAD to go and stock up. But in my suburban area of Atlanta, we have 7 Super Walmarts within an 8 mile circle of my house (yes, really).

[TexasTheKid]

When I need a bunch of random odds and ends, and I'm not particularly concerned about the quality and want them cheap, and I don't want to spend the whole day going to multiple stores to get them, I shop at Walmart. Or, if I just have absolutely no idea where to find a particular product elsewhere (e.g. child safety plug covers), I shop at Walmart. I can't justify it for any other reason though. I always end up hating life after navigating through Walmart's aisles for any length of time. They're always overcrowded, they stink and the people who populate them are scary ugly.

[Chicago60614]

I don't have a car in the city, so the 4-5 times I rent one to go back to my hometown I splurge. The easiest way to stock up on everything at once for the lowest cost is just to hit up Wal-Mart for an hour or two.

[texdav]

I shop there because they have everyhting and they are general the lowest priced. Thankful;i don't live in a big city ;so the people there are the same as other stores.It is more crowded but that is because of the prices.Great return policy too.

[NOEM1226]

I really hate shopping at Wal-mart. I fear that if everyone shops at Wal-mart for everything , soon my town will just on another exit on the Intestate with nothing but a Wal-mart. I try to get everything elsewhere even if it means spending a little more. That being said I will force my self to go to wallyworld if there is a LARGE price difference on a paticular item. or they run a special on an item I needed anyway that will save me a small fortune. Other than that- I say spread the wealth!!!

[VegasGrace]

I'm one of those who dislike Walmart but find myself going there at least weekly for provisions for the home and family.

I've found they are less expensive on every day items including grocery. If there was another store that had the items I needed for the same price- I wouldn't shop there.