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Make your calendars, people. Today was the day that I was granted a better understanding of how the world works.
As long as I've been in college, I've naturally spent the majority of my money at Wal-Mart. Like all college students (at least in Tuscaloosa), it's the one place I can go anytime and get pretty much anything I'm looking for. Whether I need a new shower curtain, a bookshelf, some deodorant, or some orange juice, they've pretty much got everything. Now granted, if I want a CD I'll usually go to Gospel Supply House or the Family Christian Store, and if I want clothes I'll go to Goody's, but other than that most everything I commonly need is found at Wal-Mart. And in almost all cases, for much cheaper than anywhere else.
So everytime I've been to Bruno's, Winn Dixie, or any other "real" grocery store, I've always been thinking "you idiots! you're wasting your money here!" When I walk through a department store (which is nearly always simply to get to the mall inside), I usually think "you spoiled snobs! you can get that same toaster at wal-mart for half that price".
I realized something today while I was Christmas shopping. Yes, the food is more expensive at "real" grocery stores than at Wal-Mart for the most part. At in some cases the selection is even more limited. Department stores are pretty much ALWAYS a TON more pricey than at Wal- Mart, whether we're talking about bed spreads or waffle irons. One could probably argue that the quality of the products is generally higher at the non-Wal-Mart places, and one would be right sometimes. But I'm sorry, the tube of Crest toothpaste that's $4.50 at Bruno's and $2.75 at Wal- Mart is the same stinking product.
Anyhow, the revelation that came to me today was the real reason people don't buy everything at Wal-Mart (besides the aforementioned quality thing, which I honestly don't think is that huge of an issue). It's the service. As I was in the mall today, going from store to store on a hunt for Christmas presents for Tammy, nearly everywhere I walked in someone asked me if I needed help finding something. This fact used to annoy the snot out of me, but I guess I'm getting older or something...I actually appreciate it now. If I had a question about a product (which, admitedly, I rarely do), who in the world would I ask at Wal-Mart? Unless your question is where something is, the people there are generally useless in this regard. Try asking the electronics guy how many PCI slots are in this computer. At Wal-Mart, good luck if you need help getting an item that's out of reach or that requires a salesperson to unlock the cabinet or something...you'll usually be there a while.
At McRae's today, after I had picked out a necklace I was going to buy for the woman, as I was paying for it, the girl behind the counter noticed that the chain was a little dirty and starting to tarnish. Like I would have *EVER* noticed that. Anyhow, it took a few minutes, but she cleaned the thing for me, and it definitely looked a lot better. As simple as that sounds, can you imagine the lady scanning your crap at Wal-Mart ever noticing that fact, much less cleaning it for you?
I remember back in elementary and middle school when Mom would take us to Parisian or wherever to buy our back-to-school jeans and stuff. The lady there would always help us find what we needed and give her opinion about whether or not they fit. Oh yeah, and if something was too long or something, they'd alter it for ya. I just don't see Wal-Mart doing that.
Wal-Mart doesn't have to put too much effort on customer service or keeping the checkout lines short or anything, because they know that their prices are their attraction. The people will come back no matter how bad their experience was. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people (after a bad experience) say that they were never going to Wal- Mart again, but sure enough, they're right back there soon afterwards.
So at any rate, my purpose here is not to bash Wal-Mart. They provide the huge assortment of items at really low prices that pretty much no one else can provide. I guess as I'm getting older now I'm finally realizing what the other places have to offer now.
Of course, this doesn't mean I'm going to stop shopping at Wal-Mart. That would just be downright silly.