Some shoppers profess that “WalMart saves me money!” …while others, like me, are left asking, “Where’s the stock for the special you advertised this week?” …and this is only one reason why I’m weaning myself from shopping regularly at WalMart.
WalMart is pulling the same trick stores did back in the late ’70s. You know, advertising a great special that is to last one full week, and then having a limited supply of that stock… in ALL stores… for the sale. It’s back to the lost leader with limited stock scam, once again.
I quit shopping for “specials” back in the 70s because I KNEW before the flyers arrived, there’d be no stock. And I’m fed up with having to go to BOTH WalMarts in Oshawa… and even Whitby at times, for what I USED to purchase at one smaller WalMart. Driving all over like that sorta’ removes the savings the sale price had in the first place, huh!
Now, when I see a special advertised in WalMart flyer, I’ll wait a week. I can nearly always find the same product on special at other local stores, for perhaps 50¢ more than WalMart was advertising it for, but a savings just the same… AND, no frustration in discovering the product is gone by the time I get to the store to make a purchase.
The second reason is that WalMart’s prices have now inched their way up to the prices now being offered elsewhere within the city, so… why would I want to walk for miles, then line up in their new, oversized stores, for products I can pick up easier …AND quicker, at say, Zellers or Canadian Tire.
Yeah… you read right… Zellers or Canadian Tire!
I’m discovering all the local stores that I trusted to do my weekly shopping before WalMart, are fast becoming my preferred stores to shop at regularly once again.
Have you seen all the neat stuff being sold lately at Home Hardware on Simcoe Street North… just south of Taunton Road? Well… you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you drop in there again. I sure was!
Oh… got a little side tracked there. My third reason is this….
When a major business moves into a new area, “they” dictate what taxes they’ll pay to the council for that area, and the council will agree in order to “bring jobs” to the area. Except this concept has one little itty-bitty problem when applied to the major box stores.
Picture this…
Box store dictates to Oshawa and are authorized to pay less taxes per square footage than any other local business in the city. Box store prices are soooo low, we all go there to buy, in order to save money! Over a few years, many small business (who WERE paying higher taxes!) either goes bankrupt or just closes their doors to doing business all together. A few years later… more small businesses in the city close their doors… Now! …the tax base is no longer there for the city to draw on.
Guess who now must pay with an increase in taxes to make up for the short fall caused by soooo many smaller businesses now leaving the city because we’re all shopping at the big box stores?
Is it REALLY any wonder why Oshawa city taxes are the highest in Ontario? We’ve got TWO WalMart superstores!
Yeah! I”m as guilty as the next person with the “What’s in it for me” mentality… but you know what? That mentality is what’s helping to drive the economy into the downward spiral we’re all now experiencing.
And plllllleeeease… we do NOT need to start any nasty campaign against ANY of the big box stores either. That’s NOT what this rant is about.
All we need to do is STOP shopping regularly at the big box stores …and take our shopping business back to the local shops. It’s that easy!
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thanks for sharing this!
You're welcome Claudio!
I agree with you the issues you have with walmart. But I have to support them for one reason. I have lived in the suburbs all my life and am a college educated professional. Walmart is one of the only companies that hires a person regardless of their RACE. I work with companies that often tell me they rarely hire black workers because they make the customers uncomfortable. These people have families to house, feed, and care for too. Where as that trumps all moral reasons not to shop at walmart, unless US companies change their hiring practises. Then I could walk away from shopping at walmart.
I hear ya' Russ, but I live in Canada. If WalMart didn't hire blacks here they'd be the ones out of place. That's what I love about Canada most of all… skin colour means diddly-squat. WalMart's prices match those of most or our Canadian local stores now anyway, so… shopping in the smaller stores saves me from having to walk MILES to get the few items I need. Now WalMart is talking about expanding their already humongous box-stores even MORE… YIKES! So… obviously they aren't hurting by my not shopping there only once or twice a year now. 🙂
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Thank you Randy!
I just read a report on Walmarts folly… taking out good selling items that people came for, abandoning their 'low price' mantra (which, by the way, so did Zellers… remember? Lowest Price Is the Law, if I remember correctly…), and like you said, little or no sale items available that they advertise.
For me, customer service is paramount. If I pay extra, within reason, for a product in a store that the salesperson is actually interested in me, and takes the actual time to work with me and answer all my questions? Then Im sold, 100%. Forget hunting thru a boxstore for an actual employee. Forget being mugged for a commission.
As a freelancer, I have to compete with development houses every day that have the $$ behind them, and in this time, I learned something from GoDaddys founder. Offer something they DONT. Customer service is usually the key. For the most part, Mom and Pop stores offer this. And for that reason, I will continue to shop there, and leave the Walmarts behind.
I couldn't agree with you more Paul! Hopefully there will be more like you and I… and the smaller businesses who truly support our communities will be allowed to thrive once more.