Wally world is disapointing me again. Yesterday I bought a small electric fan, brought it home and pluged it in, it ran all most a minute before it overheated and stopped. Upon closter examination I discovered that the fan had dust on the blade tips and odd paint on the base. It is obevious that someone had returned the fan as being defective and it got returned to the shelf to be resold.

This is not a single instance, about 1 year ago I bought a 12 volt cell phone charger and when I opened it I found that the plug in was broke, the package resealed and returned to the shelf. The time before that it was a George Foreman grill; it was used with grease in the tray and the spatchula missing. Enough! Wally world, I am bring back the fan and I am going to give you my meanest look, and I suggest you open your purchases at the cash register. If enought people do this maybe this greedy, thoughtless practice will disappear.

-- mitch hearn (moopups1@aol.com), July 05, 2001

Answers

Better yet, don't shop at Walmart at all. Shop at the locally owned stores (if it isn't too late, and Walmart has run them all out of business.) The combination of Walmart and Fleet Farm has forced the last real hardware store in our area to close, and now there is no place to buy a piece of pipe, cut to lenght and threaded to order, or that odd size nut and bolt, or many other hardware store staples. Now we can get what the big boys want to sell us, and make a big profit on, instead of what we need. I just noticed that Fleet Farm is selling peg-board hooks made in China instead of the Peerless brand that they used to sell, that were made in Winona, Minn., USA. I will certainly mention my displeasure with this type of merchandise changes to the manager, now that I don't have anywhere else nearby to purchase such products.

Jim

-- Jim (jiminwis@yahoo.com), July 05, 2001.

I'm growing to dislike Wally World too. Bought a new phone in the last month and it was dead as a doornail right out of the box. My wife took it back to exchange it, and she had to argue her way up the food chain that it was not a warranty issue since we never got to use it.

I try to buy all of my hardware, lumber, medical supplies, etc. from the local merchants whenever possible, and when it's affordable. I also try to give my local co-op as much of my business as I can, but every once in a while, you need something after hours...

I've also noticed that if different departments sell similar, if not the same item (ie; a glue gun in hardware and 1 in crafts, or a cast iron pan in housewares vs the one in sporting goods), that often times one is noticebly more expensive than another.

-- Eric in TN (eric_m_stone@yahoo.com), July 05, 2001.

Add another one to your list. This one is for Ames department store. I went to the store because their flyer said they had their canning jars on sale for a $1.00 off. Unfortunately, their "regular" price was about $2.00 more than I paid at other stores so I didn't buy them. I'm going back in a few weeks to see if their "regular" price is now lower once the sale is over.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), July 05, 2001.

It's been difficult at times to do so but I'm slowly drifting further and further away from buying anything from Wal Mart and I'm working on doing the same with Lowes, Home Depot and the other major, national chains. To the extent that I'm able to do so I'm supporting *local* businesses owned by people in my local area. Sometimes I don't have any choice about who to buy from but when I do have one I'll go with the small, local business whenever I can.

={(Oak)-

-- Live Oak (oneliveoak@yahoo.com), July 05, 2001.

wally world has gone to pot ever since old sam died & his greedy daughter took over. I seldom buy anything from wally world. I generally go to k-mart. I can find what I want there & it is better quality. At least, in oklahoma it is. There are few small busineses here in tulsa of the general sort,as the conglomorates have already ran them out of business. I think that it's really sad that our government supports these types of businesses & not the "little guy." But, the little guy doesn't give big donations to the election fund, so...theyr'e screwed!

-- tresa lee lamb (tresalamb@hotmail.com), July 05, 2001.

Our local Wal-Mart wants to expand into a super store. We're fighting it but I'm afraid it's a losing battle. I shop at locally owned stores whenever possible, even though some of the prices are higher. So many small stores have gone out of business because of Wal-Mart and others of their ilk.

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), July 05, 2001.

Man, I am going to be the odd-woman-out here, but as much as WM and its horrible big business ways are, I have to admit, we never had access and if we did, affordable access to as much before them. Its true, after poor Sam died, its not much of a thing worth defending, but I remember the price gouching (sp?) that took place at our local stores because they had a captive crowd. People couldn't wait to be "rescued" by the concept of wholesale. The problems we are having in our WMs and other giants are not only the big business mentalities. Its the local people who work for them that no longer have a sense of accountability and lick of common sense. They hide behind policy. If they don't have a number for the blanks they fill out on the computer screen, they are clueless. Intelligence and integrity don't hold much for people it seems. Honor and fairness isn't worth fighting for when less will keep you comfortable enough. If someone requests something out of the routine rut, its a hassle and thus irritating, so why not spit in their burger. They are the ones who are difficult, right? I worked at WalMart for awhile. I know what the atmosphere behind the curtains used to be versus now. Its no different than Burger King, who used to have the slogan "We Make It YOUR Way" and supposedly still does, though none of its employees think it does when asked. If the individuals don't care, the collective group won't either. My two cents, hope you don't mind the ranting.

-- Sonya (clb@watervalley.net), July 05, 2001.

This is my second post in this thread and I would like to say that Sears is another place I will not purchase due to their entrance to the home improvement fields. I had a small roofing company and after a hail storm on a grand scale around here, I found myself biding aganist Sears, whom was noticable higher priced. Their in home sales people would bear untrue falsehoods about smaller companies. Rooves I bid at $3,000.00 they would bid $6,000.00 claiming I didn't know what it really costs and was planing to rip off the customer. Guilable people got to pay extra and with interest.

-- mitch hearn (moopups1@aol.com), July 05, 2001.

I told myself not to post anything about this thread but after reading some of the other postings I cannot help myself from speaking up.

Several posts here have said (Walmart,etc. has cause all the small local stores to close) I just want to say that Walmart,Home Depot,Lowes,Farm Fleet,etc. did not close your local hardware stores,or any other small independent locally own store. They are buildings made out of just brick and mortar,nothing else. What really caused the locals to shut down was all the people who went shopping at the big box stores because they wanted to save a quarter here or a dollar there,and turned their backs on all the small stores. Local hardware store cannot operate profitably on selling 3 screws here,or 4 washers there. The same goes for the other small local stores,the prices might be higher but that is because they cannot buy in volume like the bigbox's 1 small local store might order 3 weedeaters,Walmart orders 3,000,000 nation wide and so can sell it cheaper and with that the people say why Fred's hardware is ripping me off selling weedeaters for $89.99 I'll go to W's and get it for $69.99 and then Fred's weedeaters just sits there and then sooner or later he just starts cutting back on ordering things and little by little Fred's is gone and then all of a sudden people start complaining about HOW WALMART put Fred's out of business.

-- TomK (tjk@cac.net), July 05, 2001.

I used to be a buyer of apparel goods (big time.) We tried to source production in the USA b/c it was the right thing to do. However, the customers (once they got a taste of less expensive goods manufactured abroad) chose not to pay the prices that would support USA manufacturing. Customers wanted that cotton sweater at $29.00 (and maybe even later on sale at $19.99) and not at $48.00, which is what the sweater would have cost had it been manufactured in New York and not Hong Kong. In support of USA production, a number of retailers actually sliced their margins a bit, but it never really worked out. After NAFTA, etc., it was just the future slamming into them. Had to move production out of the USA!

Next time you need to buy something, ask yourself a few questions: Should I buy this product even though it might be made with Pakistani children's labor (home textiles, often; Chinese women's and children's labor (toys, shoes, cotton sweaters, and a lot of down products: sleeping bags, jackets); Central American women's labor (jeans, tee shirts, underwear, etc., etc., etc.... OR ASK YOURSELF: Can I do without this purchase AT ALL? Can I live a better lifestyle by recycling, re-using, or selecting something else? Do I really need this? Can I borrow this item from someone else? Can I make or grow it myself instead?

Then reflect on Wally World, your local hardware store, your conscience, etc....

It's a small world after all....

-- sheepish (the_original_sheepish@hotmail.com), July 05, 2001.

Oh, it's not just WallyWorld. I check the boxes and packages on everything I buy, everywhere. When I was a teen, someone stole a bra and left their used one in the box. Talk about gross. My husband used to look at me funny until I found other things not right and now he looks too.

I'm amazed at the gall of some people who return these things in the first place. At the pet store I work at, we do not take anything back that we cannot resell. People get mad but we are the ones who lose if we give in to them. (boy, some can get really nasty too)

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), July 05, 2001.

Another great reason to hit the yard/garage sale circuit. It's absolutely amazing the great quality that can be found for just pennies. Some items still in boxes or with the tags still attached. Also, do some serious curbside shopping where only minor repair is necessary. A lot of past quality is much better than the current "new" imports. I'm embarrassed to be living in such a wasteful society. I personally don't care to ever enter a Walmart..ever. By careful shopping, their prices can still be beat. I have never found a bargain at Sam's that I couldn't beat by buying on sale from a local establishment. I like to go to Sam's about once a year to confirm how well I am doing.

-- Sandy Davis (smd2@netzero.net), July 07, 2001.

When are people going to realize that corporations are not their friends? Corporations -- and chainstores and megawarehouse sales facilities etc -- are business entities whose sole measure of success is increase of stock price. Not even profit -- increase of stock price, often based on expansion. Expansion of number of outlets, expansion of consumption of resources, expansion of market share. The nature of a tumour. To expect them to adhere to simple old-fashioned tenets of commerce is naive and destined for disappointment.

-- snoozy (bunny@northsound.net), July 07, 2001.

I am proud to say it's been two years since I've even set foot in the local WalMart. I do cringe at the higher prices I pay, but my dignity is worth it. Quality of goods is usually better as well. i can back the yard sale reccomendation as well. Wallyworld blender died after a couple months(just after warrenty was up, hmmm), but the old GE mom handed down came out of the closet and still kicks butt. Same thing with toasters. I find Sears stuff is cheaply made these days as well.

-- Epona (crystalepona2000@yahoo.com), July 09, 2001.

Needed a new battery the other day. Went shopping at three different places for the equal battery, not the same brands but with equivelent amps. Walmart price $40, K-mart $50, local service station $50. Walmart warranty was twice as good as the local service station battery. Needed a new shovel the other day, made in USA. Walmart $4, local hardware store $12.

I have always had great luck with Walmart customer service. Walmart will beat any advertised price. Its great. Where else can you buy a auto. battery, a new shotgun, a head of lettuce, and a pair of jeans.

-- Scott (scotthom@hotmail.com), July 11, 2001.

Just wanted to add my two cents also, bought a extra mouse for my computer but didn't need to use it for about six months. When i did hook it up, would not work, and that was the second time I have had a problem with their stuff, I would definately say they put returned merchandise back on the shelf no matter what conditionit's in. Needless to say, I do not go into Walmart's. Also their food prices can be beat all the time, they may have a few items on sale but overall they can be beat.

-- Bruce Burdge (comfreybruce@richmond.com), August 24, 2001.

The way the little stores beat the big ones is through customer service--taking the time to answer the questions (no question is dumb if you need to know the answer) from customers. With very few exceptions (as in the occasional employee who probably will be soon off to bigger and better things), you cannot get that kind of help from the big box stores.

What is really bad is that some of the little stores are having problems finding decent help--people who can read, for instance--and if all you can get are the same airheads who work at some of the fast-food places, they will lose out to the big box stores.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), August 24, 2001.