I would rather pay DOUBLE or TRIPLE for something than buy it at Wal-Mart! I'm pretty anti-Wal-Mart. They have so many horrible practices, including how they strong-arm their suppliers and treat their employees! They are pretty much single-handedly forcing all manufacturing jobs outside the US and shutting down "main st" all over the US. I could go on forever, but I will not shop at Wal-Mart until it is the last store in a 50 mile radius.

Just my 2 cents

Never.

The only real shopping I do is for baby supplies and basic grocery stuff. But I'm starting to leave the Wal-Mart scene as I don't like to go to different stores. I do most of my toy shopping from Target.com. I just hate holiday shopping and I avoid Wal-Mart especially during the holidays because it's so chaotic.

Yeah, Wal-Mart is quite chaotic during the holidays. I remember one time I went holiday shopping at around 11pm thinking it wouldn't be crowded. Boy was I wrong. It took me about 1/2 hour just to get into the parking lot and another to find parking. NEVER AGAIN. I'd rather go shopping during off peak times.

I only buy my medicine there, since medicine is so d*mn expensive. I hate that it has come to that point where I have to buy something from *ugh* Wal-Mart. It makes me sad.

My parents do. They save over $50 per week, which helps out with the financial situation. My dad is at risk of getting laid off again, my mom and sister are in college, and I live with my parents right now because I haven't been able to get a job where we live.

I buy my groceries from a regional retailer.

I'm sticking with Target. I have at least five Target's within five miles of my home. Wal-Mart is too far and not a good shopping experience.

I'd rather pay more than support Walmart (even with its fancy new spelling and logo), for all the reasons Dr No outlined. I'm lucky that my financial situation lets me put my money where my mouth is.

No, I have to admit I haven't been to one in ages.

When I want inexpensive things, I much prefer Target - but for the past 3 years or so I have adopted a strict "buy less, but buy the best quality I can afford and take damn good care of it" approach.

So...I maybe only have a couple of cute new sweaters this season, (not expensive, 30 bucks or so each) but I also have about a dozen cushy, awesome thick cashmere ones - I have had them for about FIVE years, I take good care of them, and they are still going strong.

I believe in bargains, but I also think false bargains exist, and cheap, badly made things that don't fit and wear out in one season is false economy.

i like target better. i never have a good experience in walmart

I am sorry to say but since the downfall lately. I have been researching more and Walgreens and CVS have better sales some weeks than Target and Walmart put together. I say look online at the circulars and weekly sales items.

I've been cutting coupons, waiting for those items to go on sale (Which like bellaressa said, Walgreens and CVS usually have the best sales) and buy the items then. I've been doing my best to save since my hours at work are being cut, and coupons have really helped!

LoveSarah --is so right. I compared this week to household goods on all 4 websites. CVS is winning this week. Walgreens is doing a great 2nd, and Walmart is 3rd. It may also depend on where you at. I check every Sunday evening.

Ooh Walgreens - there are some really nice ones .. forgot about those. And they're nearly always open too

I probably would shop at Walmart (even though it's evil) except for the fact that every time I do, it's an awful experience. I feel so...low...shopping there. There are always screaming children running around, its never organized, and the parking is awful. I much prefer Target, even though it's a little more expensive, because I'm always happy with my shopping experience. I get excited when I go to Target!

Wal Mart is evil. I would never shop there.

H to the No.

I refuse to go into that store.

I'm definitely in the minority here. I shop there for a lot, but not everything. If I happen to be near one, I'll go there. The prices are much cheaper for a lot of the stuff at the Super Target by me. BUT...the big thing is that we generally go to Super T for most things because if we make the trip to Walmart, not only are we spending more on gas, we're also paying 3% more in sales tax. A girl I went to school with is a manager at the one we usually go to, and she said they don't treat the employees the way that everyone thinks they do (well at least her store doesn't.)

I hate shopping in Walmart. I usually go to Target but lately I have been finding a lot of great deals at CVS. Between coupons, extra bucks back, and sales, I usually get some very good bargains there.

I live in a small town with rather limited shopping choices, so I shop at Wal-Mart for toiletries and such, regardless of the economy. We do have a Target, but everything is more expensive, and it seems completely stupid and snobbish to me to spend more on the EXACT SAME brand/item, just because of the 'stigma' of shopping at Wal-Mart.

hate wallmart. it's always crowded and the checkers are slow as hell...and i've been behind people who pay with effin CHANGE...wtf?!?!?!

I dispise Wal-Mart plus I do not know where one is at!

considering my wal mart and target are about a 1/4 of a mile from each other its not any more gas to go there really

I hate wal-mart. Hate it. But because of my current financial situation ( in college) I am forced to go there

i've never been to walmart (guess there arent any in ny)... for the most part we do our shopping at TRADER JOES (good prices, great stuff) and whatever's on sale at stop n shop... for formula for the baby... babiesrus usually has the best sales in our area... and diapers.. they're jsut expensive everywhere (but we'll get them onsale at babies also)

I used to do all of my grocery shopping at Target (wouldn't ever touch clothes from there or furniture, but for greeting cards/household items/food, it suits me very well) but I've been going to the Neighborhood Walmart lately only b/c they are open 24 hours, so when Im coming home from work at 3am and have no food, i know where I can go for something non-fast food!

I despise the big Walmarts, but have you been to a neighborhood one? It sells solely groceries and it's done in a very nice design as opposed to the ghetto-ness of the huge ones. lol

Almost all of the big-box retailers are accused of shady practices. Wal-Mart more so because they are the largest private employer in the world. Forums at www.retail-worker.com can give you a little more insight on how employees feel about their work. I do have a couple family members that work at Wal-Mart. When our close uncle died, they were basically told to take all the time they needed. I'm being general here, but I believe those employees who moan and groan about Wal-Mart either work under really really bad managers (happens in all work places), or are of the type that feel they deserve everything they haven't earned (sue McDonald's because I spilled coffee on my lap that I didn't know was hot).

Why I typically don't shop at Wal-Mart. It takes way too long to check-out, and the parking situation is always a pain.

I will NOT shop at Wal-Mart. No F-ing way.

Wal-Mart has excellent prices. I have shopped there and continue to because of this. Price is always important and it pays off.

i'm still not going to turn to Wal-Mart even if it's the most affordable way to do things. i think that i would rather let my friends and family know that i'm in a financial rut than to go budget on them, since that's kind of saying that you're getting people gifts because you feel like you HAVE to rather than because you want to. i know that everyone will understand since we are all in the same boat on this one.

I really don't like Wal-Mart and I avoid going there at all costs. It's always too crowded and I don't feel like the quality of the products are worth it.

I'm not too good for savings, i'd love to be near a walmart.

Nope. I'm a Target woman.

I refuse to shop at Wal-Mart, for all of the reasons Dr No said.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that refuses to shop at Wal-Mart! It isn't the "stigma" of shopping there, it's their business practices. I've worked at companies that sell items to Wal-Mart, and so do my friends and relatives. The things they do to ensure that they can sell to consumers at the lowest price are absolutely despicable. And because they are so huge, because so many people shop there, they get away with it. You're damned if you sell to Wal-Mart, and damned if you don't! Most companies end up moving manufacturing overseas. The sad part is that those people who rely on manufacturing jobs are those that Wal-Mart preys on!

The more you shop at Wal-Mart, the less options you will have in your neighborhood, because everywhere else will go out of business. And then pretty soon we will all have to work for Wal-Mart because the only jobs left in the US will be at Wal-Mart! (OK, that's a gross exaggeration, but you get my point!)

I would have no problem shopping there if every one I've ever been in wasn't a complete, disorganized mess...not to mention the handfull of times I've made the poor decision to purchase something, I watch my life flash before my eyes as I stand in a slow-as-molasses line...it is way worse for my blood pressure than other stores are on my wallet...stress-free shopping for me, please

I am very anti wal-mart. I also don't live anywhere near one so it's not as if it's that hard for me to resist the tempataion.

What about the positive "green" effects Walmart has had on recycling and reducing packaging waste?

There's research out there that says Walmart helps to stabilize prices in a community, which is beneficial for all retailers. No one reads that because it is contrary to established beliefs about Walmart.

I think for some, it's fashionable to hate on Walmart while glibly blaming it on their business practices of which they are often ignorant. And then to praise Target out of the other side of the mouth is completely hypocritical.

But not y'all, you know, just some people...

What I don't get is people saying that the quality of their products is cheap, when its the exact same thing target sells. Now if everyone actually knew of some of the ways Target treats it employees then maybe everyone one here would be forming diffrent opinions. I should know my fiance is currently a manager for target.

No Target, Trader Joe's, Walgreens, etc. here in Vermont, but up near Burlington where I live we've got a Walmart (though of course not without great protest). It's convenient to have all that stuff in one store and at a general lower price, and it does supply the area with many jobs. And, the prescription plan they have is very helpful for many people.

terryt : The truth is that Wal-Mart DOES treat its suppliers terribly. I have worked at one of these suppliers. So have my sister and a lot of our friends. Truthfully, I haven't heard about how Target and other big-boxes treat suppliers. But what Wal-Mart puts suppliers through just to CONTINUE selling product there... I haven't heard anything remotely similar about other retailers.

Perhaps forcing suppliers to reduce packaging size indirectly reduces their carbon footprint. But what happens to all the plastic and paper companies have to throw away because Wal-Mart wanted the change immediately? (and that's exactly what they do!)

But I am always open to learning, and I would gladly read the research you suggested if you could point me to it!

I can't remember the last time I've shopped at Wal-Mart. I encourage everyone to watch the documentary, "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price". I of course take into account that it is a one-sided opinion of Wal-Mart but it really brings to light what a corporation like Wal-Mart does to small communities. I will be first to stand in a picket line to boycott Wal-Mart if they ever try to open a store in my small hometown. It would be the death of a community that relies on small businesses to keep the town going. I'm not against "big business" but at some point it needs to be stopped. Shop local!

i think i bought some wrapping paper at walmart when i was 17 & i haven't shopped there since!

i'm actually very creative with my gifts that i give people , i dont go to walmart for the cheap things , i go to the doller store for stocker stuffers. just because its a little bit cheaper and its a little something.

lately i go to walmart because thats the closest thing to me right now :\

but at my hometown , i go to target and publix for items

Believe me I used to be in the category of being embarrassed 0f Walmart. However, its just being fiscally responsible. Why spend more on the same item? I would rather get the better bargain. Besides, who would ever know you paid 10 dollars on a sweater? Like most things its how you carry it or pull the look together.

I love Target, but where I go to school, there really isn't any alternative that is as college student budget friendly like Walmart. The local stores are nice, but often too pricey, unfortunately

After reading the first 10 or so, I feel like an outcast. I do not make it a habit of shopping there, but there is one on my way home from school, so if I know that I can get it for much cheaper then any other drugstore (longs, walgreens) and know that it's not on sale at Target (because I'm in there just about every week (I love that store) I will go to walmart.

Plus how can people say that the quality of products is much cheaper? I go there for brand name shampoo, mostly just those types of goods, a lot of which are the exact same thing as many other stores, but at a slightly lower price without having to get it in bulk at costco!

I HATE Wal Mart, I've been to some nice ones, but the ones near me are very icky and dirty, I'd rather shop at Target and pay a couple dollars more (though Target is pretty cheap too) and have a nice experience.

I live outside the US and while Wal-Mart isn't at the top of my shopping spots, I'll buy there.

I shop regularly a Wal-Mart in Costa Rica as they own the larger grocery chains here. So it isn't something I can easily get away from. Nor do I try.

I hate Wal-Mart. With a passion. Unfortunately for me, I live in a small town where your options are Kroger or Wal-Mart. We don't have Safeway, WholeFoods, Target, or anything else like that. So going to Wal-Mart doesn't embarass me. It's a necessity around here.