WAL-Mart vs. Target

This is actually an old one from a different blog but thought it was worth reposting here since I relive this every time I visit either place!



For all of us that frequent WAL-mart and Target on a weekly basis, there are definite differences in the experience you receive at each. WAL-mart is the obvious favorite for most. Their prices far beat out Target’s and they have a craft section. But even low prices and one-stop shopping appeals have limitations.

To summarize the experience:

Target-
You walk in and the pleasant smell of freshly popped popcorn greets you. You grab one of their shiny red carts and you’re off! The first thing you see is the AMAZING selection at the dollar section. You think to yourself, “WOW, are these really only a buck?” You load up on at least 5 things. Then you hit the clothes, shoe and baby section. You notice the aisle ways are clean of scuff marks and trash…not to mention boxes!! The styles are cool and can compete with the cuteness of major department stores. The clearance section is almost as big and as cute as the regular priced section. Are you dreaming? The home décor is extremely guilty of racking up the bill. Your kid needs to use the bathroom. You enter and it is as clean as your home bathroom and the soap smells good. You hit up the snack section before you leave and realize you forgot milk at the grocery story, no worries, Target has some. Yeah it’s a dollar more but how convenient!! You go to check out and what? No line! Oh yeah-Target opens as many registers that are needed for an ENJOYABLE shopping experience. You don’t have to wait and the cashier’s are friendly and helpful…always! You receive the total….oops! Can anyone ever leave there spending less than $40? You came in for some toothpaste and left with a bill over $150!!! How smart is Target? You walk to the car and notice how clean the asphalt is. Wow! How fun!!

WAL-mart:
You walk in to the putrid smell of McDonald’s, the nail salon and what they call a produce section. Immediately, you tense up and brace yourself for the worst. You grab a cart but have to go through 4 carts before you find a clean enough one for the baby to sit in. You notice the long line of returns and make a note to yourself to not buy anything that would cause you to have to endure that line. You check out the clothes section….which has stepped it up a notch as far as style is concerned. You don’t buy anything because you know that in the past when you buy a cute top it fits funky and you remember the return line. You check out the clearance section that is only half of a rack and full of Christmas shirts from two years ago and it’s July. Since the benefit of shopping here is you can also purchase your groceries, you make your way over to the produce section. You ask yourself, “Is the lettuce supposed to have brown on it before it’s been in your fridge for a week?” You don’t buy anything and decide the extra trip to a “real” grocer is better than food poisoning. Your son has to use the restroom so you make your way there and it smells like diarrhea. Does everyone here get the runs? You decide it’s probably from eating the lettuce. Washing your hands is needed but there is no soap, so you squirt antibacterial gel and leave. Then you make your way to the home section and the whole aisle is blocked with boxes. You ask for help getting something from that aisle and the worker suggests you just pick the thing from the end cap since the aisle is blocked. Thanks for the help! With all the selection here and you get the choice of whatever’s on the end cap. Finally it’s time to get the heck out of hell on earth, and you look at the line with 10 people ahead of you and know at least half of them are going to need a price check. There are workers just standing around, but no new lines open. You regretfully get in line because you did NOT endure hell to walk up out of there with nothing. It’s finally your turn. The cashier slowly passes one item at a time through the annoying “bing.” Now, NOTHING against people with disabilities and it’s admirable that WAL-mart hires them. Kudos!! But who decided it was a good idea to put someone with tourettes as a cashier? This lady, who was endearing, would every three words shout a weird bird noise. Is there not an opening in stocking? Come on…there is a whole aisle filled with boxes down there. You pay and get out of there ASAP. On your way out you step in gum and over spilled soda to get to your car. You leave and remind yourself to pay the extra .3-.34 per item and go to Target next time.