Wal-Mart vs K-Mart

[WriterDom]

I've always loved Wal-mart and hated K-mart. Even though many times K-mart is cheaper. And it's not the employees. You could hit the floor with a heart attack and die before you got help in either store. And if anything, checking out of a K-mart is faster than Wal-mart. Wal-Mart is kicking their ass, so I can't be the only one. I just don't understand it. They both sell the same shit.

 

[Azwed]

I think it is the Sam Walton image that still hangs around. Wal-mart sells the same cheap plastic crap as K-mart and they both tend to put small store out of business, but the good boy image of Sam kind of makes wal-mart look better.

 

[Rubyfruit]

They both suck eggs. I avoid them like the plague.

When my twins were on formula, I had them on the Wal-Mart brand (it's made by a national company and is about 1/2 as much). I absolutely hated going there to get it. The store was always a mess - crap all over the floors, etc. The people who worked there (at my store in CA anyway) were useless and grumpy. Oh, and those double carts? They wouldn't let you take them out of the store. Ok, so tell me how I'm supposed to carry my twin babies and all of my stuff back to my car? Sorry, I hate that store.

Target is my "all-purpose" store of choice.

 

[Angel]

All of the Wal-Marts here are fairly clean and shiny and bright, while most of the K-Marts around here are dingy, old, dim and smelly.

Although half of Rochester refuses to shop at Wal-Mart because they use Fuji and Rochester's Economy leans heavily on the fact that we are home to Kodak.


Then you throw in where I work - Ames. Which is a lesser known, North Eastern USA kinda store similar to both WallyHell and K-shit.

But even shittier, dirtier and we just filed for bankruptcy .

We're right next to Wal-Mart too - lord only knows how we manage to bring in any business at all.


I still shop at Wal-mart because I usually can't find what I'm looking for at Ames. On the rare occasion I can, I will buy at my store cause I get a discount.

Target is out of my way - but when I have the time I would rather go there. I LOVE Target

 

[Lady Violet]

I'm a Zellers person myself.

(what the hell is she talking about).

I'm originally from Canada. So we have the Wal-marts (tho not many) and we have the K-marts (a little more of those) and we got the Zellers (everywhere).

Your same basic cheapy kind of store, but I like the Giant Tigers too, and the Big Buds! (those are sooo cool).....

I luv the dollar tree!

 

[sigh]

writerdom, where's the "other" choice?

like ruby, i'm a target girl...i can walk through a SuperK from end to end and come out with half a dozen bananas, but toss me into target and my credit card will burst

 

[Mischka]

...they both tend to put small store out of business...

It looks like K-Mart may be joining their ranks soon. Wal-Mart, Target, and the membership clubs (Costco, Sam's) are squeezing them out of the market.

I don't care for K-Mart. Every one I've ever been in is dirty, poorly organized, and out of stock of all advertised items. I normally shop at Target or Sam's if I need to rely on massive general item chain stores.

 

[lavender]

 

[Lady Violet]

Me again

Imagine a store, not like any other. You walk in and imediately your senses are stimulated by color, shapes and sized. You start to think back to your childhood and what it was like to enter a candy store. You walk through the store on a guided path, walking through kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, bed rooms etc. Every possible idea you could have in a home, they had it displayed. Choose what you want, and then enter the wearhouse. Everything right at your finger tips. All you have to do is choose the color, the size and where to put it in your home.

Poeple, I give you.... Ikea.

Unfortunately, I have yet to see one in the states and so far remains a Canadian enterprise.

Aaaawwwwwww.

I'm so bad.. no really, im actually nice.

 

[Angel]

Does anyone (Other than Nasty and Myself, and probably Merelan) have an Ames store nearby?


Ours are all shitholes. I'm curious to see if they are all as bad as the one I work in. (And mine is actually better than the other local Ames stores!)

 

[morninggirl5]

Wal Mart is dangerous, I avoid it as much as possible. I only go to K-Mart if there's something very specific I want. Wal Mart is much better organized, has a better selection and at least here, doesn't try to cram three stores worth of stuff in one small store.

 

[Mischka]

Re: Me again

Unfortunately, I have yet to see one in the states and so far remains a Canadian enterprise.

It's not a Canadien enterprise - it's a Swedish company. They are located all over the US, always near major waterways. I was an Ikea addict when I lived in D.C., but now the closest one is several hours drive, in Houston. Sigh....

 

[WriterDom]

If you invested 1000 dollars on 1/31/96 in Walmart, you'd have $5230

If you invested in Kmart you'd have $339.

Makes you wonder if Kmart will survive.

 

[Topher]

Re: Me again

Poeple, I give you.... Ikea.

Unfortunately, I have yet to see one in the states and so far remains a Canadian enterprise.

Aaaawwwwwww.

I'm so bad.. no really, im actually nice.

I'm fairly certain that Ikea is a Swedish enterprise.

I saw an Ikea right next to a Newark Airport runway while landing there on January 10,1996.

It stands out in my mind because the entire block next door, apparently one big warehouse, was engulfed in flames. It was quite spectacular. It lit up the plane outside the windows. I imagined that I felt the heat on my face. Hugest fire I've ever seen. Huge huge huge! Anyone remember it?

 

[Guest]

I do not like wal-mart they put me out of business

 

[Mischka]

Re: Re: Me again

I'm fairly certain that Ikea is a Swedish enterprise.

Really? Huh. Never heard that before.

 

[Cheyenne]

I stay away from K-Mart because they are dirty and dark and have low quality merchandise. I stay away from the Walmart near me for the same reason. The store needs to be updated. I do shop at other Walmarts if I'm in a different city and need something though.

As for KMart, funny this thread should come up today. I just heard a rumor tonight that KMart really is headed towards bankruptcy. They are a customer of ours and we have outstanding accounts receivable with them. I'd prefer the rumor to be false.

If the poll had "other" as a choice I would have picked it. I shop at Target all the time.

 

[ksmybuttons]

Fred Meyer

I live in the Pacific Northwest. We have Fred Meyer. (Freddie's, Dead Fred's etc.)

One stop shopping. Full service grocery, health food, electronics, home items, useless plastic items, crafts, yarn, books, clothing, shoes, toys, pharmacy, jewelry, bank, home improvement.

"You'll find it at Freddy's!"

Kmart doesn't have enough checkers and I have never been in a Walmart...

 

[Angel]

Not Enough Checkers? LOL!

Jeez. Picture walking into a store about the size of your average K-mart.

Picture it.

Now picture 9 checkout lanes.
One service desk.
One Electronics Department.
One Jewelry Department.


Now picture this.

One person at service desk.
One person in Electronics.
One person in Jewelry. (me)

No lanes open.

Checkout at service desk, electronics or Jewelry - and thats if you don't have to wait in line for the people who are actually shopping those departments.


Imagine it is the week before Christmas.

Imagine walking into Ames? You just did.

Welcome to my world.


Anyone hiring?

 

[Rubyfruit]

Don't get me started, Angel. I'm old enough to remember customer service. Now, when one is in Target for instance and can't find something, you look around - anybody? hello? (echo) Oh, hey you, wearing red - can you help me? No, sorry - just my favorite color. Fuck.

Only Nordstrom still gets it.

 

[Angel]

Ruby, wanna come shop in Brockport NY? Feel free to tell my bosses to hire more employees.

(Ok, I know they have to stay within the payroll limit they're given, maybe I should kick some corporate ass.)

 

[NeoMeiouSetsuna]

...

Well i work at a k-marts and i do agree that the store sucks. years ago what i think really bring people in was that they sold alot of stuff that you couldn't find anyway else. But now it's just so sad. Well from the point of an employee, at the store i work at we can't keep a store manger. I've only been with them a year and there has been 3-6 store mangers in and out. I find with poeple that have been there a long time, they tend treat them like crap, like they can't have a job somewhere else. They want people to do the work, but they don't want to pay them for it, and don't want to hire new people to come in. and this was well before they were in trouble.

But Target is just all around more professional.

 

[Topher]

Re: Re: Re: Me again

Really? Huh. Never heard that before.

Ok smarty-pants so I missed your post in my excitement in enlightening everyone as to the national origins of a store the doesn't even exist in this area of the country
Maybe Nashville will get one ...

 

[freakygirl]

I always shop at WalMart.. K Mart was closed a year or so ago..

I never in my life liked K Mart.. from the day ours opened.. it was dirty... dimly lit and the people were rude.

If i want to drive to Olympia.. I prefer Target.. but Fred Meyer is pretty cool also..

 

[teresafannin]

I love Target & hate WalMart and KMart. I get a discount at Target because I work for Mervyn's & the new Super Target in my neighborhood is great. Never go to Sam's or Costco, since I live alone, I don't need 100 rolls of toilet paper. Nordstrom's has recently moved into DFW & I am unimpressed. Big, clean stores, but not much selection & way overpriced. Their sales people must be straight commission because the few times I have been there, they were in my face constantly. Customer Service is one thing, attaching themselves to my hip is quite another. KMart has been struggling for years, this might be their last go round.