Wal-mart.
Originally uploaded by rfelix.
David and I have decided to do a year without Wal-Mart.
Now this shouldn’t be too difficult, because in the last 2 months we’ve really focused on buying used above anything. But not only that, in the past 6 months we’ve probably only ended up at Wal-Mart 4 times (and we didn’t always buy anything those 4 times).
But now we’re going to consciously decide – NO WAL-MART. Care to join us?? Starting Sept. 1 we will go Wal-Mart free for a year.
The only time we see this as an obstacle is when we travel home, to Central Illinois, it seems that in both the towns our parent’s live in, the only store close is Wal-Mart – but that makes it all the more challenging! We’ll just have to plan ahead. And I’ll detail it all on this blog (you probably won’t hear about it much unless we have an issue, cause we don’t shop there now).
The Rules:
- Starting Sept. 1 don’t spend any money at Wal-Mart (nothing, no candy bar, no coffee maker – nothing)
- No buying from food place inside Wal-Mart (ie Subway)
- No buying from anything in Wal-Mart (the nail salons, hair salons, etc.)
- No bribing other people to buy something for you from Wal-Mart
We can still go to a Wal-Mart if needed, only because we’d be with family/friends and can’t help it, so we won’t be rude and sit in the car – but we just can’t buy anything there.
This challenge will hit the ground running this weekend, as we travel to Pekin/Peoria for a wedding. So we’ll see if we hit any obstacles along the way!
eric said,
August 28, 2007 @ 5:12 pm
i really hate wal-mart.
but the eye doctor there is really cool.
at any rate… what if someone gives you a gift card to wal-mart? would you spend it? throw it away? sell it? auction it? use it as an ice scraper? give it away?
someone’s already paid wal-mart for it… do you think you might as well use it, or would you rather hand it off for someone else to do the deed?
just wondering. cuz, even though we’re not registered there, we got a gift card to there. the person giving it to me actually said, “everyone goes to wal-mart!”
apparently she didn’t realize that not everyone goes to wal-mart…
AnnMarie said,
August 28, 2007 @ 6:27 pm
I’m another non-Walmart person. I haven’t shopped there in about 7 years, and then only under protest because I was told we could only find item X there. I can’t stand many of their policies and practices. I’m sure you’ll make it through the year!!!!
And me, I’d give the gift card to a charity (like the Humane Society, which actually requests cards there).
Rebecca said,
August 28, 2007 @ 8:19 pm
We haven’t gone to Walmart for about 3 years now. It isn’t hard where I live but I know what you are talking about the small town thing. My husband and I are from the same hometown and it is small and unfortunately Walmart is the only store there but I’m usually in my hometown for a weekend so I don’t have any problems. The gift card thing does occur with us occasionaly and usually because we are strapped for cash, I have my mom buy it off of me because she is going to shop there any way.
debra said,
August 28, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
Hi! Found you by way of the WordPress dashboard. I’ll be back to read more because I’m also trying to find ways to live green and ‘do my part’.
I also just decided to give up Wal-Mart. I’m trying to support more local business owners and I’ve heard so many bad stories about Wal-Mart’s practices that I just don’t feel right giving them my money.
And btw, I live in the Pekin/Peoria area (Morton, actually)! What a coincidence, eh?
katie salvatori said,
August 29, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
megan, you are coming to peoria this weekend? because I am driving there sunday night, maybe we can get together monday morning for breakfast or something before you leave to go back?? I want to see you I miss you!! let me know, email me or call me ok?
Megan said,
August 29, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
Thanks everyone for your great responses and encouragement! I was afraid with this post I’d get a lot of “you’re going to ruin the economy by not shopping at WM” etc.
As far as the gift card goes…David and I talked about it (we didn’t think about it before!) and we’d give it to the Homeless Shelter or Women’s Shelter. I’m sure if we got a card for $200 we’d have to seriously discuss if we should use it or not (because the money is already “spent” and it’s pointless to let it go to waste because then WM gets even more money by not selling anything with it!)…so then we might try Rebecca’s idea and have someone buy it off of us.
I’ll keep you posted on how it goes. The only thing I think I “need” before I quit buying at WM is canning supplies…I couldn’t find the pot/handles anywhere but there – so I might have to pick those up tomorrow before Sept. 1! (the jars I can get elsewhere)
Megan said,
August 29, 2007 @ 8:51 pm
Oh and Katie…I’m sorry I’m a terrible friend and haven’t called you back. Yes! Let’s do breakfast! That’d be great! I WILL call you
Katy Pullen said,
August 30, 2007 @ 1:40 pm
First of all, I love your blog. I am truly trying to make our house and contribution greener and being a better steward of our money by being as frugal as possible. Saying that, I know I will probably get jumped all over for this response, but I am a bit ruffled by your boycott. I know this is not a popular view among greenies. I say this hesitantly, b/c I don’t want it to look as if I am attacking you, just clarifying. I am a pharmacist at WalMart. I definitely have a choice where I can work. I shop at WM for most things (excluding produce most of the time, for lack of quality) because 1-with ads from other stores if they are cheaper, they will price match and 2-b/c I get a 10% discount and 3-it IS convenient to shop after I get off work, to not have to bring 2 kids back or take them to several different places to get everything. Anyway, I know WM gets a bad wrap, but I have not had mistreatment issues as an employee. I have worked for them off and on (with moving and pregnancies) for over 8 years. Again, I may be being naive, but I don’t understand the frustration. They are very advanced technologically, and I see them doing things for the environment, too. (Shutting off overhead lights and sensor to only turn lights on in frzn food area when motion causes them to turn on, recycling). I know they could do more. But it just seems like b/c they have the money to do research, or be on the cutting edge of things, they get the reputation of smothering out small businesses and being this terribly mean entity. This is a country where businesses are driven by economy. Most smaller businesses would do the same thing or have found a niche that WM cannot/doesnot cover. That is the same capitalizing on business. There seems nothing wrong with that to me. Whatever has been said about WM, must be researched and proven, I think. Anyway, I felt like I would be unfair/hiding if I didn’t voice my opinion. That is, now that I am a faithful reader/stalker of your website.
Respectfully seeking your input…And in agreement!
eyelandgirl said,
August 30, 2007 @ 2:35 pm
I think that you are doing the right thing if that is what your conscience is telling you to do. I personally shop at WalMart very rarely, because I object to the way they do business. I doubt if the loss of my business hurts them, but I hope that other businesses will do better instead. I would never tell anyone not to shop there and I hope no one is offended by my opinion.
I have a very personal reason for my feelings. I am a Certified Optometric Assistant and an office manager for an optometrist. He ran a successful private practice for over 30 years, hired me in 1995. Business was great for several years and my income went up along with it. When WalMart opened in our area, we had a staff of three assistants plus the doctor. Our revenues dropped drastically, but we struggled on. Over a period of three years, we gradually laid off all our staff except me, and I was down from full-time to one day a week. Eventually he closed his private practice and went to work for the concession that runs the optical shop at WalMart, figuring if he can’t beat them he might as well join them. He asked me to go there to be his office manager, but I had to decline. I just couldn’t go there. Yes, I’m still angry.
It’s debatable whether it was WalMart’s way of doing business, or the general shift in the economy that created this situation. The doctor and I are still friends and we’ve discussed this to death. But since I have other options for shopping, call me vindictive. I still vote no with my wallet.
liveh2o said,
August 30, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
Katy, you make some very excellent points, and as an employee with those kinds of perks, etc., I’d probably feel the same way. I don’t think many would dispute Walmart’s environmental efforts, or that your experience as an employee there as been a pleasant one. And, from a perspective shaped by capitalism, and the American Dream, business should be given the freedom to grow and compete however it can.
But what if “the American Way” isn’t the best way? What if capitalism, if unchecked, isn’t such a good thing? What if the convenience that we are used to causes inconvenience for others? But without claiming to know exactly what Megan and Dave were thinking when they decided to do this (even though she is my sister), I think this exercise is more about what Walmart represents than Walmart itself. More social and economic, than environmental.
It’s no secret that a large portion of what Walmart sells is imported from around the world. It’s imported because it is cheaper to process/manufacture abroad than it is at home. This is how Walmart is able to offer low prices, match competitor’s prices, and accept returns on items that they don’t necessarily sell.
But the question is, what does it cost for me to purchase the items at those low prices? Which is more of a social question than an economic one. Who made these shoes? What would they be paid to do the same work in the US? Minimum wage? What kind of conditions do they work under? Do they have paid vacation? Sick days? Air conditioned buildings?
Not many of us would consider working a job that didn’t provide most, if not all, of these things. So why would be OK to ask others to, simply so that we can save a few dollars?
What is the social cost of cheap toilet paper and convenience?
Oh yeah, and Megan… count me in.
uncle roger said,
August 31, 2007 @ 6:45 pm
l like your comments on wally world. i,am at your dad,s and adam is here.see you sometime.
deb said,
September 2, 2007 @ 8:05 pm
I LOVE Walmart~ between there and Sams club I spend lots of time and $ to buy food and books mainly~ so I can’t be part of the boycott- sorry
Aileen said,
September 3, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
I have banned Walmart as well, for multiple reasons. I have not looked back. I might possibly ban Target as well, but have not decided on that entirely. Recently, I noticed so much of the things I have bought at Target have been made in China and other places. By the way, Megan, you can get canning jars quite cheaply, at Big Lots. Carry on in your mission!
1 Year Without Wal-Mart: Part 1 « That’s Swell said,
September 3, 2007 @ 11:06 pm
[...] · Filed under not so swell, fair trade, Wal-Mart, money I know I can’t just leave a post like that hangin’…with all your wonderful comments and responses. I would have replied [...]
The Writing On The Wal » Blog Archive » A YEAR OF LIVING WAL-MART FREE… said,
September 11, 2007 @ 5:02 am
[...] From That’s Swell: [...]
Heather said,
October 27, 2007 @ 2:04 pm
I can understand your boycotting Walmart. I live in Philadelphia so Walmart isn’t even easy to get to. I think in my life I might have been there twice. But my husband is from the south and I know that his family goes there all the time. I’m trying to only shop at locally family owned businesses- so that cuts out Target too.
Quick Updates « That’s Swell said,
March 11, 2008 @ 3:42 pm
[...] 1 Year Without Wal-Mart We survived the holidays without going to Wal-Mart! The longer we’ve gone without Wal-Mart (since Sept. 1, 2007) the easier it gets. Though we didn’t shop at Wal-Mart much before, there were random times we could run into get something. But now it doesn’t even cross my mind to go to Wal-Mart. It’s easier than you’d think to give up Wal-Mart! [...]