My Wal-Mart experience

A few months ago, our VCR stopped working. I hardly wanted to go out and buy a new VCR in this day and age, so I planned to see if I could pick one up via freecycle. I hadn't yet gotten around to it when our DVD player gave up the ghost last week. I figured I'd go ahead and buy a combo VCR/DVD player and so I started looking at Consumer Reports.

Yesterday, a coworker asked if I was going to do my usual creepy movie marathon* since J was on a business trip. When I complained about my inability to watch movies at home, he mentioned that when he had to replace his DVD player a few months ago, he picked up one for around $30 that was better than the expensive one he'd bought three years ago. Well, of course I wanted to know where he got this fabulous deal, and after he delivered a minute-long monologue about the guilt he felt about where he'd made his purchase, he finally delivered the name of his source: Wal-Mart.

Now, I know that Wal-Mart has a rather bad reputation, and I've heard bits and pieces about their low wages and unfortunate environmental practices. However, since I haven't darkened the doorway of a Wal-Mart in years, I have to admit I haven't paid much attention. Therefore, when I decided to go there after work last night, I felt free of the guilt that plagued my coworker. In fact, if anything I was a little curious to get a glimpse of what all the fuss was about.

I found the store and made my purchase, and left knowing that I wouldn't be likely to return--not because I saw any evidence of environmental insensitivity or poorly treated employees (if anything, they seemed happier than the people shopping there on a Friday evening), but because I found the store itself to be so unpleasant. The bright fluorescent lights were the last thing that dingy space needed--though I suppose they did make it easier to avoid bumping into something, as the aisles were stuffed to the gills. I found all of the colors and shapes competing for my visual attention to be dizzying and when I asked an employee for the bathroom and he pointed me toward "the big sign in back," it took me several seconds to see it. I felt no temptation to browse and was instead quite glad to leave.

So, that's why I don't like Wal-Mart. I suppose if I'd liked shopping there I'd need to look further into it's reputation and make a difficult choice about whether to continue spending my money there, but luckily I'm saved that decision.

*I like creepy movies, even if they're not very good. Last night after hooking everything up I watched Dark Water, but it wasn't as creepy as I'd hoped it would be...