Wal Mart, Home Depot and big box stores of that ilk tend to have the lowest prices for some of the things I buy, but what about quality of life? By the time I have spent 30 minutes roaming the aisles of Home Depot looking for someone who can help me find a particular gizmo I want to scream. Then I go to the register and find that I have to pay at one of those damned self-pay stations where the computer talks to me like I ride the short bus and is always complaining about items placed in the baggage area. Good thing I don't carry around a machine gun in my purse, because by the time I leave Big Box Hell I am always wishing for one and that would only lead to trouble.
I'd much rather pay a bit more at Orchard Supply Hardware, a smaller chain local to my area. The stores are smaller and the prices are higher but friendly and helpful salespeople roam the aisles asking people if they need help finding anything. I never have to spend forever looking unless I want to. It is nice to interact with actual human beings and every time someone asks if I need help I feel better about the human race in general. I spend the extra money gladly because my quality of life is so much better when I shop there.
Just a reminder that the lowest price is not the be-all, end-all of everything even in a frugal life.
Two interesting faces
1 day ago
I agree! Walmart is horrible!! Not only does their customer service normally suck, their ethics are not very good either. I try to avoid Walmart at all costs.
ReplyDeleteI know my way around the home depot pretty well but their customer service is hit or miss. Some employees are very helpful and knowledgable, others shouldn't be there! I never shop at walmart and avoid other "big box" stores as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteI go back and forth on this. For the most part I like to go to smaller, locally owned stores. Not only for all the reasons you mention, but also because I like supporting my community. But I do go to the box stores when I have discounts or when then have special deals. I also really like Lowes. But, I agree with you, the experience and service is something you definitely have to weigh when choosing where to shop.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a conversation I had with my ex after seeing the movie, "You've Got Mail" with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Tom Hank's character is the CEO of the impersonal mega-bookstore that pushes Meg Ryan's character's charming little bookstore that provides knowlegeable and helpful staff, out of business. My ex commented that people prefer not to pay a premium for service or the cost of the employees' expertise. Although this may be generally true, taken to the extreme that some of these big-box stores have gone, I think some of us are willing to pay a little bit of a premium.
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