How many of you live in a smallish town/city in which Walmart is...

[Maddy McCall]

the only retailer of many of the items you need?

In my town, there's a Kroger, a couple of Dollar Generals, a Lowes, and a Walmart Supercenter. The nearest large city, which would offer more alternatives to Walmart, is over 80 miles away.

If you need ink cartridges, there's nowhere to go but Walmart. If you need a toaster oven, there's nowhere but Walmart. If you need a CD, there's nowhere but Walmart. If you need a new TV, there's nowhere but Walmart.

How can you avoid shopping at Walmart when that's the only big retailer in your town?

[mike_c]

1. my nearest Walmart is about three hours drive....

Damn, I like it that way!

[CanuckAmok]

3. Jeez, when did you move to Jupiter?

BTW, Wal*Mart is opening a Sam's Club on Phobos.

[mike_c]

5. 'struth-- the closest Walmarts are in Redding CA...,

...and in Ukiah CA, both of which are at least three hours distant. We actually had a local referendum a few years ago about "admitting" Walmart by awarding them a zoning variance to build a big box on a waterfront lot and the majority rejected them.

[tedoll78]

11. Well..

what about Deimos? I'm jealous!

/stomps foot.

[Wapsie B]

2. Thankfully even in my town we have a number of choices.

Super Target, KMart, Shopko, Sears, Fleet Farm, Menard's and several Dollar Generals. It's the Costcos that are a distance away, both at least a 2 hours drive north or south.

[sundog]

4. similar situation here

rural New Mexico...

I am never happy about going there, but sometimes there is no alternative for certain items. x(

[hfojvt]

6. I cannot believe that

What kind of CD? Data CDs are available at Radio Shack or Computer Stores. Every little town probably has a music store, at least some do, plus I got most of my CDs from Columbia House, and for much less than Wal-mart prices.
Also, who really "needs" a CD? You "want" a CD. You "need" oxygen, water, and love.
I think there are always alternatives. Even if you live in the middle of nowhere, you can drive that 80 miles once a month if you want to avoid Wal-mart badly enough.

[Radical Activist]

7. You sound like someone

who hasn't lived in a very small town. There are many in that situation. That's how Wal-Mart got so large. They opened stores in small towns that weren't being served by other retailers who focused on larger towns and cities.

[Maddy McCall]

14. When my ink cartridge runs out, and i have work...

due the next day, I have to go to Walmart to get the ink cartridge.

And, please, don't lecture me on "needs" vs "wants." You may be fortunate to have a music store in your home town. I don't. FYI, I support Democratic musicians by purchasing their music at Walmart.

How big is the town in which you live? The town I live in has a pop of about 10,000.

If I drive 80 miles just to make a moralistic statement against Walmart, though, am I not at the same time enriching the pockets of the gluttonous oil barons?

[Justitia]

18. My Kroger sells ink cartridges, does yours? It's probably a few

cents more, but absolutely worth it.

[Maddy McCall]

21. No. It doesn't.

It's a very small Kroger. It has a deli and meat market, but that's it. You can buy pencils, pens, notebooks, etc, but that's about it.

[hfojvt]

22. I lived in Richland Center, Wisconsin

population 5,014. It had a music shop and an office supply store where a person could get ink cartridges.
I admit that not every town will have those businesses, but Columbia Music House is available to all, and so is Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. These days you could probably even get ink cartridges thru the internet, although the "next day" squeeze is going to be a problem there.
I thought I was making a mild joke about "needs vs. wants" although abuse of the word "need" is a pet peeve of mine. My peevishness may have overwhelmed my attempt at clowning. Maybe I NEED to lighten up.

[Justitia]

25. www.OvernightInkJets.com (ask & you shall receive)

http://www.overnightinkjets.com/index.html

Free shipping!

:D

[JohnnyRingo]

8. Eventualy...No one is left to compete with WalMart

It's their business model.
The longer they stay in an area, the more retailers close or move away. Capitalisms worst nightmare.

Slash and burn marketing.

[Justitia]

9. Order stuff on the Internet - I do, and it's convenient.

I am continually amazed at how many things I have begun to buy straight from the 'net, including ALL those things you just mentioned. Not to mention, if you buy from out-of-state retailers, you don't pay sales tax (makes up for shipping cost). Everything I bought on the internet was also 100% returnable.

Happy 'net shopping!

[Maddy McCall]

15. The sales tax I pay at Walmart supports my local economy...

public schools, hospital, etc.

I do make frequent purchase on the internet. However, sometimes I can't wait a week for certain items to be shipped.

[Radical Activist]

17. That would be unusual.

Most small towns only charge the state sales tax, not a local sales tax that goes to the community. Its even more rare for a local sales tax to go to the school system, usually that's the property taxes. Your town is an interesting exception if your sales taxes are spent that way.

[Maddy McCall]

19. Correction noted.

I do have no problem with paying sales tax, though. I live in a very poor state.

[Justitia]

20. Me neither, just trying to offset concerns re: shipping costs. -eom

[hfojvt]

26. Kansas has added a line to their state income tax form

It required you to add sales tax from items you buy on the internet. I think other states are doing that as well. That method seems kinda clumsy. It would be easier to put a national 5% sales tax on internet sales and divide that revenue among the states based on population.

[xmas74]

28. We have both state and local taxes on our purchases.

The biggest tax is if you stay in a motel but nearly everything is taxed in my town (population: 15,000).

[Radical Activist]

10. When possible, buy online.

If your state has a sales tax you will save money that way as well. You'll get better quality products at a cheaper price than what you can get at Walmart. That way, at least you will only have to shop at Walmart for emergencies like when your toilet overflows and you need a plunger or something like that.

[tedoll78]

12. Another benefit:

it just seems like many online companies are more likely to contribute to the good guys in Washington.

I could be wrong though, but then again, anything online is probably better than Wal-Mart when we're talking strictly in those terms..

[medeak]

13. Sundays ...Walmart is the church

of my town... EVERYONE IS THERE...needless to say I don't contribute to the church.

[Maddy McCall]

16. I do not go to Walmart to socialize.

When I go, I usually go at 5AM, when no one's there. In and out as quickly as possible.

[medeak]

23. is there a Kmart

nearby? That's where I go....

[Maddy McCall]

24. No.

[LeftyMom]

27. I may be moving to a place like that

Except that it's not a whole lot farther away (an hour vs 45 mins) to go to the slightly larger town that has a few more options, including a Costco and a Raley's (a store with a decent health food selection for a chain grocery.)

I have no idea how I'd adjust to that, I've spent my whole life in this decent sized city, and I've never lacked for shopping options.

Honestly, we'll continue to avoid Walmart as much as possible, but in real small towns sometimes they're unavoidable. For example, I sew and I don't think there's an independent fabric store in the area we're looking at moving to. I can mail order most of the things I want, but if I need a zipper or I run out of black thread and LeftyKid's Halloween costume is only half done, I'll suck it up and go to Walmart if there isn't a Joann or some family-run fabric shop within a reasonable distance.

[xmas74]

29. I have a very small selection of where I can go.

Walmart is my choice. I was flamed a couple of months ago about going to Walmart. I have no choice sometimes. I would have to drive over an hour to go somewhere else.
Besides, my daughter's insurance (which her father is currently covering by court order) will only allow me to use Walmart for prescriptions. So I have to go at least once a month for her medications. There is no other option for me. And I was flamed for that too.