This or That: Target or Walmart

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: This or That: Target or Walmart

Aldi

I avoid walmart at all cost. I got a great deal on a smoker at one in January, before that it has been 2-3 years since I stepped foot on one.

[Cusefan]

Re: This or That: Target or Walmart

I live right down the road from a Wal-Mart and I go there 4-5 times a year. I do my grocery shopping at Wegmans, and I use Amazon frequently. I hate Wal-Mart because the employees there are worthless. I'll take the 15 minute drive to Target if I need to, no aggravation shopping there.

[countryboy]

Re: This or That: Target or Walmart

Living out away from the "big city", I do most of my shopping at local mom and pop "specialty" stores (butcher shop, produce stand, general store), but when I do shop at a chain store, it would be Kroger and Target.

The only positive I give Wal-Mart is that their fresh baked doughnuts are delicious and only $4 for a dozen is a steal compared to Krispy Kreme or bakery prices.

[AUChase]

Re: This or That: Target or Walmart

My family mostly does grocery pickup through Wal Mart. They have a lot of OTC medicines that are cheaper too like children's tylenol or ibuprofen and generally speaking it's just cheaper and easier. I would also point out that if you're buying things like motor oil, filters, batteries, etc. It's wayyyy cheaper to buy it at Wal Mart then to go to an auto parts store. Same with most kid's supplies like pull ups.. They have the Parent's Choice brand that you can get. I don't really like Wal Mart but it's definitely an okay option for people trying to raise a family on a budget.



If I'm just picking up some hamburger meat, milk, etc. I'll stop at Aldi because it's less than a mile from my house but tbh I hate how even pre-pandemic it seems like they never have enough people at the check out and there's a certain awkwardness with trying to figure out where the check out line starts that I don't like because it always spills into one of the aisles and people are trying to merge from different directions.

We have Winn-Dixie, some locally owned places, etc. and they are all so expensive that I have to draw the "support local business" line somewhere. For example a box of cereal for the kids at one of them costs 2x as much and it's the small box compared to the large one. I'll go locally owned usually if I'm buying certain meats but otherwise It's 95% grocery pickup.

I wish we had a Publix here. I like their sandwiches a lot but I couldn't afford to shop there either.

[LambertandHam]

Re: This or That: Target or Walmart

I wish we had a Publix here. I like their sandwiches a lot but I couldn't afford to shop there either.

tbh on my budget I usually only stop in Publix for the BOGOs or if they have decent deals. Otherwise it's too expensive.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: This or That: Target or Walmart

tbh I hate how even pre-pandemic it seems like they never have enough people at the check ou

They only have like 3-4 employees working at at time. Bad management if lines get long all the time though. At mine if the lines get backed up to the aisle they call another person to the front.

At least an Aldi cashier can clear 5 carts faster than Walmart can do 1. From I've heard Kroger and Walmart are going to 1-2 cashiers and the rest self checkout. There is a walmart near me that is 100% self checkout.

[Majingir]

Re: This or That: Target or Walmart

They only have like 3-4 employees working at at time. Bad management if lines get long all the time though. At mine if the lines get backed up to the aisle they call another person to the front.

At least an Aldi cashier can clear 5 carts faster than Walmart can do 1. From I've heard Kroger and Walmart are going to 1-2 cashiers and the rest self checkout. There is a walmart near me that is 100% self checkout.

More stores need to invest in self checkout.

Sure, there's a specific demographic that won't /can't use it, but there's a bigger one that can.

Biggest negative about self checkout is that they don't give you enough space to put all the items you scan. But other than that, it's fine.

Depending how many items I have, I can get through a self checkout faster than a regular cashier. Main reason being that those lines are often shorter, and you skip the small talk.

[Blzer]

Re: This or That: Target or Walmart

More stores need to invest in self checkout.

Sure, there's a specific demographic that won't /can't use it, but there's a bigger one that can.

Biggest negative about self checkout is that they don't give you enough space to put all the items you scan. But other than that, it's fine.

Depending how many items I have, I can get through a self checkout faster than a regular cashier. Main reason being that those lines are often shorter, and you skip the small talk.

Who can't use it, demographically-speaking? Illiterates? Alcoholics? Big spenders? They often accept both cards and cash, so I wouldn't think that's what you were talking about.

As far as not fitting everything, while I agree it's not very large space, they really want people in and out of there (hence their "15 items or less" rule or whatever it may be).

You'll often see me at a self-checkout because my grocery shopping often doesn't involve many things, just something specific. So yes, I'm glad it exists most places I shop. Heck, even my local Costco added a self-checkout area.

I wonder how many people steal at those places or how that's monitored at the front screen, though.

[Majingir]

Re: This or That: Target or Walmart

Who can't use it, demographically-speaking? Illiterates? Alcoholics? Big spenders? They often accept both cards and cash, so I wouldn't think that's what you were talking about.

As far as not fitting everything, while I agree it's not very large space, they really want people in and out of there (hence their "15 items or less" rule or whatever it may be).

You'll often see me at a self-checkout because my grocery shopping often doesn't involve many things, just something specific. So yes, I'm glad it exists most places I shop. Heck, even my local Costco added a self-checkout area.

I wonder how many people steal at those places or how that's monitored at the front screen, though.

Older people who aren't as familiar with touch screens and/or can't pick up item after item repeatedly would be that group.

Also, I'm sure it is fairly easy to steal. Regular items you can't because they have a UPC code on them and everything, but something like produce, no doubt people can steal.

Last time I went to self checkout for a grocery I was hesitant to go to self checkout since I was buying produce, but then I realized the code was on the stickers. 1 item didnt have any stickers, so I asked the person there and they said the checkout let's you search for the item you're buying.

Definitely sounds like an easy way to steal if you're smart about it. Buying a 20lb watermelon instead of a 10lb? Enter the code of the 10lb one when checking out so at least watermelon shows up if someone checks your receipt. Certain apples or tomatoes could also be cheaper than others. Nothing stopping people from entering the code of the cheaper one.

Stores know there will be theft. But is the expected theft more than however much you'd be paying all the extra employees you'd be paying over the course of the 12 or so hours that you're open every day? If theft is costing you several dollars an hour at most, its still better than having an employee there. Although you'd have inventory checks and will see if numbers add up, and once realizing the theft issues, you'd probably have tighter checks at the exit.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: This or That: Target or Walmart

Who can't use it, demographically-speaking? Illiterates? Alcoholics? Big spenders? They often accept both cards and cash, so I wouldn't think that's what you were talking about.

As far as not fitting everything, while I agree it's not very large space, they really want people in and out of there (hence their "15 items or less" rule or whatever it may be).

You'll often see me at a self-checkout because my grocery shopping often doesn't involve many things, just something specific. So yes, I'm glad it exists most places I shop. Heck, even my local Costco added a self-checkout area.

I wonder how many people steal at those places or how that's monitored at the front screen, though.

Old people are generally bad with technology

Even I end up yelling at the stupid machine every few trips. If an item is light half the time it doesn't register when you put it in the bag.

[Blzer]

Re: This or That: Target or Walmart

Only issue I ever have is when I accidentally don't type my debit card PIN correctly, try and clear it but accidentally "cancel" my purchase, and I have to wait for an employee to come assist me for whatever reason. They're not always available to help you, and you're sitting there like "Ugh..." haha.

I generally don't have problems with self-checkout.

[countryboy]

Re: This or That: Target or Walmart

Only issue I have at self checkouts is figuring out how to apply my employee discount

[dickey1331]

Re: This or That: Target or Walmart

I don't have either option where I live but I do prefer Target over Walmart although I hate Target as a company for other reasons I wont get into here.

[Jolly Roger]

Re: This or That: Target or Walmart

Target's self checkout works great IMO. Giant Eagle's used to be terrible, but they've improved them.

[Madden08PCgmr]

Re: This or That: Target or Walmart

Somehow, Walmart doesn't have much of a presence in the Seattle suburbs. There isn't a Walmart within 20 miles of my house... so this isn't a contest for me.