37 minutes too long in Walmart

I am dragged to Walmart 1-2 times per year. Each time, I leave feeling like I need a shower and have wasted precious time that I will never get back. Beyond their treatment of employees, the cheap goods, putting companies out of business and their crappy grocery store, I generally just don't like giving them my money.

Such was the case on Sunday morning when DG thought we should swing in to see what Garden stuff they had. We had just bought a car full of plants and shrubs next door at Home Depot. I said ok, but begging/whining that I not be forced to stay for more than 10 minutes. So DG set his watch to start timing us as we walked in the door. We were in the store for about 14 minutes and in line for about 23, I'm not kidding you. It is the SAME everytime I go. 50 people trying to check out, 5 of 30 lines open?!?! It never changes. On the upside, we did get cheap bronzed tiki torches that we later saw at Smith and Hawken for $30/each.

I've met people who love Walmart, love the prices, and don't care what awful things they are doing to our country and the pressure they are putting on international factories. One woman told me it was the only place she could afford to shop and feed her whole family. This is the same woman that went ahead and bought herself a brand new $20K American car. They are feeding their kids canned beans and government grade meat from Walmart, but they can afford a brand new car that barely has room for a car seat. I'm not even going to step onto the soap box because that example screams a lesson in itself. Tiki torches and all, I still think Walmart blows.