I've Been Thinking....

Dangerous, I know.

But, have you ever noticed that Wal-Mart is a lot like people?

Okay, maybe you haven't.

Well, I have (maybe I'm the only one who has time to think about such ridiculous things).

But it's true.

Just like people, every Wal-Mart is different or perhaps we should say unique.

In Mobile there are 5 Super Wal-Marts (I'm including the Semmes & Tillman's Corner in this count) and 2 Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets (these are just grocery stores). I live in a 10-15 minute radius to about 5 these seven stores.

You would think they would be similar right?

Wrong. Here are some differences:

1. Every store has different prices for their products. At one store you may pay $1.78 for shredded cheese, but go a few miles down the road and pay $2.98. Same product and size mind you. This is with many items. Trust me, I'm a bargain shopper. I notice. It's not just grocery items either. You can find this with DVD's, garbage bags, TP, and other house hold items etc. Wal-mart price matches, and I've often thought of calling the District manager and asking if I can price match another Wal-Mart down the street. LOL! (oh, you don't have to tell me that it is all part of a marketing strategy. I have a degree in Marketing--I know it's all in the "research", but I still find it interesting for "The Low Price Leader".
2. One store will have the Grocery side on the Right side of the store with the household/auto on the left and another will be totally reversed. I hate this. I am a creature of habit. I can't help but wonder what marketing tool they are using to decide which store gets the groceries on the left and which get them on the right?
3. The less busy Wal-Marts have a million check out clerks and self-checkout lanes. The more busier stores (like the one by the mall), well let's just say, "I hope you don't have ice-cream in that cart!"
4. Some stores are nice and fancy (the light automatically comes on in the frozen food isle as you walk down it and quickly shuts off when you go past) and some are falling apart.

These are just a few of my observations I have made.

I guess when you are in a "small" town for a few days, it gives one time to ponder about the "little" things in life.

Yes. I pondered about Wal-Mart.

Why? Well, everytime I go to Crestview that is always the one store we visit. Although C-view is growing, Wal-Mart is still the only "BiG" store. No Target. BOO,HOO---I LOVE Target.

Anyway, during my traditional visit to the Crestview Wal-Mart, something came back to my mind. Something I think everytime I visit. This final observation, probably has more to do with the dynamics of the town, and not Wal-Mart itself, but I have still noticed it.

What was it? Simply this: Each Wal-Mart has a different dress code. No, I'm not talking about, No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service (but I do think that if someone came in without shoes or a shirt at the C-view Wal-Mart they still might get served).

When I go into the "Big C" Wal-Mart, I cannot help but think this: "Boy, I'm so OVER dressed. " I feel like I'm at a football game wearing heels. I feet a bit out of place. Maybe it's country vs/ city living. I don't know. I just know that I notice it.

Let me explain:
In Crestview, people just go with whatever they have on at the time (including the children--I can't recall seeing a little girl in a smocked dress with a bow in her hair at Wal-Mart in C'view. Not saying it doesn't happen ever, I just can't recall seeing it) . People may wear their dirty work pants, their army fatigue (it's a military town), an old t-shirt and shorts. For the most part, nothing fancy or even semi-casual, but VERY casual.

To those who live in the "BIG C" please don't take offense to this, because I love this town and I like the thought that it doesn't matter if I have my hair and make-up perfectly done for a quick stop at the grocery store. I really do love it and miss it.

It's actually something that was hard for me to get used to when I moved away, especially when I moved to Mobile.

I know this may sound crazy to most of you, but in Mobile, I feel like I have to "dress-up" to go to Wal-Mart. Even in work-out clothes, people look "dressed-up" for the most part. When I go "dressed-down" I feel totally out of place like someone in jeans at a 5 star formal restaurant.

Hey, I did notice one thing that every Wal-Mart does have in common. They love to stock the shelves during the busiest part of the day. Well, let me rephrase that: "it seems like it doesn't matter when I go, they are always stocking."

Oh, and I think in the employee training video, they have a section titled: "Annoying ways to act when a customer gets in YOUR way when you are stocking. " Yes, indeed, we are in their way. I'm warning you, don't ask for something to be moved unless you want to help them practice one of the skills they learned in the said training video.

And, it is the one place you can go to have your eyes checked, nails and hair done and get your picture taken while the oil/tires are being changed in your car. And if it the car maintenance takes too long, you can finish your grocery shopping and have McDonald's or Little Ceasar's for lunch.

Am I really the only one who has noticed this? Okay, I'll go and look up that therapist number again.