# Bye Bye Wal\*Mart **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 17, 2008, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198 "2008-06-17T12:08:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198/1 "2008-06-17T12:08:09Z")
Even when it was close to me I didn’t go there as often as the prices and selection might have made me due to its employment practices, cleanliness, and clientele. Then, when I moved farther away from one, I only went there once every couple months because the 5 mile+ trek in traffic wasn’t worth it in addition to the above aggravating factors. Now, in my first time in there in a couple months, I find they have LOUD ADS ON MONITORS IN THE CHECKOUT LINE. I was in a line with only three people in front of me, each purchasing only 1-3 items apiece, but it still took several minutes for me to get through the checkout. I literally put my fingers in my ears when I was in line so I wouldnt have to listen to the insipid, condescending ads they pipe through the Big Brother monitors. I might have looked dorky but the stress of that was less than the stress the ads would have induced. If I go to Wal\*Mart again in a few months, I will see if they still have the ad monitors, and if they do, I will speak to a manager and tell them I am not shopping in that chain ever again and why. And then leave without purchasing anything. I have never spoken to a manager about a customer complaint ever before, but I will now. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198/2 "2008-06-17T12:29:49Z")
Amen to that. I posted a similar thread in the Pit a couple of months ago because my local Chevron station put up those bloody monitors atop each pump. I can’t put my fingers in my ears because I’m busy with the keypad and pump handle, and it’s blaring ads at me a couple of feet from my head. I hate the damned things with a passion and I don’t go to that Chevron anymore. Before I left, however, I firmly stuck a sheet of sticky paper from one of those lint rollers up over their monitor screen. Bet that was hard to peel off. Now I patronize Shell across town. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198/3 "2008-06-17T12:42:12Z")
They have those monitor ads at Petro-Canada stations too. It’s endlessly irritating because they always blare out sports scores in between ads, and they’re always the scores from two days ago. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198/4 "2008-06-17T13:03:21Z")
We got those in our supermarkets. I want to steal one of those little screens. Seems just perfect for a little TV. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198/5 "2008-06-17T13:09:38Z")
These things are infesting Woolworths in the UK now, too, except they’re not just at the checkout, they’re dispersed all around the store. At any given position you might choose to stand, you can now hear at least four different infomercials blaring at you, enticing you to buy the latest fantasmagoric whizmadoodle at a knock-down price. It’s like the shop scenes in _Minority Report_, only without the benefit of being futuristicky and thus vaguely cool. Really obnoxious. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198/6 "2008-06-17T13:17:53Z")
The advertising in unexpected places has gone up a notch, hasn’t it? I went to a movie at a theater where they showed about 20 minutes of commercials before the movie. The commercials weren’t the usual “coming attractions” or “visit the snack bar” type—many were ads I’d seen on TV. Really pissed me off to think I’d paid $9 to see a movie. Part of the reason for seeing it is to avoid commercials on TV. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198/7 "2008-06-17T13:28:32Z")
Teela and Rickjay, There’s a local gas station here that has that annoying noise maker next to the pumps. There is a mute button on the front of it. I’d rather push the mute button that deal with the other station. Slide card for credit. Would you like to use your rewards pts card? Y/N? Would you like a carwash? Y/N? Would you like a reciept? Y/N? I would like to get some fucking gas without dealing with 20 fucking questions! And really, why does it bother to ask me if I want a carwash when its -20°F out? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198/8 "2008-06-17T13:32:13Z")
Luckily gas stations around here have stopped that. At least they were only %75 as annoying as the ones in wallyworld. But I’m saddened that other places than BP and Mall\*Wart are starting it, too. Will I have to become a recluse to preserve my sanity? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198/9 "2008-06-17T13:33:51Z")
[QUOTE=brewha] And really, why does it bother to ask me if I want a carwash when its -20°F out? [/QUOTE] So they can then sell you lock de-icer. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198/10 "2008-06-17T13:49:16Z")
[QUOTE=lobotomyboy63] The advertising in unexpected places has gone up a notch, hasn’t it? I went to a movie at a theater where they showed about 20 minutes of commercials before the movie. The commercials weren’t the usual “coming attractions” or “visit the snack bar” type—many were ads I’d seen on TV. Really pissed me off to think I’d paid $9 to see a movie. Part of the reason for seeing it is to avoid commercials on TV. [/QUOTE] They’ve been doing that for at least 5 years now, actually. It sucks because unless it’s a really niche-market movie, you HAVE to be in your seats when the ads are playing or else you end up standing in the back or sitting ALL the way up front where your neck will end up with a permanent crick in it by the time the movie’s over. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198/11 "2008-06-17T14:04:40Z")
[QUOTE=brewha] I would like to get some fucking gas without dealing with 20 fucking questions! And really, why does it bother to ask me if I want a carwash when its -20°F out? [/QUOTE] Sorry, but I need to comment. A large portion of the board made fun of New Jersey as we have no self-service. Now you know why we like it and don’t want to give it up. My only complaint is the brand spanking new (to my area) practice of advertising the cash price but not letting you know it is the cash price until you are at the pump. I won’t go to stations that pull this stunt. I haven’t been to a WalMarts in a while, I haven’t run into any of the noisy in store ads so far. Jim ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198/12 "2008-06-17T14:12:24Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] They’ve been doing that for at least 5 years now, actually. It sucks because unless it’s a really niche-market movie, you HAVE to be in your seats when the ads are playing or else you end up standing in the back or sitting ALL the way up front where your neck will end up with a permanent crick in it by the time the movie’s over. [/QUOTE] Shows you how much I get out to the movies 😉 :smack: Another Wally-related example: I don’t have a long-distance plan on my phone. Instead, I get a card with minutes. If I want to call someone, I dial the 800 number (on my speed dial), it prompts for a code (ditto) and then asks me to dial the number I want to call. Cool. Then suddenly they started with advertising, some bullshit ad for DSL service. I _have_ to sit through this until they connect me. Lovely. What is the deal? Is the economy so bad that suddenly advertisements are ubiquitous, that companies are totally desperate to sell you something? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198/13 "2008-06-17T14:45:24Z")
[QUOTE=lobotomyboy63] What is the deal? Is the economy so bad that suddenly advertisements are ubiquitous, that companies are totally desperate to sell you something? [/QUOTE] Well, in most official DVD releases, there are a good ten minutes of “coming attractions” advertisements that you _cannot fast-forward through_. Yes, we’re approaching the cyberpunk benchmark of total corporate awareness through ubiquitous advertising. Anywhere an ad can be plastered, it will be plastered (or projected). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198/14 "2008-06-17T14:51:38Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] Well, in most official DVD releases, there are a good ten minutes of “coming attractions” advertisements that you _cannot fast-forward through_. [/QUOTE] This is never a problem for us. We just put the DVD in with the TV turned off and take time to get snacks, pee, and otherwise get ready for the movie. By the time we are settled and turn on the TV, it’s ready to go. But ads at the checkstand are Evil. ---
**Author:** ![Runestar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/74df32/32.png) [@Runestar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runestar)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198/15 "2008-06-17T14:54:31Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] Well, in most official DVD releases, there are a good ten minutes of “coming attractions” advertisements that you _cannot fast-forward through_. [/QUOTE] It’s irritating enough when new – but when you’re watching a DVD you bought 4 or 5 years ago, it’s just plain stupid as well. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198/16 "2008-06-17T14:54:39Z")
If I saw myself directly reaping the benefits of the advertising I wouldn’t mind so much. If I had the option of seeing a movie for $8 with half an hour of ads at the beginning or $10.50 for just the movie and previews I would probably take the cheaper option. If I pulled up to a gas pump and had the option of $4 gas with no ads or 3.97 with ads I might put up with the yammering television without complaint. Heck, if Sprawl\*Mart employees got a .50 per hour raise because they decided to put television ads in line I would be glad to listen to the latest sports drink sales pitch because I could justify in my mind the profit from the ads going to directly help improve morale of employees and thus (hopefully) improving the kind of service I receive. I haven’t seen any improvement to any service or product I purchase and I haven’t seen a price reduction for anything though. I know that since I am not on the inside scoop with this whole ad situation I don’t have a detailed understanding of the effect it is having but from this side of the fence it appears this is being done specifically to increase profit to shareholders. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198/17 "2008-06-17T14:57:02Z")
[QUOTE=pbbth] from this side of the fence it appears this is being done specifically to increase profit to shareholders. ☹ [/QUOTE] I’ve found that if I just assume this is the reason for everything a corporation does, I’m at least not taken by surprise most of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Shawn1767](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shawn1767](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shawn1767)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198/18 "2008-06-17T15:03:21Z")
Is this something else we can blame on Tivo? Seriously, I mean, if we avoid watching ads in some places, aren’t they going to find more and more places to try to put ads? Plus, we live in a capitalist (for the most part) society, so if Wal-Mart wants to make you watch the ads in a store they own, I guess they can do so, but if you no longer want to shop there, then, that’s capitalism at work. Correct? Meaning, stores that don’t force you to watch ads are capitalizing on your business. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198/19 "2008-06-17T15:12:51Z")
[QUOTE=Shawn1767] Is this something else we can blame on Tivo? Seriously, I mean, if we avoid watching ads in some places, aren’t they going to find more and more places to try to put ads? Plus, we live in a capitalist (for the most part) society, so if Wal-Mart wants to make you watch the ads in a store they own, I guess they can do so, but if you no longer want to shop there, then, that’s capitalism at work. Correct? Meaning, stores that don’t force you to watch ads are capitalizing on your business. [/QUOTE] I go to Target much more often. The whole Wally experience sucks more often than not. I end up parking in the back 40, they never have enough cashiers to wait on you, good luck if you have a question, unattended brats underfoot every moment, etc. etc. For a couple bucks more I can have a much nicer/less stressful environment and get the hell outta there. For that matter, you can buy stuff on line and skip Wally altogether. But even the internet is financed by advertising. Even Cecil :eek: :smack: ☹ has succumbed to its siren call… ---
**Author:** ![freekalette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@freekalette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freekalette)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198/20 "2008-06-17T15:17:43Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] This is never a problem for us. We just put the DVD in with the TV turned off and take time to get snacks, pee, and otherwise get ready for the movie. By the time we are settled and turn on the TV, it’s ready to go. [/QUOTE] Heh, I tried that once. Too bad it was one of those accursed abominations that started playing automatically after a few minutes of showing the menu screen. Now we have to designate someone to keep an eye on the tv whilst the rest of us “prep” for movie time, then they get a turn, THEN we can get around to watching it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-wal-mart/453198.md?page=2)