# The difference between Target and Walmart **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 10, 2006, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773 "2006-02-10T00:23:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773/41 "2006-02-11T13:13:11Z")
> [@Eleusis](#): > > Target has better clothes. > > Where did you get that sweater? > > Oh, this? It’s _Targé_. (pronounced Tarshjay) And spelled “Target”. _That’s_ the joke. It’s French. ---
**Author:** ![JustAnotherGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@JustAnotherGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustAnotherGeek)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773/42 "2006-02-11T16:25:02Z")
> [@TJdude825](#): > > Yes. But [Walmart.com](http://Walmart.com), the very same site I was buying from, says that the book has been released already and is “in stock.” Plus, I believe I’ve seen the paperback version in stores too, although I could be wrong. > > Also, the hardcover is listed as costing only about half as much as the paperback. Somebody messed up muchly, it seems. Well, if you can’t get it, let me know your addy, and I’ll loan you mine. (It’s not a long or hard read by any means.) ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773/43 "2006-02-11T16:49:05Z")
> [@UncleBeer](#): > > Even worse, Wal-Mart sometimes offers versions of books and movies which have been specially bowlderized for their shelves. I knew they did it with movies, but I didn’t know they did it with books. Is there any indication, like, say, on the copyright page, that the book has been “edited”? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773/44 "2006-02-11T17:54:35Z")
Ahh, Walmart. Nothing says comfort like wearing a T-shirt made from the nimble little hands of an underaged child in some third world country. ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773/45 "2006-02-11T19:54:23Z")
I love Target, and I go there once or twice a week, just for fun. It’s purdy and clean and, being a die-hard bargain shopper, I can find killer deals on 75% off markdown, like candles and throw pillows and, oh, just about anything (blissful sigh). But there’s been a lot of controversy about the pharmacists not having to sell the morning after pill if it somehow goes against their religion. I don’t have a cite (sorry), but does this freak anyone out? That said, I still love Target. No enormous corporation is perfect. ZJ ---
**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:** [February 11, 2006, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773/46 "2006-02-11T20:02:24Z")
> [@myskepticsight](#): > > I love Target. They actually have attractive clothes and shoes for everyone. I bought a sweet Rolling Stones tshirt there the other day for 10 bucks. I buy pretty much all my toiltetries there too, DVDs, gifts, etc. > > I live in a college town that has like 8975897563 Wal-Marts. I never go to them. Hate 'em. I can never find anything, they are always messy, staff is weird, long lines, etc. The Target here is nice and organized, nice staff, well stocked. And it’s connected to the MALL which is super awesome. I’d never seen a Target connected to a mall before. > > I’m going tomorrow. Got to love the exactness of the number chosen for a gross exaggeration. 😃 Jim ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773/47 "2006-02-11T20:26:58Z")
I adore Target too, for all the reasons stated above plus…I like their plastic bags better than Walmart’s. They are much thicker and the white with red targets much my decor perfectly. I can’t wait to get out of work so I can go shopping! ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773/48 "2006-02-11T22:04:54Z")
> [@Zjestika](#): > > I love Target, and I go there once or twice a week, just for fun. It’s purdy and clean and, being a die-hard bargain shopper, I can find killer deals on 75% off markdown, like candles and throw pillows and, oh, just about anything (blissful sigh). > > But there’s been a lot of controversy about the pharmacists not having to sell the morning after pill if it somehow goes against their religion. I don’t have a cite (sorry), but does this freak anyone out? > > That said, I still love Target. No enormous corporation is perfect. > > ZJ FWIW, here’s what’s happening in MO: [http://www.digmo.com/news/story.php?ID=18089](http://www.digmo.com/news/story.php?ID=18089) “Several companies have policies regarding emergency contraception. Wal-Mart has refused to fill such prescriptions since 1999. Target requires pharmacy employees to sign a “conscience clause policy” declaring that if they will not fill prescriptions for emergency contraception, then they will refer patients to Target pharmacies that will. Earlier this month a Target pharmacist in St. Charles was fired for refusing to refer a patient seeking emergency contraception to another pharmacy. She filed a complaint last week with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.” Home News Sports Obits Classifieds Publications Search Contact us Copyright © 2006 Columbia Missourian So WalMart just flat won’t carry it, but at least Target requires ‘conscience clause’ users to refer patients to where they can get it. ---
**Author:** ![RobuSensei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@RobuSensei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobuSensei)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773/49 "2006-02-12T05:38:51Z")
> [@RandomLetters](#): > > I can’t stand the decor at Targets - all the red in there give me a nasty headache after 5 minutes or so. Walmart’s color scheme is much easier on my brain. What WalMart do you go to that you can actually _see_ the color scheme? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773/50 "2006-02-12T14:50:37Z")
> [@RobuSensei](#): > > What WalMart do you go to that you can actually _see_ the color scheme? 😃 Thank you!! I always feel disoriented in Wal-Mart. They published an article in our paper this week saying that Wal-Mart is building more and more superstores and discontinuing their smaller ones. Does this bug anyone else? On the 3 (maybe 4) occasions that I’ve entered a Wal-Mart, I’ve felt like it took a disproportionately long time to get in and out of the place. I should own stock in Target’s parent company. I’m sure it’s the store I spent the most money at in the past year. (My groceries tend to come from 3 or 4 different stores; otherwise the grocery might be in the lead…) I should probably go see how much money I spent there last year. Thanks for the info on morning-after contraception, **Katriona**. Just one more reason not to increase my WalMart shopping frequency. GT ---
**Author:** ![ladybug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@ladybug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladybug)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773/51 "2006-02-12T16:51:41Z")
> [@RandomLetters](#): > > I can’t stand the decor at Targets - all the red in there give me a nasty headache after 5 minutes or so. Walmart’s color scheme is much easier on my brain. For me it’s not the colors, but the smell. I’d probably shop in Target more often if the stores in my area didn’t have a peculiar odor. I can’t identify what it is, but it makes me nauseous and gives me a headache. ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773/52 "2006-02-12T17:51:54Z")
> [@gardentraveler](#): > > I always feel disoriented in Wal-Mart. They published an article in our paper this week saying that Wal-Mart is building more and more superstores and discontinuing their smaller ones. Does this bug anyone else? This may actually lose them some business with seniors. My aunt in Maine is on a fixed income, and she liked WalMart. The store in Waterville changed to a superstore and she refuses to go there now; she has some trouble getting around and the sheer size overwhelmed her. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773/53 "2006-02-13T02:26:10Z")
Red is my favorite color. And my sister works at Target. And I refuse to set foot in a Wal-Mart. So … Target. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773/54 "2006-02-13T03:53:32Z")
> [@SHAKES](#): > > Ahh, Walmart. > > Nothing says comfort like wearing a T-shirt made from the nimble little hands of an underaged child in some third world country. Hey, Target has tried to hold up its end there as well. It’s just so hard to compete with Wal-Mart. ---
**Author:** ![Yeeter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/96bed5/32.png) [@Yeeter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeeter)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773/55 "2006-02-13T22:26:52Z")
I love Target too. My question is this, I have not seen many people here sticking up for Wal-Mart, but everytime I drive by that place it is jam-packed. Where are the defenders of “Cheap stuff sold cheaply.” Are we Dopers as a community more discerning? Or are the Wal-Marters just quiet? ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773/56 "2006-02-13T22:53:16Z")
> [@ladybug](#): > > For me it’s not the colors, but the smell. I’d probably shop in Target more often if the stores in my area didn’t have a peculiar odor. I can’t identify what it is, but it makes me nauseous and gives me a headache. Is it a kind of nauseating buttered popcorn smell near the entrance? I’ve noticed it too. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773/57 "2006-02-13T22:58:42Z")
March 5, baby! Robin ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773/58 "2006-02-13T23:08:20Z")
My SO works at Target - they have a great insurance plan for the employees that even includes domestic partners - a big plus for us and one of the reasons he still works there, despite the fact that some places pay more. We do, however, shop at both Walmart and Target - our local Target doesn’t sell groceries and you cannot beat the prices for groceries at a Walmart - cheaper than most stores on almost every item, and they do match prices for sales at other stores. That said, going shopping at Walmart is like attending a family reunion in a trashy trailer park in Biloxi, Mississippi. Apparently, not many people who shop at Walmart have the luxury of a full length mirror at home, nor do they feel any great necessity to bathe on a regular basis. Target, on the other hand, always feels clean - and the cool thing about Target is the selection. Say you want to buy a toaster - Walmart will have maybe three or four models to choose from - Target will have an entire aisle, multi-colors, various brands, four slice, two slice, extra wide for bagels, etc etc. Whoever does the purchasing for Target seems to have an eye for style - and I bet they also have a full length mirror in their home. ---
**Author:** ![ladybug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@ladybug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladybug)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773/59 "2006-02-13T23:45:57Z")
> [@brujo](#): > > Is it a kind of nauseating buttered popcorn smell near the entrance? I’ve noticed it too. Nauseating buttered popcorn smell … yeah, that sounds about right. I’m just glad that someone else noticed! ---
**Author:** ![Anise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anise/32/21721_2.png) [@Anise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anise)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773/60 "2006-02-14T05:23:56Z")
Ooh, oohhh!!! The good thing about Target is that… (completely unnecessary drumroll) The Target chain is, of course, owned by the Dayton family. They used to own Dayton’s, which was always my favorite department store in Minneapolis (I’m pretty sure it’s not around anymore.) I think they still own the Mervyn’s chain. Mark Dayton, the Minnesota senator, is part of that family. And the matriarch, Mary Dayton, is my step-great-aunt’s best friend! Um, no, that doesn’t mean I get a discount, or anything. Actually, I’ve never even met her. But it gives me a warm happy glow just to know that fact. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-target-and-walmart/343773.md?page=4)