I’m kind of indifferent to Wal-Mart.
On one hand, they provide relatively high quality goods at low prices to communities that would otherwise be at the mercy of local single-product merchants, who invariably charge higher prices and have lower selections. This isn’t usually problematic in wealthier communities, but in smaller, more economically depressed areas, Wal-Mart may well increase the standard of living.
On the other hand, they treat their workers like dogshit, and put ungodly pressure on their suppliers to cut costs, such that many move production overseas.
Most of it’s not necessarily due to Wal-Mart execs in Bentonville twirling their mustaches and making diabolical decisions, but rather just natural consequences of doing business for a colossally huge retail company.
I personally tend to shop Wal-Mart for commodity-type goods. Things like laundry detergent, OTC meds, motor oil, sodas, etc… Things that I can directly make price comparisons on between stores; I can compare the per-oz price of All Free & Clear between multiple stores, and the same goes for the other things. Wal-Mart has the largest economies of scale, and consequently the lowest prices on those items.
I don’t buy electronics, produce, beer & wine, or other items that I want high quality or specific types, because Wal-Mart doesn’t carry those. In other words, if I want to buy a 50" flat screen, I’m going elsewhere, because the Wal-Mart one, while cheaper, isn’t going to have the features I’m looking for, precisely because it’s cheaper.