I OWN You.........
By Sparks
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
Regina, Saskatchewan
January 23, 2009 10:37am CST
Hi, my name is Sam and I own you!
You weren't too happy when I first came to town, but now you can't live without me.
At first I only sold you dry goods.
Then I sucked you in with groceries.
In some places I even provide the fuel that gets you to me in your cars and trucks.
I keep you in guns and ammo, camping equipment and cheap perfume.
I powder your noses and butts and landscape your gardens.
I make your beds, and wrap you in towels after your baths and showers.
I keep your kids occupied with mind numbing games and other electronics.
I make it possible for you to be internet savvy in surround sound.
I keep you connected to friends and family in a hundred different ways.
I furnish your homes, trailers and cottages.
I make your Christmas, Easter and all holidays with gifts and glitter.
I buy cheap, sell cheap and keep your taste cheap and crying for more, more, more!
And now.........I cash your pay, government and income tax cheques!
My name is Sam, and I own you!
Thank you for shopping at WalMart. Have a nice day.
So tell me folks, just how much do YOU love Sam? ROFL
So tell me folks, just how much do YOU love Sam? ROFL8 people like this
23 responses
@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
• United States
23 Jan 09
I call walmart the $100 store because it doesn't matter if I am running in there for a loaf of bread or a box of diapers I end up spending $100. I HATE HATE HATE Sam! The only time Sam was my friend in the past was when they would put a high end item (like a 50" rear projection TV) on sale for $494.00. Then I would take Sam's add to his neighbor, Circuit City and make them price match the same TV PLUS give me 10% of the difference (which was nice since theirs was selling for $1300) off of my total price paid! *sigh* That was the only time Sam was my friend. But now since (as my husband says, I am completely responsible for )Circuit City is going out of business, Sam isn't my friend anymore.
Long Live eBAY!
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
26 Jan 09
Hey your not the only one responsible for Circuit City going out of business don't forget Ryan's part in the whole deal there. LOL!!!!
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
23 Jan 09
LOL, I cried when I heard about Circuit City! Now I know who to blame, I feel much better! I finally get electronic savvy enough to understand the replies to my questions at CC only to find out that they're going out of business?!!!! Although, here in Canada, we haven't seen any signs of that yet...........
3 people like this
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
23 Jan 09
LOL- your silly.
I know many people have their beef with Walmart but honestly, I could care less. I can get cheap stuff as much as I hate most of the people who shop at the one in my area- I go there alot. You can get everything in one trip.
They also do create many jobs that the people with these jobs still complain about. What do they expect 100,000 dollars a year to be a cashier at Wal-mart?
Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox and just say- I like Walmart. But I have to say that Tesco is coming to America so that may be interesting- hope they put one in my area so I can check it out.
4 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
23 Jan 09
Really? Tesco is coming? Being Brit, they MUST have better taste! We live in hope! LOL
3 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
23 Jan 09
We will be expecting a report then, when the time comes........stay tuned! LOL
3 people like this
@moondancer (7431)
• United States
23 Jan 09
I though maybe you had another game going, maybe as you didn't say. As I first started reading I thought I'm going to say Wal-Mart as they do all of these things. It's funny that's what you said. And oh so true. He or his family now get all of our money.
A good one sparks.
3 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
23 Jan 09
I'm not just a funny face you know! LOL
I saw a commercial this morning that WalMart now cashes cheques for $3.00 a transaction and I nearly fell over.........therefore, this little rant. I HATE WalMart...........
3 people like this
@moondancer (7431)
• United States
23 Jan 09
I do know what you mean. I hate them as well unfortunately they are the only store close to the house to go to for everything. So guess how many times I go to town for anything...about once a month. I use the local mom and pop grocery store for most shopping. lol
3 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
23 Jan 09
I agree that they are convenient...that's their strength really, but they perpetuate bad taste and built in obsolescence and that infuriates me.
3 people like this
@olivebranch56 (910)
• United States
23 Jan 09
Well Dear since Sam is deceased now, I guess we love his Heir's and Board of Directors, LOL. With that said, I guess I would have to say all of the above is true for my family, even to the check cashing, since my bank will not allow my daughter to deposit her check into my account, she has to get her check cashed there. No I am not gonna add her on to my account, not a wise decision for some children. As far as shopping though, I hate i! I go because I have to, at Christmas I do all my shopping on-line, including Walmart, then I just go to the back of the store to pick my items up. The ae already payed for, so all I have to do is verify the items I ordered are there, and load them in m van, "Heaven!" I don't know about where you live but here Walmart is just about the only game left in town. With the recession just about all of the smaller stores had to close shop. The ones tha remain open are the ones I couldn't afford to shop any way. OK now everybody get off My Loy and go to Wally World, you know you want too! Hugs Marilyn
@olivebranch56 (910)
• United States
23 Jan 09
Wow Sparks, That's tough, my Sister would go through withdrawal, she says she will not live where there is no Wall World, or no resturaunts that are not opened 24 hrs. She says she is a "city Girl." But big Sis here knows wha mountain she was born on. ROFLMBO. Marilyn
3 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
23 Jan 09
Oh do tell it on the mountain! ROFL
1 person likes this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
23 Jan 09
The nearest WallyWorld to me is over 80kms away, so next October I'm sending YOU my Christmas list! LOL
2 people like this
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
23 Jan 09
I love Sam so much I avoid him as much as possible. I get anxiety attacks just driving in the direction of that place!
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
23 Jan 09
Poor Sam. Bet he misses you Bo. LOL
2 people like this
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
24 Jan 09
I was going to call that minute detail to your attention, but ...............ehhh. I figured you'd figure it out, sooner or later.
2 people like this
@alyssakenzie (462)
• United States
23 Jan 09
LOL!! That is funny but in a way it is true. Where I live there are few places other than walmart that you can shop for everyday items that you need. They have pretty much run everyone else off and if you do go to a local grocery store you can expect to pay much more for the same item.
4 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
23 Jan 09
So much of freedom of choice eh?
3 people like this
@tammyr (5945)
• Etowah, Tennessee
23 Jan 09
I used to LOVE Sam but he got soooo big I feel no love for him now.
We use to spend hours together each week but the search for a parking place and then walk to the entrance alone caused me to lose some of the love I had for him. He grew and grew until he was bigger and bigger.
Then he changed. He was no longer the cozy friend I once loved. 
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
23 Jan 09
Smack me sideways! You mean it's not true?
BIGGER is NOT always better?????????????????(Mommy, you LIED!)
1 person likes this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
23 Jan 09
I got to use the smilie! YEA!!
Wait a minute...........isn't an angry smilie an oximoron?Hmmmmmmmmmmm.............Sparks goes off to contemplate the deep and perplexing question of oximoron smilies..............
smilie! YEA!!
Wait a minute...........isn't an angry smilie an oximoron?Hmmmmmmmmmmm.............Sparks goes off to contemplate the deep and perplexing question of oximoron smilies..............1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
24 Jan 09
I like walmart, I can't say i get a lot of gifts at walmart, since I like to make my gifts, but groceries are cheaper and DVDs are too.
I did go into my "happy place" and didn't find anything to buy (the craft section.) I might've but I would've ended up spending more than I wanted to so I didn't get anythingl.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
25 Jan 09
I agree, that Michael's and Hobby Lobby have a much better selection, but, for example, I have a shirt I wear as an over shirt on days that are too cool for shirt sleeves and too warm for a coat.
I have decorated this thing up, but decided I needed a couple of more buttons on it, and so I found some at Walmart.
Actually, all the stuff I have added I've gotten at Walmart...
1 person likes this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
25 Jan 09
I prefer Michael's for craft supplies. Better variety............well they should have better variety really seeing as the entire store is devoted to it. LOL
2 people like this
@sid556 (30953)
• United States
24 Jan 09
I knew right off who you were referring to here. I actually don't like that store at all. I had read a couple of books on Walmart's concept of doing business before they came to our town. For the longest time, the were rejected here but eventually got their way. The did just as could be predicted. They offered everything at much lower prices than anywhere else and managed to put several businesses out fairly quickly. They now have little competition and their prices have slowly risen up on many items. I do go there once in a great while but it is rare. In my opinion, it is like a big bully. I avoid it for the most part.
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
25 Jan 09
It's the forcing older established businesses out of business that really gets my goat. Gone is the 'community' feeling of shopping where everyone REALLY knows you and goes out of their way to make your time with them pleasant.
1 person likes this
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
26 Jan 09
As Cyn has said you never ever leave with just the one item that you have decided to go in there for trust me on this one and it really sucks. Big time. I think that if we had a target and some other places to give it a run for it's money then Sam wouldn't completely roll us over but as it is Wally World is the only one stop shop we have here. LOL!! And it's open at all hours. I think that is were it gets us the most.
2 people like this
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
27 Jan 09
I have to say that the no people are just awesome early in the am with wally world. LOL!! take care hun and give me a holler kk.
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
26 Jan 09
Yes,................the hours do suck you in. I know at Xmas when we went back to Alberta, we arrived in town at 4am. Too early to wake the mother in law, so we went Xmas shopping for her at WallyWorld as it was the only place in town open (they were on 24/7 Xmas hours). I think it's the only time the hubs kinda enjoyed shopping there........NO PEOPLE! LOL
2 people like this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
23 Jan 09
"Hi, my name is Karen, and I'm a walmartaholic".
I've done VERY well in the last couple of months, and am no longer trekking through the aisles at walmart on a weekly basis. Maybe it's bi-weekly now. I am most likely to be found there AFTER a big holiday... buying up whatever goodies I can for at least 50% less than they were just the day before the holiday. It's my favourite way to shop. I've already started on xmas 2009 that way! WOOT!
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
23 Jan 09
SMILE! You're on candid camera....................flash! Gotcha!
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
24 Jan 09
I already knew about the check cashing. I also know they hire those who want to work and no one else will hire them.
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
25 Jan 09
Maybe where you live they do. I've never lived near one yet that did that. Their standards are pretty high.....
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
25 Jan 09
I was speaking about the disabled. I hope they are so high standard they discriminate against them.
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
26 Jan 09
Well I would have to admit that I question the mental capacity of some of the clerks,(in terms of attitude and brains, NOT disability) but so far in the stores I've been in I've never seen employees with any other disabilities, and now that you mention that aspect, I really think that rather sucks that the stores here don't tap into that community.
1 person likes this
@fwidman (11514)
• United States
23 Jan 09
Oh boy, Walmart! 
I like going to Walmart and looking at all the nice things in there and watch the women shopping like crazy, picking up things they don't want, don't need but must have because the sign says the price has dropped 
Oh, and they have a very nice shoe section
I like going to Walmart and looking at all the nice things in there and watch the women shopping like crazy, picking up things they don't want, don't need but must have because the sign says the price has dropped
Oh, and they have a very nice shoe section @sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
23 Jan 09
You must have flat feet......ROFL
1 person likes this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
23 Jan 09
I bought a pair of five dollar shoes there once. They fell apart before we even got home (the sole peeled off). Took em back, and they got right pissy when I wouldn't exchange them for another pair! LOL
1 person likes this
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
23 Jan 09
Hi sparky,
We don't have WallMart so I just have to say Tesco and Sainsbutys they are as big as WallMart to us here in the UK, without them we couldn't survive and we haven't any choice.Liove and hugs.
Tamara
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
23 Jan 09
Hi Tamara. I understand that Tesco is coming to America. I'm so excited! A real Brit shop I don't have to cross the Ocean to shop in!
1 person likes this
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
24 Jan 09
Hi sparky,
Oh my word! I didn't know Tesco was getting that big, they are everywhere here in the uk and they do everything, its a great supermarket been here for a long time and going from strenght to strenght, all I can say is well done to Tesco and all who sop in her and when it come to your town, enjoy it. Love and hugs.
Tamara
2 people like this
@Darkwing (21583)
•
26 Jan 09
Ugggh! You reminded me that Sam has now infiltrated my country and thus far, only one of our supermarket chains as far as I know, but I can see him slowly roaming my little island swallowing up those supermarkets who find the going tough during the current recession.
The supermarket concerned at present is the Asda chain, which is probably one of our most popular supermarkets, as they provide a huge range of products. I guess it saves you going into town and is a boon if you have kids, but I quite like wandering around the smaller shops in town from time to time. Tesco is the supermarket I use most but even they're getting a bit "old hat". I much preferred the time when I could go from shop to shop in town, rather than stick with one supermarket for all my shopping.
Brightest Blessings, my friend.
1 person likes this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
26 Jan 09
In this country WalMart seems to thrive in times of recession! It's very annoying! But I hear that Tesco is coming to North America......in fact are already in the States as Fresh and Easy, unless P1ke's pulling my leg. It will be nice to see WalMart get a run for IT'S money for a change! lol
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
24 Jan 09
Everything you say is true, spark, but, face it, millions of people would be lost without WalMart!I don't shop there nearly as often as I once did because my needs are few, but I have done my share of shopping there in the past. I suppose one could say that Sam had a vision when he decided to put everything we might possibly need right in one location. I look at it as a mixed blessing.
I don't shop there nearly as often as I once did because my needs are few, but I have done my share of shopping there in the past. I suppose one could say that Sam had a vision when he decided to put everything we might possibly need right in one location. I look at it as a mixed blessing.1 person likes this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
25 Jan 09
I agree, it's convenient. But it's also put a lot of people out of business. And as time goes on the merchandise is cheaper and cheaper (I'm talking quality of product here), and that's just wrong.
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
23 Jan 09
We have a wal-mart here & infact they are looking @ constructing a super wal-mart on the other end of town.
I actually like k-mart better as I find much better clearance and bargains there. However for daily regular items they are priced higher than wal-mart & are on the other end of town.
I also find their groceries to be a lil cheaper than our local chains but still not as cheap as Aldi's.
1 person likes this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
23 Jan 09
Here in Canada, I used to shop K-Mart all the time until they closed them all.
Then Wal-Mart moved in.
So I switched to Zeller's.
Then Zeller's got bought out by The Bay.
So I switched to Sear's.
Then Sear's got bought out by.............wait they haven't yet!
I gave up shopping. Can you tell? ROFL
1 person likes this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
23 Jan 09
I didn't know that Sear's owns K-Mart. Learn something new every day! Thanks.
1 person likes this
@singlemommy (2955)
• United States
23 Jan 09
Who doesn't shop at Wal-Mart? Paris Hilton maybe. I have to admit I buy everything at Wal-Mart from my groceries to my clothing to my gas. I can't say that I love Sam or Wal-Mart, but when you are a single mommy then you have to make ends meet and Wal-Mart helps me do that. I wish I could afford to shop at other stores, but I can't.
1 person likes this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
23 Jan 09
And that's the marketing strategy that made WalMart successful. Keep the prices down, and they will come! LOL
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
23 Jan 09
LOL AK, I didn't even notice the typo! I'm just so impressed with your view of WalMart!
2 people like this
@singlemommy (2955)
• United States
24 Jan 09
AK, I am with you. It isn't right how Wal-Mart has tried to knock out their competitors.
1 person likes this
@UtopianIdealist (1602)
• United States
25 Jan 09
Luckily, I now live in a town where they are not the only option to get groceries and such.
You forgot to mention, that they are one of the reasons we have so many on government assistance. They do not pay enough to support most families.
Even on the pure commercialism level, they do not fare well. When you purchase things there, they are poorly made. It is not so cheap when you have to replace things often, or toss things that were almost expired when you bought it.
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
25 Jan 09
It's ok to work there if it's just a supplementary income, but not if you are depending on it to properly support yourself or your family. And they are picky about who they hire, here anyway. I tried to get a job there when I first moved to Alberta and they told me I had 'too much personality and they didn't feel I would CONFORM well....' Like, WHAT? Are you serious?
My Dad blames the Detroit Motor Companies for poor quality of goods in marketing. He says they developed the concept of 'built in obsolescence' and the idea spread like wildfire throughout the manufacturing and goods and services industries.
1 person likes this
@savak03 (6684)
• United States
27 Jan 09
When I first started reading this discussion I thought why is he so upset about walmart, it's not a bad store. Then as I read some of the other comments I started remembering some of my own complaints. Like not being able to find my printer ink because walmart decided not to carry ink for any printers that they don't sell. And not being able to buy the amount of nails that I need because they only come in presized boxes instead of loose. And just to add a little on the other side of being a customer walmart treats their vendors like dogs and has a well deserved reputation for not cooperating with merchandisers.
1 person likes this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
27 Jan 09
LOL. Welcome to the dark side of WalMart NON-fans! We have cookies! ROFL
1 person likes this
