Affectionately known as “Wally World,” Walmart has established itself as one of the best places to shop for those on a strict budget. Not only does this retailer strive to keep prices low, but it also sells a wide variety of everyday household items and other essentials. Whether you’re looking for kitchenware, apparel, small appliances, electronics, games, toys, furniture, or garden supplies, you’ll find what you need at Walmart.
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Considering all these positives, it may be surprising that some frequent shoppers choose to stop going to Walmart altogether. This means no more late-night hours for this international retailer. It also means paying higher prices for similar items at local stores and small retailers.
Breaking the habit of shopping at Walmart may be difficult, but some think it’s worth it. In fact, GOBankingRates asked two of her former customers who frequented Walmart why they stopped supporting Walmart.
Here’s why they stopped shopping at Walmart and what they learned from that decision.
Convenience has no drawbacks
For many Walmart customers, the savings potential and convenience of shopping with virtually everything in one place is hard to turn down.
“I always shopped at Walmart. It was convenient and they had everything I needed,” said Dugna Deksperten, a national company dedicated to supporting Russian sports teams and other organizations. said Michael Larsen, co-founder and chief financial officer. “But a few years ago, I decided to stop shopping there,” Larsen continued.
why? Well, despite all the convenience, Larsen found the quality of the product to be noticeably lacking.
“The quality of the product is poor,” Larsen said. “I bought clothes at Walmart and they fell apart after wearing them a few times. Electronics I bought broke within a few months. I bought rotten food.”
And it wasn’t just quality that turned off the Walmart-frequent retailer. Overall customer service was also poor. “I found the customer service to be terrible,” Larsen said. “Employees don’t have time to help and the worst part is [is that] Some of them don’t know much about the product. ”
For Dmitriy Shelepin, CEO and Head of SEO at Miromind, the reasons for leaving Walmart were a little different.
“I stopped shopping at Walmart because I wanted to support local businesses and prioritize ethical and sustainable practices,” Shelepin said.
In both cases, the shoppers’ reasons are pretty understandable. Walmart may boast low prices, but that affordability comes at the expense of sustainability and, in many cases, quality.
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Leaving Walmart Promotes Conscious Spending
One of the big drawbacks of shopping at Walmart is that it’s all too easy to buy without thinking about what you’re buying, who you’re buying from, or whether your purchases support your personal or community values. It means buying things.
Shelepin said leaving Walmart taught her the importance of conscious consumerism, or the habit of shopping more consciously to support your values. He also became more aware of how important it is to support other businesses that align with his own values.
“Overall, we found that moving away from Walmart allowed us to make more meaningful and intentional choices in our shopping habits,” Shelepin said.
Shopping Elsewhere Supports Local Businesses and the Environment
Another cost of Walmart’s convenience and overall affordability is its impact on local businesses. Every time a major retailer opens a new location in a region, smaller stores tend to go out of business. This also applies to Walmart.
When Shelepin ditched her Walmart habit and started shopping local, she discovered how important it is to support local businesses. He also realized how his habits as a consumer could impact his community and the environment as a whole.
“I learned the importance of voting with my wallet and how my purchasing decisions can have a positive impact on my community and the environment,” Shelepin said.
Local stores often boast higher quality and sustainable practices
Wherever Walmart is located, it must respond to high supply and demand. This, combined with certain cost-cutting measures, results in inconsistent quality of Walmart products, which is another reason why Walmart shoppers leave and never return.
After Shelepin and Larsen stopped shopping at Walmart, they realized they could find better quality products at local and smaller stores. Not only that, these stores often have unique items that you can’t find anywhere else. Plus, it’s easier to connect with local business owners and sellers on a personal level than with big box stores like Walmart.
“In my experience, shopping local not only gives me better products, but it also gives me a sense of purpose and connection to my community,” Shelepin says. “By choosing to shop at small, independent stores, we’ve been able to discover unique, high-quality products while contributing directly to the local economy. Connect with local merchants and learn about their stories. It was a rewarding experience to learn.”
Larsen added, “Since I stopped shopping at Walmart, I’ve learned that there are many alternatives that offer higher quality products, a commitment to the environment, and a more pleasant shopping experience.”
Eliminating Walmart can reduce impulse purchases.
Resisting the urge to buy things you don’t need is a big challenge for many shoppers, especially when everything is in one convenient place and is affordable. For Larsen, leaving Walmart behind made her realize that she could get by without buying as many things as she used to.
“You don’t have to buy as much stuff as you think,” Larsen explained. “I used to go to Walmart and buy things I didn’t need just because they were cheap. But now I try to be more careful with my spending and only buy what I really need.”
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: What I learned from shopping at Walmart