by Rebecca Dyson

Created on: January 16, 2009

I have never understood what all the dissent is about Wal-Mart. I have to say that categorically no, Wal-Mart is not as bad as its opponents say it is. For my family, Wal-Mart has enabled us to still afford groceries in a time when the economy is spiraling downwards out of control and food prices have skyrocketed. Wal-Mart's prices are reasonable, and they have an excellent selection. I prefer to shop in stores that have a variety of products; it means one stop on the way home from work instead of several stops. As my time is valuable, one stop will win out every time.

My son works for Wal-Mart, and they treat him very well. He does not have horrible working conditions, and he makes a decent wage. Perhaps they are not unionized, but as long as the employees are happy with their treatment no one else should have any room to argue. And if they weren't happy, they would find other jobs.

Recently our area was hit with incredible amounts of snow. It piled up on roofs, and two of the local Wal-Mart's had to shut down until the snow was cleared off the roof. During that time I was forced to do my grocery shopping at regular grocery stores, and my grocery budget was destroyed. I was able to purchase fewer products for more money. Needless to say, I was happy when Wal-Mart opened its doors again.

Department-type stores always get a bad rap because they compete with all the other stores around them. But perhaps those other stores should get a clue and broaden their product base. I like being able to purchase new shoes, a couple of DVD's, and do my grocery shopping all in one fell swoop. I liked being able to do my Christmas shopping and grocery shopping at the same time.

Wal-Mart employees are always polite and professional. I have never had a reason to fault their customer service. Good customer service equates to happy and satisfied employees as disgruntled employees are less likely to care what the customer thinks.

When there has been a problem with a product I have purchased, Wal-Mart has been quick to resolve the issue. Returns and exchanges are simple and painless. I will admit to occasional frustration with the employee at the door who has to look at the receipt and glance at the cart before signing off on it. Like they can tell if everything on the receipt is in the cart? But that is a minor annoyance.

Wal-Mart is an excellent store. It has quality products and reasonable prices, which are things we need in today's economy. I think the opponents are quite simply jealous of Wal-Mart's success.

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