General Discussion

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)

67. Since Walmart is rarely the cheapest place in town,

Sat Sep 27, 2014, 03:58 AM

Sep 2014

I don't understand why people continue to shop there. The few times I've actually compared prices, Walmart is the more expensive option. Makes me wonder how carefully people are actually checking.

Oh, and it's not just my admittedly few comparisons. Essentially every time someone does a real comparison, guess what? Walmart is still not the cheapest.

Recently someone told me they shopped at Walmart because it was the only place they could get (I think this was the number) six packages of Ramen noodles for a dollar. Hmmm. A while back I bought ten packages of Ramen noodles for a dollar at my Albertson's.

Explain to me again that Walmart is the cheapest option?

I understand if someone is walking everywhere, and the Walmart is literally the only place within walking distance -- I've been there, no car -- but for those who have a car, I cannot believe that so very many people live so many miles from an alternative.

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I discovered to day that Walmart charges a sales tax on a non-taxable item. So I [View all] Malraiders Sep 2014 OP

In the long run you'd be better off to do business with small, local dealers and retailers. delrem Sep 2014 #1

And, Walmart is not always cheaper, that is a ruse they use to sucker in customers! n/t RKP5637 Sep 2014 #4

Mostly not cheaper. LiberalFighter Sep 2014 #77

The OP wasn't asking for your sympathy. n/t eggplant Sep 2014 #44

Mindless potshots are delete_bush Sep 2014 #62

They are. eggplant Sep 2014 #85

Post removed Post removed Sep 2014 #80

Exactly! "A big arrogant corporation that fails to follow the rules." And RKP5637 Sep 2014 #2

What was the item? 1000 DU'ers should go to Wal-Mart around the country DontTreadOnMe Sep 2014 #3

The item was a large bag of chips. And as I told the enforcer's office, Malraiders Sep 2014 #5

Post removed Post removed Sep 2014 #13

From the State it says: Malraiders Sep 2014 #17

Post removed Post removed Sep 2014 #20

If you have a point you're trying to make could you share it with us? n/t A Simple Game Sep 2014 #26

Not unless you throw in a large bag of chips. nt delrem Sep 2014 #33

u mademe laugh. now stop being an ass Liberal_in_LA Sep 2014 #38

And your point is what? The OP rightly points out criminal behaviour by Walmart intaglio Sep 2014 #68

Might make a nice class action suit for some law firm to make a lot of money from. Live and Learn Sep 2014 #9

Think about if they were taxing all food every day BrotherIvan Sep 2014 #11

Of course, that money may be going to the State anyway. Live and Learn Sep 2014 #15

Knowing WalMart I would take a bet that it's not BrotherIvan Sep 2014 #16

I wouldn't put it past them but that is probably very illegal. nt Live and Learn Sep 2014 #30

The store becomes the State's agent when the state Malraiders Sep 2014 #25

Very true and that is what the state responded. Live and Learn Sep 2014 #31

It's very true that WalMart's poorly paid employees are its customers. Rhiannon12866 Sep 2014 #42

Some states do not tax regular food but do tax conveience and/or snack foods. n/t PoliticAverse Sep 2014 #53

What's taxable and what is not taxable varies by state. jeff47 Sep 2014 #10

I can't find any state where a large bag of chips is taxed. nt Live and Learn Sep 2014 #14

There is a spreadsheet on this page you can download BrotherIvan Sep 2014 #18

I should have said any state that exempts food from sales tax. Live and Learn Sep 2014 #28

all food is taxed in Oklahoma CBGLuthier Sep 2014 #24

And Alabama. Go figure. nt Live and Learn Sep 2014 #29

Are the state income taxes in Oklahoma JustAnotherGen Sep 2014 #76

We got both of those too CBGLuthier Sep 2014 #83

In NC as well. Terra Alta Sep 2014 #82

TN taxes food (nt) sunnystarr Sep 2014 #41

It seems a lot of red states tax food. nt Live and Learn Sep 2014 #45

Very few states tax food, red or blue. former9thward Sep 2014 #91

And Mississippi jen63 Sep 2014 #46

Arkansas taxes food items Art_from_Ark Sep 2014 #88

The list of taxable items varies from state to state. Jackpine Radical Sep 2014 #81

Whatever the tax was on if they sell thousands a day that adds up. Autumn Sep 2014 #6

What to you want to bet they don't forward all taxes collected to the state? Probably just actual silvershadow Sep 2014 #47

I doubt that they get the money. If their computers are set up to add it as rhett o rick Sep 2014 #50

I don't necessarily think the state has a real-time access to their computers...do you? silvershadow Sep 2014 #58

WTF are you doing shopping at Walmart? nt valerief Sep 2014 #7

It seems a number of DU'ers shop delete_bush Sep 2014 #63

Walmart is the devil. nt valerief Sep 2014 #78

That's true customerserviceguy Sep 2014 #84

This message was self-deleted by its author delete_bush Sep 2014 #93

I'm glad you stood up to them. Good job! herding cats Sep 2014 #8

Isn't it fraud if they collect taxes and don't turn them in to the government? IdaBriggs Sep 2014 #12

I guess that when something is rung in as "tax", it goes to taxes. delrem Sep 2014 #32

The cashiers do what what the registers tell them. IdaBriggs Sep 2014 #73

I was in BC when the GST was introduced Art_from_Ark Sep 2014 #89

"Isn't it fraud if they collect taxes and don't turn them in to the government" Veilex Sep 2014 #35

If they made an oops and are sending the government more $$$ than are due, IdaBriggs Sep 2014 #74

More likely the collected tax was automatically forwarded to the government(s) involved. n/t PoliticAverse Sep 2014 #56

So glad that you spokeup and acted on this. In addition, it would No Vested Interest Sep 2014 #19

You're assuming that Gov Perry can read? Mr.Bill Sep 2014 #23

There are likely records of the total number of that item sold in that store No Vested Interest Sep 2014 #21

I made a stink on taxes after a visit to Walmart Brother Buzz Sep 2014 #22

I see a penalty in Walmart's future Omaha Steve Sep 2014 #27

Where you spend your money FuzzyRabbit Sep 2014 #34

I'm with you ybbor Sep 2014 #86

I worked in a grocery store when scanners were first installed. gvstn Sep 2014 #36

Precisely Sherman A1 Sep 2014 #66

While I certainly do not know SheilaT Sep 2014 #37

Aren't you smug... delete_bush Sep 2014 #64

Since Walmart is rarely the cheapest place in town, SheilaT Sep 2014 #67

Sometimes it's the only place in town tabbycat31 Sep 2014 #70

I get that. SheilaT Sep 2014 #71

I refuse to set foot in Wally World liberalhistorian Sep 2014 #39

Highly unlikely that this is the case. delete_bush Sep 2014 #59

We who live in the country don't have choices. Manifestor_of_Light Sep 2014 #40

I recall reading your prior post. delete_bush Sep 2014 #48

This argument pops up almost every day at DU. Manifestor_of_Light Sep 2014 #52

There seems to be a number of delete_bush Sep 2014 #57

Yep, when we were on vacation in Hawaii (the actual island of) several years ago, Live and Learn Sep 2014 #60

The Walton family has little to do with the day-to-day management Art_from_Ark Sep 2014 #92

At the end of the day...it's simply added revenue Oldenuff Sep 2014 #43

Nothing but an unsubstantiated knee-jerk reaction on your part. delete_bush Sep 2014 #49

If the computer adds the sales tax, that same computer will tell the state. nm rhett o rick Sep 2014 #51

Any sales taxes collected are likely automatically forwarded to the state and or local governments. PoliticAverse Sep 2014 #54

its probably a city tax Mosby Sep 2014 #55

Check the news on this - Walmart is doing this everywhere TorchTheWitch Sep 2014 #61

Good for you.... bobGandolf Sep 2014 #65

As a former programmer, I have to laugh at that smug "automatically forwards" stuff. djean111 Sep 2014 #69

Fellow programmer here -- and I had similar thoughts about IdaBriggs Sep 2014 #75

Let's hope the results from an investigation cost Walmart big bucks in fines. In_The_Wind Sep 2014 #72

Rediculous 1dogleft Sep 2014 #79

I wonder what percentage of sales tax that we pay goes directly into the pockets of the business. indie9197 Sep 2014 #87

Mahalo for following through with this, Malraiders! I never shop at Walmart anymore Cha Sep 2014 #90