The Wonders of Walmart

I had many errands to run today in Buffalo, Minnesota. I stopped at the Courthouse, the bank, the hardware store, the burger joint, the dock and deck store, Second Hand Rose and then my favorite, shopping at Walmart.

I have this love hate relationship with Walmart. I love the prices and even the selection. I hate the fact that I always need something in the dairy section at the southeast corner of the store and a tube of toothpaste across 58 acres of retail space in the northwest corner.

So I started my trek across the acreage. Another perk being the ability to graze at the various sampling stations. Now I ignored one of the basic rules of shopping and went into the grocery store hungry, so grazing on samples seemed to be a very good idea.

Walmart always fascinates me. Near the front door, right by the checkout, Diet Coke in 24 can trays was on sale for $5. Further back in the store, Diet Coke in 24 packs was on sale for $5.98. I was contemplating this strange marketing strategy (and watching a woman place 2 of the $6 packs into her cart) when it dawned on me that there was a real lack of samples.

I passed by the Diet Coke dilemma and headed for the only sample station that I saw. I went right past the cracker area where they are selling salt-free Saltines, without spending much time contemplating this oxymoron. I was hungry and I wanted my sample.

So there it was, the only sample kiosk in operation was dealing with kitty litter!!! What the hell?? How do I sample kitty litter?

I didn't even bother to ask. I was fresh out of taking my cat with me to Walmart and I had no intentions of sampling the stuff myself.

Walmart, in addition to being a constant puzzle, was a great disappointment to me today.

Mr. Flannery