Works for Me: Shopping Walmart Stress-Free
Posted in Mixed Bag and tagged with Shopping on December 12, 2007
Yesterday afternoon I went to Walmart after my last final (yes!) and ran into a huge mess. As is fairly typical of this time of year, people were everywhere and it was hard to navigate my cart to get the groceries I needed.
While I’m not a strict Walmart shopper, I generally shop there because they have the best prices and have what I need. It is also the easiest place for me to find where things are since I have long ago learned the quirks of Walmart and even know the reasoning behind some. (Candy is by stationary because they originally were in connected departments before there were any Super Walmarts. Popcorn is with pop for the same reason.)
When I worked as a cashier I could see why it was such a huge problem to shop there during specific hours. EVERYONE goes to Walmart at the SAME TIME. People would jokingly ask me, “Is there ever a time when Walmart is not busy?”
My answer: “Yes, Walmart is not busy when no one is here. However, most people come when the most people are here, therefore it is usually busy when you come.”
I personally have learned to shop on Tuesday mornings (except today when I broke my own rule). Any morning between 6 AM and 10 AM is a perfect time to go. This is when the most experienced staff works (if you had worked there for 20 years, you would want to avoid the stressful times too) and there are less customers to crowd the aisles and block the one can of green beans left on the shelf (of course there is more than one can on the shelf at this hour since they have just been restocked).
The worst times to shop at Walmart from bad to worst:
Lunchtime anyday
Friday nights 6-1
Any night around midnight (that is when the cashiers change shifts for the new day)
Weeknights 6-10
Saturday afternoon/evenings 2-10
Sunday afternoons 2 – 5
Of course, different Walmarts have different busy hours. In the college town I worked, the busy hours were later than the average Walmart (I’ve worked at 3). In the Walmart in the town where my seminary is, Wednesday nights are pretty dead. If you’re not a sports fan, a great time to shop is during the game.
These tips generally work for other busy shopping places. Avoiding Walmart during busy hours, that works for me!
More of my works-for-me tips:
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December 11th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
I try to go at 6am on any weekday morning. We’re early risers so that helps me beat the morning traffic and the Walmart shopper traffic too.
You wouldn’t catch me in a Walmart on a Saturday in December for all the tea in China!!
December 12th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Wow this is great information! I know when I go it is always chaos. I have found if I go early in the morning or very late at night it is not too crazy. I am going to print this out and put it on an index card to save.
Thanks!
Blessings,
Vickie
December 12th, 2007 at 6:26 am
Wow, here is the voice of experience, for sure! I’ve always wondered why sunday afternoons are so busy. I live in a college town, too. You learn to avoid the back-to-school times in the fall.
December 12th, 2007 at 6:42 am
Great insider advice, Ronnica! :) Thanks! Now I know when to go if I can brave it in December. ;)
December 12th, 2007 at 8:05 am
I used to be able to go around 7am, and it was wonderful!! Now with 3 kids and home schooling, it is a bit more difficult to do that! I wish I could just afford to do all of my shopping at Super Target–it always seems less crowded and less noisy!
December 12th, 2007 at 8:28 am
Great ideas! I shop at Wal-Mart because they do have the best prices around here.
But yesterday, the cashier (I am NOY exaggerating) screamed NO! NO! NO! 3 times at my 3 year old in the cart because he had his hand on the turn style! I stood in shock. I know that they are busy–crazy busy– this time of year but that was too much. He is not a child who does not get punished but he shook like a leaf for 15 miuntes and cried until he fell asleep. Oh well, had to get that off my chest!! :-)
Thanks! In Him,
Amy
December 12th, 2007 at 9:08 am
I had kind of figured this out but it is nice to see it in writing. I’m often tempted to “run to Walmart” in the evenings for a few things and regret it. I’m a Monday morning girl. That’s when all the old people are they and they don’t mind that I’m slow, too, carting around my seven kids:)
Wouldn’t happen to know when they mark down their produce/meat would you?
December 12th, 2007 at 9:16 am
@Monica
No, I don’t know when they mark down the meat. They never really did that at the Walmarts I worked at (a couple of the busiest nationwide). I think that they would do it early in the morning shift would be my guess (around 7-9), but that’s totally a guess.
December 12th, 2007 at 9:27 am
I’m cracking up at your answer to the “when is it not busy” question! One of the perks of being a SAHM is that I can go to Walmart in the morning on a weekday and it’s usually relatively quiet. Unfortunately my husband loves to window shop for toys and gadgets on his days off so we often hit Walmart on a Sunday afternoon–to me that is NOT relaxing! I’m lucky to make it out of there without a run-over foot or a bruise on my hip from a cart someone rams into me! I hope Amy reported the cashier for her mean behavior.
December 12th, 2007 at 10:03 am
My policy at the moment is to avoid WM like the plague. I was a huge fan until 2 weeks ago when the store changed their return policy. I had 5 clothing articles to return that I had all the tags and the correct receipt. At the door I got stopped by the greeter who proceeded to hand scan every item, print out a sticker, tag the item, then sent me to customer service. Of course, I then waited in line again to be helped to get my money back. Waiting in line twice! UGH!
I am trying to decide if it is worth it to shop only for food there. Supertarget and Kroger are looking very appealing.
I had noticed at my WM that 9am on weekdays wasn’t bad at all to shop.
Thanks for the info. I bet a lot of those times would apply to a grocery store as well.
December 12th, 2007 at 11:14 am
Another worst time to go:
Late Sunday night because the shelves are BARE.
December 12th, 2007 at 11:17 am
I do not shop at Wal-Mart becuse their meat has carbon monoxide in it. But if there is a sale on a particular non-food item that can’t be beat, I’ll pop in and try to find an open self-scan. Those are the best inventions, ever.
December 12th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
I agree — it is funny to see the difference in the crowds on an evening versus during the school day.
December 12th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
They should put this at up at the stores. I’m so glad you posted this. When I saw your link on WFMW I couldn’t click over fast enough because my only strategy (unitl now) was to leave my kids at home. THANKS!
December 12th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
The Super Walmart in my neck of the woods (Broomfield, CO), even at their busiest time, never gets as busy as other Walmarts that I’ve been to (like in Des Moines, IA) though we still try to avoid it on the weekends. Thanks for the inside scoop. Did not know about the 6-10 am thing when the experienced staff works. Makes sense that they get the “sweet” shifts.
December 12th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
I also recommend bringing a cart in from the parking lot. It’s the only way you can be guaranteed a cart. I often see dozens of people waiting for the cart guy when they could have easily grabbed one outside. That way you can also find out if the cart has a wobbly wheel or pulls to the right in plenty of time to exchange it for a better one.
December 12th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
I find shopping at Wal-Mart to be SO frustrating… to the point that I don’t usually shop at Wal-Mart.
This will help. Thanks!
Rebecca
December 12th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
I needed to read this BEFORE I went to Walmart this morning. UGH. It was crazy busy and really stressful. Forgot half of what I was after!!
December 12th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Great info!! I practice all types of breathing exercises when I have to brave Walmart on the weekends – bring a cart from the parking lot enter thru the garden dept…every superwalmart in the country has virtually the same layout -
December 13th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
You are so right.
My son works at a large grocery store and it’s either sit or run.
Sometimes it’s so bussy he doesn’t even need to restock, because they take it from the car. At other times there’s no one at all.
Feel welcome to visit my blog
Laane on the World
Have a great day!
December 14th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Great info! I was just there this morning and it wasn’t too bad.
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