Walmart Shopping Etiquette 101
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Even More Fun with Shopping Etiquette!
If you've read some of my other hubs, you will know I am all about teaching basic etiquette to everyone. Apparently, some people have not learned the basics in life, or they just choose to totally ignore basic etiquette. This is where I come in. Many people need help figuring out some basic shopping rules of etiquette. Someone recently requested I devote an entire hub to Walmart shopping. Since Walmart does seem to have its own special set of issues, I agree, a Walmart shopping etiquette hub is definitely necessary.
Since Walmart is pretty much known for super-low prices and crazy bargains, it seems like people have super-low standards and crazy attitudes at the store. Some people apparently just roll out of bed and go on wacky Walmart shopping sprees. You can see so many "unique" folks with their own sense of style. There is even an entire website devoted to Walmart shoppers called the People of Walmart. I highly recommend checking out the site if you need further proof of the special magic that is Walmart shopping. But for now, let's explore some ways that we, as a society, can make Walmart shopping a positive experience.
Get Dressed
OK, I know it is only Walmart and not the prom or something, but can everyone at least agree to put on some clothes before going into Walmart? I am not too excited when I see a group of grown adults wearing pajama bottoms, or even worse, a one-piece pajama outfit at Walmart. What is wrong with this picture? Put some clothes on and then go shopping.
Furthermore, I don't want to see fuzzy slippers at Walmart anymore unless they are on the shelves for sale. I am tired of seeing people wearing slippers (and you know who you are!) and pacing down the aisles shopping. Please get dressed before going to Walmart.
 | Amazon Price: $5.17 List Price: $12.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $10.00 List Price: $17.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $11.25 List Price: $25.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $10.39 List Price: $12.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $11.95 |
Stop the Drama
I know you may not have seen Bertha for a long time and there she is standing there contemplating which Suave shampoo smells the best, but do not go crazy! Don't run over and A) start screaming and hugging her, or B) start yelling and throw her to the ground. I don't care if you love Bertha or hate Bertha, keep calm during this situation. Have a nice conversation with her or simply hide. I don't care. I just don't want to know about it.
If you opt to chat with Bertha, how about you and Bertha realize some people are still only shopping? Maybe someone else might like to get into the shampoo aisle. Don't stand in the middle of the aisle gabbing for an hour while others have to push around you. Don't start sharing all the drama of your life while the rest of us just want to sniff test the Suave, too.
While we are talking about drama, this is a fine time to mention limiting cell phone use during Walmart shopping adventures. I don't care if Lester is cheating on you or not. I also don't care if Tonya is about to get out of jail. Keep your voice down and move on with your life. If you need to have a very private conversation, take it outside. I mean, I know it is tough if you are in the medicine section and asking advice over the phone for that weird rash that just won't seem to go away, but at least you can keep your voice down. Please, no one wants to know the details!
Watch Your Kids
Oh, I am sure you think your kids are really cute. However, they are not that adorable when parents are not watching them. If they are running all over the store and throwing items, they are not cute. They are a nuisance. I don't care what you have to do to calm down your little "angels" just as long as they stop yelling and throwing stuff. Children that are not getting enough attention are a pain at any store, but for some reason, they lose all control at Walmart. I think it is all the ultra-cheap junk food all over the store causing the issue. At least, that is my theory. Stop feeding Junior so many Gobstoppers and maybe he'll calm down.
The Cart is Not a Weapon
When using shopping carts at Walmart, please keep in mind there are other shoppers. Just get a cart and go. Don't stand there testing each cart to make sure the wheels do not make noises. Don't start pulling out each cart one by one to make sure it doesn't veer in the wrong direction. It is a shopping cart that you will use for one hour out of your entire life. It does not need to be perfect.
While we are on the subject of shopping carts, please note there are other humans around you in Walmart. Do not slam shopping carts back into place and cause the whole row of carts to run into someone. That is quite rude and dangerous. Also, not run into anyone. The cart is not a weapon. When you run someone over with a shopping cart, you can hurt them. Furthermore, if you run someone over with a cart in Walmart, that person might just get up and hurt you. There are some folks you should simply not provoke at Walmart. Consider yourself warned!
Other Etiquette Hubs:
- Shopping Mall Etiquette 101
What is the deal with all the rude shoppers at the mall? You certainly wouldn't want anyone to think of you as impolite, so you should check out this hub on shopping mall etiquette. - Dressing Room Etiquette 101
Be a good customer and learn all about proper dressing room etiquette. Not only is it the polite thing to do, the sales associates will treat you better because of it. - Women's Public Restroom Etiquette 101
Public restrooms are bad enough even in the best circumstances. It is in your best interest to learn polite restroom manners. If you are a lady, you should read Women's Public Restroom Etiquette 101. - Stairs Etiquette 101
Have you ever been on the stairs, but felt you might get knocked over because of some rude person? You are not alone! I hope to change one reader at a time with some advice on proper stairs etiquette.
Don't Take Up the Whole Aisle
I realize I touched on this subject earlier, but it is an important topic that must be covered. While shopping at Walmart, do not take up the entire aisle. Be careful to notice other shoppers that might need to get around you. Kindly get out of their way if you see you are blocking the aisle. If at all possible, do not take a large group of people with you to Walmart. Your group will be especially annoying for anyone trying to get around all of you. After all, Walmart does not need to be a day-long adventure. Some of use have other things to do. Just let us get to the bargain priced food so we can go!
You should also be mindful of people in general at Walmart. It isn't even just about not blocking an entire aisle. It is all about not blocking items in general. Even though it seems like no one wants to look at the spaghetti sauce until you are standing there debating between your "2 for 75 cents off" coupon for Ragu vs. your "3 for $1 off" coupon for Prego, make sure to get out the way when someone else comes along. Sure, you might be jealous because she is buying the Classico pasta sauce without even using a coupon, but that is no reason to block her. Be polite to others while shopping at Walmart!
Walmart Manners
I hope you've learned a lot about Walmart shopping etiquette. Just remember, shopping at Walmart can be plenty of fun. The prices cannot be beat. You might also meet some fascinating new people while at Walmart. You might see sights you've never seen before at other stores. Walmart can be totally awesome if you just mind your manners and follow some simple shopping etiquette.
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Love it! I agree with everything. Sometimes I just shake my head at the things I see at Walmart (and elsewhere).
Walmart should have these rules posted on a huge sign at every entrance, and at the end cap of every third aisle in the store! And just as a reminder, they should be read over the intercom every 8 minutes.
Great stuff! Voted up...
Hi, lol! this is so funny and true! the one thing that drives me mad as well as you, is the standing chatting when we want to get past! the worse ones are the guys though, when their wives tell them not to move and they don't! even when you want the one thing that is right behind them, they look at you with a look of panic on their faces! ha ha! me and my brother have a saying, Outer mongolian cattle spit! I know, strange! but there is a point, we always say this when we stop at a counter or shelf that has the most ridiculous item for sale such as curried octopus and corn, and try to sort our money out, and would you believe it! someone decides at that moment that they want that item desperately! so hence the outer mongolian cattle spit syndrome! lol!
The world needed this hub....Awesome!
Genius! Pure genius I say! I don't know why people have such a hard time shopping in Walmart but thank you thank you thank you for writing this hub!
Wow, thank you! I can't believe this many people commented on a Walmart hub. I guess this really did need to be written. Thanks for the comments, the votes, and the support on this important issue. :-)
Jeannie...
Alas, moving into this one I was thinking I do not need an etiquet guide. I do wear pajamas to Walmart.
Also...my use of the cart was as a "defensive" weapon from someone who didn't read your sage advise.
You have done the world a service (note to self, "Self, wear pants next time you go to Walmart").
Thanks!
Thomas
I avoid Walmart at all cost, but when I do go I like to get in then get out as quickly as possible. I usually wait until 1 or 2 in the morning, which seems to help. Thank you for this hub, I enjoyed it.
Ha Ha! I've seen it all.
Hilarious, and all too true! My biggest pet peeve is the people who shout out their private conversations on a cell phone. A few days ago there was a Walmart employee with a headset having a private conversation with someone. She was talking so loud that I couldn't concentrate on my shopping! I moved away and could hear her at least 6 isles away! Love your sensible, but very witty rules of etiquette! Voted up and shared!
Walmart seems to be the breeding ground for all human behavior that is not acceptable anywhere else. I avoid it like the plague, even though I know there are some great deals there....
This hub is hilarious, even though it rings true for every Walmart in existence! I thought maybe, just maybe, when they opened a new Walmart around here, it wouldn't attract the people who haven't been schooled in acceptable human behavior, but sure enough, they came in droves. Sigh.
Voted up and sharing! :)
For all the reasons you mentioned... This is why I have a stigma with shopping. It's not that I don't want to shop, it's a pain getting all around the congestion, drama and noise. It's unfortunate, consideration for others will never be a mainstream etiquette during the shopping experience because of the selfish trait.
So funny and true! These are exactly the reasons I quit shopping at Walmart (well those and they only ever have like 2 lanes open at a time at our store which was always so annoying!) Thank you for teaching the world about Walmart etiquette - voted up, useful, and funny! And sharing via twitter :)
Hahaha this is good. Thank you so much for telling people to watch their kids! That is probably the #1 thing I can't stand at walmart. I personally don't think theres anything wrong with wearing pj bottoms (probably because I'm in college and everyone does it) to walmart. I've never done it but now I've learned to appreciate the pj bottoms at walmart since some people don't think they have to wear clothes at all when they go there. Ugh. Voting up up up!
Oh this was great! Thank you..Sure made me laught but at the same time..so true!
This is awesome! I couldn't agree more.
Excellent advice for shoppers. But I think not going there in the past 20 plus years was the right decision for me.
So funny and so true! Thanks so much for brightening my day with this much-needed hub!
I can't believe how many people are really enjoying this hub. I guess someone really did need to write about Walmart etiquette. Thanks to everyone for the comments! This has really helped cheer me up on an otherwise bleak Monday!
You got it! I hate shopping there, for many of the reasons in your article. Sadly, this kind of behavior is not limited to Wally-World. I've seen plenty of folks in the grocery store in slippers, and people in general these days seem to be oblivious to others. It is as if they think they inhabit their own private world, and have no realization whatsoever (nor do they care) that they are blocking an entire aisle.
Your points are well made; unfortunately, they are very true, and indicative of an increasingly ill-mannered society whose citizens are becoming massively stupid, so I cannot agree with the commenters who thought it was funny--I don't find stupidity amusing; only alarming.
(P.S.--as for 'the lowest' food prices: NOT! We shop at WinCo Foods, and they are pretty consistently lower than Wally-World by quite a bit! We don't buy food at Wal-Mart.)
I was reading this on my Kindle in Walmart when I saw Bertha. I had to stop and say hello. When I bent over to get my favorite can of pork and beans I hear some fancy dressed city-slicker sneer and mutter, "crack kills."
It reminded me to buy another pair of boxers. I had used my last one last month to kill bees in the chicken coop.
Wally-World is my favorite place to shop. I found a good set of "chompers" in shopping cart where you eat... I suppose they did not want them anymore... seeing how Wally-World's food don't require good teeth to eat.
The main thing I learned about Wally-World is to fill your cart full of toilet paper. Wally-World's toilet paper is kinda like what I learned: don't take crap from nobody... That way, I can cash my "salary" the first of each month and use my cart to collect beer cans while I wait for my next salary check...
DzyMsLizzy - WinCo Foods! I've never even heard of that store. However, if there was a WinCo Foods near me I would certainly shop there if the prices are lower than Walmart. That place sounds awesome!
dallas93444 - Wow, you are really making the most out of your Walmart shopping experience when you can even find some teeth in the cart. Good for you! Now, once you get that pair of boxers, you are in business.
Thank you both for stopping by! :-)
Jeannie and DzyMsLizzy...
WinCo is cheaper...WinCo would need an etiquette guide as well. i know...I do the shopping thing there.
@ ThoughtSandwiches--you are right--the same etiquette guide applies at WinCo.
@ Jeannie--WinCo is located in these states: California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington
Bummer! WinCo sounds like a west coast store. We don't have them in Maryland. They sound awesome though. I think I will have to leave the WinCo Shopping Etiquette hub up to you, ThoughtSandwiches or DzyMsLizzy. I am sure it will be awesome! :-)
Save a lot stores are ranked the lowest and best service by consumer reports. Second is Publix for the same reasons. Walmart is ranked in the 53rd slot. Sam's CLub is ranked even worse.
Great hub! I think it should be posted and hung for all who enter any Walmart to see, lol! I'm glad someone finally addressed all the annoying, albeit amusing at times, antics that occur at Walmart. I never cease to be amazed at people and etiquette is so very often lacking, especially in these times. Thank you for the laughs along with the gentle reminder to "be on our best behavior" while shopping; we mostly are adults after all ;-)
oldandwise - I don't know if I've been to a Save a Lot. I have been to Big Lots though, and it is probably about the same as Walmart. Thanks for dropping by!
time2rite - I have seen some really crazy stuff at Walmart. I have, in all honesty, seen some pretty weird behavior at the mall and Target, too. I am glad you enjoyed the hub. Thanks for the comment!
I like Walmart but I like Target to, but my parents will not let me go there because they hate the French, but one day I am going to go there but not tell them and maybe you can go there to. I Like Walmart but I also Burger King hamburgers and McDonald fries so sometimes I just go to Burger King for the Burger and McDonald's for the fries. But I like Walmart, I like K mart to because they brought back the blue light special, but I like Walmart, sometimes I go to the dressing room and scream for toilet paper, or stand in the close rack and scream pick me, but I really like Walmart, they say there going to give me a job because I am really good at putting relish on my hot dog.
I take it you really like Walmart. Burger King used to have good fries, but they ruined them. Did you know they now use a special coating to keep them from getting cold? That scares me. So to McDonald's I go now.
P.S. I do like the blue light special at Kmart.
No but I like talking hours about it. The one we got here is like a mental hospital made up of the most dysfunctional people. When I am depressed and hate myself I go there to feel better to build my self esteem. I usually wear jungle wear and pretend I am visiting a third World Country. Honestly, they need some serious help, I could turn that place around tomorrow and its basic stuff in retail.
That sounds like an interesting outfit you've got there. You seem like a very unique person with some great ideas!
Great hub, let me add one.
Due to health issues, I cannot walk as far as I once could. So I use one of those electric store carts. OK first many of you may not know this, but there are no breaks. So do not walk in front of the moving cart. For if you do, you will go airborne, unless that is what you want to happen then go ahead and walk in front of me, I will gladly accommodate you.
I never realized those carts had no brakes. This is good information. Thanks for sharing it. Maybe Walmart needs to add a big sign or something to those carts so everyone knows that.
I have had occasion to use those electric carts, when my bad knee is giving me an especially bad day.
While they do not have a pedal or button labeld "brake," they do stop darned fast as soon as you let go of the throttle. There is not much forward momentum left, (because they don't go all that fast to start with), and if you let go really suddenly, you'll get a pretty good jarring for yourself. It operates automatically, and has to do with the motor, not the wheels directly...too complex to explain here.
Suffice it to say, if you are riding a cart that keeps rolling more than a very few inches after you let go of the throttle, you need to turn it in to the management for repair.
(And despite the lack of a manually operated brake, many of them do have a horn button for those stupid or inconsiderate enough to walk across your path...or, you can momentarily hit the reverse throttle, which causes the familiar "beep-beep-beep--backing up, here" warning.)
Wow, the electric carts sound very complex! I can barely figure out how to ride a bike, so I can't imagine I'd be able to operate one. Although I must admit, the idea of a horn being on the cart is really interesting to me. I would probably ride all around Walmart beeping the horn. That would be an interesting hub... "How Long You Can Beep the Horn on a Motorized Cart Before Walmart Kicks You Out"... hmmmm...
Very funny piece, I elect to not shop at Wal-Mart for personal reasons but I know plenty of people that do shop there. The stories you mentioned are right on par with what I have seen and heard from them.
I actually really like Walmart, but it can be frustrating at times. Most of the time, I just consider everything I see a form of entertainment - free entertainment at that! I suppose I am easily amused. Thanks for reading my hub!
Phoebe Pike Level 7 Commenter 3 months ago
This is hilarious! I see this kind of behavior all the time.