Walmart - Lexington, SC Review

This is one of the first reviews I probably should have written so that for future reviews I could link to it.  I have loved Walmart since they opened the first 24-hour store while I was in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  It was a lifesaver for me when I was working on a senior paper and my word processor ran out of ink.  My roommate and I headed to Walmart and got the ink cartridge and some other supplies while we were out.  It then became a tradition for us to do our shopping during the wee hours of the morning because there wasn't as much traffic, there were more parking spaces and it was quicker to check out.

I love Walmart.  I don't care what people say about them taking a monopoly on other stores.   Truth be known: If we were running a family business and making a profit we would also want it to take the nation by storm and do just as well.

I love the Walmart supercenters because it's basically a one-stop shop place.  I like that I can run in and buy cleaning supplies, personal hygiene and groceries all at the same time.  I don't buy clothes there too often because the ladies small are sized too big for me and usually the girls department is "too cute."  I have gotten some really good deals on t-shirts, socks, jackets, and sportswear.  Two years ago I spotted a wool coat that I really liked but couldn't afford because it was selling for about $189 at the department store.  Well, Walmart was supposed to be selling it for $79.99 but they marked it wrong and I got it for $19.99.  Yes, they admitted they tagged it wrong but honored the price anyway.  No one could believe how cheap I got the coat for nor could they believe I got it from Walmart.

When I'm not shopping at Amazon or I just must have the item immediately I love to shop at Walmart.  That is usually where I will buy books, games, movies, and music.  The departments are well laid out and usually the workers in each department really know their stuff.  There have been several occasions when I have been searching for something and couldn't seem to find it.  I would ask a salesrep and they would take me right to it.

I have three super centers within 5 miles of my home, office and church and in the last six to twelve months they have been undergoing some renovations.  The goal of Walmart is to have a uniform floor plan so that if someone is traveling cross country they can enter a Walmart and know where to find things because the layout will be identical to the Walmart that they shop at back home. With the renovations they have widened the aisles and lowered the shelves.  I no longer have to climb inside a buggy to reach something on a top shelf.  Yes, they have dubbed me the "buggy monkey" at MY Walmart.

What made me decide to post this review now?  Well, Friday night Walmart hosted the "Twilight at Midnight" festivities.  They were the only store that was going to sell the movie Twilight on a single disc.  I guess everyone else will only be carrying the 2-disc set.  Well, they were having a promo and I knew that I needed to be there at midnight to get my movie or else I might not be able to get my hands on it later.  So, I did the Girls Night Out, dinner and a movie,  with my friends and then came home for a while.  I then went back to Walmart to meet up with some friends.  The line for people waiting to purchase Twilight was about 200+ and it was rumored that there would be approximately an hour wait to make your way to the counter and that by then you might not even get a movie.  Well, I am glad to say it was all a rumor. 

Once the clock struck 12 we saw confetti dropping from the rafters in the area where the line was.  The line began moving faster than you could imagine.  Within about five minutes I was winding thru the ladies apparel and thought I would still have to make it to the back end of the store to get to electronics.  But the surprise was right in front of me.  They had an entire area done up in Twilight merchandise.  On a long banquet table was a large sheet cake that could probably feed 200-300 people and on the cake was the Twilight cast.  It was beautiful!  They were also giving away free canned sodas from coolers with ice.  Surrounding the table were carols of t-shirts, shelves with ball caps, the Twilight board game, the soundtracks and so forth and just past the cake table was a lady with a colossal stack of movies. 

As the customers approached her she would ask you if you wanted the one or 2-disc set and how many of each.  Then she would direct you to a set of checkouts that was just for customers buying the movie.  I arrived at the store at 11:55 and was getting back in my car at 12:15! 

Another part of the Twilight extravaganza was that there were people walking around in costumes.  I saw the vampires and werewolves and I saw some other strange fictitious creatures.  There was one couple posing for pictures so we all believed that was Edward and Bella and later I saw a group of vampires and one with the short choppy black hair and I knew it must have been Alice.  Something told me to take my camera but then I thought, "Nah, they'll probably wonder ‘why' I have my camera."  Well, I wish I had taken it because it was a sight to behold and I just say, "Many thanks to Walmart for making the premiere of Twilight on DVD such a success."

I will continue to shop at Walmart because I believe they have really great deals and for the most part the employees are very friendly.  I love that they will honor the prices of competitors.  My sister does all of her shopping there and once she does all her price comparing she usually saves anywhere between $50-100.  I am known as the "Walmart exchange queen" among my friends and family.  I have never been hassled about a return or exchange. 

Some other perks for shopping at Walmart is that many have auto center, hair and nail salons, banks, portrait studios, travel agencies, eye centers, and print shops right there within their facility.  And all that I have been to also have a private restaurant (McDonald's, Subway, Blimpies, etc.) inside the store.  I haven't used many of the other businesses but they seem to fair well.

I will continue to shop at Walmart because of the convenience, the prices, and the availability and variety of merchandise.