The Growth of Wal-Mart, animated
 

Sorry if repost

http://projects.flowingdata.com/walmart/

Thankfully the growth seems to be slowing down at least a little bit...

Hmmm, it's inaccurate in depicting Joplin's Wal-Mart stores.

Very cool. God Bless Wal Mart.

jeeez

Looks like a skin rash.

I like how everyone hates on Wal Mart but nearly everyone shops there at least once a week.

I go in there as little as possible, but there aren't many other options in DC.

When I lived in Lawrence, I might've gone in there once every 2-3 years.

Agree.

I've found I go to Target a lot more often, If only because my nearest Walmart (Barry & I-29) Is such a pain in the ass to get into, and out of... Damned place is packed 24/7.

I did get my new TV there, though. Couldn't find nearly as good a deal at Target, or Best Buy.

I use K-Mart as much as possible.

I like Target better for some things. The stores are not nearly as crowded, they are cleaner and lets be honest, there isnt as much of a trashy element there.

But Wal Mart serves its purpose for alot of of things.

Here's an anecdote from the Dodge City Wal-Mart:


Wal-Mart, Line 9 - No WHITES ALLOWED!

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I just witnessed something very disturbing tonight at Wal-Mart.

I was getting ready to checkout at 10:50 pm after getting about 20 items and noticed that lines (11, 13, 15) were the only lines that were open and were way backed up. The number 9 line had the light turned off and the LANE CLOSED sign out but still appeared to be ringing up customers so I approached the end of that line which only had about 4 or 5 customers in line, when the cashier motioned to her sign to indicate she was closed. So I continued on to line 11 which was much longer.

As I was waiting in line, I noticed 2 other people do the same thing as me in line 9, and again they were motioned on to the other lines as it appeared she was finishing up some customers.

Since I waited in line for nearly 20 minutes, I had quite a bit of time to observe something that was very disturbing. People of Hispanic origin were allowed to continue to come and check through her line, but whites were being motioned to go to an "open" lane. I was not the only person to notice it. An elderly man, one of the ones that were motioned on, noticed it and got very upset and walked out and left his cart- he told the door attendant that they could put away the %$#&@*#%$ groceries and he was never coming back.

Apparently, the CSM noticed it too. Sandra, the supervisor was also my checker and I asked her if there was anything that could be done for the long lines. She said that there was nobody else that could check but these three and that line 9 was "supposed to be" closed so that she could go to the express lane because that person was off duty 20 minutes ago. Then after Sandra motioned to her to go to the other lane to relieve another girl, she still waited on one more person, a Wal-Mart employee, who was also Hispanic. Heck, they stood there and lolly gagged (in Spanish) for a long time while customers continued to stand and wait in the other lanes.

The CSM, having witnessed what was occuring, called the girl over and I could hear her say "Those people came in your line after your lane was closed, why did you continue to wait on those customers?". The girl told Sandra, in a heavy spanish accent, that "they are my customers and I care for my customers". That is when I couldn't contain myself and spoke up..."Aren't I your customer? Because you shoo'd me off to wait in one of the other lanes while still taking some "other customers". She abruptly turned and stammered away.

Fortunately, the CSM, Sandra, said she would talk to the manager and have something done about the ordeal.

Several people noticed the event unfold. It was very disturbing and I have to say that I have never personally witnessed anything so blatently racist in my entire life.

Interesting map. I never realized how many more stores there are in the east half of the U.S. compared to the west.

You know... for all the complaints about customer service at Walmart, I had a very good experience when I bought that TV.

This young black kid wheeled it out for me... and I told him I'd pull my car up. He said, "Don't worry about it.. I'll take it to your vehicle. I like the chance to get outside."

Then... since the box wouldn't fit... he helped me take it out of the box, and squeeze it into the back seat. He told me I'd need that box to return it, if I had any trouble, so he said we could fold it up. (In 90 degree heat, no less) He folded it up, and put it between the TV and the back window, because he said you don't want that hot sunlight on a plasma screen.

The guy was cool as hell.

I tipped him 10 bucks, and told him thank you. He tried to give it back, and said he wasn't supposed to accept tips. I told him I wouldn't tell if he wouldn't. :)

Walmart... (hell every business) needs more employees like that. Very rare these days.