Should Christians Shop at Wal-Mart?

Deal Days
Remember the "Blue Light Special"? This was the joy of every deal conscious Kmart shopper. Kmart is long gone (mostly) and Walmart, home of the fractionally priced specials, reigns as our deal making daddy. Their everyday low prices are so seductive that even Christian households depend heavily on the megachain to stretch our dollars. But is there an ethical conflict that arises from shopping at a conglomerate that has ruined so many other discount stores?

Getting the lowest price and the best deal has always been a concern for the American household. In today's economy, ruined by recession, the mania for cheap prices and cheap items has infiltrated even sensible spenders.  The cheapest item is not always the best quality. Just as the cheapest food is not always best for the body. However, Walmart's savvy pricing strategy has many consumers convinced that they are getting the most for their money by one-stop shopping. Dazzled by deceptively low prices and a plethora of merchandise, consumers have forgotten that more ethically minded companies do exist for good deals.

Walmart has been targeted by watch dog groups on a number of counts: gender discrimination, low pay, poor working conditions, strong arm tactics with distributors, and the list goes on. In the Bible belt, often the only store to shop at within miles is Walmart. Urban areas have more discount store chains, but don't often have the large selection of merchandise. So it would seem that even Christian customers are as easily lured in by the stuff as by the savings.

Conscience Friendly Shopping Solutions
Other stores will often honor competitors advertised pricing. I've discovered that shopping at CVS, Family Dollar, and even mall department stores often saves me money on higher quality beauty products. Wal-mart sells a lot of household items in bulk and larger families may feel compelled to buy 40 rolls of tissue for $9, but there is a method to Walmart's bulk madness;  when a consumer buys more they use more. Buying a large amount of cheap laundry detergent may seem like a bargain, but truthfully buying a higher end concentrated brand is actually best. You use less of the liquid because it's concentrated and can add a detergent booster like baking soda for added cleaning power and freshness. Same goes for fabric softener; buying cheap fabric softener fails to add any softness to the clothes; it is more economical to buy the concentrated name brand- you end up using less and getting a better result.

Don't make any store your "one stop". Clothes should come from clothing stores. Food from food stores.  I refuse to buy candy bars or bottled water from Home Depot. By being over reliant at one store, we cause it to become "king". The malls often have better deals on better quality items. You have buying power-use it.

Now I admit, I do run in to Walmart on occasion for 1 or 2 things. I've learned not to bring a cart into the store and to buy only the bare bones of what I need. I don't see why I should support a megachain that has a sketchy history of respecting employee and human rights.

We live in a country with choices. Particularly for those of us blessed to live in the urban and suburban areas, we have lots of choices. With a little extra planning we can spend the same amount or less on necessary and luxury items without selling ourselves out in the process.