Is Complaining

OK, so I've dealt with this long enough, and I think I've earned the right to let fly. I'm sending an open complaint to Walmart about the atmosphere in their stores.

Granted, I don't really have anywhere else in town I can go. With approximately four grocery stores in town (counting Merit's and Aldi), you really haven't got much choice.

In Durham I used to go to Walmart simply because it was on the busline and it was therefore easy to reach.

But the problem I have with Walmart isn't the size, the selection, the prices, or even where their merchandise comes from.

No, it's the ads.

The constantly screaming blaring BUY THIS BUY THIS ads on the ends of the aisles.

YOU may be able to ignore these awful things, but I hear them pounding in my brain like drums when I'm trying to think in the store. Buying food often takes consideration, and when you have a math disability and concentration issues to begin with, it's a bit of an issue when all your brain can process is that stupid lemonade ad at the end of the aisle with the stupid woman giving the stupid child his stupid lemonade.

I started going in Walmart with headphones on with the music playing so that I could cut down my level of distraction/agitation to a reasonable level. Otherwise I'd get home taut as a high wire act because of all the noise slamming into my brain. The constant stress actually hurts after awhile and I get extra tired when I'm wound up.

I've told you before what this feels like sometimes. It's like having bright lights shining in your eyes while the radio, the TV, and the Internet all blare at top volume. You can't process all the noise; your brain is boggled and upset and yeah, that's how it feels to be in Walmart trying to shop without headphones. Try doing it for a half-hour, or an hour. It makes you want to run away somewhere.

I just want the damned ads to stop. No one really watches them and I find them rude and intrusive and annoying as all hell. I don't expect Walmart to have a warm, comfortable atmosphere ever, because they just wouldn't, but the noisy TV screens at the end of the aisles can vamoose as far as I'm concerned. I have to watch ads at home and that's bad enough; don't make me listen to them while I buy food, too!

Believe you me, if Walmart wasn't ad matching, I wouldn't have even been in there. There's too many people and too many ads making a racket and I would rather go to Trig's where there just isn't all that.

But if I get somewhere where another store is easier to access, you bet your rumblebuttons that I'll be going there even if the Walmart is sitting next door to it. I would rather have a smaller grocery store with less choice than be in that loud offensive mess of a warehouse, thank you very much.


And that's what I have to say about it. What do you think? (Stargate joke. Bonus points if you can remember WHICH episode!)

Ta,
Bec



PSST: Window of Opportunity, Daniel. He said it about fifteen times thanks to the time loop.