Walmart has gotten way to big for their britches. The prices are ok but their customer service stinks. People need to speak up and demand the kind of store that serves the people.

I can believe the ratings on Walmart. There was a time when K-mart ruled the department store world. Walmart came along and buried K-mart because K-mart did not adapt to the competition. Walmart gave good service and low prices and blew them away. Now Walmart is the big guy on the block. People flock to their stores and they have become complacent and take their customers for granted. I cannot stand going to Walmart anymore. The only thing they have going for them is their prices. Their customer service is horrible, you spend much more time standing in lines at checkout and they act like they just dont care. I believe if Target can adjust their "target" market a little, they can bury Walmart and I look forward to that day.

The only way Costco beat out BJ's has to be because BJ's shoppers didn't paticipate in large enough numbers. I've belonged to both and stopped my Costco membership.

All Aldi's stores in the Orlando/Tampa, Florida area are fabulous - clean, efficient service, great prices and the best bread ever. We save a tremendous amount on our food budget there without sacrificing quantity or quality.
As for Publix, best meat and outstanding customer service! Just this weekend we pointed out we were overcharged by 10 cents on a 10 pound bag of potatoes and were immediately given a full refund and the potatoes to boot!

I may hold a minority opinion, but I wouldn't buy meat, fish or chicken at Trader Joe because it isn't always fresh. I like Harris-Teeter for most things, but prefer meats and fish from Whole Foods. There are 2 Kroger's in my town. One is good, the other is dark and dingy. Food Lion is awful -- only good for cheap paper products.

We love Food Depot - cheap, good quality food...they are a little high on their meats but they do frequently have specials. I have "black-listed" Wal-Mart for anything I need - the cashiers are slow, the employees will practically run you over if you're in "their" way, and they treat you like you stole something as you leave the store. Food Depot is never over-crowded, they have fast, friendly cashiers and staff, and you can find almost everything cheaper than other stores with the excetion of only a few items.

Walmart's own survey, they place store where the stupid live. They have destroyed America and nobody cares and its our fault.

True, the help is non-existent and a lot of the other shoppers in the store are, for lack of a better term, dirtbags, but . . . the prices are amazing!

Several staple items, like pasta and pasta sauce, are nearly 50% off what I was paying at Publix. It actually makes me sick that it means Publix thought a 100% markup on a $2 item was reasonable, wait, that's more than 100%, Wal-mart's still making their money, right? And don't even get me started on prices for things like shampoo and detergent.

My groceries used to cost around a hundred dollars a week at Publix, now I usually spend around $65. I can give up a few of the "niceties" at publix to save over a grand a year on the exact same brand name products.

Here in Sacramento we do not have Aldi, but we do have Raleys, Trader Joe's, Sams, WalMart, and Costco, as well as Safeway and SaveMart.
We are also members of our local Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op, which makes a big effort to buy from local farms, and we are pleased with that approach, not for any political reason, since we only buy what we really like there, and it is great to support the local farmers directly.
So, we are pleased with what we eat, and our ranking is right in line with Consumer Reports.

I live in Austin, TX. I never heard of Trader Joe's or Wegmans. They do not exist in Austin. We only have a very few grocery stores to choose from here, and they know it too. They all charge very high prices.

Great points, Richard! There are too many factors to attempt to say all Walmarts or Harris Teeters, etc are good or bad. It's simple; shop where you get the best products and service in your area. Walmart is cheap because they get everything from China, but have you tried to find anything made in the USA ANYWHERE? That's the reason our economy is in the trash and there are no jobs----the US doesn't make anything here anymore and we buy everything from China even though they try to poison us with lead paint on our kid's toys, melamine in our dogs' food, and filth in our drugs (e.g., heparin blood thinner). Nothing will change until we start making and selling things in OUR COUNTRY!

I used to love to shop Meijer.The price and produce was much better than Kroger.But Meijer moved out of our area and now I mostly shop Kroger. I love the Kroger brand products. I find that the Walmart brand products aren't as good as Kroger brand or Meijer brand. There are much fewer Sam's choice products,also. The worst part about Walmart is trying to check out. Kroger is the best at checkout.They have many baggers and are just extremely friendly.

After reading all of the comments re: grocery stores, I find that all people have preferences and that they are all different. We shop at all of the stores listed, although Walmart seems to get most of our dollars. I will not begin to feel superior to people shopping anywhere, because our economy is bad to everyone now and we cannot begin to judge people for trying to make ends meet during this very difficult time. I can find good and bad about each of the rated stores, so make my choices based upon what I find, not what I read in either CR or this site.
I think people can make their own decisions if and where to work, and we have no right to tell them what to do with their lives. My problem with Walmart is that almost everything they sell is made in China (which allows for the cheaper prices) but loses better paying jobs here. That is why people will work hat Walmart in the first place. They perhaps lost their jobs and are now working for the company which caused them to lost their jobs in the first place. I wonder though, if walmart were not around, how much higher our unemployment rate would be.
Ah, what a catch 22.

I regularly shop at Ingles,Bilo , Publix and Walmart. I buy most of my staples and some produce at Walmart and shop the weekly bargains at the other stores . Service is poor at Walmart and they have a big problem with their pricing,especially on marked down items

I have a remote connection to a person that works for Walmarts produce supplier. He says that Walmart insist on the highest quality in their produce but then leave it in their warehouses or storage rooms to long.

As to the wild children, well thats the problem of poor parental supervision. The bigger problem is adults that do keep their buggies to the right. Both problems are not unique to Walmart.

Well! Clark!
Why did you not tell us about Kroger? Where do they rate? Higher that you like, I imagine. There was a time when I did not shop Kroger because their prices were too high, so I remained loyal to Publix. Now Publix is too high and the prices at Kroger are always lower than at Publix.

I can do almost all my shopping at this one small store, and my diet is restricted.

The Consumer Reports article equates Trader Joes with low prices??? My experience with Trader Joes is it is a neat place to shop, and that they have a lot of fairly unique items - but they are definitely not low priced. Additionally, shopping at Trader Joes is similar to shopping at a boutique store - very limited selections. If you're shopping for national brands, you will find very few of them at Trader Joes.

The local Harris Teeter stores and Bi-Lo stores beat Trader Joes in prices, offer double coupons (always), have at least 20 times the selection, and are very good places to shop.

If I want to go to a boutique food store, I'd choose "Fresh Market" over Trader Joes in a heartbeat. However, I don't understand how such stores are rated in comparison to national grocery store chains in any manner.

I read the article in Consumer Reports magazine (online via my library), and there isn't a category for "broad selection" - one of the more important reasons to shop at a particular grocery store. I don't think I'd even find some of the things we buy regularly at local grocery chains at Trader Joes, and if I found such items, I would probably find only one of that item (and not in the brand I was looking for).

My guess is that some of the folks doing this survey wanted stores like Trader Joes to be included. That's why such the category of “broad selection” was not included.

For some reason i keep bring home products out dated on harris Teeter shelves and it amazes me how they can get away with it!

THIS CONFIRMS WHY I LOVE PUBLIX.

You are supposed to get the item free at Publix if the price is incorrect, unless you are buying Alcohol or Tobacco products. I've never had a problem.

I refuse to shop at Publix because often things with a special price do not ring up at that price. When I point it out to them and am proven right, I don't get an apology, a discount, the item free...nothing! They just waste 10 minutes of my life waiting for them to confirm their mistake. So I don't shop there anymore. Watch yourself budget buyers!

No wonder I shop at Costco, Publix, and Trader Joe's. They all ranked in the top 10!

I shop the Walmart in Owasso, OK, and for the most part find it very satisfactory. Earlene's comments pretty much covers it all. Our store has just been remodeled and the only complaint I have is that the moved everything and I spend too much time looking for something. And another BIG complaint I have, is they took out the fabrics and sewing notions completely. I have also been shopping at a new Aldi store that recently opened and they beat Walmart prices on a lot of things, especially fresh produce.

I really enjoy going to Kroger above all other retailers in my area (incl. Wal-Mart, Biggs, Pamida, Meijer, Target). I love that they double coupons up to a $1 all the time. So I clip coupons (paper and Internet) and use them when those items are on sale at Kroger. I save on average b/t 30 and 40%+ off retail on groceries and household items. I do not enjoy going to Wal-Mart because they do not offer a variety in goods such as Kroger. The stores usually feel dirty to me and have the "Wal-Mart smell". Their prices are not always the lowest (I have compared). Also, I do NOT think it is right that they profit from the advertising expense of other stores by honoring other store's printed prices.

UGG!!! Have you been to the Ingles on Hwy 92? Stinks and is dirty.

Ingles stores are clean, bright and carry a wide assortment - especially compared to the primary competition Food Lion.
Ingles ranked 23rd in the survey and Food Lion was 53rd...

They do NOT want your business, based on the way they treat the customers. Unempowered store management and just plain bad customer service. Stay away!

I go to the Super Wal-Mart on 71st in Tulsa, OK. I collect ALL of the sale ads for other grocery stores, drug stores and Target. If you take those ads to WalMart they will honor all those prices with one stop. They will also except internet coupons, which alot of grocery stores do not. I am very happy with the quality of produce and meat. The employees have always been helpful (how much help do you really need?) and the lines are not long. However, I do shop during "off" hours, week days or very early morning.

If you don't live in an area where there are Wegmans supermarkets, you are truly missing out on a great shopping experience. The stores themselves are terrific, service is superb and the merchandise quality is only the best. Want something you can't find in the store; no problem, ask the manager and they'll get it and stock it for you. You only have to shop at a Wegmans once to become a steady customer.

There many, many reasons to move out of the state of California, but one great reason to stay...Trader Joe's.

I am a crew member at a Trader Joes' & the management absolutely does not care about the crew. They have great customer service & good benefits. The benefits are basically worthless because of the high turnover & few opportunities for advancement in the area. But from firsthand experience if you nose isn't 90% up the customer's rear end 100% of the time you are a "bad employee". Its more a matter of the employee always being wrong, rather than the customer being right.

Where did my favorite store rate?

The Walmart in my hometown is clean, prices are low, service is fantastic, and a great one-stop shopping place for sooo many items. I know many of the employees, and except for the usual grumpiness we all mouth about our jobs, tell me they are satisfied. Several have been promoted and are long-time employees. A neighbor and his wife (retirees) are both employees of Walmart. The wife recently had major surgery with a long recovery. Walmart allowed her keep her job and work on her own schedule when she returned. It must be a local thing. Sorry about yours.

I WORK FOR WAL-MART AND HAVE SINCE 1997..I HAVE BENEFITS..I HAVE NEVER SEEN A REALLY DIRTY STORE..BUT THEY ARE ONLY AS DIRTY AS THE PUBLIC ALLOWS..I SEE MAINTENANCE CLEAN UP..AND CUSTOMERS THROW TRASH. WHATEVER ON THE FLOOR..THEY PICK UP AN ITEM TO LOOK AT IT AND THROW IT ON THE FLOOR OR OPEN IT AND JUST LEAVE WHATEVER ON THE SHELF, BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT GET IT REPAKED..IF YOU SEE NO HELP..IT IS BECAUSE THE YOUNGER GENERATION DOES NOT WANT TO WORK..BECAUSE UP UNTIL THEY ARE TWENTY AND UP..THEY ALWAYS HAD IT DONE FOR THEM OR THEY NEVER DID ANYTHING WRONG..BECAUSE THE PARENTS DO NOT WANT THE CHILDREN TO FACE ANY RESPONSIBILITYS..IF IT IS ON CAMERA..AND THE KIDS SAYS YES I DID IT..FROM PLAYING BALL IN THE STORE..TO PUSHING SOME ONE DOWN BECAUSE THEY WERE RUNNING IN THE STORE..THE PARENT SAYS NO MY LITTLE CHILD WOULD NOT DO THAT!!!THEN WHEN HE TURNS INTO A MEAN OR LAZY ADULT..THE KIDS IS TOLD TO GET A JOB..THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO WORK OR HOW TO FILL OUR AN APPLICATION..THEY DON'T WANT TO WORK ON THIS DAY OR THAT..SO THE STORES HAVE TO RELY ON THE OLDER GENERATION..THE ONES WHO CARE TO CARRY A LARGER LOAD..KIDS ARE WHAT THEY SEE..AND IT WILL CONTINUE AND THIS NATION IS INN FOR A BIG SURPRISE WHEN THERE IS NO OLDER GENERATION TO WORK..THE WORK FORCE WILL JUST BE KIDS WHO NEVER GREW UP..THE WORLD WILL BE A PLACE THAT SEE AND KNOWS AND WANTS PAYMENT AND THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO DELIVER..SO BEFORE YOU BLAME "WAL-MRT" FOR A DIRTY STORE..LOOK AROUND YOU..BEFORE YOU SAY THE PRODUCE IS BAD OR THE MEAT IS NOT GOOD..LOOK AROUND YOU SEE THE PEOPLE EATING AND PINCHING AND THROWING ON THE FLOOR WITH NO CONCEPT OF THINGS THAT COST BY THE POUND..IF YOUR STORE IS NOT CLEAN..HELP IT BE CLEAN BY SAYING SOMETHING WHEN YOU SEE..SOMEONE OPENING OR THROWING OR DUMPING PRODUCT OR MERCHANDISE ON THE FLOOR..OUR WORLD IS THE PRODUCT OF OUR ACTIONS...

Wal Mart scores low because it has no service. I used to shop Wal Mart when Walton was running the joint. But who wants to wait in line for 30 minutes to check out? I'd gladly pay a few dollars more to have a place I can get in and out of in a reasonable amount of time.

WalMart makes all there money on the backs of their Associates. Teach them how to get on welfare. Pay low wages, charge high prices for insurance. There meat is terrible. It is pack in gas so you have no idea when it was cut. Veggies are not top of the line. Stick to the National name brands

I do work part time time at walmart. Full time is 34 hours+ a week. There are benefits. Even part time, I'm in the 401K and profit sharing. Each store operates as an independent store. Some are clean. Some are dirty. Some have better markdowns. Each has prices set by corporate, but they aren't the same store by store. Walmart does hire people no one else would employ--old, handicapped, students--folks you don't see at Publix. I had been out of the workplace for 30 years, I applied for 40+ jobs. Only Walmart hired me. I was promoted and offered full time employment. I refused it and I went back to school. They let me work around school. You bashers need a bit of truth tossed into the mix. Do I want to work there forever? No. But, had they not hired me last year, I'd be out on the streets.

I love Costco. Just bought a car through them and got the deal Consumer Reports recommended. I am a faithful subscriber to CR. I agree that Walmart is dirty and their produce 2nd rate. I don't buy meat there either since they ship it in frozen and don't employ butchers like Costco or Publix. Trader Joe's is a good place but limited items. Sam's is just a big Walmart. Have bought items there like cereal that was out of date; have seen meat out of date and baked goods. Won't do anything there except get gas. Nasty place here in the burbs of ATL.

Laura,

Not sure where you get your information, but 391/2 hour work week does not preclude a company from providing benefits. 30 hours per week is considered full time. Aside from that, I go to Walmart for most items because they are cheaper, but do buy meant and some produce from Publix. The Walmart I go to is very clean and the prices can't be beat. As an example, a small box of Cheerios at Publix is almost $4. I can buy the larger size box at Walmart for $2.57.

I shop at Walmart when the item wasn't available at TARGET. Luv the TARGET. Shopping at Walmart is like going to Tiajuana.

Give me a break. The Waltons are billionaires, everyone of them and they can't give their employees a living wage or insurance. I don't support leaches on society like them. How come they can pinch pennies when it comes to their employees and yet in their own lives can live as extravagantly as they please.

I totally agree about Walmart's produce. It always looks a day from rotten. Last week their grapes were the size of blueberries. I just got some at Publix that were 3 times bigger. And I actually bought some blueberries from walmart the other day and one day later they had mold on them. And LASTLY, on that same walmart trip, I bought some pita bread only to find out when I got home that it expired that day. USE BY, not SELL BY. so pissed.

We just don't go to one place. We go to Walmart, Target, Publix, CVS, Walgreens and Sams. We look at ads and know what to buy where.

Walmart is good for staples like canned goods and boxed items. But would not buy meat and some of their produce. We find those items to be of low quality.

CVS and Walgreens have good sales you just have to look at the ads.

Our local grocery is Publix they are also the closest so reguardless we go to them. But I have found them to be pretty expensive on non sale items. They get you in the store using sale items, then kill you on non sale items. You learn this and do not buy those items from there.

For instance Publix right now has peaches for 2.49/lb. Albertsons has them for .99/lb and last week Walmart had them for .89/lb. Look at all the money you would lose at 2.49/lb!

I welcome anyone to visit Walmart Super Center Wimauma,Fl. One of the best for prices, cleanliness, organization, in stock and friendly employees I've in
seen. I don't work for Walmart but have thirty years retail experience

Everybody hates Walmart but 95% of people shop there. It is what it is.

My local Wal-Mart was converted to a super center a few years ago. I absolutely love it. Seriously people, how much service do you really need when you buy bread, milk, and canned beans? And if their perishables are that bad, nobody would buy it. Where else can you buy a beautiful, delicious orange for $0.25?

I don't know why liberals bash Wal-Mart so much. Wal-Mart has improved the quality of life for poor people more than any other organization in this country.