To get to and from Connecticut, we rented a ZipCar and packed 5 of us into a peppy Honda Fit. In an actual car, this was our chance to load up on goods without having to lug them across streets and on subways and buses like Cool Pack Mules.
We looked up the nearest Target to Hartford. When we were almost there, we passed a Wal-Mart, and I wondered if we should stop there instead. Then I immediately perished the thought. Why, though? What do I have against Wal-Mart?
WM certainly got me through my college years, with its affordable twin comforters, toilet paper, and underwear. Now, I’m a Target devotee. Am I just a sucker for style? My obsession with being cool might be getting the best of me – Target seems much cooler than Wal-Mart. Four examples:
COMMERCIALS
Target: Red-leather clad guys and girls strut around stylish furniture while the Target bullseye pulsates in the background.
Wal-Mart: A family touts the cheap bags of name-brand chips that one can score for the big game.
STOREFRONT
Target: The clean, red Target and bullseye lure shoppers all day and night.
Wal-Mart: The Wal-Mart sign – burdened with one more letter and a hyphen – often renames the store “Wal-Mrt” or “Wa-art” as letters won’t light up or have just fallen off.
CLOTHING BRAND
Target: Their Merona brand is trendy enough for work and social activities, while comfortably priced.
Wal-Mart: I’m not sure who was in charge of naming their apparel line, but ‘Faded Glory’ doesn’t make me feel good about what I’m wearing. I know I’m getting old; I don’t need my khaki shorts reminding me every time I put them on. I will give WM the benefit of the doubt for the possibility of a veiled, yet unfortunate Moses reference.
PRICE
While I initially had the impression that Target was more expensive across the board, they often give WM a run for our money. We just got 82 size 4 Target diapers for $14, regular price. WM may or may not match with their store brand diapers, which I’m not sure are named. UnderPoos? Fetid Glory?
I’m not knocking Wal-Mart shoppers; I’ve been one for decades. I wish we had one nearby. And cheap chips are a better use of money than pricey, boutique chips.
But as you know, we’re fighting inevitability here and need to hold on to every last shred of cool that we have. If that means propping my red leather-clad legs on stylish ottomans, then I guess we’re aiming for the bullseye.
Where does your discount store loyalty lie: Target or Wal-Mart?
This post is part of Works for Me Wednesday.
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I personally prefer Target…but have spent more time at WM recently. It’s a little closer and has the grocery store aspect going for it. I’m totally with you on the “Faded Glory” element. Also, when we lived in Ft. Lauderdale, we were broke (as usual) and a lot of our staples were cheaper at Target. ie. coffee, formula, diapers…so price wise, it depends on where you live.
Yeah, it mainly comes down to convenience. If WM were closer than Target, I would easily be a Wa-art fan.
Where’s the closest Super Target?
Wal-Mart or “Wally world” as my folks like to call it (seriously) does have the Ocean Pacific (Op) brand – and come on – nothing says cool like a 1980s surf brand! Yes – it is Wal-mart’s answer to Target’s ‘Mossimo’ but come on – whoe doesn’t want a bright yellow Op shirt?
I loved OP. I was so proud of the one OP shirt that I had. Too bad I had a serious dislike of the beach.
hahahaha yes!
So funny and so very true! We don’t have a super Target near us so we shop at Walmart. We’re moving soon though and I’m excited that there willa be a Super Target by our house! I’m afraid I’ll spend more money though just because of all the great stuff they have. Maybe I should stick to Walmart for our bank account’s sake. Besides, I handed over my cool title a long time ago. I have four kids and I drive a mini van….Sigh…..
You found us, so [+20 cool points] for you!
Fetid glory = brilliance.
HT: thesaurus.reference.com
Target. Although we only have a “regular” Target and a Super-Wal. So sometimes I hit the Super-Wal for groceries.
Target is an experience. It is bright. It is clean. The aisles are free of c-r-a-p. The clearance junk on the back end caps calls my name. I am perfectly happy to wear some Target GO International or Converse One Star. Wal-Mart is darker. It is crawling with people. The aisles are jam packed with stuff. I feel like everything is coated with goo and dust.
When I’m going to Target alone, my husband reminds me that I am going to Target, not on a vacation. Lest I spend 2 hours wandering about.
It’s hard to resist a Super Wa-art when their groceries are so darn cheap. There’s one Target near NYC that’s bright, but that’s all it has going for it. Extremely messy and very unhelpful staff. Other than that, all of my Target experiences have been pleasant.
And there’s nothing wrong with taking a Targation every now and then.
that was one of my greatest vacation spots as soon as i had Cool Baby…i would scan every aisle for clearance baby items. it was a treat and i told myself i deserved to stay there for two hours if i wanted.
you certainly deserved every Targation you took, CM.
Too funny. The Wal-mart is slightly closer to my house and we usually shop there for groceries. However, I LOVE Target. It’s like a treat to go there. There are certain things I will got to Target for, but mostly I shop shop WM.
Speaking of treats, have you tried their Chocolate Cranberry Crunch? ahh…
Target lures me in with a clean, well-stocked store, not to mention the snack bar with fountain Mountain Dew, which is a little addiction of mine. WalMart has groceries (in our city it’s a Super WalMart) and a garden section. However, the WM in my city is notorious for having empty shelves on at least one or two needed items every time we go there. So, it really depends on what I’m shopping for and whether I “need” a soda or not.
We are big fans of the Target snack shop. We almost went on a super-dressy date there once, but I nixed the idea. Maybe I should’ve let it happen.
I’m gonna have to go against the grain and say that I prefer Walmart.
I’m also going to be deep about this. Haha. I’m a very emotional person. I have a sentimental attachment to things of my childhood and don’t like those things to change. Peter Furler in Newboys. The show Doug. Old school Disney Channel. All these things have gone away, but Walmart remains. When I was little I loved trips to Walmart and my mom always went there [I don't think she knew what Target was], so as an adolescent I have become attached to Walmart. That’s pretty much the reason why.
And probably referring to what someone was saying about prices depending on where you live, I’ve always found Target more expensive that Walmart here in Miami. I must admit that Target is “cooler” [trendy clothes/brands, Starbucks, etc.], but I’m not cool. I’m cheap.
Wow, Raq, that is insanely deep. If I weren’t in Starbucks, I might get a little misty-eyed. I love nostalgia. Next time I go to Wal-Mart, I’ll probably think of you and your mom!
do-do-do-do do-do do-do-do-do-do (humming doug theme song, in case you couldn’t tell)
this is quite impressive. i agree whole-heartedly with every point you made up there! faded glory! hahahaha
Thanks.
We should go out sometime.
We live right across the street from Walmart. Target is almost 5 miles one way. But thanks to Target.com I am able to do some online shopping.
Sounds like WM’s got you right where they want you.
My discount store loyalty belongs to Meijer, which I think might have been the original superstore. They’re found mostly in the midwest, and were started here in West Michigan, which has a large Dutch population. Dutch people are notorious cheapskates (I can say that because I am Dutch), so the stores were originally called “Meijer Thrifty Acres.”
That said, I LOVE Target. Meijer may be a hair cooler than Wal-Mart, but Target is WAY cooler than either of them.
I’m a big fan of Meijer. They provided us with many sandwich meals during road trips through the midwest. Plus I believe that they have the penny horse ride?
I used to be walmart queen, but these days my loyalty is for Target. Walmart has managed to tick me off too many times
Haha. What was the final straw?
I just read that Target same store sales are down 3.7%, and Wal-Mart’s same store sales are up, well, 3.7%. So shoppers, pick your favorite and shop away!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30948820
Uhoh, Target loyalists better get to it.
haha…i wish we had target or wallmart here.
Where are you that you don’t?
im in Singapore
no shops that sell cheap but cool stuff. some1 pls. open target or wal-mart here!!
maybe someone will stumble upon this blog and start the Target revolution in Singapore!
I’m a DH Target shopper. I do enjoy the occasional trip over to Wal-Mart, but my heart belongs to that darned bullseye. Tarjay is cuter, hipper, cleaner, and makes me smile on the inside. That’s right. INSIDE.
Go Target!
If Target had a cheerleading squad, I would vote you captain.
I spent 2 hours wandering around Target today. my favorite thing about Target is those little reddish-orange stickers! I’ve found some pretty sweet deals there on earth-friendly cleaning products, soaps, etc. But their groceries are definitely more expensive. And while this is slightly embarrassing to admit, I found out the hard way today that they no longer accept WIC checks. Bummer because it’s the only place you can get hormone-free milk with a WIC check. Or used to be. About WalMart: the ONLY reason to shop there is their prices. Period. But it’s a compelling enough reason for me.
That stinks about the WIC checks, esp. given the hormone-free milk thing. Maybe you can organize something to have the right to hormone-free milk using WIC. Doesn’t sound easy, but worthwhile.
I’ve got to represent a bit. Target would be my preference, but is not available here, so we go to Tesco. I’m so glad for a United Kingdom nearby!
Do tell about Tesco.
Your post totally cracked me up- I wonder about the Target vs. Wal-Mart conundrum all the time. I’m a Target devotee- and I think that Wal-Mart is probably cheaper on the whole, but I just can’t get past the coolness factor. That’s what I went to college for right? So I can shop at Target?
Hehe. My first Target trip was in my college town. There must be a connection!