The first question that comes to my mind upon considering this or any other Wal-Mart is: How much will they pay me to take the stuff they keep in that store?
I'm the last to jump on any semi-socialist soapbox, railing against Wal-Mart for crimes against working-class humanity. Hell, I shop at Target and they aren't necessarily a mom and pop business. Most jobs in big-box stores don't pay a living wage, and when I go to a megastore as a consumer I don't expect the human touch. I am looking for an efficient experience in obtaining something I need (or really, probably only want) for a reasonable price.
It's just that at Wal-Mart the combination of the herd mentality of their regular visitors, the lighting of the store, the demonstrably lower quality of the items they carry, the indifference of their employees, and the management's general willingness to treat their customers like shrinkage risks makes me wonder if maybe the Soviets won the cold war anyway. Or maybe it was the Red Chinese who won.
So to me Wal-Mart has fallen from being a symbol of vigorous capitalism at its best (back in the early 90's) to a symbol of how individual dignity gets trampled when it comes up against the lowest-common-denominator needs of the collective. Da, Commrade. Five year industrial plan. Bucket of pickles, only $5.99. You buy now!
I guess there's nothing I need that badly. Unless they are paying me to take it. Even then . . . .