We have a brand new Walmart near us…it’s clean and the salespeople are all around to help. The prices are significantly lower than Target for the same exact items, so I’ll go to Walmart, but as seldom as possible.
I love: Trader Joes, Wegmans, Homegoods, Costco.
I wish the prices were not so astronomical at Whole Foods…it is always jam packed so people don’t mind spending $5 an apple, or whatever!
I really dislike so many chains in general for shopping and for restaurants. I try to shop & eat local, but it seems to be a dying breed. Hope not. Hope it turns around to more mom & pops again.
There is not much I hate more than having to go to the Verizon store. Walmart gives me the heebie jeebies. Whole Foods - I can’t stand the pretentious people who shop there - they all look sallow and starving half to death, yet indignant about their all natural selves.
I love Nordstroms - not the lower level ones but the ones like in Tysons Virginia. I get fuzzy just thinking about the shoe department on the top floor. I agree with the consensus on Macy’s.
I like chico’s and j jill - for comfy clothes. I prefer ulta to sephora for make up.
Zappos fascinates me - i just ordered a pair of shoes there yesterday, they’ll probably be to me tomorrow.
I’d rather go barefoot than buy a pair of shoes at payless.
I’m so glad my d is past shopping at the dark stores with the loud music and stinky perfume. I’ve held clothes up to my cell phone to check sizes.
I know lots of people like to bash Walmart. There are three Walmart stores, a Sam’s Club, and one of their new free standing grocery stores, within 5 miles of my home…a 2 million sq. ft. distribution center is nearby too. Walmart isn’t perfect, but when we had a disastrous storm and flood a few years ago in our area …Walmart was the first to immediately send truckloads of supplies like blankets, food, bottled water, diapers, soap, etc. to area evacuation centers…without even being asked for help first by anyone. They can be a good neighbor.
I love Trader Joes but I don’t think I did at first. It’s like a place that you like ok, then really like, then love…it grows on you! OR you stop going.
I would rather have a root canal than go into a cell phone store.
Apple doesn’t count, when I go there, I know what I want, and only need to know if I have to talk to a genius or a sales associate.
But to go into the Verizon store to correct a bill, or ask a question?
No.
LIKE: Lord&Taylor, Target, Ann Taylor/Loft, JCrew, Ulta, DSW, Columbia,
DISLIKE: Kohls - but can get good deals on home items, Macys, Apple Store (I’m sure it’s analogous to how DH feels in Sephora)
HATE: KMart, Forever21 (My daughter loves to browse here. I prefer to stick needles under my nails), Five Below (ditto),
I also hate to go in the high end shops at our mall that look like clothes or accessory “museums.” You know, a large beautiful wood table with just three small purses displayed on it. Stores where it’s 80% store and only 20% merchandise
I try to shop our independent stores in our little town but it’s not possible to do that all the time.
Love: REI and most other climbing/outdoor stores that carry the top brands.
Hate: Cabela’s, Big5 and similar that sell cheaply made knockoffs - in the mountains your clothing and equipment can kill you.
Love: locally owned bike stores with the service to back it up
Hate: Performance Bike and other chains that sell many poorly suited bikes
Love: McLendon Hardware (is that the one BB?) with knowledgeable service people
Hate: Home Depot, Lowe’s - they will not hire anyone who knows too much, afraid of liability.
Other Loves: PCC (organic food co-op), Costco,Johnston and Murphy, most fly shops, locally-owned art shops, and farmers’ markets.
Like: Whole Foods. Their meats and fish are the best available in our area. Vegetable prices are no higher (maybe a few cents) than other markets around but is also higher quality.
Trader Joes. Love their cheese selections and prices. Also great prices on cereals, nuts and wine. Skip their produce and breads.
REI: Great for outdoor clothing and my family’s hiking obsession. Fun to browse.
Armstrong Nursery: Always makes me happy to go and dream.
Bed, Bath and Beyond: Often has stuff my kids need and good for stocking an apartment.
Dislike: Most department stores: Some Nordstrom’s are ok, but they vary a lot. The one in South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa is very nice. Great for shoes, but I find a lot of the sales people pushy.
Apple Store: Too crowded and you feel like they are doing you a favor to let you in.
Home Depot: Too large and they are replacing people with auto-checkout.
Macy’s: They carry very little quality clothing anymore. Their sales are crazy-making.
Petco: Annoying that they don’t carry anything but the big brands.
Wallmart: Too large and messy.
Love: Wegmans (we don’t have one), Nordstrom, Dillards, Von Maur, Lord & Taylor, Macy’s (where I fend for myself), Costco, Walking Company, Elder Beerman (part of Bonton), Steinmart, Home Goods, T J Maxx (home goods only), Sears (appliances and Lands End section), Lowe’s
Hate: Fresh Market, Marshalls, Target (too many cheap things have broken), Walmart, Sam’s Club, Kohls, DSW, Trader Joes (cause I don’t know what products are good), Victoria Secret, Nieman Marcus, Saks
@Magnetron - yes, it is McLendon! Mr. B’s favorite store. Last time we were there, insude the store there was a sandbox with toy trucks and bulldozers for kids to play. So cute!
Can’t put it under “hate” but can put it under “annoying” - Fresh Market! The products and labels carried are so random! I remember stopping in for chocolate chips once and couldn’t get anything that was JUST chocolate chips under $$$lots$$$!!!
Our local Big5 & Fred Meyer carry similar stuff to REI. Not the expedition quality stuff, but the Coleman stoves and the other totchkes you need for a picnic or car camping.
And I don’t have to go through Allentown to get there.
Merchandise varies at area stores.
Birkenstocks at the mall Nordstrom Rack, for example is same price as buying them from BirkenstockUSA.
The merchandise at the mall Nordstroms, is barely indistinguishable from Macy’s, or even Fred Meyer, with the exception of shoes & bags.
It is easier to find things however as they only have 1/4 as many racks.
I bought a zip sweatshirt at Nordstroms online that was $90, but you could practically see through it. I took it back, I don’t judge quality by price point.
I’ve gotten clothing at import shops which had better construction, and material, than clothing at Nordstroms. Especially the stuff they sell in the junior dept. They should be embarrassed.
I realize that they are having to consolidate some of their stores. I don’t know if they are making up for it by selling online. I ordered quite a few things last year from Nordstroms, when I was planning for the reception & graduation, but I didn’t end up keeping anything. Which is disorienting, as I used to always find * something*.
What I would like is a Boden store. Or Uniqlo. We have local boutiques where you could find similar stuff if you were on the lookout everyday, & if you wore a large or a 0. But try & find a 6/8/10!
Downtown stores may have better stuff, I only go downtown when I have to, and shopping isn’t something that is something I think of when I’m there.
Although I admit, when I was downtown after hours last weekend, I did see a few shops that looked intriguing.
Probably a good thing they were closed!
