Just how much of a "Great Value" is it anyway...

I mentioned at an earlier date that I had a bone to pick with Wal-Mart. There's an internal argument constantly brewing in my head about Wal-Mart's convenience versus their so-called unbeatable value. Here's the thing:

I have no doubt that it is very convenient to get groceries, lawn and garden items, cosmetics and toiletries, and pretty much whatever else your heart desires all at the same time, in the same cart, in the same location. There's no denying that. Even when you add in the jammed parking lot, the crazy people that you see inside, and the 18 checkout lines, most of which are closed at any given time, with waiting lines 15 minutes long -- it's still great to get everything at one place. Does the convenience balance out all the negatives? Sometimes. Sometimes not. The next factor you have to consider is what Wal-Mart is doing since the economy has plummeted. There was always a "Great Value" brand. The geniuses at corporate decided first to renovate the look of many of it's stores and second to promote the great value brand by changing the label and marketing scheme. I have to hand it to them...it is a profound difference. However, it's not in the quick fix category. For the last two months people have been aimlessly wandering the store to figure out where everything went. Once you get past the confusion the design is actually much more workable and organized but you have to tell that to the people who have been there for two and a half hours looking for the toilet paper. And as for the great value brand...I don't know if it's the highly visible new white labels (who knew white could have such an impact!) or the fact that they have expanded to more items. I just don't remember seeing that many great value brand items in each section. Now they have milk, cheese, bread, cereal, chips, frozen pizzas, canned goods, spaghetti, etc.

So, now for the real question. Since Wal-Mart was so clever about their new designs -- and they pride themselves on the great value brand being, well, such a great value....how great a value is it? If you pay such a substantial price difference are you sacrificing quality? Are the great value brand canned chicken chunks as good as Tyson or any other well-known quality brand? Are we getting chicken tongue and waddles in there with the great value brand? Is there a bunch of fatty gross stuff and cartilage added in? Should we try it or stick with our tried and true brands?

I want to know what YOU think!!!

Besides my internal arguments, my grocery shopping trip today was acceptable. I have been going at different times to "research" when there are the least people there. I haven't found a good time yet. Tons of people in this town work shiftwork and they drive around at all hours of the day and night and apparently shop then also. I bought some beautiful orange sunflowers for $5.00 to spruce up my house for company this weekend. They are a pretty good value and they have something on the stems that cause the water in my vase to turn a fuschia color. It's really kind of neat. I needed a yellow printer cartridge for my HP 3-in-1 printer. It uses the Vivera singles and of course, Wal-mart quit carrying the singles and I have to buy the whole set for $40-50.00 instead of just one for $10.00. I'm not too happy about that. But I did get into a check-out lane with no waiting at about 2:30 in the afternoon. I believe that's a first.

The following images are the psychedelic versions of my orange sunflowers. I didn't even use the computer to enhance them...I swear! Cool huh?