Wal-Mart, I am over you.

Dear Wal-Mart,

I'm breaking up with you. I've tried for many years to make it work, but you are not willing change. Prior to our meeting today, we'd been apart for a few months and I had forgotten why I was mad at you in the first place. It only took two hours for me to remember.  

Our time together was fine until I stopped your employee to help me with the coffee bean grinder. I have never used it before, so I was already feeling "out of my league." Here is how our conversation went:

Me: "I think this might be out of beans."

Employee: Shakes container. "Yeah."

Me: "Can you refill it?"

Employee: "I don't know how. You should just come back later." 

No, Wal-Mart, I am here NOW. I do not have time to come back later. What you should have said was "I'll find someone to help you." That's what customer service is all about. If I'm going to drop a load of cash at your store, I want to feel like you care about me.

When I reached the deli, there were two workers behind the counter talking. After I scanned the meat and figured out what I wanted, I made eye contact with one worker, who promptly continued talking with the other worker. I waited about five minutes for them to finish their conversation and help me. Wal-Mart, I don't like to be ignored. You're making me feel like I am intruding in your life or am a nuisance. Not the way to win a girl's heart.  

The checkout. Your last chance to impress me. I placed my reusable cloth bags on the belt and explained to your cashier that the three RED bags are bigger, so please put cracker boxes, cereal, chips...the light stuff...in those bags. Oh, and please don't bag the milk. 

The first red bag was filled with crackers and cereal. Great job! Then I noticed your cashier was loading a bunch of canned goods and jarred spaghetti sauce in the other bags. I said again, "can you put some light things in there? They get really heavy." Your cashier looked at me and said "like what?" I suggested bread, toothbrushes, paper plates and napkins. He took my suggestions, but it was too late, the bag was really heavy. So heavy, in fact, that upon arriving home, my husband made a comment about the weight. And not just one bag...two bags were heavy.

Then I see the milk. In a bag. This is what I'm talking about Wal-Mart, You just don't listen. I asked the cashier to take the milk out, and he did without a fuss. But it shouldn't have happened in the first place.

So, I'm ending it. I have spent way too much time and money on you, and it's just not worth it. You enticed me with your sweet talk about saving money and living better, but it's not worth the aggravation just to save a few dollars. As for living better, I'm sorry to say, but when I dread seeing you, that's not exactly improving my life. I know you have lots of admirers, so you probably won't even notice I am gone. If you would like to win me back, please take some lessons from Target or Dillons. 

Sincerely,

Susan