I’ll just run into the big blue box store, I thought, pick up a few items, and be out in a few minutes.
Wrong decision.
Wrong, wrong, wrong.
I don’t normally shop at the big blue box store for a variety of reasons. But I needed toys, groceries and office supplies and time was short, especially at 4:30 p.m.
Making one stop instead of three seemed to be the right choice, and I hoped I could beat the after-work crowd. I maneuvered the store fairly quickly and, after 15 minutes, went to check out.
I couldn’t believe how many people were in lines that stretched way beyond the checkout aisle. In fact, the lines for the three lanes that were open snaked around the display islands and into the walkway. I looked for more open lanes, and there weren’t any.
The self-serve lines were actually longer than the line I was in. But I told myself that checkers are usually fast and the line should move quickly.
Wrong, wrong, wrong.
I kept checking the time on my cell phone, my stomach in knots as I realized I’d not only missed a wake, but I was probably going to be late for a meeting that evening. It was too late to go to other stores, so I thought I’d been here this long, I might as well just wait.
Another wrong decision. I missed the wake and I missed the meeting because I was in line for over 45 minutes at a big blue box store that should understand that the hours between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. are extra busy as people are getting off work and want to get in and out of the store quickly.
When I finally got to the cashier, I asked to see the manager. Without a care in the world, the manager on duty told me that’s just the way it is. The reason more lanes weren’t open is they can’t find people to work there.
Really? In a city with a community college right across the street – most college kids I know are always looking for flexible hours – and five high schools within driving distance, I wouldn’t think the labor pool would be shallow.
My son called as I was getting into my car and asked if I could pick up some fruits and vegetables for him. Knowing I’d already missed the two events I’d planned on attending, I told him I’d be happy to stop at, let’s call it the Big K grocery store.
And I realized a few things in that store. First it was clean. There were six check-out lanes open, and my cashier was a fast and friendly teenager.
Surprisingly, the produce prices at the Big K were lower than what I’d paid at the big blue box store and, comparing prices at the grocery store to what I paid at the big blue box store, I saw they were comparable.
On the way home, I made a decision – I will not spend my money where the owners do not care about the customers. That includes not treating customers like cattle.
I will not spend money at a store that takes people’s money without any respect for their circumstances. I will not spend money in a store that humiliates people who need to save money by making them stand in long lines without any regard for their time.
When I need a variety of items, there’s a store with a red bull’s eye on the front that advertises in local publications, offers plenty of cashiers and has affordable prices.
More than that, I’ll continue to spend my money in local and independently owned establishments and stores, realizing if the prices are a tad higher, it’s because they care about the customer and put their money into making the shopping experience personal and knowledgeable.
So good-bye big blue box store.
And good riddance.
This column was edited but originally published in The Fort Bend Herald.