Oh but they do. Have you ever seen those pictures of WalMart customers? They go around the Internet. Oh my. They truly are something else. It makes you not want to touch your computer to get to the next picture. No kidding. I can't believe people come to the store like that.

That doesn't mean that you have to be all dolled up. I'm talking about some really raunchy people on there. Awful.

I've seen more than one of these going around the net.

Would it help if you wore sunglasses and earplugs to cancel out some of the sights and sounds?

I was talking to one of my friends I used to work with today. She told me that her father wears one of those bluetooth ear pieces so it appears he's talking on the phone. He's not.......he's just "voicing" his frustrations with all the people in the store that are in his way, not moving quick enough, moving too quickly, etc........ He says nobody listens to him because they assume he's talking to someone on the phone....and he can tell people what he really thinks because nobody thinks he's talking to them!

BTW.....he's 81 years old!

No worries, Kitt!! I haven't set foot in a WalMart in years!

Has anyone been to a store and rode one of those electric carts? Or maybe used a wheelchair? I have as I use the electric cart all the time. I can't walk that far around a store.

At any rate, what I'm getting at is how people think you can't hear, see or talk. When they do acknowledge you, they talk down to you. It is so frustrating. And then to try and get anything from a shelf that is farther up. My husband has to help do that. The carts aren't that comfortable but at least I can get around the store. I never was one to shop and look for hours like my Mom. I am more like my Dad was. Get in, get what you want and get out.

I walk around sometimes with my hiking pole. I've never encountered a rude person, because of it, and in fact everyone is very polite and helpful to me. The only place with poor help is Costco IMO. I struggled with a very heavy thing once there and employees walked past me like I was invisible.

Also I don't see strange people in WalMart. The most unusual thing I did see was in a rural WalMart upNorth, where people from long distances come to, including Canada.
One day there was a woman with an impaired teenager, who screamed endlessly like he was injured or whatever. He had some neuro disease I guess, this alarmed the shoppers to the extent, that management had to ask them to leave. We heard him thru the whole store! It was alarming and intense.

Back when Kmart, started, there used to be jokes about the patrons there, but I haven't seen that in a LONG time.

I worked with the public for 40+ yrs... I've had some doozies.
I think it depends on where the store is located as to the customer base. One Kmart I went to had a disturbed person who
visited there daily and smeared feces all over the bathroom. I walked in and WHEW.... backed right out, and went to the courtesy desk... they shrugged and called for clean up and wanted to know if I saw who did it... as they were trying to catch the culprit, and said it happened EVERY day.

I have far more Kmart stories than WalMart!

I will say... that the most unusual people I have seen recently... were at IKEA. I had to sit out some of the shopping on a bench there recently while my son was zorching around looking for lighting ideas for his house. I was just spent, after doing the kitchen department, and found a rare bench to sit on. I think my spirit guides actually put it there for me, because IKEA is just a painful place for me to visit, but I am drawn to it anyway...LOL Anyway I sat there and watched the people. It was a busy Sunday afternoon. IKEA here is a "destination" store, people coming from long distances. Most of them were just eclectic types, but I was very surprised at women wearing the new 6in high heels and tight jeans... shopping with toddlers and a hubby! MAN that looked so painful to me! My poor feet were hurting in sympathy! LOL

You all made me feel better. thank you.

My wal-mart could easily be in one of those videos. We live in the back boonies and on the vermont border and whoa! I cant believe my eyes! The one good thing is that if I am breaking into tears in the electronics department no one gives me a second glance. They just let me go.

There is a local grocery here, but most of their items are expired, and you have to be careful. its a much quieter, darker store, so I may use it till I get past whatever this is.

They have no order at home unless I use amazon.

There is one girl who will shop for you, prep meals and plop them in your freezer, but she is pricey at best. She does make the meals home made from scratch and that is what I prefer. Perhaps I will speak to DH about taking her on for one week and seeing how that goes. She menu plans out either one or two weeks in advance, then each day you pull a dinner out of the freezer and nuke it. I hear her food is really good.

about pretending to be on a cell phone, I cant form a response. my brain shuts down. I cant think, react, or defend myself. I am lost and wandering, and have no clue what I am supposed to be doing other than screaming in my head.

This must stop! I need to shop to live.

Yup!

Sensory overload - I started to get it bad after I was walking up the aisles and couldn't read any of the labels during a nasty bout of ON. Then I had brain surgery and I was a shot duck. It has only been the last year or two that I have been able to keep it together when I shop.....sad really, shopping has always been a great love of mine (not groceries though).

Cheers

Lyn

http://mashable.com/2008/06/05/online-grocery-shopping/

Here's a listing of 50+ online grocery sites. Some of them are location specific. A little pricey but sometimes it's worth it.

Kelly, Schwans is first on the list...yeaaaaaa!!