I’m no longer shopping where I’m required to talk to employees for stupid reasons.

My goal as a graduate student used to be that I’d never shop at Walmart once I got my PhD. I am in my fourth year of the PhD program and have moved up my personal goal. I no longer will be shopping at either of the Fargo Walmarts. 

I have some personal beef with Walmart. One of my first jobs a little over 10 years ago was as a Walmart cashier. I was there when our store decided to incorporate self-checkouts, which I despise both as customer and employee. I was there when they took away benches we used to rest on during our breaks. I eventually got a small check as part of a class-action lawsuit against Walmart for this, but that didn’t make up for it in my opinion. I was there when a woman attempted to punch me because we had run out of Beats by Dre on Thanksgiving… I didn’t even work in that section of the store. Long story short, working for Walmart taught me that we as workers did not matter.

Now, as only a customer, I have begun to feel like I do not matter as a person when I shop at Walmart. It started with the forced expansions of the self-checkouts, which are not accessible even if you know how to use them correctly. Adding the “receipt checker” at the store exits was another thing that felt like a waste of time. Most recently, the Walmart on 52nd Avenue in South Fargo got redesigned, making it harder to navigate now that sections that naturally fit together like crafts and office supplies are on separate sides of the store. My least favorite part of the redesign is their new security on the bath products section. 

Last week, I went to Walmart to get three things: a witch hazel toner, some broccoli and a new videogame. I expected to do the walk of shame to an employee in the technology system to get my videogame, which would be locked behind a clear glass. For a $60 small item that can be easily hidden in a purse, it makes sense to protect this item. Still, it is very annoying to ask employees to walk with you to your item and ask them to get it for you like you are a child asking mommy and daddy for food on the top shelf of the kitchen cabinets. It’s demeaning. 

My main problem was when I entered the store to get the witch hazel as the first item on my list. Small items such as lip glosses and mascaras hung freely in the aisle. Just one aisle down, the lotions and face creams were out on unlocked shelves while the face washes and toners were locked up behind a clear glass door. I pressed a nearby button to call an employee, and the button rang a loud noise and said the employee was on their way. I waited around for a few minutes before pressing the button again, as several stockers and customers passed me by while I was waiting. 

Once the employee got there, I did the demeaning walk of shame to the toners, picked one out and put it in my bag. The employee chirped in, “Actually, ma’am, we have to walk this up front and pay for it right now.” I thought he was joking. It was under $5. He took the toner from me and started walking to a bunch of long lines. 

I foresaw the waste of time and energy coming my way and told the employee to forget it. I hate Walmart, and I hate large crowds. I like to make my shopping trips short, purposeful, and as silent as possible. Having to wait in line to pay for 1 item then have to go talk to another employee for another then go back in line for vegetables would only push me further in my frustration. I ended up at Target instead. 

Walmart pushed me away with each innovation in anti-theft technology in the store. I already hated them, but now I can no longer stand to be in them. Being treated like a child for a cheap product that is too large to hide in a small purse is beyond ridiculous for me. What would have happened if I refused to give him the toner and go to a line to pay for it first? He couldn’t accuse me of shoplifting because I’d still be in the store. Could I have just said no and carried on with my shopping? 

It makes me madder that my mind turns to actions like this when I’m upset and stressed out. These intrusive thoughts are what turn random people into shameful social media news. I can’t continue feeling like this anymore, so I won’t be shopping at Walmart anymore. I encourage anyone else who is upset with their new Panopticon-like system that shames all shoppers as potential thieves instead of valued customers to protest by shopping elsewhere, too. And yes, that also means not using Walmart.com. We have so many grocery stores in town and online shopping options that Walmart should suffer while we support them instead.