Thursday, September 06, 2007

Attention Wal-Mart shoppers: Get your hands off of my package!

The other day I was in the housewares section at Wal-Mart and I saw something fairly weird. Not surprising, because it's Wal Mart and chances are good that you'll see four hick-weddings and a funeral when you walk down those aisles at the right time.

Honestly, Wal-Mart is like flypaper. You're going to find the same toothless, drawling oafs in a Maine Wal-Mart as you would in a Tennessee one. There must be a particular retail pheromone present that attracts people who constantly smell like their own sister's minge.

That's not to say that everyone who shops at Wal-Mart wears straw-hats on Saturdays. Heck, I shop there, and I'm normal. Right? However, much like the relationship between rectangles and squares: not every Wal-Mart shopper is a hayseed, but every hayseed is a Wal-Mart shopper.

Back to the point of this post, which really has very little to do with clientele and everything to do with decorum. A certain yokel was looking at a blender, and I saw her remove the tape, open the flaps on the box, and inspect the product--I'd assume for breakage. I briefly considered giving this lady the stink-eye, but then I had a brief Vietnam flashback to my childhood, where I vaguely remember one of my parents doing this.

So the question is on you: is opening a package a violation of the sanctity of a product, or is it merely another helpful tool in the shopper's arsenal?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

i dont think its cool to open cellowrap or tape from packages, but if the box is just flap closed or something that leaves it intact and resellable after you use it, i think it's ok.
when it's really not ok is if you open a box (tape, plastic and all) to look at the real product and then upon deciding that you are satisfied, putting the box you just opened back on the shelf and grabbing a new one. . . i have seen people do that. it's rude.
i think there are bigger ethical walmart questions though dear :-)
and im proud that you want to skydive. . . me too. . .

Anonymous said...

If the item is on display, there simply is no reason to open a box. The only exception to this would be if there is a damaged box and you want to know if the item is therefore damaged. If the item is not on display, open the box/tape but not the inner packaging, if possible. The goal in this case should be to look at the item to see if you like its appearance.

I agree that you shouldn't open the entire packaging and then put it back. That's like going to someone's house and putting your hands all over their knick-knacks. Inconsiderate.

Episode One said...

well, i think you're beautiful too! also, i just wanted to say that i'm sitting in my high school, taking a break from my kids, and almost peeing my pants with how true and hilarious this post was....holden, you rock my flip flops!!

Belinda said...

Here is my take on the matter:
At Walmart, where the merchandise can be questionable, I think it is the smart thing to do (opening a package for inspection). I would have to agree with Ashley and her opinion. If it isn't resealable, than don't open it unless you are going to buy it upon finding its in good condition and of good quality.
NOW, that being said, at a more upscale store such as Macy's or...Tiffany's(haha! yeah, that isn't quite what I meant, but I had to say it) it is completely inappropriate because there is no chance of questionable merchandise on the shelves.

Belinda said...

Here is my take on the matter:
At Walmart, where the merchandise can be questionable, I think it is the smart thing to do (opening a package for inspection). I would have to agree with Ashley and her opinion. If it isn't resealable, than don't open it unless you are going to buy it upon finding its in good condition and of good quality.
NOW, that being said, at a more upscale store such as Macy's or...Tiffany's(haha! yeah, that isn't quite what I meant, but I had to say it) it is completely inappropriate because there is no chance of questionable merchandise on the shelves.

Matt said...

I'd just ask an employee if it's okay to take a peek.

I shopped at a Walmart once. I'm not sure if that makes me a yokel. Oh god help me if I am.