We have a Wal-Mart within 25 miles in each direction of us, North, South, East, and West. Our small town has shut down the furniture store, one of the hardware stores, a clothing store, and a shoe store. There's almost nothing we can buy locally. A small Family Dollar opened up a year ago and we still have the Ace Hardware store, but probably only because it's also owned by the feed mill and their prices are still competitive. The True Value's prices were outrageous and no one could afford to buy there anymore. They just finished up the going out of business sale two weeks ago - $30 for a hand mixer that you could get for $10 at Wal-Mart (or Target, or Shopko, or K-Mart,...). That's just crazy.

I try to avoid Wal-Mart at all costs now. I wonder if the other large chains are just as bad, but since I KNOW Wal-Mart is evil, they don't get my business. Target Greatland is closing in on Wal-Mart Supercenter for amount of items available (not including auto services), and I find their quality much better at comparable prices.