Marketing Schemes

All the stores do it. Walmart ( aka ChinaMart) is the worse though. They will put the high dollar items at eye level, and the cheaper items on the very bottom shelf.
For instance they carry a brand of canned vegetables called "Stone Mountain" excellant taste to them- Our kids love the green beans. They taste better then the walmart brand, and they are cheaper. So Walmart has those on the bottom shelf, unless you have previous knowledge of them or look down while shopping you will never know they exists.

The newest tactic is of the picture below. Walmart has changed the packaging on their mac n cheese boxes to match those of Kraft. If you are in a hurry and not paying attention, they figure you will pick Kraft brand instead.And look at the price difference..$.56.
 I almost made the mistake myself yesterday, I like to make a quick meal of "hamburger mac" where I add ground meat to macaroni and cheese..the kids love it and its fast to cook.Really great for those nights when there is a baseball practice or game. I looked at the box and was like "oh wow! " put the kraft  back and grabbed the GV brand.



 

 

I have also noticed it with cans of spaghetti sauce, and chips-- increasingly over the past few years the can or bag sizes have become smaller and the price gone up. All in attempt to get more money out of us the consumer.

Another good item is kids drinks. They like to put the Capri Suns up high, which are actually higher in sugar, then what I buy..the "Hugs Fruit Barrels"  only 2.98 for a case of 20. And they have 75% less sugar then kool aid or Capri Suns- Walmart is good about keeping these as well on the very bottom.

So next time you are shopping, in a hurry, or the kids are bugging you for a bag of candy or some new toy..please pay attention to what you are grabbing off the shelf, because at the register it will cost you.  Definitely its "buyer be ware".....

-JUGM

My Day At The Blood Doctor

I am not one to get people all worried over nothing, but some of my recent routine blood work came back with a bit of a high white cell count. My primary care doctor decided I should go to a hematologist for some further testing. Those who knew were of course Senior, my sister, my parents and my good friend K. My mother with her dementia problems, thought I was headed to a early grave, and had her entire church praying for me. So to egg my mother on...Last week when they came over, I took this beautiful lavendar sequin gown out of my closet and told her to make sure I am buried in it..   : ) --Yea Priceless

Over the weekend I got a huge packet of paperwork to fill out. I take it with me to the appointment today. Once in the room the nice little nurse is taking my vitals, she starts asking all the same questions, that I had just answered in the packet of paperwork. Then she says, "You must be a new patient"

Then comes time to be stuck by the lab. Where once again I get the same nurse. That is when I am told she is not a nurse but a student. And she  has a big problem finding my vein. "OUCH!"  apparently we did not put the needle in far enough. I had to get re-stuck by the professional. Now I have some nice red marks on my arm..  Those results have since come back, and now I need more blood work done..this time to test my Iron and B12 levels. The hematologist found those a bit concerning.

Once I left, it was off to Chinamart, for some chicken breast and white rice. Mosins tummy is upset.
At the register I see a nice older lady. Looked to be really well kept, and clean. Nice clothes, and her nails done. She was purchasing a bunch of bananas, high dollar international teas, and some International liquid coffee creamer...but paying with her EBT card.  "Great!" I thought. I am paying for her coffee creamer.. but atleast she has nice nails. I just stared her down and shook my head.

I checked our mailbox..My good buddy KELLY sent a gift:  Strike anywhere matches..super cool! THANKS KELLY!  I shall test them out soon. She put them in a nice little pint size mason jar..they look to cute to use..  : )

So I am  home, dealing with the puppies upset tummy. Last day of winter break for the kids, then its school tomorrow, so we go back to our routine. I will be so thankful to be back on a schedule. and a day to myself to clean this house up!   : )

-JUGM

The Walmart Applicant

It was one of those treasured days when the kids were in school and Senior was out working hard. I had just left the bank and decided to go browse around Walmart and enjoy my time alone.
My cart was "quasi-filled" and I needed to find the restrooms.The closest one being by electronics and the little computer they use for applicants... 

And that is when I noticed the "Walmart Applicant".  There he was dressed to impress, wearing a white tank top, red shorts that were about three sizes too big, and hung around his lower waist line, tennis shoes, dread locks and a ball cap that was side ways on his head.. He even had a friend with him, helping read the online application...
"This is the future" I thought..  OMG! not only was it a head shaking moment for me.

Then, the best and coolest thing happened...Either the manager of the store, or assistant manager happened to see the young the man and went over to speak with him...it was then that I was trying not to eaves drop, but I did want to know where the conversation was going...  The manager person looked right at the kid and said " Why should I hire you" ?  " Uh? " he replied.... 
I was glad that the manager as well was African-American, If he had been White, well you know where it could have gone.

The Manager then told the kid : " You are dressed unprofessionally, and basically you look like you belong on the basketball court and not in my store applying for a job, Young Man, if you ever expect to get anywhere in this world, and improve yourself then people must take you seriously..and right now I don't take you seriously"

My eyes got big, and I took another drink from the water fountain..Wow I thought to myself..finally someone with enough fortitude to speak their mind with some of these kids...Must be former military   : )

Both boys just kind of stood there for a second soaking in what was just said to them..It even looked like his lower lip had dropped to the floor...I swear I even half thought he was about to turn white..he was stunned.. they mumbled something which I did not hear and then hastily left. The kid could have gone then and gotten the ACLU involved in a discrimination suit...but honestly I don't think he had the intelligence to think about that..

As I pushed my cart back out in to the store, I gave a small smile to the manager  and he gave me one back with nod of his head.. Inside I was revelling over what happened AWESOME I kept thinking...  : )