Kmart

Nothing flashy about this place… Go if you need something really quick and don’t feel like waiting in line at Target or Wal Mart. Don’t prepare yourself for a WOW customer experience.

About 8 months ago I had given this store a 3 star review (which for me was a definite improvement over what I would have given it in prior years had I been a Unilocaler); however I am back now to issue a one-​star review based solely on how they operate their Garden Shop… or should I say DON’T operate it?
I am a Spring and Summertime container gardener. This is a new hobby that I just started in 2013 and I made most of my soil, plant and seed purchases in Kmart’s Garden Shop last year. It was really great! Also if my sole reason for going there was for items in the Garden Shop I could use that separate entrance and dedicated check-​out, not even go into the main store and get in and out quickly. I re-iterate…it WAS great… but this year something has changed.
First let me say that I fully understand not staffing a Garden Shop through the winter months (although Alabama has quite a long growing season so there would be people with Garden Shop needs pretty much all year long with the exception of maybe December — February). But it is May and my last visit to the Kmart Garden Shop a couple of weeks ago was not a positive one. I went to the dedicated entrance b/​c I only wanted to purchase plants, seed and soil… the dedicated entrance was locked and there was nobody at the cash register to let me in. That is strike ONE! So I had to walk all the way back to the front of the store, go through the main entrance and walk BACK through the store to get to the Garden Shop. As I begin shopping I realize the vegetable plants that I want to see are stocked OUTSIDE the dedicated entrance door which is not only locked from the outside but also locked from the inside! That is strike TWO! So finally an employee comes in there and unlocks the door for me but quickly tells me I will have to go to the front of the main store to checkout. That is strike THREE!
I think it is totally unacceptable for the Kmart Garden Shop not to have a dedicated employee and an open cash register during the Spring and Summer months. And quite honestly as many employees as I see in there just standing around, talking, twiddling their thumbs, etc I don’t think it would hurt business one bit to have one person stay back in the Garden Shop.
This past weekend I needed a bag of potting soil. JUST a bag of potting soil. As I pulled into the parking lot in front of Kmart I considered my previous experience, decided I didn’t have time for that b*llsh*t and went into next door competitor Fred’s. I bought a bag of dirt and was back in my car in less than 10 minutes. Thank you Fred’s :) Get it together Kmart!

Store is a bit dark & light fixtures aren’t working. Haven’t been greeted or approached yet. Location has lots of potential, but not sure the drive is there.

I think K-​marts have a bad reputation, but this one isn’t that bad. They sometimes have Essie nail polishes for 50% (or more!) off in their beauty clearance. Things on clearance here tend to be really, really cheap. I occasionally stop by here because it’s on the way to UAB, but I don’t really look at anything other than the beauty/​personal care and sometimes the garden section. The garden center is small but has a decent selection of seeds and garden tools.
Also re: the first reviewer’s post… don’t come here if you’re a snob.

In all fairness, I’d never been inside a Kmart or WalMart, a FoodsMart or anything ending in MART before. This experience confirmed my deepest fears: fluorescent lights, people with sallow skin and misery in their eyes, and a strong odor of depression. I walked out as soon as I walked in. Just not for me. I’m guessing this is a recession-​proof solution for families and people Christmas shopping for children lacking discriminate taste, but I am rolling solo, have no children to bribe with toys, and will not be returning to ANY Kmart anytime soon. One trip there was one too many.