Big Lots

Big Lots is a very depressing shopping experience, indeed. One of America’s saddest chain stores.
The Weaverville Big Lots experience is typical of Big Lots experiences, writ large. But this Big Lots, in particular, manages to raise (lower) the bar on shopping misery because it’s located right next door to a Rose’s, which is the undisputed world champion in depressing discount shopping.
Imagine. One strip mall in a tiny NC town, housing both the Sovereign and the Prince Regent of retail despair. A noteworthy accomplishment, like a royal flush in Poker, except your prize isn’t cash. No, fool! Your prize is oceans of dodgy merchandise, flickering tube lights, and unidentifiable odors.
Big Lots is approximately two blocks down from the Weaverville Walmart, which is, part and parcel, the reason why I do like to shop at Big Lots. As a way of giving Walmart the finger from afar.
Furthermore: Some days, when I feel down, I think «what can I do to add some perspective to this situation? To really see how bad things could be, and, by comparison, how good I still have it.» On those days I like to pay a quick visit to the Big Lots home décor section and imagine having to live with some of those burgundy polyester damask curtains in my house.
According to the «gate control theory» of pain perception, this added noxious input should have the paradoxical effect of making me forget my worries. At least, that’s my hope.
Once I bought an extension cord at this Big Lots. It was a full two dollars cheaper than it was at the Lowe’s down the street. That was the pinnacle of my Big Lots shopping experience to date.
I’m feeling generous today. So: I’m giving Big Lots an extra star it did nothing to earn, because hey, at least it’s not Walmart.