Walmart Has Magazine-Free Checkout Aisle For Hasidim

The Walmart store near the Satmar village Kiryas Joel promotes its magazine-free checkout aisle for Satmar hasidim.

 

[Via: I'm a dropout.]

Comments

[Yochanan Lavie]

They should open their own store: Joelmart.

[Haredi or not, here I come]

....or Satmar-Ket

[New Yorker]

I'm so impressed, One less thing for the Chasidim to steal

[Sarek]

Oh c'mon, folks. Nothing wrong with this. It's no different from the candy-free aisle.

[A. Nuran]

It's all marketing.

[Lubavitchers are Christians]

This is beautiful. Walmart did a smart thing - they want more customers - so they're willing to cater to their cultural values so that they patronize the store and earn their business. Nobody is harmed - win win situation.

This is no different than any company catering to the environmentalist extremists, and saving paper to "go green".

You cater to extremists if you want their business.

[Deremes]

Eat your hearts out,losers.
Thats why Walmart is so successful its all about customer service very smart business decision.

[Expatriate Owl]

If you look closely at the picture, you will see that, in lieu of magazines, there are cigarettes.

Choice between poison for the lungs or poison for the eyes.

[Garnel Ironheart]

Good move on Wal-Mart's part. However, I am concerned that there is only one aisle set aside. In the interests of total purity, should there not be one for men and one for women?

[Anonymous Coward]

The problem is it's printed in English not Yiddish. How will their target audience understand it?

[Local resident]

My husband and I have been to this Wal-Mart. It's actually a Super Wal-Mart near the Woodbury Commons outlets, with a full grocery store. It's interesting that they'll do a magazine-free checkout aisle and yet have almost no kosher food other than overpriced Manischewitz.

[Devorah]

Better for us non chasids since now we won't have to wait in line with a mom who has 20 little runny nosed kids all dressed alike who speak no English.

[Rebitzman]

@Deremes

Losers? It appears the overwhelming majority of folks here (myself included) seem to think that not only was WalMart within its rights - but that it was a smart move on their part.

Could you decide which side you are on and stay there?

[Sarek]

Local resident: there aren't a lot of Jews in Bentonville, so I don't expect them to know much about kosher food. Anyway, I don't think Wal-Mart has a policy of stocking specialty items by locality. Their business model is buy the biggest lots you can for the least money.

[Bassy the Haredi Slayer]

There is a campaign going on to have Walmart stop displaying Cosmopolitan magazine on their checkout lines (I guess some idiots object to articles like '10 Sex Tips to Have Your Boyfriend Beg For More' or 'Self Journey for G-Spot Discovery').

As I know WalMart still carry Cosmo, but they did stop carrying Maxim, Stuff and PHN a while back.

I think members of the Yoelish Cult should have magazines about incest and fraud which are the primary areas of their existance.

Wishing the Magyar pagans of the Yoelish Cult Members: Happy Yom Haatzmaut

[Jeff]

Eat your hearts out,losers.

Right, because this validates your entire belief system. Walmart has a magazine-free aisle for you? You must be right in everything you believe! Baruch Hashem I've seen the light!

Meanwhile, there are these two points to consider:

It's interesting that they'll do a magazine-free checkout aisle and yet have almost no kosher food other than overpriced Manischewitz.

So it really isn't as much of a victory for you as you seem to think it is, plus -

Better for us non chasids since now we won't have to wait in line with a mom who has 20 little runny nosed kids all dressed alike who speak no English.

Bottom line: Sounds like we apikorsim are getting the better of that deal.

[Deb]

As they say, "the customer is always right".

[CpA]

My advice to anyone upset that chassidim don't want to be exposed to Cosmo and Redbook - get lives of your own.

None of you would complain if Wal Mart made this accommodation in order to attract and retain Muslim customers or Amish customers.

Of course I'm addressing a crown that follows every word of a blogger who has no life other than digging up and spreading dirt on Orthodox Jews so none of you are likely to actually get lives of your own.

This article and the comments it has generated are pathetic but at least it serves the purpose of putting this whole blog in proper context.

[Jeff]

This article and the comments it has generated are pathetic but at least it serves the purpose of putting this whole blog in proper context.

I imagine that proper context would be "I've eviscerated a straw man so now I don't have to deal with my lingering doubts about my belief system."

[Deremes]

Hey,Jeff-since your goal is to have Haredai jews KILLED as you said many times tell us please how many of those chassidim would you like to KILL?

[jancsibacsi]

Deremes -Dont put words into jeffs mouth he never ever said he wants hareidim killed

[Teddy]

Come on guys, Wal-Mart must have gazillions of things which ARE kosher, just not supervised.

[Deremes]

jancsibacsi- he DID say that many times just check his comments.

[S.]

"Better for us non chasids since now we won't have to wait in line with a mom who has 20 little runny nosed kids all dressed alike who speak no English."

Are you proud to be such a xenophobe?

[Jeff]

jancsibacsi- he DID say that many times just check his comments.

Posted by: Deremes | April 26, 2012 at 12:18 PM

I already clarified this for you, but as Shmarya has told you many times - reading comprehension is not your strong suit.

[Bench Kvetcher]

The former Pathmark of Monsey had mag free and covered mag checkouts for years. Nothing new here.

[SkepticalYid]

Seems like a smart business decision on their part.

[SkepticalYid]

It's interesting that they'll do a magazine-free checkout aisle and yet have almost no kosher food other than overpriced Manischewitz.

Posted by: Local resident | April 26, 2012 at 10:39 AM

Most folks would consider OU, ChofK, StarK packaged goods as well as Empire Poultry to be kosher.

[ah-pee-chorus]

"I've eviscerated a straw man so now I don't have to deal with my lingering doubts about my belief system."

Posted by: Jeff |

hammer meets nail.

[ah-pee-chorus]

Walmart Has Magazine-Free Checkout Aisle For Hasidim

for a second i thought it said "Walmart Has Free-Magazine Checkout Aisle For Hasidim. i was going to wear my chossid costume and head on over.

[schneur]

For man y resdients of KJ the store needs to have a "free" checkout...

[Jeff]

Most folks would consider OU, ChofK, StarK packaged goods as well as Empire Poultry to be kosher.

Posted by: SkepticalYid | April 26, 2012 at 12:57 PM

Yes, but those people are kofrim!

[jewishwhistleblower]

They are known as "family friendly check-out aisles" and have been around for years.

[jewishwhistleblower]

...nation’s largest retailer announced that it will be installing U-shaped blinders over four racy women’s magazines in its check-out aisles....
http://fixaafesorg.blogspot.com/2006/11/wal-mart-makes-check-out-lanes-family.html

[Dovit]

"None of you would complain if Wal Mart made this accommodation in order to attract and retain Muslim customers or Amish customers."

1) But you WOULD complain if it were Muslims, yet you aren't complaining now.
2) Muslims, as scummy as some are, have never demanded or asked this kind of thing in this country. Neither have the Amish. 3)Do you think that Israel would accommodate the Amish in their supermarkets? No.

[barry]

Deremes, don't rejoice yet. I hear that the magazine racks in the KJ aisle have been cleared for the paperback edition of R' Deborah Feldman's emesdicke masterpiece

[Rochel]

Who said Walmart doesn't have kosher food? :)

http://bit.ly/IUEWkj

[Private Major]

What happens if somebody accidentally leaves some magazine near that checkout counter ?

[S.]

"None of you would complain if Wal Mart made this accommodation in order to attract and retain Muslim customers or Amish customers."

That's entirely untrue. Most people who do not like the encroachment of Jewish fundamentalism onto the public also do not want like the encroachment of Amish or Muslim fundamentalism onto the public. Very few exceptions.

[Bill]

What happens if a KJ shopper now opts to check out in one of the aisles with the magazines? Is he less of a chosid? Will this be putting additional pressure on those in the KJ community who never considered this to be a problem to "get in line" -- the right line?

[Jeff]

What happens if a KJ shopper now opts to check out in one of the aisles with the magazines?

Well, there go his kids' chances for a good shiddach.

[Brian]

Are Charedi Wal-Mart shoppers also equipped with horse-blinkers, lest they be tempted to use their peripheral vision to look at the magazines in the neighbouring aisle?

[Rochel]

Are Charedi Wal-Mart shoppers also equipped with horse-blinkers, lest they be tempted to use their peripheral vision to look at the magazines in the neighbouring aisle?
Posted by: Brian | April 26, 2012 at 03:12 PM

That is what I have been suggesting the charedi do, instead of all the crazy stuff they demand we do. Be it on El Al flights, Williamsburg streets or now Walmart checkout aisles.

[Jeff]

What happens if somebody accidentally leaves some magazine near that checkout counter ?

Posted by: Private Major | April 26, 2012 at 02:43 PM

He immediately goes to hell.

[Shoshi]

Come on guys, Wal-Mart must have gazillions of things which ARE kosher, just not supervised.

Posted by: Teddy | April 26, 2012 at 12:09 PM

Indeed you are correct. Although they also have a ton of stuff that *is* supervised, of course.

I wouldn't mind the magazine-free aisle myself. I can't stand seeing the Kardashians and other people I can't identify flaunting their narcissism and "staring at me with their DEAD EYES" (as Apu would say).

[Brian]

That is what I have been suggesting the charedi do, instead of all the crazy stuff they demand we do. Be it on El Al flights, Williamsburg streets or now Walmart checkout aisles.

Posted by: Rochel | April 26, 2012 at 03:18 PM

Great! And now we've got their vision sorted, we can give them ear plugs so that women can sing w/o the charedim starting a riot.

[shweky]

Next they will have a section of the store with only lipa and shnitzler singing over the speakers

[Jeff]

Next they will have a section of the store with only lipa and shnitzler singing over the speakers

I thought Lipa was banned.

[Rocky]

Shoshi, I actually enjoy reading the tabloids while I am waiting to checkout at the supermarket. Where else could I learn that Camilla Duchess of Cornwall is to receive a $50 million divorce settlement and another title if she goes quietly and promises not to divulge palace secrets. The divorce is set for sometime after the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations are over. Also, Charles is to be bypassed in the line of succession in favor of his son William. Remember, you read it on failed messiah first.

As far as the special checkout line for Hassidics, I have no issue with that. If it is good for Walmart, it is good for me since I am a shareholder. But shouldn't there be two special lines, one for men and another one for women?

[yitzhak moshe]

admit it everyone, there's a part of you, das pintele yid, that gets a thrill when you see a jew with long peyos and chassidishe levush

[SkepticalYid]

Posted by: yitzhak moshe | April 26, 2012 at 03:48 PM

Nope.

[Litvish]

Posted by: yitzhak moshe

I just want to reach for my revolver.

[Office of the Chief Rabbi]

I always felt so unclean after going into Mall-Wart that I needed to go to the mikveh. Then, of course, I felt so unclean after getting out of the mikveh I had to shower.

[Devorah]

"I just want to reach for my revolver."
Posted by: Litvish

A bottle of clorox would be safer. How much grayer can the white shirts get? Do they even wash them since they are so smelly? I even saw some black hats at the Short Hills Mall. Now, what the hell are they doing there?

[corn popper]

Shmarya must be shepping great nachas from all the anti-charedi comments he caused.

[WoolSilkCotton]

What a great religion haredim practice. Their faith and belief system is so weak and pathetic, it cannot even hold up to a copy of People magazine.
Imagine, the Torah cannot compete against the cover of the National Enquirer.

And as someone else pointed out earlier, the frumma have no problem with the cigarette display in their holy aisle.

[David]

Surely this is a joke?

If not, it is very disturbing. I wonder what the Jews and non-Jews who visit the store make of this sign?

And what next?

[David]

I wonder what pressure was bought by the Chassids to make Walmart do this?

[Jeff]

Shmarya must be shepping great nachas from all the anti-charedi comments he caused.

Posted by: corn popper | April 26, 2012 at 05:11 PM

Right, because that's why he's in it. It has nothing to do with any corruption or excess in your community, because Hashem knows there isn't any.

[David]

They will also need a cashier of each gender and also a mechitzah.

[David]

I even saw some black hats at the Short Hills Mall. Now, what the hell are they doing there?

Posted by: Devorah | April 26, 2012 at 04:36 PM

That is always my thought when I say black hats in out-of-the-way places.

[David]

Correction to my post above: "See" black hats not "say".

[Steven W]

I hope they have a separate parking lot for them.

[Gefilte Fish]

I'm 99% in agreement with Walmart---they can do (almost) whatever they want to in order to accommodate their customers. My only concern is that they addressed the sign to "Kiryas Joel Shoppers"; had they just written that no magazines are sold at that register, it would be no different than those stores that have a no-candy register.

[sk]

But without glossy magazines, how will the residents of Kiryas Joel know with whom Kim Kardashian is sleeping with this week?

[seymour]

what is the big deal it is a private company catering to some of their customers

as long as it is not all aisles

however can the aisles have the esteem magazine ami

[Proton Soup]

Surely this is a joke?

If not, it is very disturbing. I wonder what the Jews and non-Jews who visit the store make of this sign?

And what next?

Posted by: David | April 26, 2012 at 05:52 PM

non-jews won't care. as long as people come through that express aisle with only 20 or fewer items. but when Bebe and her 12 kids and two buggies of groceries comes through, and they've got to wait a quarter hour to buy a carton of cigs, they might start to make certain associations.

that's the only real fly in the ointment i see. depending on how much KJ business they get, they might want to clear another aisle or two of magazines. the only reason they're on the checkout aisle in the first place is that it's an impulse buy item.

[Satmar]

VIN took your story shmarya:

Monroe, NY - Walmart Goes The Extra Mile For Kiryas Joel Shoppers

http://www.vosizneias.com/105296/2012/04/26/monroe-ny-walmart-goes-the-extra-mile-for-kiryas-joel-shoppers

[avraham]

This is consistent with WalMarts trying to cater to local populations. In Middlefield OH outside Cleveland, there are places for local Amish to park their horse drawn buggies.....go Walmart

[tj]

good for business

[Bill]

Short-sighted and ultimately bad for business. What makes you think this won't eventually extend to additonal requests for product coverup and removal affecting other areas of the store? Slippery slope.

[Joel Berger]

I live across the river from that WalMart. The trick is to shop there on Saturday before midnight. No haredi! Of course, it's WalMart so one should never shop there.

[zibble]

A. Nuran said "It's all marketing."

That's correct. The checkout aisle is based on "impulse buys" and is one of the most profitable sections of a store. Walmart (who I do NOT patronize) was very smart in that they can target the products in these aisles to customers who don't buy mags (and the ones at checkout are always garbage tabloids & "People" type celeb mags).

[future skverer]

wow i better move there!
how much to rent in KY?

[Sue]

True that this is similar to the candy-free aisles, which are for harried parents with grabby brats in tow. Too bad the residents of Kiryas Joel have no more self-control than such children. Personally, I have no problem refraining from pawing at candy or leafing through magazines (and I doubt Wal-Mart even sells the more titilating magazines).