Wal*Mart - It is the best of stores, it is the worst of stores

I'm having a Christmas party on Sunday so I needed to do some shopping to prepare for it. I decided to go to Wal*Mart to make my purchases because I had develop some digital pictures for my grandma.

1:03pm - When I arrive and go to the camera department, there are three customers in line to use the Fujifilm kiosk for developing digital prints. I decide to do my shopping first and then come back when the line will be shorter.

1:26pm - I come back only to find the same lady using the kiosk, so I get in line to wait it out.

1:29pm - Frustrated, I approach the kiosk hoping to see what she is doing. I roll my eyes when I see that she's editing the pictures at the kiosk! Argh. People should edit their pictures at home and then come to Wal*Mart to print them off.

1:46pm - The line is next to all the digital cameras, so I am amazed at how many people look at them and do not know what the differences are between them. Do people not research big purchase items? Most cameras were selling for over $300. I never go into a store expecting salespeople to know what they are talking about because most don't!

2:07pm - I leave my cart in line and start wandering around the electronics section. Every so

2:08pm - I look back at the line to see if the lady is done editing her pictures. She's not so I keep on wandering.

2:11pm - I look back at the line to see if it has moved. It hasn't so I keep on looking. I remember that I need DVD cases so I look for those.

2:13pm - Unable to find suitable DVD cases, I ask a salesperson to help me.

2:15pm - He doesn't know what I'm talking about. I finally find the semi-right product I'm looking for and look back at the line. It moved and someone moved ahead of me. Argh. I rush back to get into line behind the new guy.

2:18pm - An older lady asks if I'm in line for the kiosk. When I tell her yes, she gets into line. I explain my frustration to her about being in line then stepping away only to lose my place. She sympathizes with me.

2:19pm - The older lady and I start talking to each other as strangers do when they are in similar situations. She shows me the picture she wants to scan into the kiosk and print out. I tell her I'm here to develop pictures for my Grandma.

2:26pm - I learn that she works for the Homeland Security department making emergency management plans. I tell her about my desire to enter into that field.

2:31pm - Wanting to tell a story, Pat asks me if I'm LDS. Without even thinking, I tell her I am. Then she proceeds to tell me about the Family History files that the Mormon church keeps in vaults. As she's talking, I wonder why I affirmed membership to a church I no longer belong to. It's probably because I didn't want to lie nor get into a discussion with this stranger about why I left the Mormon church. I really didn't want to stand there in awkward silence.

2:36pm - The guy who stole my place is obviously from Africa. As I look at him and wonder where he might be from, I notice that he's doing the kiosk all wrong! He'd get to the last step, choose "cancel," and think he was finished.

2:37pm - I walk up to my African friend and ask him if he needs help. I tell him that I've noticed that he's making a mistake and his pictures are not going through. I have him go through the process and show him when to not hit the cancel button. He appreciates my help and thanks me. He tells me he has many more pictures to print. I immediately ask him if he would mind if I took care of my pictures since it would take less than a minute. He agrees.

2:39pm - I finish my pictures. My African friend also lets Pat and another lady go ahead of him since they also only needed one minute on the machine. I helped Pat scan her picture because I was obviously the expert in the group.

2:40pm - I say goodbye to both the African and Pat and wished them a Merry Christmas.

2:44pm - I get into my car and drive home. Although the wait was very frustrating, I felt a little better because I helped people who had no idea how to use the kiosk. I still don't think it was worth the hour wait. There wasn't even a ride at the end!