Comments on: Wal-Mart Installs Hitching Posts for Amish Patrons

By: April

April — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 02:17:21 +0000

You say they stop to get sewing notions, well not for long. Walmart has discontinued many sewing supplies and will soon stop selling fabric. This means you’ll have to go to the expensive fabric stores.

By: Erik Wesner

Erik Wesner — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 22:40:02 +0000

Wal-Mart is a-ok for most Amish. Fits well as they try to live frugally. Amish women hire ‘Amish taxis’–big 15-person vans usually–to make Wal-Mart runs on a regular basis.

Electricity is not off limits–just depends how you get it–off-grid is right. Gas generators power washing machines and other equipment. Flashlights are often acceptable. 12-volt batteries are used to get juice. Some Amish wood shops are actually on-grid. Even some homes of certain churches allow public power now.

Of course a lot depends on what congregation you are in. There are over 1300, varying from ultraconservative to progressive. Some Amish play hoops and follow sports. Some smoke. Some drive bright yellow buggies. No kidding. It all depends on your congregation. Check out ‘31 flavors of Amish’ (Nov 28 post) at amishamerica.typepad.com

Erik
PS I’m not Amish or Mennonite, and not trying to be a know-it-all, just spent time with Amish in different communities all across the US. It’s kind of my life now. I’m an Amish junkie I guess.

amishamerica.typepad.com

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 11:38:38 +0000

There are several varieties of Amish and Mennonites, varying in the strictness of their beliefs. However, I don’t think any of them are constricted from shopping at Wal-Mart or any other store as part of those beliefs.

I recall shopping at a booth at a farmer’s market in Bird-In-Hand, PA that had two people working the booth – the owner, who was “strict” and another who was not as strict or not Amish at all. If you bought something and were waited on by the owner, she made change from a wooden box and only took cash. The other person was there to work the regular cash register and credit card terminal.

My understanding is one of the basic tenets is to be “off the grid” so to speak – some Amish don’t have electricity, but others have electricity as long as it’s provided by their own generator or windmill. And though they may have horses and buggies, there ae a lot of Amish who don’t mind accepting a ride in someone else’s automobile.

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 18:25:01 +0000

I find it amusing that Wal-Mart will try to appeal to a small minority when they purposely ignore larger minorities. What is their logic?
Oh wait, perhaps notoriety? They were on the evening news. Ah, warm fuzzy Wal-Mart.

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 18:50:59 +0000

In the small town I am in, Bowling Green, MO, there is a sizable Amish population nearby. I often see the Amish folks shopping at Dollar General, IGA, Orscheln (Farm Supplies), and the local hardware stores. I always find it interesting to see whats in their carts – surprising to see things like prepackaged foods. It isn’t abnormal to see them eating at the local fast food establishments, banks, or doctor’s offices either. There has been talk of a Supercenter in Bowling Green, and I would have to imagine if it ever gets built, it will have hitching posts, and will carry items specifically for the Amish.

By: Bobby (not the same Bob as above)

Bobby (not the same Bob as above) — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 15:07:47 +0000

There are several Amish around northeastern lower peninsula of Michigan. I once saw a horse and buggy parked at the Save-a-Lot in Gladwin.

By: Bob

Bob — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 07:52:25 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvC5pZnPb0Q

By: XISMZERO

XISMZERO — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 04:29:20 +0000

Either go to Wal-Mart or stock the buggy up for two weeks worth to cross the river for Target.

Yeah I thought shopping at Wal-Mart was cheating too…

By: Chris Whittaker

Chris Whittaker — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 00:57:00 +0000

There are a few Mennonite sects that still use horse and buggy but aren’t as strict as the amish that would serve as a group that Wal-Mart might draw. Still, you have to go somewhere to get tools, or sewing supplies, or nails, so why not Wal-Mart, especially in these towns where Wally World is one of the few options left. On another note, at least the developers of the two Wal-Mart’s that I’m dealing with won’t need to worry about my office requesting this provision on-site.

By: Caldor

Caldor — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 23:48:18 +0000

It doesn’t answer the biggest question, though: what are the Amish doing shopping at Wal-Mart? I thought they shunned the conveniences of modern life (electricity, etc.) Isn’t shopping at Wal-Mart cheating a bit?

Like you, I really don’t know a ton about the Amish. Of course, I don’t think they’re big on the internet either.