Walking into a Wal-Mart can be like entering a messy, smelly daycare facility with germs flying through the earsplitting airwaves. Don't get me wrong, the prices are unbeatable and the quality of product is typically adequate. But the shopping experience overall isn't something that merits loyalty to the brand.

The last time I entered a Wal-Mart, I was in search of reasonably-priced groceries and cheap school supplies. Wal-Mart is the hub of bargain shopping and always has exactly what you're looking for. Looking for parking, I spent fifteen minutes of dodging runaway carts and absentminded pedestrians, before finally locating a space a half mile away.

As I entered the store, I was greeted with a smile along with the musty mixture of cleaning agents and McDonald's aromas. I proceeded to the cart area where I must have gone through three before finding a basket that didn't have ketchup on the handle, a squeaky, wobbly wheel or trash in the bottom. I continued through the store weaving and sidestepping to avoid small infants that were crying or wiping their snotty noses on a product that was returned to the shelf.

Having to stop and remind myself frequently that I was here for the prices and products, I somehow made it past the clothing and into the school supplies area. At that moment, I experienced being pushed by two separate families and even had something taken from my cart. The loud children, pushy people, cluttered walkways and half-opened products seemed to swirl around me as if I was in some sort of a dream.

I stopped mid-step, let go of my cart, turned around and walked out.

I was a little disappointed as I had found some pretty great deals on items that I needed, but the screaming toddlers, messy aisles and overall clientele pushed me over the edge. Can anyone explain why two parents need to do the shopping when there is a small child in the family? At 9 o'clock at night, one parent needs to be putting that child to bed instead of making the rest of us suffer through their tired tears and greedy requests.

Minutes later, I was in the Target parking lot. I parked, successfully found a clean cart and took a deep breath as I entered what seemed like Heaven. Through the automatic doors I was greeted by calm and soothing beeps at the checkout stand and shoppers talking mildly to one another.

The aisles were clearly defined as every item was placed strategically for organization. When exiting an aisle, shoppers looked both ways and showed courtesy to those passing by. I have to admit, the prices may have been a couple cents higher, but the experience was divine. I was inclined to walk through each and every section of the store, despite my small shopping list, simply to take it all in.

Wal-Mart may have the edge in pricing, but when it comes to customer satisfaction and creating a pleasant shopping experience, Target earns a big, yellow smiley face.