This chapter explores the constrained choices of workers in big-box retail, challenging the notion of “free” wage labor. Through interviews and personal experience, it reveals that these jobs are often seen as a last resort, driven by economic necessity and limited options. Tanya's story exemplifies this: escaping an abusive marriage, Walmart was her only perceived employment opportunity. Workers consistently express a lack of alternatives, with phrases like “only choice” and “survival” recurring. Many, particularly those from marginalized groups (immigrants, elderly, people of color), face further limitations due to discrimination and economic decline in their regions. This chapter highlights a dissonance between the “free choice” narrative and the reality of economic coercion. Workers often enter these jobs with negative preconceptions, driven by necessity rather than desire. This chapter argues that social and economic forces, rather than genuine choice, guide these individuals into retail employment, reflecting a power dynamic that limits their options.