Don't Shop at Wal-Mart

“ewker, thats the beauty part. We shop when we are in the area. Example the bread shop and fruit market are on the way to the inlaws, we stop enroute. Costco is a mile away so 10-12 round trips cost a gallon so $2 divided by 10 trips equals another 20 cents. Boy McD' is sounding cheaper by the minute LOL! BTW do you factor in gas when going out to eat? Prolly not.”
birch
9:41:50 AM
12/05/05


thats good when you can do that. I know some people who drive all over town to save a dollar. They forget about the cost of gas.

When I go out to eat which isn't that often now I deduct my gas from the tip....j/k”

“proper
planning
prevents
piss
poor
performance”

“Wal-Mart keeps December sales forecast
Sat Dec 3, 2005 6:31 PM ET

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) maintained its December sales forecast on Saturday and said demand for food outpaced general merchandise sales.

On a recorded message detailing sales through Friday, the world's biggest retailer said it still expected 2 percent to 4 percent December sales growth at its U.S. stores open at least a year, confirming a forecast it gave two days earlier.

Wal-Mart has increased its advertising and aggressively cut prices to lure holiday shoppers. Last year, the retailer was criticized for waiting too long to mark down prices, driving some customers away.

This year, Wal-Mart got off to a strong start to the holiday season, reporting a 4.3 percent same-store sales gain for November. December is usually the biggest month of the year, however, so Wall Street is paying particularly close attention to see whether Wal-Mart can sustain that strength through Christmas.

Separately, The Wall Street Journal reported in its weekend edition that Wal-Mart added 70,000 U.S. workers to its health-care plans for next year, with about a third of those choosing the retailer's new low-cost plan.

The new plan, which has drawn criticism from labor groups, is aimed at employees who want lower premiums and have minimal health-care needs. According to the story, Wal-Mart says the plan's premiums are at least 40 percent lower than those in its other plans.

There will be an annual deductible of $1,000 after three doctor visits per enrollee per year. Also, there is a $25,000 cap per enrollee in the first year of coverage.

The plan's deductibles and first-year cap have been criticized by union-backed groups as prohibitive to low-wage workers with health-care needs, the story said.

(Additional reporting by Bob Burgdorfer in Chicago)








Well I'll be danged! If you listen to the Socialists on this thread you would think no Wal-Mart worker has health insurance.
Not only do they have health insurance available, but multiple plans to choose from, including a new low cost/high deductible plan.”

“SS - no one has said no Walmart workers have healthcare. You may also want to pay attention to the memo they put out at the time to managers encouraging them not to employ anyone who might present them a risk of significant insurance claims.

They also only took this action because they were forced to by the poor media attention they were getting, and the actions of states like Maryland.

And yet another "person" starts tramping out the socialist rhetoric without understanding what it means.

1. Up to 30% of Healthcare costs are consumed via adminstration costs. How do these costs break down between insurance company costs and programs like Medicare and Medicaid. What proportion of these costs are at the provider level. Largely it's an osolated "FACT" the proves little to nothing.

Has the percentage of these costs increased over time, also the stupidly complex nature of private healthcare and making a claim makes this and problem with the private healcare system. I'm sure administration costs enrolling me every year, and the 30 odd forms that go with this must be cost a lot. Also processing any claim I make, the hospital billing the insurance company, the insurance company billing me for my co-pay. Basically your 'fact' seems to prove that private healthcare is out of control and costs too much to administer.

2. We, as a nation, now spend upwards of $1,000,000,000 annually providing care for people who have healthcare problems exacerbated by their chosen lifestyle... primarily, dietary habits (ie., the overweight population)
It sounds a lot, but how much is it really. What's the total American spend on healthcare from all sources each year? Well one website I went to quoted it at $108 billion. Puts you're one billion "Fact" in perspective. Less than 1% in fact.


3. We ofetn do an injustice to people by leading them to believe that someone else will take care of them, when in reality we do not have a system in place to accommodate all the needs of all the masses who are being told they need not learn self-sufficiency.

This is not a FACT this is an OPINION, perhaps you should have started it with "I BELIEVE".

Americans are being overcharged and underserved on their healthcare. Americans, particuarly hardworking Americans deserve better.

We all know someone out there with a horror story of how the present healthcare system is sick, and the cure is more than about telling people they're on their own.”

“another great article...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_and_American_health_care_systems_compared#Government_involvement

It'll be interesting to see if anyon cherry picks a fact to suppoprt their stance.


Someone mentioned earlier that walmarts suppliers set their own prices for good to sel to walmart. Actually the most devious thing walmart does is to tell a supplier what they will pay. This happened in Nigals hometown with a baby product manufacturer. They lowered their prices to satisfy walmart or they would have lost the bid to a competitor. I wish I knew what affect that had on the baby product suppliers bottom line and employees wages etc.”

“http://medicolegal.tripod.com/cost.htm

Smoke up dudes!!!!!!!”

“http://www.rand.org/news/press.04/03.09.html

super size this!”

“Y2, this source states that obesity costs 12% of the total healthcare budget, does that change your "fact"?
http://www.obesity.org/treatment/cost.shtml”

“Its worth noting that I really didnt read these articles. I simply did a google search and scanned for content that supported my pre-conceived notions. I suspect lots of "cut/pasters" around here do the same. Odd way to discuss a subject IMO.”

“I'm not sure Birch, it would depend how worldwatch came up with that statistic.
I know it's a problem, but how has this changed and does it entirely explain the huge rise in overall healthcare costs.

I'm not diminishing obesity as a serious health issue, but even if every American lost weight it wouldn't solve problems such as the 40-50 uninsured Americans. Again, health is about far more than the ER room.

The growing issue of unhealthy Americans is only part of the equation.”

“The last link (obesity.org) actually shows the affect of obesty on overall helath in terms of higher occurrance of costly diseases. If money wasnt tied up in dealing was fairly simple to prevent lifestyle disease like type2 diabetes the money could be used to cover more basic care.”

“just did a quick google on uninsured americans, about 16-17% is an average I came up with. If obesity costs 12% of the budget and is reduced by 1/2 that frees up how many billions for standard care?

Health care isnt only expensive because of profits.

Its interesting that when folks compare national healthcare plans with freemarket plans a key detail is omitted. The vast majority of R&D is done by US firms. Canadians benefit from the R&D with drugs at a bulk cost, the drug maker can sell for much less there because they know they will make the difference up with US. essentially if Canada had to pay the actual costs of R&D for their drugs they would pay far more,they are subsidized by US.”

“Actually the most devious thing walmart does is to tell a supplier what they will pay. This happened in Nigals hometown with a baby product manufacturer. They lowered their prices to satisfy walmart or they would have lost the bid to a competitor. I wish I knew what affect that had on the baby product suppliers bottom line and employees wages etc.”
birch
11:12:39 AM
12/05/05

Um... I'm not sure what planet you live on but that's pretty much common practice for most corporations. Bellsouth tells me how much they are going to pay for a remote DSL terminal, if I can't build one that fit's within their cost structure they go someplace else. Same thing with auto manufacturers (An automotive supplier has it just as bad at times), chip suppliers to Dell or Gateway or IBM, T-mobile or Cingular does the same thing to their cell phone suppliers, etc. Meet their cost target or they will find someone who does.”

“Deore, I live near detroit. Not sure the planet. I posted that in response to an earlier comment about it being a suppliers fault vs walmart.”

“Is it Wal Mart's fault that suppliers sell to them cheaper then anyone else? Why don't people blaim the suppliers for jacking up the price to Mom and Pop stores so they can't be cost competative to Wal Mart?”
DeoreDX
10:59:24 PM
12/03/05

holy canoli, it was in response to you LOL.”

“Like I said, I'm not saying the lifestlyes of many Americans doesn't contribute to healthcare costs - but there is also more ailing the American healthcare system than that. Like the amount of people uninsured.

Making public healthcare available to all is no silver bullet to the problem - there will always be things that can be done better or worse. There just seems to be no acceptance that an increasing number of Americans are being failed by their healthcare system.

Oh and I'm not the one portraying views as Facts, I'm the one pointing out that Wanderer's postings were largely opinions. As indeed are mine.”

“Since the supplier has to meet walmarts demnads, they must recoup those lost profits elsewhere. Mom and pops dont weild the clout of walmart so if the supplier loses a mom and pop its no biggy.If a mom and pop lose a supllier its oculd be fatal.”

“Y2, my quote of 'facts' was not intended as a jab more as a continuation of how it has been used so afr.”

“my typing is awful.”

“holy canoli, it was in response to you LOL.”
birch
12:01:33 PM
12/05/05

Sorry... I'm not a very good troll. I can't remember all my troll attempts :D LOL.”

“LOL!!!!!!!”

“off to blow a whole ton of healthcare money....”

““my typing is awful.”

It's not your fault. It's non union keyboards.”

“"Oh and I'm not the one portraying views as Facts, I'm the one pointing out that Wanderer's postings were largely opinions." Y2

1. Up to 30% of healthcare costs are administration.

Undisputed.

2. We spend upwards of $1,000,000,000 annually providing care for people who have healthcare problems exacerbated by their chosen lifestyle... primarily, dietary habits (ie., the overweight population)

Undisputed

3. We ofetn do an injustice to people by leading them to believe that someone else will take care of them, when in reality we do not have a system in place to accommodate all the needs of all the masses who are being told they need not learn self-sufficiency.

Y2's comment = This is not a FACT this is an OPINION.

No, It is a FACT. You yourself are railing about the deficiencies in our system, why can't you acknowledge that it is immoral to lead bpeople to believe big government will take care of them when we both know there is no system to do so.


Y2, you & I may disagree on the issues, but please acknowledge the truth, whether you like it or not.”

“The only truth Y2 will acknowledge is a cold brew.”

“When the national press devoured a new union-sponsored poll released last week by uber-pollster John Zogby claiming that a majority of Americans believe that "Wal-Mart is bad for America," not reported were serious ethical issues which call into question the integrity of the much-ballyhooed survey.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20051208-092510-1537r.htm”

“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Now now Sarge. Libbies never spin...........
MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHAHAHAHAHAHAHA”

“OAKLAND, California - A California jury on Thursday awarded $172 million to thousands of employees at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. who claimed they were illegally denied lunch breaks.

The world’s largest retailer was ordered to pay $57 million in general damages and $115 million in punitive damages to about 116,000 current and former California employees for violating a 2001 state law that requires employers to give 30-minute, unpaid lunch breaks to employees who work at least six hours.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10577630/”

“damn....I rutinely have to skip lunch at my job...HMMMMMMMMMM....”

“I guess Walmart's left it's tail out for someone to step on. Usually big companies like them are more careful.....”

“Wal-Mart Stuck With $172M Lunch Tab
Friday December 23, 3:00 am ET
Justin Scheck, The Recorder

An Oakland, Calif., jury Thursday whacked Wal-Mart Stores Inc. with a $172 million verdict -- including $115 million in punitive damages -- for failing to provide a class of about 200,000 employees with legally-mandated meal breaks.

ADVERTISEMENT
The verdict, said Frederick Furth, who represented the plaintiff class with three other lawyers at the Furth Firm, is the largest ever in a meal-break class action in California.

"I'd say that's pretty huge," Furth said Thursday. "We're very pleased with the result."

Neal Manne, a lawyer with Susman Godfrey in Houston who argued the case for Wal-Mart, didn't return a call by press time, nor did Wal-Mart spokespersons.

Since California passed a law in 2001 mandating that employees who work at least six hours receive a 30-minute lunch break, class actions over these claims have been closely watched by the employment bar. They are seen as an area of great potential liability for employers.

The Wal-Mart verdict reinforces that notion, said Michael Loeb, a partner at Bingham McCutchen who has defended and mediated meal-break class actions. Most employers have assumed that they are liable only for compensatory damages in such suits, he said.”

“Yeah, all you peeps stay the heck away from Wal-Mart!!!
I had to stand in the check out line about 45 minutes yesterday.”

“So did I SS. The worse part was there were 4 associates standing behind the counter and only one actually running a checkout. The other 3 were just standing around doing nothing. Got to love their customer disservice.”

“Hey milk lovers! My small dairy farm owned company just got the contract to provide milk to the Pacific NW WalMarts. See I told y'all. You didn't listen to me. ; )

PS, I've now been to 3 of our farms. And they truly are small, family owned dairies.”

“So what's your position on rBGH... and the labeling therof?

grin”

“Pixie - you might find this article/book of great interest.

Cart Blanche?
The Megamarket's Savings Don't Come Cheap

By Bob Thompson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, April 13, 2006; C01

It's just a big old sack of dog food, for crying out loud, but Charles Fishman can hardly restrain himself: "Fifty pounds for $13.82! That's amazing!" the author of "The Wal-Mart Effect" bursts out. "That's less than 30 cents a pound!"

You'd think the guy would be a bit jaded by now. Fishman has schlepped through more than a hundred Wal-Marts in 23 states, trying to chart the nearly unfathomable influence of the retail behemoth Americans have learned to love, hate or take for granted. But he's never been to the one in Hagerstown, through which we're piloting a shopping cart on a weekday afternoon -- and he's calling out bargains like a hyperactive carnival barker.

...His wife, an editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer, suggested a different approach. Couldn't he write more broadly about the benefits and costs of being a Wal-Mart supplier? How much does being in a "partnership" with a store so big that 100 million Americans shop there every week put you under Bentonville's thumb?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/12/AR2006041202186_pf.html

You're dairy farm's gonna be in China soon.

;)
last edited: 4/13/06 10:33:40 AM”

“Yes the prices on many things at wally world are cheaper, but tyeh have been dictating theirpreferences to manufacturers and as a result the overall quality of many products is vastly inferior to what theu used to be.”

“ANyone else seen the "Wal Ocaust" t shirts yet? Yikes.”

“Thanks for the reminder, guys.
I need to get food tonight.”

“I'd love to say that I don't shop at Walmart because of ideology, but there are cheaper ways to shop.

Aldi's undercuts. And I've been shopping at Giant Eagle because they double coupons up to $1. I just bought $120 worth of groceries for $40. And it seems to me that the indigenous grocery stores - Albertson's, Kroger's, Meijer, Jewel, etc. are doing very well. Shoot, even the local chains around here are expanding.

And there is nothing like Wisconsin cheese. It's so fresh it squeaks.

And Walmart has a big old target on their back (sorry for that pun). They aren't running all of those communist-style nice-Walmart commercials for nothing. They are getting hit in the bottom line.”

“SALISBURY, Md. (AP) - You'd think more people would check the seat before they get comfortable in a public restroom.

For the second time in a month, police in Salisbury are investigating a report of a man glued to a toilet seat.

The latest incident happened Sunday night at the North Salisbury Wal-Mart. An employee found the 20-year-old man stuck to the seat and banging on a wall for help. The man was treated at Peninsula Regional Medical Center.

Late in the evening on April Fool's Day, a man got glued to a seat at a local Denny's restaurant.”

“And I thought I was being original.”

“Yeah and at Home Depot....all them there toilets ain't hooked up either....there is an embarrasing moment....”

“I'm going to Wal-Mart right after work today, just because this thread said not to.

Ha Ha”

“i never use their facilities...they're dirtier than the worst gas station”

“I'm going to start a thread called "Don't send me $100"”

“I got Bob Marley and the wailers LIVE! at the Rainbow 2 dvd set for $9.97 the other day. A full live show plus documentary disk. Walmart rawks!



http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4307631”

“I ate these diet chocolates one time, actually the whole bag my wife bought and had laying around. We descided to go to eat dinner that night and I was hungry so I munched down on some diet chocs on the way to town when all of a sudden MY DARN STOMACH started to rollover and my lower intestines started to quiver, so I took off to the closest bath room which was a WALMART, thank GOD for WALMART, I no sooner got my pants down when I lost it, I mean I lost it , I didn't know a human could throw the stuff that high on the walls, I was so embarrased I used the entire BIG roll of paper cleaning up the doo doo!!! Thank GOD WALMART had the big rolls of paper. I LOVE WALMART , I could have been somewhere ,kinda well in my pants with no PAPER....... heheheheh WALMART is my kinda store.”

“Low calorie flying poop story and Bob Marly CD for $9.97? WOW!!!!”

“LOL @ The Fridge

Hey Hyway, I spent over $100 this afternoon at Wal-Mart. ;-)”