Don't Shop at Wal-Mart

“around here, the mom and pops dont pay well at all. I looked for jobs when I first arrived and actually wallmart was paying employees more then the mom and pops...”

“All we had were the Mom and Pops before Wal-Mart.
Their kids were the rich bratty kids in school that looked down on all the rest. Prices were sky high due to little or no competition.

Thank goodness Wal-Mart came in.”

“For you dayhiker.
http://retailindustry.about.com/od/retailcareersandtraining/a/best_employers.htm

you can do your own research you know.

But anyhow, even these firms kill the mom and pops - but I guess many of those were never so great. The Main Street of America is dying or dead, that doesn't mean that the huge corporate entities that remain should be left to walk over their employees once the compeitors have gone.”

“Thanks, I liked pitts better. But, whatever.”

“Publix is on that list. Rumor has it my town will get one soon. I'm already looking forward to that.”

“nowslimmer - Maybe you take offense to pitt's new name since it could be offensive to Chinese, given your past marriage and all? Maybe pitts doesn't know it's offensive.”

“Mom and pops are so rare as to not exist here. They were toast here long before Wallyworld stepped in. I frankly can't think of a single store that isn't a specialized niche store that is a M&P.

OK, agreed, I bear the responsability to know how I spend my cash and what exactly I am buying into.

However, how is it that I can be told what is villianous but I can't be told what is virtous? Surely somebody out there is doing it "right"? I gotta tell ya, I'm sympathetic to the American working men and women but if I'm going to be told that one of the few places that allows me to stretch my dollar (at least from the limited perspective of my checkbook) is evil and I am a bad person for shopping there then for the love of God tell me specificly who ISN'T evil.”

“I see BB is yet another one of those brilliant folks incapable of understanding the concept of Fuego threads.
Didn't notice this before. I had pictures turned off.”

“Hey/ When WALMART hit the stock market/ I bought there stocks/ lots of it/ okay I also bought Montgomery Wards too and lost. But Walmart stock is where I have made Money!
This country was founded with free interprise, iffin you have an idea and it sells go for it. Iffin you know anything about commerce/ change in inevitable especially retail stores/ weak die strong live.

Walmart gives to communities as well as takes away. Thats the way it is with all big Corporations.Our society has allowed this too happen. So all you who don't like WALMART, I bet if you had made big bucks with there stocks you would be singin like I am.”

“What is a union store? A store with high prices and poor service?

Buddha is a union schill. Why would Wal-Mart need a union? My ex-wife is a member of the United Food and Commercial Workers union. She is making less money with fewer benefits than she was twenty years ago.

The union schills are making a lot more money.”

“HPM - why attempt to bring logic into this?

Anyone remember the Megalowmart episodes from King of the Hill? Funny stuff.

I buy from mom and pops when I can. It's just not often that I can.”

“PS. If it's evil to buy from Wal-Mart for goods that are cheaper instead of the mom and pop is it also evil to buy from REI/campor instead of the small gear store. Ahh, stepping on toes now.”

“To be honest the good M&Ps are developing to offer things that Walmart can't. For example, much of the gear I buy comes from some of the smaller online retailers with small bricks and mortar premises. There's not really any small gear shops near me. None that I know of anyway.

REI is a Co-op for one thing - it's also recognized as a good employer. It doesn't behave like Walmart. Walmart attracts some of this attention becasue of it's success. The biggest player is going to attract the most attention, but it also brings some of it on itself.

I'd be interested to see how its practices compare to someone like Target or Safeway.”

“Good idea. Check the practices of the competitors after you trash Wal-Mart.”

“There's a lot of Mom and Pop type stores around here. They just changed their names to
"Specialty boutiques" or whatever they like, and change their advertising techniques in-store, to make these items more personal.”

“I'd be interested to see how its practices compare to someone like Target or Safeway.”
Y2
5:10:47 PM
11/14/05


Y2, I work for one of Walmart's competitors. Want to know how our practices compare? First of all, we aspire to be better than Walmart. In today's day and age, any company that doesn't want to grow bigger and better simply will cease to exist, so we try to do what they do. When faced with a giant like Walmart we not only have to do what they do, we have to do it better and cheaper. Better and cheaper means that some sacrifices must be made. Our company did it by cutting costs in many forms: new stores had to be built cheaper; more effective price negotiating with our suppliers; personnel reductions; employee benefit reductions; more hours without more pay. By aspiring to be like Walmart, the competitors have to be like them in every way whether good or bad.
The company I work for is a model for the supercenter "industry." We tried to stay in the game with Walmart, however the harsh realization was that in order to stay in the game, changes would have to be made. So we employed the consultants, and the consultants employed many of the same tactics Walmart uses. We're now bigger, better, stronger, but company morale sucks and some of our outside tactics, which I see firsthand, are "questionable." Conversely, like Walmart, we can offer cheaper products to people who can't afford to pay more.

There's no moral here, just my personal observation. This whole thing, this supposedly non-fuego thread, is not a black and white issue---there's good and bad on both sides. We should all "hike our own hike" and do what works best for us either monetarily or "spiritually", for lack of a better term.”

“I think the moral of Nonconformist's story is the only winner here is the customer.”

“I curse my lack of brevity.


PS: and in case no one's used this one yet....the rumors of your demise have been greatly exaggerated.....
last edited: 11/14/05 5:53:42 PM”

“I curse my lack of brevity.

One of the few things online that actually made me LOL.”

“I thought this was going to be about the movie that's going around now, something like "Don't Shop at Wal-Mart."

Here's a link on one area showing 35 miles away. There's also a showing tonight 8 miles away in Lanesboro.

http://www.decorahnewspaper.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=10&ArticleID=11326”

“One of the few things online that actually made me LOL.”
Sarge
6:54:27 PM
11/14/05

If you'd like to LYAO, check out the link in the "Steve don't eat that" thread....my stomach hurt from laughing so hard....crude at times, but funny as hell.”

“We dont shop at walmart, but not for the reasons posted earlier. For me the issue is service and our local walmart lacks any, in all forms. I shopped at a super walmart in muncie ind and was amazed at the difference.

I shop at one of walmarts big in state competitors, the one Noncon works for. A great store with nice local roots.

I prefer keeping my dollars local and our Pastor has talked about the value in supporting your neighbors business ( but we are evil christian evangelicals ). Its easy to see negatives, a balance with positives is even better though that requires work.”

“Nonconformist - that's why I think the activities of Walmart need to be at least somewhat controlled. They set the tone for the whole competitive environment across a huge range of retail.

There is good to what they do in driving down prices and offering value to consumers, but they do need to be made to clean up their act. Frankly, to me, there's little chance of them doing it voluntarily, or in reality of consumers forcing them to change. Those who activity campaign against Wal-Mart are needed to at least bring some attention to the way they work. I choose to vote with my feet and not shop there. Unforntunately when confronted with cheaper prices most people don't - but I can understand that as well. They do seem to be reacting in some ways, and that's good. They are even doing more than just running another ad campain spinning about how great an employer they are. Any progress made on the rights of employees and perhaps making them stock more American goods comes from the hard work of those keeping an eye on Wal-Mart. Even legislation passed at a state level is due, on healthcare in Md for example, in large part to those who strive to keep them in check.”

“I will not shop at Wal-Mart.
There are the reasons posted earlier.

Also, I had friends in college who worked at Wal-Mart. They were treated pretty badly. They were often made to work off the clock. Such as collecting carriages or cleaning their department after they punched out.

Next, the place is just a big clearing house for Chinese goods. I work for Chinese people. We have a Chinese subsidiary. I feel I’m doing enough to support their economy already.

Most importantly, I cannot bear to shop in a store where the reek of the other customers is so overbearing. What is it with Wal-Mart shoppers? Have you noticed the mayhem of the parking lot? Have you seen how people just pick stuff off the shelves just to discard it a few isles later? It such a stinky nasty place.

Americans want everything cheaper, they want it all made in the USA and the want higher salaries. You can only pick two. Stop complaining or stop flocking to Wal-Mart.”

“If I boycotted everything and everywhere that has in the past, could be now, or could be potentially later doing something unethical, anti-environmental, etc. etc. etc. I would not be able to get to work, work and make money or eat. Maybe not even breathe for that matter, therefore I would die. So I don't boycott stuff anymore....”

“Wal-Marts in Northern New Jersey are rather ghetto and I try to avoid them like the plague. Besides, highway 22 here is evil and dangerous to drive so it makes it nice and easy to avoid Wal-Mart...well, at least the one in Union...

(We prefer Target ... which, incidentally is also on evil 22)
last edited: 11/14/05 7:27:13 PM”

“I agree with PhantomSoul. Target is nicer. The customers don't have a foul odor, and the "team members" are pleasant and helpful.”

“Y2, What ways need to change? What are your specific complaints? The low prices? The large variety? The money I have made from Wal-Mart stock?”

“The average customer of Target is a 42 year old white female. (true story)

The average customer of Wal-Mart... undeterminable.

I've seen more bearded ladies at Wal-Mart.

Nevertheless, my commie undies are quite comfortable.”

“Most importantly, I cannot bear to shop in a store where the reek of the other customers is so overbearing. What is it with Wal-Mart shoppers? Have you noticed the mayhem of the parking lot? Have you seen how people just pick stuff off the shelves just to discard it a few isles later? It such a stinky nasty place. - mjc



http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/11/14/business/walmart.php

Looks like Wal-Mart is having a great year.

Ever notice the same peeps that claim to be the voice of the working class, show such contempt for the working class.”

“Bacpac - the use of illegal labor, forcing employees to work off the close, the fact that they are China's fifth biggest trading partner, the fact they don't care for America as long as they are making a profit. They are slowly killing the goose.
They did start to make healthcare reforms, but then blew it by sending out a memo to be careful not to employ people who might get sick.

Still, I guess it doesn't matter how they make their money huh.”

“I still can't believe the fact that stovey doesn't mind his hard earned dollars supporting the Chinese Communist party. I mean, how much of the many billions Wal-Mart makes for the Chinese party ends up in the hands of local officials, party bosses, goes into Chinese military spending. I mean China is ordering military hardware from all over the world. A little piece of each plane that takes to the air, or the rifle that every Chinese soldier carries in Tibet is paid for as stovey rings up his goods in his local Wal-Mart.

Pixie - I wouldn't go as far as saying I boycott anything, but I always try look for alternatives. If everyone at least did that then some good would be done.”

“One sub-contractor had illegal employees. There is no Wal-Mart policy that allows hiring of illegal employees. Wal-Mart does not force its employees off the clock. Every retailer sells material from China, even REI.

You really don't make much of a case.”

“LOL@Y2
I don't think very many food items sold at my Super Wal-Mart at made in China.
Silly Libbie.”

“I bet Y2 was shopping in Wal-Mart last week.”

“"Ever notice the same peeps that claim to be the voice of the working class, show such contempt for the working class" -Stove

I am working class, but I would never claim to be the voice of the working class. Besides I would not say most of the fine people rummaging through Wallyworld are of the "working" type. I grew up poor. I lived in government housing. My worked hard and got us out, I worked my way through college, and now I have nothing but contempt for the Wal-Mart rummagers.

About the Wal-Mart food, it surely doesn’t come from China. However, its price is so low because it is subsidized by all the cheap Chinese crap that everyone else is buying in the other departments.

Next time you stick one of the “support our troops”, or “god bless America” stickers on your sport utility look at where it was made. The ones sold locally proudly state Made in China.”

“LOL
I have no stickers on my car.
Silly Libbie.”

“Stovestomper's starting to sound like Sarge.”

“I thought I would take the chance with the dig.

Well don't you support the troops? I think you really need some stickers.”

“Hee Hee Hee...
Welcome to TT, btw, mjc.
Join us on our hikes!”

“Did you ever notice that walmart has lots of clothes in XXL and XXL sizes?”

“In in XXL and XXL sizes????

Hee Hee Hee.......

The 'Silly Libbie' is more of a pet name for Y2 than anything else. That chap is just plain silly sometimes, but he's British so it's OK. ;-)”

“Everyone seems to have to have a cause to fight these days. Personally I like to choose my battles more carefully.

Hmmm, Walmart or world hunger?

The "evils" of Wallyworld ranks pretty low on my scale of things to fight for.”

“Did you ever notice they sell guns, but censor their music, movies and books.”

“Is easy to see the main thrust of the Wal-Mart crap. Wal-Mart is largely Union free. Unions hate that kind of thing.
Esp. in the Rust Belt where the Unions once had so much power.”

““Did you ever notice they sell guns, but censor their music, movies and books.”

I could see how this would seem silly if you are ignorant to see a gun as evil and something other than a simple tool.”

“Why fight? It is pretty easy just not to shop there. Although, I don't care if anyone else does. The real problem is that america's buy so much crap. Do we really need the chili pepper party lights?

I won't go to the sandwich shop next to my work either. I got a steak and cheese sub with mushroom and pepper from them. It had one slice of mushroom and one slice of pepper per side. Now this is something to fight for.”

“The 'Silly Libbie' is more of a pet name for Y2 than anything else. That chap is just plain silly sometimes, but he's British so it's OK.

A "Libbie" Brit in America, huh? Rich must have come over for the awesome dental plan.”

“Did you ever notice they sell guns, but censor their music, movies and books.”
mjc
9:06:58 AM
11/15/05


Which is a great idea, really. Ever try to shoot a deer with a CD? They don't even make ammo for them---although you could throw them like a ninja star I suppose.”

“Unions in retail.

Here in my hometown, we had a food store that was Union. The high school dropout checkout girls and bag boys made a very good living. Prices were very high in that store also.
Super Wal-Mart came near and that food store very quickly went belly up.
It wasn't competitive.
That's why Unions hate then so.”