POLL: On Walmart

Haven't read the other two yet, and will put them on my reading list, but Nickel & Dimed I wasn't impressed with--the most useful information out of it was why you shouldn't hire a cleaning service, because they were not going to do that great a job since the point (from the boss's view) was to *look* like they cleaned, not to really clean. "Other People's Dirt", by Louise Rifkin (?), was just as bad, except it also painted cleaners as being lazy and dishonest, which I'm sure is not the case for the vast majority of the people working in the field.

Ehrenreich struck me throughout the N&D book as being very conceited, and it always bothered me that she supposedly thought so well of the women she cleaned with, but it never occurred to her to tell them (after she told them she was doing this for a book) that they could strike out on their own and make the same money or better, but on THEIR terms, and do a quality job that would get them more customers. Why not?

I'm currrently reading her "Fear of Falling: the Inner Life of the Middle Class".

As an anthropologist or a journalist, that is always the dilemma -- are you a reporter/recorder, or are you an advocate? I didn't sense the arrogance -- in fact, if she were to tell them what to do, then I think that would be arrogance. After all, they are making their choices based on their own best lights given how they see their options. If they need her to tell them that they could do better on their own, then they aren't ready for or up to running their own operation. I always think being an entrepreneur is the most sensible thing to do, but so many people are daunted by the "risk". But then, our school systems' job is to turn out "employees", not entrepreneurs. In fact, that may be why a lot of people have no concern about Walmart and other megamarts putting small businesses out of business -- they have no real understanding of independent business but they can relate to working for big corps or chains.

Wally is just cheap Chinese crap,I hate the place and go out of my way to shop anywhere else.
BooBoo

Snoozy, Ehrenreich tried to get people interested in unions while working at Wal-Mart--I'd hardly call that good journalistic behavior as far as strict reporting and not getting involved--she had her own agenda, which apparently was anti-Wal-Mart to begin with. If she had said that she got hold of these co-workers after she stopped working there and talked to them about unionizing, that would have been different.

I meant in the case of The Maids, that she just could have suggested to them that they could do better--they weren't getting any benefits as employees anyway. If you do well at something, it isn't unusual at all to have people ask "why don't you go into business for yourself?" You may or may not take them up on the idea, but at least it gets you thinking. I don't think it would have detracted from the book any.

Ehrenreich apparently has always had money, because she did a truly abysmal job of living within her wages, so of course she complained about how low they were. She never interviewed anyone who "had it all together" so to speak, say someone who frequents perhaps this type of forum. If you can't handle money, you can go broke no matter how much you make.

Her description of the Wal-Mart hiring process was interesting, and she is a good writer, I just didn't agree with her conclusions at all.

In my mind Walmart isn't any different then any other big box type store, they have just been able to do it better then anyone else. Since I live in the city we don't have any Walmart's that are close by so I have only been in one maybe 3-4 times.

I guess I will see what all the talk is about because the only large shopping store that is close to where we are going to be living in CO just happens to be a walmart.


I think the one thing that no one talks about is that Walmart is successful because they provide what is most important to most of the public and at the same time they provide there products/services more effeciently then their competition. They are thriving because we are shopping there. It is not walmart that is making the choice between big box vs mom and pop or made in america vs. made in china or contributing to sprawl or causing all the smaller stores to go out of business. WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE CAUSING IT TO HAPPEN. Walmart is only reacting to what the publics wants.

If you are not willing to drive farther to the next store or use mail order or spend more at other stores then you are making a choice that spending more time driving/shopping or effort to make more money to afford the products at other stores is more important then keeping the smaller stores in business, keeping sprawl to a min., supporting made in america etc......

I have a limited amount of $ so I buy things wherever they are best priced. Sometimes that is WalMart. Today's example: I can get the same brand/size/shape/flavor at the local co-op/health food store or pay $4 less at WalMart. No question-I save the money. I

I don't go for that "don't shop at WalMart because you'll buy what you don't need". If you are that kind of shopper, you need to stay out of all the stores unless you have some self-control.

Why is WalMart evil and not Sears, LL Bean, Cabella's, Farm and Fleet, Purina, etc.? I can't buy a lot of these products anywhere else but name brand chain stores. And they are made wherever they can get the brands from. It is the nature of living in this century.

Maybe if I quit buying ANYTHING......that I truly couldn't do. I would still want toilet paper, cloth (I'm no weaver or grower of cotton or wool) and petroleum products for my car.

So I will just be the best steward I can with what I have.

What I don't get is why the same folks who say Walmart is evil and sells cheap Asian stufff go to the local Dollar Stores where there's nothing but imported goods. I see some of the same names here that have posted about the great buys they've got at, or how they love the Dollar Stores. People, it's the same brands at both places in many cases, what's the difference?? Both also pay minimum to just above minimum wage with limited if any benefits, so that's not different either.
Is this a case of sour grapes or a group mindset brought on by stereotyping and assumption that Walmart is taking jobs, paying low wages,not offering benefits, putting the small stores out of business ?

Now, if you buy absolutely NOTHING from a dollar store, a big box store or even most bigger department stores(Penneys, Sears, Dillards) in the malls and ONLY patronize the small locally owned stores I could understand it.
What makes one big business bad(Walmart) and another(Dollar Stores) that uses the same suppliers and management techniques acceptable?

To me, it's just a store with no hidden evil agenda! As long as there are better prices for the same brands why in the world would I choose to shop at a place that was 2 times higher?
That works both ways; the best sales/prices get my dollars, sometimes that's the local small town store, sometimes that's Walmarts.

Heres the best thing I have found to buy at WalMart.


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"I didn't have time to slay the dragon. It's on my To Do list!"

Everyone's points are valid.

If Wal-mart really would be just another place to find bargains, we wouldn't have this thread, would we.

As I said earlier, I don't shop there. Yes, I go to the local dollar store. Some say "what's the difference, chain store with imported cheap stuff". Here's one difference: when have you seen a Dollar General (or equivalent) commercial trying to convince us that it's the ONLY place to find EVERYTHING we need?

And here's another:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politic...-walmart_x.htm

Here are some interesting websites, can't say I've seen these titles with other store names filled in the place of walmart:
http://www.walmartsucks.com/

http://www.walmartyrs.org/

http://www.walmartversuswomen.com/

http://www.walmartdayofaction.com/

http://www.walmartswaronworkers.com/

(yeah, ok, there are plenty of sites with the s--ks word, some people really like that word, huh?)

BY NO MEANS am I on a high horse that no one should shop at WalMart.

They are raw capitalism at it's finest.

I do believe WalMart has some serious purchasing, hiring, and marketing practices that are very unethical. Sure, plenty of other companies do too, but the rest of them don't employ more people than the government.

And the rest of them aren't so fortunate to have a multiple page thread on our precious forum devoted to them. That being said, and with all of the charming titles of anti-WalMart sites listed above, maybe they aren't just another big store to buy low priced goods??

No matter your opinion, isn't it grand to have one, and this place to voice it!
Hmm, can a Walmart employee or vendor say that?
OK, OK, I'll stop!

Michelle

I really love the prices. But, they have so much non american stuff I just have to be picky. I am finding Target and Kmart(yes we still have one) have some pretty decent prices as well. I just try to get only what I really have to get, but its hard. The good part is, my kids won't drink the milk they carry, so that helps keep me out of there. Am I think there really is something in the muzak telling you to buy more.

This is too much!


Wal-Mart's foray into Christian-themed merchandise has not gone unnoticed by the 8,000 small Christian retailers scattered around the U.S. "These small retail businesses could easily double their business and still be at half of their potential if it were not for the fact that they are now facing Wal-Mart as a competitor," says Beemer.

Currently at $4.2 billion in annual sales--including Wal-Mart--how much bigger could the Christian retail business become now that Wal-Mart has taken notice? "Wal-Mart could easily grow the entire industry by 30%," says Beemer. "But it could also squeeze some Christian retailers out of business."


An article in Forbes. Leaves me wondering what the 30% growth would really be, and whether or not it would really be profitable.

The pay is so low, they instruct the employees on how to get medical assistance through the county. So when you buy from Wal-Mart, you are paying to provide medical care for the employees. The company sweet talked the local politicos to get a hugh lot to build on, with their taxes written off for a long, long time. The City even provided financial assist to install the parking lot and access to it. So to shop at Wally is to cut into the tax basis of the city. The small stores have been folding, thanks to Wally. To shop at Wally is to prevent the super service small stores from breaking even. I will pay more and go to a hardware store and be able to ask a real person who knows what the items are on the shelves and can tell me what is best for what I plan to do and how to use it. I can park right outside the hardware store, run in, get personalized service, and be out again in less time than it takes to park and walk at Wally. Boo, Wally.

I went to the wal mart site and found the following information


More on Benefits

Hourly and Temporary
Career Opportunities
Corporate Culture
Incentive-Bonus Plan
Health Benefits
Profit Sharing
401(K)
Stock Options & Stock Purchase
Other Benefits




HEALTH BENEFITS
Our health plan covers most major medical expenses. The company contributes to the cost of health benefits and we offer affordable Associate plans. There is no limit for most health coverage. 60% of our Associates tell us they joined Wal-Mart because of our benefits. We also offer:


Dental Coverage
Company-Paid and/or Dependent & Optional Life Insurance
Business Travel Accident Insurance
Long- and Short-Term Disability
Illness Protection Plan


seems like a fairly normal corporate benifits package to me.

__________________
"I didn't have time to slay the dragon. It's on my To Do list!"

I work for a major corporate retailer and my company used to offer really
good benefits. But slowly, over the years, the benefits have been whittled
away. My company used to give free stock to long term employees on a
yearly basis that was a percentage of your base salary. Not anymore.
We used to get longevity bonuses, not anymore. We used to get a 2% over
cost store discount, now we get a measly 10% that barely covers sales tax.
We used to have excellent insurance, now we have mediocre insurance that
costs a man with covered spouse $250 a month (125 deducted per check).
Who can afford that while making $8.00 an hour and paying a mortgage note?

So yes, the insurance and benefits are still great if you are upper-level
management. The hotshots get thousands a year, sometimes millions for
flying around the country, having meetings and doing paperwork. While the
little guy who toils away to make it possible gets a ten dollar gift certificate
at Xmas for Walmart. I can't wait until I can quit this job and quit working
for someone else.

Mike

__________________
"Most propaganda is not designed to fool the critical thinker, but only to give
moral cowards an excuse not to think at all."

I haven't read this whole thing so someone might already have mentioned it but I've learned one thing about Wally World:

If you ever find anything there that's a great product, stock up on it right then.

Wally World has a peculiar genius for identifying such items and when the current stock is sold out never carrying them again.

__________________
Old age and treachery will always overcome youth and enthusiasm.

I used to love walmart......... but since they became superstores... i dont anymore... i go in to buy dog food, because i cannot find it cheaper anywhere else... and we go thru 10lbs of dry food a week...

I will NOT shop for groceries at a super walmart, they do have the walmart grocery stores only here, but their prices are not that low and they do not have a very big selection... They just opened up a Food Town around the corner from me... which seems to sell alot of discontinued and off name brands, but still some good deals... (50lbs of flour for $6)... etc..

We are moving to an area that is very rural... and in either direction the closest town is 30 miles away... both have the little walmarts still... and they I will shop at.. but will have to find a new grocery store... all they have are HEB's and they are too high!

Lynn in Texas

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If you want to make GOD laugh, tell him Your plans.

Case,

They stock up on good things by buying HUGE amounts of items, usually at a negotiated, very undercut price to the manufacturer.

If they don't have it anymore, or don't keep it in stock, they couldn't get those same prices in order to sell it to us at such "roll back" cheap prices.

Not whining, not saying they shouldn't be able to, just saying I disagree with them strongly and that's why they don't get my $$.

Seems a good time to remember that this is America and we are free to choose. Sam Walton had a good business vision but it only worked because a lot of people voted with their dollars. My obligation is to know value and make the most of my funds. I don't like to shop(except in tool and Army/Navy surplus stores) so I tend to stock up on items I use when I find a deal in any store. I use Walmart, not the other way around. When they stop having acceptable products at attractive prices, I will be found at some other store, voting with my dollars for their future growth....Glen

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The more a man travels, acquires wisdom and learns about life, the more likely he is to marry a Country Girl.

This link tells of those who have sold to Wal-Mart at those low prices.

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html

Reading between the lines you can see that many of those companies are now sorry they did so.

On the other hand, they made the choice to do so. You don't see any really chi-chi brands at Wal-Mart, and you probably never will. Any company that markets to a segment of the population that considers Wal-Mart, et al to be "low class" will not sell to Wal-mart.

It was just announced last week that a super Walmart will be opening a store in our rural part of PA. The site is currently 40 acres of perfectly good farmland.

I don't plan to go there as long as the small local grocery & hardware businesses are still open. The thing that make me most ill is the excitement of the average local resident.

Fortunately, we raise our own poultry and buy beef from a friend, so we don't buy much meat in the store. We garden and preserve. Clothes mostly come from Goodwill or the consignment shop (where quality will decline after the influx of Walmart goods) We plan to resist as long as possible, but eventually, we'll have to buy new underwear from somewhere.