Another reason WAL-MART Sucks.

[QUOTE=willow_girl]Darren, I think you nailed it. For years, I've purchased Hanes underwear. The quality was good, and I knew exactly what size to buy. However, the last 2 times I've bought them, they have begun to fall apart after only 5-6 washings. This is not acceptable. Now I have to find a new brand! And it won't be coming from Wal-Mart ...

Maybe writing/calling "Hanes" and letting them know the problem - could get you some free ones! Doubt they would say they had cheaper ones made for Walmart though...
JackieA

Willow Girl--try Victoria's Secret. I don't wear 'em but my nieces and my sister buy them when they are on sale and swear by their fit/comfort/quality. They buy on sale there--check online as there was recently a clearance and my niece used her gift certificate to get the sales through the online catalog, not just on what was in a store.

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Some of us don't fit into Victoria's Secret's skinny-butt clothes.

One of the reasons for their low prices is the fact that they contract work out to the Chinese and only pay 13 cents an hour. They work 60 hours a week, no medical benefits, no vacation, etc, etc, etc.

If I were to shop there, I would be saying with my money that this kind of evil is acceptable to me. It's not, so I don't.

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Marvelous Madame
Be kind to others. You do not know what burdens they are carrying.

Try:

www.onehanesplace.com

www.vitamineshoppe.com

I get my socks at Costco. White with heavy duty soles. They stay put.

I've used both websites with good results. I don't object to WM, just don't need what they sell. More and more I do what little shopping I do thru the web and by mail. I live very simply by choice so I don't need much. WM is the largest retailer, I think, in the world. That means that someone likes them. The alternative to the American capitalist system is G.U.M. dept store in Moscow. You wouldn't like that, either.

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"Anger is an acid that does more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to the object on which it is poured." Corrie TenBoom

Enter Dillard's Dept. Store and the words "civil rights violations" into a search engine and check out the hits, like this one: http://www.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/02/11/021298P.pdf

I railed against the malling of America. I read the books about WalMart. Unfortunately, there are millions of recreational shoppers. It is good that you want to shop little and mindfully when you do. It can change life for the better. I am simply saying that other large and small businesses have dirty hands as well. Recently a local therapist in my state was caught in a Medicare fraud case to the tune of $70 K and more. I am sure you have other small business stories that rival bad practices of the larger corporations. It is what it is. Personally, I try to use it to my advantage.

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[QUOTE=3girls]

[largest retailer, I think, in the world. That means that someone likes them.


Sometimes (well lots of times) it takes searching out about companies to know whether or not to shop there. But how many people actually do that in their busy lives? My shopping at Walmart got less and less and then I read some info on them book/web sites and then stopped shopping there completely.
Haven't done research on the other big box stores has of yet....
JackieA

Madame, but if you buy the same products elsewhere it's the same thing. Same Chinese people and the same low wage. You just pay more to the middle man.

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Snugglebunny--you have got me laughing here! :haha: We aren't 'skinnybutt' gals, my sister and I. They make "old lady underwear" my sister likes. Now the kids...they wear alot of little stuff.

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[QUOTE=BCR]Enter Dillard's Dept. Store and the words "civil rights violations" into a search engine and check out the hits, like this one: http://www.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/02/11/021298P.pdf
I railed against the malling of America. I read the books about WalMart. Unfortunately, there are millions of recreational shoppers. It is good that you want to shop little and mindfully when you do. It can change life for the better. I am simply saying that other large and small businesses have dirty hands as well. Recently a local therapist in my state was caught in a Medicare fraud case to the tune of $70 K and more. I am sure you have other small business stories that rival bad practices of the larger corporations. It is what it is. Personally, I try to use it to my advantage.[/QUOTE]

I will check out that site on Dillards, however, each and every store has it's "bad" and when one store is overwelming with the "bad" has I will call it - then one needs to make some decisions as to shopping there or not. It's on my list to buy a sewing machine hopefully this year and start making my own clothes!
Now changing the subject, how did you rally against the malling of America? Malls have been around since I was a kid (some 35+ years ago)...
JackieA

I was a kid as well--but I did all the protesting against land development and bringing in WalMart, sent my money in to the cause and everything. I just kind of came to the understanding that due to the amount of money involved I was in the minority, since these large box stores are so ^%$# popular. To make peace I do not go there unless forced.

That said, our local Sam's is leaving in a year or so and our WalMart is going to get huge. Then I believe I will go to the smaller 'super' WalMart in the other direction, which is as close to me in miles. They are the ones with the Parmalat milk. I am trying to use them for what I can. I have limited resources and I will use them to gain me the best advantage.

I think quality of products in general stinks. I buy my clothes at discount stores, since if the quality is that bad, I'm not paying first generation prices. So I can get a pair of gore-tex boots for $30, and I won't feel bad if they only last 6 years because I didn't pay the $115 original price.

Its like when you first think about being self-sufficient and then you realize you aren't or cannot be--ever. It will come to you at some point and you feel so frustrated by it, but then you accept and see the strengths and weaknesses of what you can do. Kind of like that.

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About socks,a favorite pet peeve of mine.The quality of discount market socks is appalling.I would say they last about 5 washings and the elastic is shot.Got into a big debate on another board on what is a good sock.Consences was buy socks at sporting goods stores.So I did,bought 2 pairs of Merino wool 65%/35% polyester.7 dollars a pair.

Its been over a year and these 2 pair are still snug and in fine shape.
So paying for quality in this instance was cheaper by far than constantly buying that Walmart crappy socks.
No cheap socks for me ever again,I cant afford em!

Which is my Walmart gripe,there is no savings in constantly having to buy another item to replace poorly made garbage.

And I wont be bought off on a few items that save a couple bucks.I have some principles, Im willing to put my money where my mouth is.They wont see a dime of MY shopping money,period!Wife,well,I cant control what she buys.

Now thats me and how I see it,you do as you see fit,its your choice.
IMHO,YMMV

PS,off to the LOCAL Ace hardware to get a water filter.I know WM has them for a few bucks less,but I like having a local Ace just down the street,so my money goes to them,they need my support,the store is clean and convenient,I will pay extra for that.

BooBoo

I don't know if this is just WallyWorld or Hanes. My husband has worn the same brand (J C Penney's with the blue and gold stripes) underwear since 1977-they have always fit him the same but the last time he bought them they became stretched out and nasty the second time they were washed. He has had a devil of a time trying to find a new brand...............maybe the underwear manufacturers have all decided to change their quality?

Lane Bryant carries very nice underwear. They are sold in sizes like slacks, women's size 14-28+, I believe. Their bras are also terrific it you are truly a plus size, they give full coverage, no bulges on the sides or back that you can get in large cup average figure bra. The price is a little high, but I only buy mine when they have a buy one get one type of sale. I have panties that I bought over 5 years ago and they are still in good shape.

It is just the continuation of the dumbing of America. The same blandness. These big retailers are totally ruining the consumer markets. Total loss of diversity in products. They and the ones like Home Depot push total crap, plus a style of Redi-Mix that results in horrible results.

Even in major urban areas becoming difficult to buy a bag of real cement. A bit of a backlash against them by the trademen, builders and crafts type people. If you can find a real store that sells real stuff shows their claims to low prices to be total garbage. The plumbers around me all go to Ecomony Plumbing, is like 25 - 50% cheaper than Home Depot and they have anything you want or can get it, been around for years. A comeback by the very specialized building trades suppliers. They tend not to be retail. You got to want a big load but they deliver with excellent service, really geared to handle the product and put it to within a 1/4" of your landing spot.

Got to look around and find is there still a guy specializing in a particular type of product. Joe Sixpack ain't trying to buy but the big volume users are.

Guess my favorite store is Bldg 19. Buys truck loads of surplus or damaged or whatever goods. Never know what you might find, more like a flea market. When they got it you buy a lifetime supply. I got it for shaving soap, shower curtains, nails, bolts and the like, energy saving light bulbs, socks, hankies, T-shirts, etc. Incredible prices on rugs. I will truly miss Bldg 19. Toothpaste with a toothbrush for $0.29. Figure the shelf life and get 20 boxes.

It ain't just the Wal-Mart and the like dirty tricks, it is their scanner fraud by design. I almost never go to any big chain store unless I really can't find it somewhere else.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cosmic I almost never go to any big chain store unless I really can't find it somewhere else.

Here is something I want to bring up - if the big box stores did not exist where would one go to get what is needed? If we bring up this question when we shop - I do believe we can find an alternative so shopping at the boxes would not be necessary.
P.S. I do shop at Target and Lowes sometimes - so my research has not been real vast - just on Walmart at this time.
JackieA

:haha: this thread has turned directions!

anyhow I only shop at wal-mart at nights when there is no other store opened. Wal-Mart has a monopoly at night.

We did compare prices on some things at Wal-mart and a ACE hardware store, some things are actually the same price, your not saving much at walmart if you can buy it for the SAME price somwhere else.

That local ACE HArdware is still a giant chain. Yes, a local man/company may own it, but they belong to the bigger company as well. Heck, local folks manage and own stock in WalMart-its just as local. Local folks even own the McDonald's but shopping there doesn't give me a warm fuzzy shopping local experience.

I considera local store to be a one-of-a-kind (ok maybe there are 2 of them in your area) store that is not part of a franchise.

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Comparing prices is great. Paying a bit extra, for extra quality, I can heartily endorse. Paying extra for extra service, or for a local merchant that stands behind their product, is something I do myself.

But...

When it comes down to nut-cuttin' time, the bottom line is how efficiently I can run my place, on the money I have available. And if that happens to be Walmart, so be it.

The vast majority of the time I can out perform Walmart's prices simply by buying a second hand shops. Many times this is also better quality. I got some screwdrivers at a pawn shop that were American made--50 cents each. They replaced some Chinese made ones that broke that I paid twice as much for. I'd never seen a screwdriver break. The "metal" just snapped in half.

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