I like Wal-Mart, and I'm not afraid to admit it.

[ArizonaTeach]

@InvisibleWombat

I, on the other hand, will never be convinced that I should shop at a store whose business strategy centers around destroying the types of community that I live in; that supporting your local community is counterproductive; or that “screw the other guy before he screws you” is a pleasant way to spend your life.

:rolleyes: …Because that’s what their business plan says, right?

Step 1: Screw the other guy before he screws you.
Step 2: ?
Step 3: Profit!
Wait…I suppose that actually works in this instance.

Anyway, what you refuse to acknowledge is, ok, sure, I get my batteries for twenty cents cheaper. And my DVDs. And my video games. And my food. And my toys. And my pet treats. And my gardening supplies. And my greeting cards. And my office supplies. And my bathroom cleaners. And my dish soap. And my sandwich bags. And…whatever the hell was on my shopping list this morning that’s sitting in my car. All for 20 cents to several dollars off. Each. But no, you seem to think it’s somehow more important to shop at Spatula City for all my spatula needs instead of going to the Wal-Mart where I can do all of my shopping at once.

Oh, yeah, I also needed some soap. Better go hit the local Soap Store.

[Justin_Bailey]

@ArizonaTeach

Oh, yeah, I also needed some soap. Better go hit the local Soap Store.

A local soap store gives new meaning to the phrase “fat of the land” doesn’t it?

[Ludovic]

There’s already a thread Pitting the soap store.

[NajaNivea]

@ArizonaTeach

Oh, yeah, I also needed some soap. Better go hit the local Soap Store.

I do actually buy my soap at a soap store. It’s owned by two nice ladies with some initiative and creativity. I pay a few cents more for it than I did buying bars of Ivory, but I get handmade soap that’s gentler on my skin and smells nicer than anything you can buy at Wal-Mart. It’s also a pretty storefront in our 100+ year-old downtown area, where I enjoy spending time and money.
We just consider different things important. I, for example, don’t believe efficiency is everything or even most things.

[Justin_Bailey]

@NajaNivea

We just consider different things important. I, for example, don’t believe efficiency is everything or even most things.

And that’s fine, it’s the people who are confused (and offended) by people that want one-stop shopping and low prices that irritate me.

[Dangerosa]

@Musicat

You say that like it’s a bad thing. Bringing better prices to consumers is something to be ashamed of?

I’m pretty sure their suppliers are making money. No matter how much they bitch and moan when they comply, the alternative (for the company and the consumer) is worse.

Its a double edged sword. My father’s firm and my cousin’s both pulled out of Wal-Mart because they’d have to either lower quality (and impact their brand reputation) or sell at a loss to meet Wal-Mart’s pricing demands. Often Wal-Mart’s suppliers are put through a tight squeeze - needing to cut benefits or even pay to employees, or needing to relocate factories overseas.

Wal-Mart themselves has admitted they create a tight spot over the long term even for their own business (see “The World Is Flat”) - they push wages for their suppliers and their own employees so low that their own employees (and those of their suppliers) can’t afford the high margin items that makes Wal-Mart profitable. Thus creating a drive for the bottom - lower quality products sold at lower prices by people who have to stretch to buy them. And that goes up their supplier’s supply chain as well, as everyone is pushed for lower prices, driving wages down, moving jobs overseas, and driving quality down across the board. Its not all bad through - some of the push for lower prices results in less waste, higher productivity, and better processes.