# So Wal-Mart sucks? I pit you if you think this. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 30, 2004, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301 "2004-11-30T08:00:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301/101 "2004-11-30T22:09:28Z")
> [@Estilicon](#): > > So fuck you bruce daddy, duffer and all your kind. If you are educated, properly fed and happen to live in a place were your rights are more or less respected of course you have choices. > The greatest part of humanity simply don’t.- That was a very nice story. Thanks for sharing. The greatest part of humanity isn’t educated, fed or have their rights respected? Let’s assume that wild assed assumption is true for a second. How is that Wal-Mart, or anybody else’s fault? Because some guy in a factory said it was? Ok. An article came out today you might like to read. Maybe it’s communist spin, but since you seem to be passionate about the subject, you might find it interesting. [Here](http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-11/29/content_395728.htm) > [@](#): > > Experts say Wal-Mart’s plan of increasing its procurement from China has granted the firm a positive corporate reputation in the country. * * * Bottom line. I am not the voice of Wal-Mart. I personally don’t really even care for Wal-Mart that much. They are always too crowded and it’s dirtier than Target which is closer to me anyway. Bitching about not making enough money at your current job is fruitless. Shut your trap and go do something else. You might have to make sacrifices, you might not get to live in the area you want, you might have to do something you don’t really care too. The opportunity is there. Stamping your feet and whining accomplishes nothing. Get off your ass and make a change. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301/102 "2004-11-30T22:10:21Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > I’m thinkin you should stop going in them. I have never set foot in a Walmart, and I never, ever shall. Ever. Under any circumstances, for any reason, no matter what. Period. > > Walk it. For the most part, I _do_ “walk it”. There have been several occasions, however, that I have ended up at a Wal-Mart. Firstly- Gilroy, CA. Population 35K or so. Circa 1993. It’s where I grew up. At that time(early 90’s), it was the only “superstore” for 20 miles. I went on many occasions. I don’t feel poorly about my decision to be a ptron then because of the distance required to travel to another store like it, and at that time, Wally world hadn’t proven itself to be unworthy of responsible adults patronizing their stores. Secondly- I went to Wal-Mart this weekend. I only went(with that foul taste of bile in my throat), because my wife and I were shopping for family members who live in the Central valley and there, they don’t have access to Targets or other discount stores if they should want to make a return or exchange. Since it’s for the most part, economically depressed, Wal-Mart set up shop there. Because these family members are of meager means, and we don’t want them driving for miles and miles to make returns, we bought some of their gifts there. Like usual, the store was a mess, the help didn’t care about their customers, I saw a woman hold back the head of her 2 or 3 year old with one hand and slap him square in the mouth with the other… The above is the type of situation I find myself in when I absolutely must patronize Wally World. Rare that it happens and regrettable every time, but IMO, excusable as it will make it easier on my family members who are in a rut. Sam ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301/103 "2004-11-30T22:28:12Z")
> [@fruitbat](#): > > Isn’t it the goal of every retailer to negotiate with suppliers to get them to lower their prices? Does the fact that most companies don’t have the volume to be successful in those negotiations change a damn thing? I can understand some objections, but that one just seems like it is coming from people unfamiliar with sound business practices. Perhaps we’re bitching about Wal-Mart being the epitome of capitalism. ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301/104 "2004-11-30T22:39:46Z")
> [@El Cid Viscoso](#): > > But as far as you know, Target does sleazy things. Oh well. > > It’s best that one keeps his veneration of Target to a minimum, though. After all, Target _is_ Wal[sub]\*[/sub]Mart’s most apt pupil. I didn’t say Target was ideal. I choose to shop at local stores before any big chain stores. But it’s a good sight better than Walmart, because of the unionization issue. Kmart also allows workers to unionize, which makes them okay too in my book. **Bruce\_Daddy** : The only thing interesting about that article is wondering why you think it means anything at all. China ain’t exactly the human rights capital of the world. But if the Chinese don’t like their communist government, then they can just up and leave any time they feel like it, right? Waah waah, my government is corrupt, waah. Guess they should just all shut up and keep on stitching your underwear, eh? After all, if they really hated communist China, they’d just get the hell out. And no, the greater part of humanity isn’t educated, well-fed, or given a guaranteed minimum of human rights. Open up your fucking eyes and take a look at the world. ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301/105 "2004-11-30T22:47:16Z")
Jesus, I can’t believe that some of you numbnuts are actually defending practices such as locking employees into stores over night and forcing them to do off the work time. If they don’t like it, they can leave? Guess what? They do. Wal-Mart has enormous employee turn-over and churn. But that still doesn’t exscuse Wal-Mart’s initial actions. What if Boeing built and delivered a plane to some airline and then asked for its check, but was told by the airline that they were simply SOL. Yeah, Boeing learned its lesson and won’t be selling to that airline anymore, but don’t they still have the right to collect its $100 M for that plane in the first place? Or would a system of laws that enforce contracts not be free-market enough for ya’? God, **duffer** , you can just be so _stupid_. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301/106 "2004-11-30T23:19:59Z")
Hey threemae, re: smelly and unpleasant, are you talking about the Longmont Wal[sub]\*[/sub]Mart? It’s either that or the Louisville store has taken a serious digger over the last seven years. Back to the thread, no offense, but you lost me on the airplane analogy. Boeing would call a mean-ass repo man and get its $100 million plane back. I don’t disagree with you that Wal[sub]\*[/sub]Mart is bad for communities. But I think the decision should be left up to the consumer. You want to change things? Reach out to them. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301/107 "2004-11-30T23:34:32Z")
All the Wal-Marts I’ve been to have smelled like gymnasiums or worse. The one nearest me has a McDonald’s inside it and it makes the whole place smell like rotten grease. It also seems to attract the dregs of society. I can’t stand crying babies and children running wild and people lingering in the middle of aisles so you can’t get past, even after saying “excuse me.” Still, occasionally, I do have to make a trip to WalMart. I’m against everything they stand for, but I’m against a lot of things. I went there before Thanksgiving because I needed a variety of things and didn’t feel like driving to three stores in the freezing rain to get them. I avoid it when I can, but it’s not the end of the world to go there occasionally. If I boycotted every store that ever offended me I would be limited to very few. I don’t think people are against those who shop at WalMart, only the corporation and it’s practices or the percentage of foul people who work/shop there. I don’t look down on people for trying to save a buck, hell, we all know what that’s like. But I don’t see how anyone can defend anything about the store or the corporation. It’s disgusting and unpleasant no matter how you look at it. ---
**Author:** ![modro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@modro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/modro)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301/108 "2004-11-30T23:37:03Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I can’t imagine a Wal-Mart operating with 50 employees. At \*least \* 15 in management, 3 shifts of at least 5 registers is 15 more (30), 3 shifts of at least 1 greeter is 3 more (33), 3 shifts each in electronics/men’s clothing/women’s clothing/children’s clothes/shoes/appliances/toys/pet supplies/gardening/hardware/meat/veggies/dairy/bakery/furniture is 45 more (78), 2 shifts of 3 in the pharmacy is 6 more (84). > > And that’s just on-floor help. You have to add in stock boys, security, loaders, bag boys, etc. Round it up to a very conservative (IMO) 100 employees per store, and you have ~2% of the entire population of your town. Halve that population to account for the young and the elderly, and 1 Wal-Mart is employing about 5% of the total workforce of the town. That’s significant. I work in a supercenter, that particular store employs a bit over 400 people. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301/109 "2004-11-30T23:43:14Z")
> [@continuity eror](#): > > I didn’t say Target was ideal. I choose to shop at local stores before any big chain stores. But it’s a good sight better than Walmart, because of the unionization issue. That’s admirable. Just be aware that Target’s zeal to compete has taken its toll on the workforce, regardless of unionization. Target’s rampant expansion is every bit as vulturine as the halcyon days of Wal[sub]\*[/sub]Mart. > [@continuity eror](#): > > Guess they should just all shut up and keep on stitching your underwear, eh? After all, if they really hated communist China, they’d just get the hell out. What an odd thing to say. So we’re supposed to hate Wal[sub]\*[/sub]Mart. Sounds nice on paper, but in economic terms, this makes about as much sense as hating oil. Wal[sub]_[/sub]Mart’s global sales in 2003 were $254 billion. While that sounds pretty large, in the grand scheme of American things, it’s just one little company. $254 billion amounts to 2.6 percent of our 2003 GDP. Should Wal[sub]_[/sub]Mart tank, it won’t immediately deep-six our economy. But when we look at China, it’s a whole different picture. In 2003, the single largest importer of Chinese goods was the United States, with Hong Kong\* a close second. Of that, Wal[sub]_[/sub]Mart bought $15 billion in goods, or roughly 10 percent of China’s exports to the US. Arguably, Wal[sub]_[/sub]Mart is China’s 8th largest trading partner, ahead of the UK and Russia. According to _The Economist_ [sup]†[/sup], this places the giant retailer in the position to directly influence China’s supply chain infrastructure: > [@](#): > > Wal-Mart, the world’s biggest retailer and buyer of about one-tenth, or $15 billion-worth, of China’s annual exports to America, stresses its desire for a steady and geographically diverse supply of product. And this is just one example. Personally, I don’t shop at Wal[sub]\*[/sub]Mart, but when considering global markets, I am at least thankful that we have this kind of beast on a leash. Your shopping preferences may vary. * * * - Hong Kong: $24 billion in principal exports in 2003, almost one fourth of which went to the US. [sup]†[/sup] “The looming revolution,” _The Economist_, November 11, 2004. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301/110 "2004-11-30T23:45:49Z")
> [@threemae](#): > > Jesus, I can’t believe that some of you numbnuts are actually defending practices such as locking employees into stores over night and forcing them to do off the work time. If they don’t like it, they can leave? > > God, **duffer** , you can just be so _stupid_. Holy shit! It’s a business practice? Give me 6 cites where this happened and I’ll make an effort to believe it’s corporate policy. Now then. The ACLU reference was flawed. I went off on a tangent and got carried away. Disregard that little slip-up. The point I was making in the OP is that most people like to get a deal on stuff. Whether I buy a game/DVD/CD/Book, etc. it’s all the same product and same quality. Why would I buy from a local bookseller at $25.99 if Wal\_Mart has the same book for $17.99? Is that bookseller going to make sure he pays $9 more for a product from my company to ensure my profit? I doubt it. The rants against Wal-Mart are mostly valid in the personal aspect, but overall it’s the largest retailer for a reason. They carry many of the same products as any other store, but often at a cheaper price. And **ava** , I’ll be sure to shave my sack before shoving my balls down your throat, you fruitcake. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301/111 "2004-11-30T23:54:02Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > The rants against Wal-Mart are mostly valid in the personal aspect, but overall it’s the largest retailer for a reason. Nice I’ll use this one in the next MS linux flamewar. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301/112 "2004-11-30T23:58:06Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > With all the complaints of people being so poor and destitute in the US, I’m surprised anyone complains about getting something for a better price. You’re not really that naive, are you? Study basic economics? Know what an “externality” is? Cuz, see, the University of Iowa study that showed Wal-Mart to destroy small businesses within a _thirty mile radius_ demonstrates the concept pretty well. It’s no cheaper. It’s just a way to make other people pay the price. Like your community. Or the workers who get forced to work off the clock. Besides, aren’t your people usually talking about how much you love small businesses? I guess it’s only talk, because y’all never seem to show much affection to 'em when they’re being run over by megacorporations. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301/113 "2004-12-01T00:15:28Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > You’re not really that naive, are you? Ha! I don’t think Naive is the word, exactly. Willful naivete is almost as bad as ignorance. Duffer’s particular brand if willful naivete is especially disconcerting. > [@](#): > > Study basic economics? Know what an “externality” is? Cuz, see, the University of Iowa study that showed Wal-Mart to destroy small businesses within a _thirty mile radius_ demonstrates the concept pretty well. It’s no cheaper. It’s just a way to make other people pay the price. Like your community. Or the workers who get forced to work off the clock. Don’t get all “lefty” on poor Duffer and start tarlking abouts skool and stuff. They’s hotbeds of Communism! > [@](#): > > Besides, aren’t your people usually talking about how much you love small businesses? I guess it’s only talk, because y’all never seem to show much affection to 'em when they’re being run over by megacorporations. No, I don’t think they’re all about small businesses unless it’s an election year. Sorry to say. Sam ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301/114 "2004-12-01T00:26:08Z")
> [@GaWd](#): > > I only went(with that foul taste of bile in my throat), because my wife and I were shopping for family members who live in the Central valley and there, they don’t have access to Targets or other discount stores if they should want to make a return or exchange. Well… I woulda shopped the local mom and pops. How nice it would have been for them to NOT have to shop Wallys if they didn’t like their gifts. > [@](#): > > I saw a woman hold back the head of her 2 or 3 year old with one hand and slap him square in the mouth with the other… :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: And I woulda whipped out my cel phone then and there and called the local child protection agency to report child abuse. A whack on the ass isn’t my preference, but not actionable. Holding a toddler’s head while you whack him in the mouth absolutely IS. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301/115 "2004-12-01T00:36:46Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Well… I woulda shopped the local mom and pops. How nice it would have been for them to NOT have to shop Wallys if they didn’t like their gifts. So I should travel 120 miles to shop in their neck of the woods, or they should travel 120 miles to travel to mine to return/exchange? That doesn’t make sense to me. But hey, we all have our own ideas and principles. > [@](#): > > :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: > > And I woulda whipped out my cel phone then and there and called the local child protection agency to report child abuse. A whack on the ass isn’t my preference, but not actionable. Holding a toddler’s head while you whack him in the mouth absolutely IS. Unfortunately, that’s not how CPS works and it wouldn’t have been productive to do so. Sam ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301/116 "2004-12-01T00:54:24Z")
> [@continuity eror](#): > > And no, the greater part of humanity isn’t educated, well-fed, or given a guaranteed minimum of human rights. Open up your fucking eyes and take a look at the world. You know what? I went to find a cite to prove you were wrong. I found one that proves you were, if not right, a lot closer than I thought. [http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2046.html](http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2046.html) I stand corrected. _However_, keeping somewhat on track, I found this to be very interesting and in context to this conversation. > [@](#): > > \*\* Country Population below poverty line (%)\*\* > China 10% (2001 est.) > United States 12% (2003 est.) ---
**Author:** ![kimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@kimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimera)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301/117 "2004-12-01T02:41:17Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > And **ava** , I’ll be sure to shave my sack before shoving my balls down your throat, you fruitcake. Eat me. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301/118 "2004-12-01T03:05:59Z")
> [@continuity eror](#): > > Kmart also allows workers to unionize, which makes them okay too in my book. HA! :dubious: (We got the whole, “Unions are bad” crap a few times-not as bad as at Wal-Mart, but Kmart ain’t much better. They treat their workers like shit and have shitty, sweatshop merchandise as well. But they’re on the downslide, so it’s not as bad) BTW, **duffer** , if you claim to be a Christian, shopping at Wal-Mart just to save a buck, taking it out of some poor child’s pay in the third world-how do you justify THAT? ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301/119 "2004-12-01T03:20:38Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > BTW, **duffer** , if you claim to be a Christian, shopping at Wal-Mart just to save a buck, taking it out of some poor child’s pay in the third world-how do you justify THAT? I don’t know how my religion enters this, but if so please include in your next post the approved list of retailers to buy from. I live to follow your very special guidelines. ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301/120 "2004-12-01T03:31:17Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Holy shit! It’s a business practice? Give me 6 cites where this happened and I’ll make an effort to believe it’s corporate policy. Okay **duff-duff** , you got it. And after this, you’d better fucking believe it: [http://www.westword.com/issues/2002-12-12/news/feature\_2.html](http://www.westword.com/issues/2002-12-12/news/feature_2.html) > [@Westword](#): > > Denver federal judge Zita Weinshienk disagreed with Illick, however, ruling in favor of Fiorenzi and the other Wal-Mart pharmacists in 1999. She found that they were, in fact, hourly employees and had been shortchanged for hundreds of hours of overtime pay. “Businesses cannot cut hours for their own convenience and still maintain that the employees are salaried,” Weinshienk wrote in her ruling. “A choice must be made between the convenience of flexible hours or the stability of salaried employees.” [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/12/20/national/main533818.shtml](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/12/20/national/main533818.shtml) > [@](#): > > Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, forced employees in Oregon to work unpaid overtime between 1994 and 1999, a federal jury found Thursday in the first of dozens of such lawsuits across the country to come to trial. > > A separate trial will be held to decide how much Wal-Mart should pay in damages. > > More than 400 employees from 24 of Wal-Mart’s 27 Oregon stores had sued the retailer, accusing it of violating federal and state wage laws. Here’s one from Kansas: [http://www.gofortbragg.com/Walmart.htm](http://www.gofortbragg.com/Walmart.htm) > [@GoFortBrag.com](#): > > Some days, as soon as she walked in a manager told her to rush to a cash register and start ringing up purchases, without clocking in. Sometimes, she said, she worked for three hours before clocking in. > > “They wanted us to do a lot of work for no pay,” said Ms. Richardson, who worked from 1995 to 2000 at a Wal-Mart in southeast Kansas City. Here they lock illegal-immigrant janitors into stores: [http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4146540/](http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4146540/) > [@MSNBC](#): > > INS agents raided Wal-Mart stores across the country on Oct. 23 in a sweep that resulted in the arrest of hundreds of janitors on immigration charges. > > Among those arrested were the 17 named plaintiffs in the civil suit, including 11 Mexican immigrants who were the original plaintiffs, plus six Eastern Europeans added to the list Monday. The lawsuit seeks class-action status for perhaps thousands of immigrants. > > The suit claims some workers were forced to work seven-day, 70-hour weeks for $1,500 a month. The amended claim follows a report in The New York Times that contained the separate allegation that janitors were being locked in. Cospus Christi, Texas [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F4091FFF3C5D0C7B8DDDA80894DC404482](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F4091FFF3C5D0C7B8DDDA80894DC404482) > [@NYTimes](#): > > Looking back to that night, Michael Rodriguez still has trouble believing the situation he faced when he was stocking shelves on the overnight shift at the Sam’s Club in Corpus Christi, … It was 3 a.m., Mr. Rodriguez recalled, some heavy machinery had just smashed into his ankle… Finally, Colorado Springs, Colordo > [@ChicagoLegalNet](#): > > Robert Schuster said that until last October, when he left his job at a Sam’s Club in Colorado Springs, workers were locked in every night, and on Friday and Saturday nights there was no one there with a key. On night, he recalled, a worker had been throwing up violently, no one had a store key to him out… > … > Mr. Cobb and several other workers interviewed about lock-ins were plaintiffs in lawsuits accusing Wal-Mart of forcing them to work off the clock, for example working several hours without pay after their shifts ended. Wal-Mart says it tells managers never to let employees work off the clock. > > Janet Anderson, who was a night supervisor at a Sam’s Club in Colorado from 1996 to 2002, said that many of her employees were also airmen stationed at a nearby Air Force base. > > Their commanders sometimes called the store to order them to report to duty immediately, but she said they often had to wait until a manager arrived around 6 a.m… She said one airman received a reprimand from management for leaving by the fire door to report for duty. **duffer** , if you’re going to offer a challange like that, you should really research the topic a bit yourself first. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-wal-mart-sucks-i-pit-you-if-you-think-this/277301.md?page=7)