So Wal-Mart sucks? I pit you if you think this.

The BBQ Pit
101

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

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.

102

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

103

Perhaps we’re bitching about Wal-Mart being the epitome of capitalism.

104

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.

105

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.

106

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.

107

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.

108

I work in a supercenter, that particular store employs a bit over 400 people.

109

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.

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:

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.
110

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.

111

Nice I’ll use this one in the next MS linux flamewar.

Thanks!

112

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.

113

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.

Don’t get all “lefty” on poor Duffer and start tarlking abouts skool and stuff. They’s hotbeds of Communism!

No, I don’t think they’re all about small businesses unless it’s an election year. Sorry to say.

Sam

114

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.

: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.

115

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.

Unfortunately, that’s not how CPS works and it wouldn’t have been productive to do so.

Sam

116

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

I stand corrected. However, keeping somewhat on track, I found this to be very interesting and in context to this conversation.

117

Eat me.

118

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?

119

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.

120

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.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/12/20/national/main533818.shtml

Here’s one from Kansas:
http://www.gofortbragg.com/Walmart.htm

Here they lock illegal-immigrant janitors into stores:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4146540/

Cospus Christi, Texas
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F4091FFF3C5D0C7B8DDDA80894DC404482

Finally, Colorado Springs, Colordo

duffer, if you’re going to offer a challange like that, you should really research the topic a bit yourself first.