Wal-Mart

[Nick Douglas]

I saw this topic brought up in another thread. Is it just me or do other Democrats also wish that our party spokespeople would quit ripping this place so hard?

I am a pro-Union guy and we all know how aggressive Wal-Mart is in snuffing Unions at their stores, but at some point you just have to recognize that people love Wal-Mart.

Being the liberal elitist that I am, I was shocked by the cheapness (in both good and bad ways) of the products when I went to Wal-mart a few months ago. It was my first trip in there in nearly 10 years, and what I took away from it was that prices were not *that* much better than Target to the point that it was worth it to support Wal-Mart's anti-Union policies.

The problem I have is that just because I am willing to spend a bit more to support Unions doesn't mean that our whole party should be trying to force others to do the same. I am all for encouraging Wal-Mart employees to unionize, but I also recognize that Wal-Mart's anti-Union policies do have the benefit of keeping prices low and allowing down-and-out people to get relatively stable jobs that can help them get out of unemployment/welfare cycles.

 

[buddy]

Wal-Mart sells trash.

Wait, allow me to qualify...

Low-end trash.

 

[The Sponge]

I saw this topic brought up in another thread. Is it just me or do other Democrats also wish that our party spokespeople would quit ripping this place so hard?

I am a pro-Union guy and we all know how aggressive Wal-Mart is in snuffing Unions at their stores, but at some point you just have to recognize that people love Wal-Mart.

Being the liberal elitist that I am, I was shocked by the cheapness (in both good and bad ways) of the products when I went to Wal-mart a few months ago. It was my first trip in there in nearly 10 years, and what I took away from it was that prices were not *that* much better than Target to the point that it was worth it to support Wal-Mart's anti-Union policies.

The problem I have is that just because I am willing to spend a bit more to support Unions doesn't mean that our whole party should be trying to force others to do the same. I am all for encouraging Wal-Mart employees to unionize, but I also recognize that Wal-Mart's anti-Union policies do have the benefit of keeping prices low and allowing down-and-out people to get relatively stable jobs that can help them get out of unemployment/welfare cycles.

Yes they are a lovely company. Maybe its their importing over 50 million a day from China that keeps these so called prices down but they are one of the riches familes in the world. These are greedy pigs and i say that because of what they do to Mom and Pop stores. Ill support the mom and pop stores when i can find them.

 

[Chadman]

I think you have a fair assessment, Nick. I am a democrat, and I have never felt that strongly that Wal-Mart is the big bad wolf. It's understandable that they would fight unionizing...it makes sense from a business perspective, and it does help keep prices low. Employees have a right to work elsewhere, and they also have a right to try to unionize. Unions are both good and bad in many ways, they have helped the individual and hurt the overall company from time to time. Look at the car companies now...hard to pay so many people so much and stay competitive. I don't know what the answers are, but I often shop at Wal-Mart, especially for groceries. Target, too. Wal-Mart has a lot of quality items...people rip them as being low-end and low-rent...they do have some crappy stuff, yes, but not all of it is crap. I like paying less for the same item at Wal-Mart than elsewhere. That's my choice. I know why some here don't get caught in a Wal-Mart parking lot...some people have an image to uphold...



Wal-Mart is a true American success story. Small town Arkansas to running a global economic monster. That family is rich because they worked hard, saw an opportunity, demanded simplicity from providers, and carved out their place in society. Sounds like the American dream to me...

 

[The Sponge]

I
Wal-Mart is a true American success story. Small town Arkansas to running a global economic monster. That family is rich because they worked hard, saw an opportunity, demanded simplicity from providers, and carved out their place in society. Sounds like the American dream to me...

Its been a nightmare for millions of americans who walmart busted their prices in order to put them out of business. They lose money to do this just to put them out of business. You call this an american dream? Tell that to all the people who had family businesses who lost their life savings because of these greedy pricks. They have no conscience. If these were such nice people why when the mom and Pop store has to shut down they then jack the prices right back up? You keep shopping there because it soothes your soul to get that dollar cheaper bargain. I will stick up for these people and stay far away. Makes me feel good about myself.

 

[peddler1]

Sam Walton is the one that worked hard to build Wal-Mart. He was the one with the dreams and the vision to build up the empire. After he was no longer in charge is when the Wal-Mart story went from being a true American success story, to being a true American greed story. Just read Sam Walton, Made in America: My Story.
Just take a look at what he stood for then and see how the business operates now. Do you think that the way it is now that Sam Walton would be proud of what his heirs have done with what he started?

 

[Chadman]

What a bunch of BS. You call me out, now? Every post you make here is craving attention, spewing crap and namecalling, saying that anyone not agreeing with you has their head in the sand, etc. Nearly every post you make smacks of ignorance, and you try to look "smart." It gets old, man.

What do you know about Wal-Mart's pricing structures, etc? How do you know how they operate, etc? You don't...you just talk like you do. Wal-Mart is big, they buy in bulk, they ask for reductions in price from suppliers to access a larger market for their products, and the suppliers do it because they want to sell a lot more product and make money. Plenty of big companies operate that way and try to eliminate the competition. Wal-Mart overtook the other big box stores by committing to one thing - the lowest price - ALWAYS. Simple, straightforward, and resonated with small town AMERICA. The people you say they screw over and run out of business are the same people that shop there. They had the foresight to set up shop in smaller towns, unlike Sears, K-Mart, etc. Selling low-priced items to people that loved it. That NEEDED those low prices to be able to afford things.

They jack the prices back up after the small stores close up? What prices? Where? What do you base that on? They are cheaper on nearly everything in the store, every day. It's their SLOGAN, and the way they have succeeded.

I also shop locally, in my small town, and do my best to put money back into my economy. But I'm not gonna throw money away every time I shop...I have a responsibility to myself and my family to save money where I can, where it makes sense.

You feel good about yourself because you shun the big store. Whatever. You feel good about yourself all the time, looks like. I'll bet you shop plenty of big stores and chains depending on the day and situation. If you don't, great, whatever.

You call Wal-Mart greedy? I call them smart. For lots of reasons. They have helped a helluva lot of people save money and get ahead. They've put a helluva lot of people to work, making a better life for themselves and their families. If not, I guess they would have worked elsewhere, right? And a lot of people in small towns and other areas had a better life because they could shop at a big store, save a lot of money, and spend that for other things they would not have been able to.

Plenty of good things about Wal-Mart for someone that can look past their own happiness and taunting.

 

[The Sponge]

You want to talk about ignorance well yours is sure showing when it comes to this company. You need to pull your head out of the sand this company gets sued daily. Does Sears/ target, Kmart Ect.. If you want to learn a little bit more go to the Philadelphia Inquires business section on Sunday. I'll give you a little piece of the column.
Now this is from a lawywer who had enough of their bullying tactics and has twenty three suits against them.
Azar grew up in trinidad, colo population 10,000 A cousin who had a yarn shop went out of businesswhen Walmart opened
The store, he said, undercut her, selling yarn for about a third of her price--even below the wholesale cost. Now she tells him, Walmart sells the sane yarn for a few diollars more than her price.
Just a wonderful story Chad. enjoy your savings

 

[The Sponge]

you know what else they do Chad? Not sure but i think it was rubbermaid. The owner told Walmart they had to charge a little more money for their products because of Inflation. This was an american company. The guy from Walmart told him that he needs to make the stuff overseas (our jobs get it) because he could not accept the prices. Im not sure if its rubbermaid but its a company like this who no longer does business with Walmart because they are greedy.

 

[The Sponge]

What a bunch of BS. You call me out, now? Every post you make here is craving attention, spewing crap and namecalling, saying that anyone not agreeing with you has their head in the sand, etc. Nearly every post you make smacks of ignorance, and you try to look "smart." It gets old, man.

Then don't read my post or go buy a backbone. You might be able to find one cheaper at Walmart the great american success story.

 

[The Sponge]

I saw this topic brought up in another thread. Is it just me or do other Democrats also wish that our party spokespeople would quit ripping this place so hard?

I am a pro-Union guy and we all know how aggressive Wal-Mart is in snuffing Unions at their stores, but at some point you just have to recognize that people love Wal-Mart.

i do agree with you tho Nick. This is a lost cause because americans don't stick together. they rather boycott Citgo because a guy from another country called our snake oil salesman of a president a bad name.

 

[dr. freeze]

Walmart has singlehandedly raised the standard of living for millions of Americans including myself and my family.

No need to say anything else.

 

[peddler1]

you know what else they do Chad? Not sure but i think it was rubbermaid. The owner told Walmart they had to charge a little more money for their products because of Inflation. This was an american company. The guy from Walmart told him that he needs to make the stuff overseas (our jobs get it) because he could not accept the prices. Im not sure if its rubbermaid but its a company like this who no longer does business with Walmart because they are greedy.

The Sponge is right. It was Rubbermaid that said piss on wal-mart. The only problem is that isn't where the story ends. When Newel bought Rubbermaid after they told Wal-Mart to piss off they changed the way they where doing business.
Newell brought in a CEO Joseph Galli Jr.http://www.businessweek.com/2000/00_50/b3711069.htm that thought it would be a great idea to cheapen up the product. In the Wooster Ohio Rubbermaid (which is no longer thanks to these pricks) they fired the purchasing manager because he was only wanting to purchase from local company's. Now not only is Rubbermaid closed in Wooster but many other business have closed. The moral to the story is Now Rubbermaid is doing business with Wal-Mart. Tell the City of Wooster that it is better off that it has a Wal-Mart to go shopping at to spend there unemployment checks at.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

"Azar grew up in trinidad, colo population 10,000 A cousin who had a yarn shop went out of businesswhen Walmart opened"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

--and exactly how many people did this cousin employ??How much tax revenue did your community receive from him?

Now on the other hand --appears only one person came out on short end of stick in your story?

Unions--was on both ends in same company long time ago @ Chrysler. Was hourly then salary then went back to hourly when they changed rules that salaried people seniority was frozen while salaried--bottom line it wasn't worth it to me to have seniority froze for extra $. Can think of good and bad in unions--could argue either side.

Back on Walmart and others--was discussing with some folks the other night about minimum wage and none of us could come up with any place in our city that paid minimum wage including Mc Donalds. ????

 

[The Sponge]

Walmart has singlehandedly raised the standard of living for millions of Americans including myself and my family.

No need to say anything else.

Where are these great wages Walmart is alledgely paying? Last time i heard the pay and health care was on such a poverty level that we the tax payers pick up the rest of the employess health care because these slims know they can get away with it. So in essence these pigs make their billions of profits but have the tax payers footing part of their poverty offering health care plan. It doesn't matter if someone can save a couple of dollars they couldn't give two shits about someone else's pain. I do.

 

[The Sponge]

The Sponge is right. It was Rubbermaid that said piss on wal-mart. The only problem is that isn't where the story ends. When Newel bought Rubbermaid after they told Wal-Mart to piss off they changed the way they where doing business.
Newell brought in a CEO Joseph Galli Jr.http://www.businessweek.com/2000/00_50/b3711069.htm that thought it would be a great idea to cheapen up the product. In the Wooster Ohio Rubbermaid (which is no longer thanks to these pricks) they fired the purchasing manager because he was only wanting to purchase from local company's. Now not only is Rubbermaid closed in Wooster but many other business have closed. The moral to the story is Now Rubbermaid is doing business with Wal-Mart. Tell the City of Wooster that it is better off that it has a Wal-Mart to go shopping at to spend there unemployment checks at.

peddler that was about two years ago i saw that documentary. What i thought i remembered is this Walmart prick trying to talk the head of Rubbermaid company into taking the company overseas and they guy from rubbermaid was furious that he would even suggest something like this. As long as we keep setting up corporate welfare programs the american worker will always be screwed.

 

[The Sponge]

"Azar grew up in trinidad, colo population 10,000 A cousin who had a yarn shop went out of businesswhen Walmart opened"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

-Dog i was just referring to the artical. There are millions of these type of stories.

 

[dr. freeze]

Where are these great wages Walmart is alledgely paying? Last time i heard the pay and health care was on such a poverty level that we the tax payers pick up the rest of the employess health care because these slims know they can get away with it. So in essence these pigs make their billions of profits but have the tax payers footing part of their poverty offering health care plan. It doesn't matter if someone can save a couple of dollars they couldn't give two shits about someone else's pain. I do.

last i checked they are paying more than the $1/hour I made a few years back at my first job

if an employee decides to work at a given rate, he or she is best suited to decide if that is fair. If it is not fair, then he or she can look elsewhere. Last I checked there are tons of jobs in the newspapers looking for people. The employee can decide for himself/herself if he/she wants to move up in Walmart or improve his/her skill level and look elsewhere.

Keep the government out of it. Thank you.

 

[djv]

Just remember guys. For all the low wages and half health care plans if any they get there. We get to pay for whats left over with our higher cost at the hospital and insurance cost . So save 75 bucks on your computer. And pay 30/40 bucks more a month in your health care to keep supporting those with low standard health care. Or that have none at all.
Strange Sears can make tons of money. But can pay so much better. Kohl's makes lots of cash and pays better to. It some times just comes down to who's more greedy.

 

[bear]

I could write all night........about the harm Wal-Mart has done to our way of life. They are not alone ...JUST THE BIGGEST
DJV......great points
Where are the new factories being built to produce VIRTUALLY ALL goods consumed by Americans.....ooops ....they are being built in China and other foreign countries where labor is relatively FREE.....Oooops no Americans working there and getting insurance for their families...
Oooops Mom and pop can't afford it either......Oooops so many cant get it or afford it that those with ins. get charged for those who don't have it....Oooooops ...now all the insurance costs are gradually being shared more and more by the worker....and thats just insurance..and health care...trickle down effects.
How many CEOs make 100 million + per year???
Breathe deep bear ........Breathe deep..


bear