sunshine 2 #26 May 9, 2006 The Walmart i shop at is awesome. Super clean. Nice employees. Never a long wait in line. Of course it's a snobby town and doesn't sell alcohol, maybe thats why it's so nice...no drunks around. ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LisaM 0 #27 May 9, 2006 Sure.... rub it in..... ~ Lisa ~ Do you Rigminder? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #28 May 9, 2006 QuoteSure.... rub it in..... I've been to skanky walmarts too so i know what they're like. Thats why i drive to the snobby town to shop. ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
niolosoiale 0 #29 May 9, 2006 I've never seen a real problem with wal-mart. But I only go there between 11:00pm and 2:00 am normally. Occasionally I run there during lunch break to pick up the weeks lunch stuff, but I am rarely in line for more than 3-5 minutes. There is usually at least one self-checkout lane open. Parking is only a problem for those that can't stand to walk. Neat fact: the fucking time you spend looking for a spot close to the front, is usually more than the time it takes to park at the back and walk. Frankly, I don't know what's worse. Wal-Mart, or the people who perpetuate the stigma attached to Wal-Mart. I've never seen any real justification for why it's so bad. They do what it takes to be successful, and obviously do it very well. I don't honestly believe Wal-Mart is the kind of place more than few people want to make a career. It's just not a career-type job. People working there don't deserve $15/hr to fucking check groceries and stock shelves. I'm sorry but from my standpoint, they are paying market value for their employees. I worked at an IGA that later shut down (of course I left before that happened) sacking groceries and stocking. I never felt like the position warranted more than $6.00/hr. We made $5.50 starting. Granted I was in high school working part time, and the cost of living in Oklahoma is dirt fucking cheap for the quality, but even today, I couldn't see rationale in paying a Wal-mart employee more than $12/hr. I guarantee I do more work than a Wal-Mart employee and with my monthly bonus, barely make $11/hr. When it comes to the insurance deal, you better believe the premiums are gonna be high. With that many employees in that kind of environment, the chance for injury and lawsuit is ENORMOUS. That's the nature of the beast. When it comes to shutting down mom-and-pop stores.. sorry folks: That's fucking capitalism. Survival of the fittest. No rational argument there. Honestly, I really think people hate it because it's cool to hate Wal-Mart and everyone else is doing it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hexadecimal 0 #30 May 9, 2006 QuoteQuoteSure.... rub it in..... I've been to skanky walmarts too so i know what they're like. Thats why i drive to the snobby town to shop. I went to one of those skanky walmarts with her... she even got sick from touching things in there Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobresin 0 #31 May 10, 2006 I've never seen any real justification for why it's so bad. I guess if you don't mind promoting slavery it's a fine store. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #32 May 10, 2006 QuoteI went to one of those skanky walmarts with her... she even got sick from touching things in there I still can't believe i got you to step into a walmart!! I should've taken pictures to prove it. ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #33 May 10, 2006 I'm lucky, now that I've moved I've got a 24 hour Kroger down the road and one thats open like 18 hours a day. I'll go to that over Walmart any day of the week. I know I've spent more money going to other stores, but Walmart will get as little of my money as possible.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
niolosoiale 0 #34 May 10, 2006 Quote I've never seen any real justification for why it's so bad. I guess if you don't mind promoting slavery it's a fine store. Please. They chose to work there. If they don't like it, they can leave. There are many others who would take their place. It's a job, it's a relatively low or no-skill job... it doesn't justify anything more than $12/hr unless you are a manager type. It's not slavery, it's employment. My heart bleeds not for the willfully "abused". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
niolosoiale 0 #35 May 10, 2006 Wages Fact: The majority of Wal-Mart’s hourly store associates in the United States work full-time. That is well above the 20 - 40 percent typically found in the retail industry. Our average hourly wage for regular full-time store associates in the U.S. is $10.11 an hour. In some markets, particularly urban areas where the cost of living is more, the average full-time hourly wage for Wal-Mart associates is even higher.For example: $11.58 in Denver, $11.49 in Boston, $11.11 in Atlanta, $11.05 in San Francisco, $10.78 in New York, $10.98 in San Diego, and $10.29 in Los Angeles. Community Impact Fact: Wal-Mart supports communities financially and provides hundreds of jobs. Our property taxes, sales tax revenue and community giving help fund basic services like police and fire departments and schools, and support for invaluable charities. The typical Supercenter raises or gives $30,000 to $50,000 a year to local charitable needs ranging from youth programs to literacy councils. In fact, Wal-Mart is the largest corporate cash contributor in America. In 2005, Wal-Mart donated more than $200 million to help charities and organizations throughout the U.S. More than 90 percent of cash donations from Wal-Mart Stores and the Wal-Mart & SAM'S CLUB Foundation target local communities. That’s $18,000 an hour or $6 a second. In 2005, Wal-Mart collected more than $12.1 billion in state and local sales taxes and paid millions in property taxes. Promoting From Within Fact: Seventy-six percent of our store management started in hourly positions. We believe in promoting from within and we walk the talk. We provide career opportunities for people who may never have dreamed of one day supervising a multi-million dollar department or a $100 million Supercenter. Many associates will advance to careers in retail, but also to careers which support our core business: real estate, public policy, merchandising, logistics, information technology, marketing, advertising and more. We project we will create more than 100,000 new jobs this year in the United States. Benefits Fact: Wal-Mart offers affordable health care coverage to both its full and part-time associates. We work hard to offer good, affordable coverage to our people. Historically, Wal-Mart has paid about two-thirds of the cost of the Associates' Medical Plan. Wal-Mart provides insurance to more than 1 million people and offers up to 18 different plans. Coverage is available for as little as $11 per month for individuals and 30 cents per day for children - no matter how many children an associate has. Unlike many plans, after the first year, the Wal-Mart medical plan has no lifetime maximum for most expenses, protecting our associates against catastrophic loss and financial ruin. We have different deductibles to meet individual needs. Associates also have access to world class healthcare at the Mayo Clinic, Stanford University Hospital, Johns Hopkins University Hospital and many other leading health care facilities without insurance approval. In recent years, Wal-Mart has contributed 4 percent of an associate's eligible pay to the combined Profit Sharing & 401(k) plan. Our hourly associates, just like our management and executive associates, receive bonuses and other incentives for helping the company achieve its goals. In FYE 2005, we spent $4.2 billion on benefits for our associates. Taken from walmartfacts.com -------------------------------- Big bad ugly mean wal-mart monster!!! They employ almost .5% of the US population. What civilian company can beat that? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TrophyHusband 0 #36 May 10, 2006 that's all fine and good, but i would like to see one or two more fucking lanes open. get rid of the self-check lanes. many, many times i have seen more than 5 people in the 20 item or less lane while nobody is in the self check lanes. they are ok if you have 3 or 4 items, but beyond that are just a pain in the ass. if it costs me a few cents more for milk, then i'm willing to pay it. "Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama www.kjandmegan.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pirana 0 #37 May 10, 2006 Haven't seen the documentary, but don't go there; and don't see that I will. It's like most things in life. You get what you pay for. I like Dennis Miller's line about buying crap for cheap. He was poking fun at K-Mart and the special lime green pullover offerred at 2 for 1. His comment: "Two of shit is shit. If they really want to fuck you over they'll give you 3 of the damn things!"" . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #38 May 10, 2006 WalMart worldwide will soon be selling a billion USD a DAY. I think they are out to win World Domination Funny enough, their stock really hasn't moved over the years. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LisaM 0 #39 May 10, 2006 QuotePlease. They chose to work there. If they don't like it, they can leave. There are many others who would take their place. It's a job, it's a relatively low or no-skill job... it doesn't justify anything more than $12/hr unless you are a manager type. It's not slavery, it's employment. AGREED!!!!!!!! ~ Lisa ~ Do you Rigminder? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LisaM 0 #40 May 10, 2006 Quotethat's all fine and good, but i would like to see one or two more fucking lanes open. get rid of the self-check lanes. many, many times i have seen more than 5 people in the 20 item or less lane while nobody is in the self check lanes. they are ok if you have 3 or 4 items, but beyond that are just a pain in the ass. if it costs me a few cents more for milk, then i'm willing to pay it. And the fact they have very little lanes open ON PURPOSE to keep profits up is what burns my hide!!!!!!! Scerw them! ~ Lisa ~ Do you Rigminder? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trent 0 #41 May 10, 2006 While I despise the few WalMarts in my area due to the seediness of the crowd and the employees, I can't see how people can bitch so much about it. I don't shop there because I hate the "experience" of being there and it usually takes too long to get anything done. Can someone explain how buying something at Walmart is hurting America because it's Chinese made crap... while buying the SAME thing at another store is really different enough to make you feel better? The problem is we let all our manufacturing get shipped overseas. Pretty soon, everything we have will be made somewhere else. How is that Walmart's fault?Oh, hello again! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LisaM 0 #42 May 10, 2006 QuoteCan someone explain how buying something at Walmart is hurting America because it's Chinese made crap... while buying the SAME thing at another store is really different enough to make you feel better? That is not what my point is. But think about how they move into a town, run all the mom and pop places out of business, then move out as well and leave the town with nothing.... is that good for America? Nope..... Some of what they do is common business practice and you cannot fault them for doing that.... like getting stuff made overseas..... ~ Lisa ~ Do you Rigminder? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trent 0 #43 May 10, 2006 Oh, don't get me wrong... I DESPISE WalMart... but I just don't think that the argument that many (not you) people have about how it's all Chinese made... blah blah blah... is crap. I know what your point is, and I agree. It's not necessarily ethical... but it's business.Oh, hello again! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pirana 0 #44 May 10, 2006 I don't care where the stuff is made, or even that it may be crap. If people want WalMart quality, that's their choice. Their WalMart particle board coffee table is probably a good deal. It costs $20 and will last a few years (unless somebody spills on it and it gets good and soaked, in which case it will turn back into a pile of wood shavings). My coffee table costs a couple hundred and will last for many, many generations unless the house burns down. Get what you pay for - no beef about that. What I dislike about WalMart, and what I consider the weakness of a purely market-driven economic system, is that once an organization or person reaches a certain critical mass, their influence can actually reduce the positive effects of free market forces. It's like it has become a race to the bottom. A race to see how cheaply they can sell stuff. And winning that race means putting pressure on all elements of cost, regardless of any outcome (other than losing sales). Employee benefits is a good example. I can accept that a civilized society will to some extent subsidize health care for their unemployed. But here we have an employer that, by design, provides a benefit plan that drives at least the simple majority of their employees to welfare for their health care needs. Who do you think is footing that bill? How ethical is it to coach your employees on how to take advantage of subsidized health care so that they can sell toilet paper for $.03 less per roll than their nearest competitior? There is a reason for laws against predatory pricing and other monopolistic practices. WalMart (and others) have been flirting with and skirting these laws in order to squeeze every last increment of cost out of their system. That, and the quality of all but the most utilitarian of goods they carry will keep me away for the foreseeable future." . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nate_1979 9 #45 May 10, 2006 May hate them, but I sometimes REALLY REALLY wish we had a super walmart.. I'm still amazed that there is really NOTHING open 24 hours here when you need something.. You can goto a grocery store at 3am, however sometimes I realize that I need something like a power strip or whatever, ... After 9pm here I'm SOL. FGF #??? I miss the sky... There are 10 types of people in the world... those who understand binary and those who don't. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trent 0 #46 May 11, 2006 Quote I don't care where the stuff is made, or even that it may be crap. If people want WalMart quality, that's their choice. Their WalMart particle board coffee table is probably a good deal. It costs $20 and will last a few years (unless somebody spills on it and it gets good and soaked, in which case it will turn back into a pile of wood shavings). It's not just the WalMart crap that is particle-board crap... it's Ikea, it's houses in new developments, it's everything. My beef there is that what Walmart sells IS NOT any different than the crap you buy anywhere else. To complain about the "supporting China" aspect is silly. That's all. QuoteEmployee benefits is a good example. I can accept that a civilized society will to some extent subsidize health care for their unemployed. But here we have an employer that, by design, provides a benefit plan that drives at least the simple majority of their employees to welfare for their health care needs. Who do you think is footing that bill? NOT providing benefits doesn't bother me either. TONS of places don't provide benefits to workers. Hell, I work on a DZ... we don't get shit. It's our responsibility to find our own coverage that we can afford. I don't think it's my employer's problem if I had 10 kids who all need to go to the doctor. WalMart offers a wage for a job... don't like that? Don't work there. Need health care? I can direct you to where we found ours for under $100/mo. QuoteHow ethical is it to coach your employees on how to take advantage of subsidized health care so that they can sell toilet paper for $.03 less per roll than their nearest competitior? THAT isn't right. They should "WalMart" their employees into buying some affiliated insurance or something. Hell, then they could get even MORE money. QuoteThere is a reason for laws against predatory pricing and other monopolistic practices. WalMart (and others) have been flirting with and skirting these laws in order to squeeze every last increment of cost out of their system. There are smaller stores less than a mile from my local WalMart that have been there for years and seem to be doing okay. We've got hardware stores, furniture stores, paint stores, clothing boutiques, all that stuff. They've been coexisting with Walmart for years. Don't get me wrong... WalMart sucks and they're not run on the most ethical model... but I just don't think that they're the "evil empire" that people make them out to be. Either way, I don't and probably won't shop there anyway.Oh, hello again! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #47 May 12, 2006 I used to shop at Walmart years ago...that is until I experienced, first hand, how they treat their employees. On more than one occasion. First they announce a 'staff meeting' on aisle whatever. Then they all gather together in the center of the store to hear whatever the manager has to say. What was very loudly heard by all who passed by was the manager berating an employee! In full view of all other employees and patrons alike. How tacky! I spoke to a supervisor, who happened to be one my patients this past year. She said this is company policy! To condemn an employee in front of others in the plan that this would mend their conduct. Now, I believe in communication in the work place. However, I DO NOT condone beratement of anyone.....and especially in public. And this is only one of the many reasons I won't shop at this demeaning place. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpinfarmer 0 #48 May 12, 2006 QuoteHey America! We'll come into town, close down your local stores, sell you cheap crap made overseas, and then bullshit you about how we're so wonderful because we saved you $.37 on socks! BINGO!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,090 #49 May 12, 2006 >Can someone explain how buying something at Walmart is >hurting America because it's Chinese made crap... while buying the SAME >thing at another store is really different enough to make you feel better? Wal-Mart requires their vendors to reduce prices year after year; there is no price that's low enough, even if the product is selling like hotcakes. The effect this has is to require every single one of its vendors to go overseas for production; that's the only place it's cheap enough. So to support Wal-Mart is to support outsourcing at its most blatant. Now, the argument can be made "hey, not our problem - that's capitalism!" and that's a valid point. But if keeping jobs in the US is important to you, then Wal-Mart is about the worst place to shop. Even a formerly US-made product becomes a foreign product once offered by them, so even "buying US" doesn't work there. Now, it could be argued that Wal-Mart has good effects, like keeping the rate of inflation a bit lower by constantly _reducing_ the cost of goods. Does that outweigh the bad of outsourcing? Up to consumers to decide. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trent 0 #50 May 12, 2006 Like I said... I don't shop there for MANY reasons. However, buying anything from any large chain will contribute to that chain's ability to negotiate prices down with their vendors. It IS capitalism. If consumers want US made shit, they have to make it known with their dollars. That's how it works. If you want to be honest though... you can't just blame WalMart.Oh, hello again! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
