Wal-Mart

[Conspire]

Wal-Mart seems to be popping up everywhere across our country. Now me personally I try to stay away from huge stores like wal-mart, I just hate being around all these people, and I hate having to wait in line. Saving 9 cents on a 3 dollar item or 5 dollars on a 60 dollar item is just not worth it to me. I think I am like this because I grew up in a very small town, and the nearest walmart is like a 20 minute drive. Small business still thrives in my town. I just like to get in find what I need and get out, Wal-Mart is huge and u need to navigate to find what u are looking for. I pretty much hate Wal-Mart and much like any big business I feel that they screw over the small people, especially the regular everyday workers of their stores.

Do any of u enjoy going to Wal-Mart? Because of the low prices, the immense selection of products, the friendly service? (yeah right). What is your opinion on Wal-Mart in general?

Now of course I need to add some extra controversey, this is a video I recently saw about Wal-Mart. It basically explains how all the workers are getting the short end of the stick from Wal-Mart. It shows the chinese factory workers working in terrible conditions etc. etc. etc. This video is about an hour and a half, it is a stream so there is no download involved.

http://www.bedroommedia.com/videos.php?id=4963

[AZPoker]

I have a love hate relationship with Walmart. We have one five minutes from our home. With four kids, I am always needing a store to go to and since its so close, its just common sense to go there first. But the store is so dirty and a mess, it drives me nuts. I do like their prices though.

[daveT]

Conspire, I think you would be interested to Google "walmart inglewood" and get back to me on that.

So you know, Inglewood is a very poor suburb of Los Angeles. It is where the famous Hollywood Park Casino and Racetrack is located.

I didn't understand this. The main gripe against Wal Mart was that it didn't pay enough money to it's workers. In Inglewood, few people are off welfare, and they have Labor Ready et al all over the place.

I am sure that many of the unemployed would love to have a job at Wal Mart.

[Conspire]

DaveT its funny that u say that about inglewood. In that video I linked, the whole situation was mentioned on how they came together as a community and made sure wal-mart wasnt able to build a store.

[daveT]

That doesn't surprise me in the least, as the agenda of the video would be to demote Wal Mart, I imagine.

I have talked to people from Inglewood about that situation. They didn't understand it either. It was really a lemming issue, where some "leader" said it was bad for the community, and they simply voted for it. That is how I understand it.

Statistics for Inglewood are as follows:

http://www.calmis.ca.gov/file/Census...woodDP2000.pdf

To say the least they are very disturbing.

Educational Attainment

Less than 9th grade....18%
9-12 (no diploma)......17%
HS , ged only..........20%

You already see that most of these people are perfect for
Wal Mart.

Some College..........23%
AS....................7%
BS....................8%
Doc...................4%

Employment
In labor force........59%
Unemployed............6%
Not in Labor force....40% (I take it many of these people work in pharmecuticals)

Poverty Status
Families............19%
Single mother.......35%
Individual (male?)..22%
Children............30%

I don't know. It doesn't seem like a place where people should be turning away businesses.

Unfortunately, many politicians and interest groups like the ones who's video you are showing, have some pickle up there bums about anyone that succeeds.

With so many uneducated people to lead, I can't imagine it would be too hard to manipulate their emotions and thoughts. All someone would have to do is stand on the podium and say "black" and that ends all common sense.

[Conspire]

DaveT I see your point for inglewood, and I now dont know why they wouldnt want to have a wal-mart there. Some people just have an agenda and they pushed it to success.

My whole take on wal-mart is - They make a lot of money and dont do anything for their employees. They also destroy small businesses.

[daveT]

Oh, right, that take.

In a small town, I guess that is true. I do remember being in remote parts of the country, and Wal Mart is all there was. If there was small businesses in these areas, I am sad to see them go.

Most retail stores do nothing for their employees. I don't see that as ample reason to quit shopping at Ralphs or Albertsons or Winn Dixies. A retail job is not supposed to support a family of five.

I'll take a break from this a let other's weigh in.

I will state that I am staunchly against the UFCW and AFI unions.

[RR]

[ QUOTE ]
In a small town, I guess that is true. I do remember being in remote parts of the country, and Wal Mart is all there was. If there was small businesses in these areas, I am sad to see them go.

[/ QUOTE ]

Until recently Wal Mart was only in small towns. Basically Wal Mart would only be in town where the opening of a Wal Mart would be big news.

[youtalkfunny]

[ QUOTE ]
They also destroy small businesses.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's capitalism for ya.

I never understood the WalMart backlash. I would've thought people would be HAPPY to hear, "We're going to open up a store in your town, where you can buy whatever you need, and our prices will beat anybody's!" What on earth is the downside?

--If you think they don't pay their employees enough, then don't work there.

--If you think they put small stores out of business, you're right! That's what COMPETITION is! I shudder at the thought of a marketplace with no competition.

The only thing I hate about Walmart is their unwillingness to open enough registers to handle the crowd on hand. They have 20+ registers, and only two or three are open whenever I go in, no matter how long the lines are.

For that reason (and that reason only), I usually go to Target.

[soah]

I bought a computer game from Wal Mart a while ago. When I got home I realized the package had already been opened. I realized this was a bad sign, but I tried to install the game anyway, and the second disc gave an error message and aborted each time, so I had to take it back and exchange it. From talking to other people, apparently their standard policy for defective items is to just put the stuff back in the box and put it back on the shelf so that someone else will buy it. That sorta pissed me off.