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.

[katyseagull]

[ QUOTE ]


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?





[/ QUOTE ]

I would say I'm the typical Wal-Mart shopper. I go there because I'm convinced I can get whatever it is I need cheap. Also, I can buy kitty litter, underwear and a vacuum cleaner all at the same place and for the lowest prices I will find anywhere. How can you beat that?

I was not brought up to think this way, btw. My mom hates Wal-Mart with a passion and even though there is one located less than 1/2 mile from her house she feels she has an obligation to support smaller businesses. If I suggest that we run to Wal-Mart to pick up something she always gives me an icy stare. She honestly feels disgusted with me that I do so much of my shopping at Wal-Mart! We've exchanged words over it [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img].

But seriously, if you need a sleeping bag or tennis racket for the weekend what are you going to do? Wal-Mart is the solution, imo. Because of Wal-Mart I have coolers, sleeping bags, bathroom towels, a vacuum, and a drawer full of cotton socks. For us poor folk, Wal-Mart rules.

[dylan's alias]

Target is significantly closer to me than Wal-Mart. That's about the only reason I don't regularly go there.

I'm not sure how I feel overall about the good/bad of big box stores. There has been a change in the quality of products, but not necessarily in a bad way. There isn't as much of a difference between the top end and the average for many items (household goods/cleaners/toiletries). I think in the past, the off brands were genuinely crap. Now, they are often identical to the top brand but in a different package.

And Katy, it isn't just for poor people. I lived in NYC for years, and paid a higher price for everything. Now that I'm in the suburbs, saving a few cents on stuff is great. I won't even buy certain things at the supermarket because they are cheaper at Target. I'm not poor by any stretch, but I work hard and don't like wasting money for no reason.

[[Phill]]

Im from the UK, so cant comment first hand, but heres my take.

Firstly, no company magically creates a monopoly, especially not in the general goods stores where the barriers to entry are as low as anything.

The reason that Wal Mart is successful is that it provides cheap goods which people want. They have managed to find a forumla with works and their growth is testiment to how they are obviously doing something right.

Now, with regard to their workers, there is either two schools of thought - they are providing jobs (crappy or otherwise) in areas which need jobs OR they are providing jobs that are better than what is surrounding the store.

The thing is whilst you could argue that the store uses its massive economy of scale to undercut the small local stores, it is the community that is responsible for these stores losing custom and going out of business.

With a store like Wal Mart you will always get what you pay for, and that means they wont have the nicest stores, the friendliest staff and i would imagine to one degree or another the best products - but they will squeeze every last penny of savings and their low overhead low profitabilty anhd high volume is what is popular - this means someway along the line some people will get steamrolled by the system but people are voting with their feet and their dollar.

[katyseagull]

[ QUOTE ]


Now, with regard to their workers, there is either two schools of thought - they are providing jobs (crappy or otherwise) in areas which need jobs OR they are providing jobs that are better than what is surrounding the store.



[/ QUOTE ]

In my area, the opening of a new Wal-Mart is a big deal because it provides a lot of jobs. Many of us aren't willing to work at Taco Bell but we wouldn't mind a job at Wal-Mart. The problem, as I understand it, is that Wal-Mart does not give good benefits. I may be wrong but that's what I've heard. They employ a lot of part- timers (who work for low wages by the hour with no benefits) and much fewer full-timers.

I've read that the big box stores are not doing that well this year. Profits are way down for stores like Wal-Mart and Lowes. Anyone else hear this? I think they've gone and built too many is what I think. Also, Wal-Mart went from huge stores to building mega-huge SUPER stores. This might have been a mistake.