How do you feel about Wal-Mart?
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| Wed, 11-26-2008 - 6:23pm |
I read this op/ed (it's tied in with the automotive industry issues) http://www.indystar.com/article/20081119/OPINION12/811190304/1301/ARCHIVE the other day and it got me thinking. I've always heard about the lousy way they treat their employees but...it's their prices that keep me going back. Since I've moved to the South it's been even worse. They have Super Wal-Marts here where there is a grocery store in the Wal-Mart.
Now, there was an article the other day in my local newspaper with the mayor asking people to do their Christmas shopping downtown and buy local to support our mom & pop stores. Now, I'd love to do that but I have three kids and you know where I'm going.
Part of me really doesn't like what Wal-Mart stands for but the other part of me feels like "why should I pay more when I know I can get it cheaper there?"
Any thoughts?

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Obviously alot of Americans like shopping at Walmart.
>>> Well, I find it disgusting to see where our clothes are made. Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, and many many other third world countries.
Why? That kind of "nationalism" doesn't seem to extend to American-made cars? Many Americans go out of their way to purchase foreign cars. I can see the hypocrisy, but where's the love?
>>> That Pennsylvania House furniture is made in China! there are still places you can go and buy quality made furniture in the US though. Martin Guitar is still made in Nazereth,PA. There are places in Lancaster, Pa who make really nice furniture, also.
What makes furniture made in China of inherently lesser quality than furniture made in the US? Have you inspected the furniture both before and after the move? And, yes, Martin makes great guitars...and China makes world class violins...and Japan makes great synthesizers.
>>> The problem with Wal-Mart was the unrully crowd. The fact people will camp out overnight to get a few good deals. I was never that freaken desperate to do that, EVER.
Some people obviously were.
>>> I see you and others rail on about socialism, but if Wal-Mart had their way, they would be the only store in town across the country - the only thing between socialism and that hypothetical result is that it isn't run by government, otherwise it is essentially the same.
There's nothing socialistic about it at all. It's economic darwinism. As long as Wal-Mart doesn't engage in unfair business practices, all they're doing is offering the people what they want. Anyone is free to start a business and compete with them...and even drive Wal-Mart out of business with a more savvy marketing plan.
>>> You worry about big government, but apparently care not about just how big a private enterprise becomes. I agree that government power can get out of hand, but so too can private power.
Why would I care how big a business becomes...that is only a measure of how successful they are at giving the public what it wants. When they fail to do that, or when someone else does it better, they'll disappear.
>>I think you're in the minority...or have enough money that you can stress over such things.<<
I think she is in the minority, hopefully that will change.
Just so you know I definitely do not have 'enough money to stress over such things' - but I do make priorities. For example, no luxury cable, just the most basic channels. No unlimited texting - I don't actually have a cell phone but my son does as he is away at college and it was the most cost effective way of providing him with a phone. No game consoles, books come from the library, rarely do we go to movies - all the good ones are on DVD eventually. Mostly home cooked meals, and leftovers are a regular thing at our house. Farm stands when ever possible to keep it 'local' and definitely recycle everything we can, trade and barter when possible, Freecycle is a great way to pass on things you no longer use or to obtain good, used items rather than buying them. Goodwill is not something I am ashamed of - heck I see some pretty well-to-do local ladies in there from time to time as well.
I do, however, think that we can make better choices about how and where we do spend the money we have. For example I do not return to stores that have bad customer service, and I let the management know that is the reason. I try to spend money in a way that does as little harm as possible - unfortunately most of our products do come from overseas, but when ever I can I do buy American. I also still make some of my children's clothing - truly 'made in America' right at the kitchen table!
>>> As Sarah would say, there you go again... I have never paid $100 for a pair of jeans - it would be a stretch to reach that conclusion from my post.
Were we speaking exclusively about you? Many people do buy expensive jeans...and $25 t-hirts...and $200 sneakers...and...
>>> It is exactly because children actually wear their clothing that good quality is important if you want the clothing to last a whole season, let alone long enough to pass down to a sibling. Ironically, some 'name brands' in particular the more expensive name brands are less well made than the middle brands - at all times the actual quality of the clothing should be the most important consideration - unless you have unlimited disposable income, which I do not.
My experience disputes yours. Clothes from Target last my kid as long as clothes from Tommy Hilfiger...except when she gets an indelible stain on them or tears them, I don't get "as" mad. A plain sweatshirt from Wal-Mart keeps me just as warm as one stamped with the Nike logo and lasts just as long.
>>> If you don't realize that Suzy will need a dress for a Christmas festival at school until the last minute that is just poor planning on your part - Christmas does come every year on exactly the same day after all. It is called planning ahead and if you are on a limited budget proper planning is that much more important.
That might be true if all parents were anal retentive and if all schools were as efficient as you imagine them to be. The FACT is that our kids schools (two separate ones) gave a week's notice concerning the outfit that was required for the dance program and the dress requirements for the Christmas show. Now, I'm sure that you would have read their minds and purchased the clothing months before, but our mind-reading skills aren't as well developed and we simply had to go out and get what was needed when we were informed about it...something that might have pressed parent's on a tighter budget.
>>> True children outgrow shoes, but again the is a more or less predictable pattern and goes back to the planning required to purchase items on sale or at the end of the season for next years use.
Again, you're ability to see into the future is remarkable. I, for one, don't know, a year or several months in advance, what size my kid's foot will be when they need new shoes...or what style they might be hankerin' for. The same would go for other articles of clothing...like outfits for Christmas shows and dance recitals.
>>> The cycle of endless consumerism and inferior products is only 'real life' for people who cannot plan ahead and prioritize their purchases.
Or for people who aren't anal retentive or have super mind-reading powers. I know it's practically unheard of, but sometimes there isn't a sale when little Bobby needs new shoes...and sometimes, Bobby doesn't outgrow his shoes at the same measured rate that his obsessive parents add their pennies to the rhetorical jar...but rather comes up one day and shows you how his toes stick out the front because he's been dragging his feet instead of using the brake on his scooter...but I'm sure you "plan" for that too.
>>> Or people who blindly follow the hollow mantra of 'low, low prices' without looking closely to verify the accuracy of the claim.
Or people who imagine that paying more actually saves them money. "Name brands" count on suckers like that.
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