How do you feel about Wal-Mart?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-04-2008
How do you feel about Wal-Mart?
383
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?

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-19-2008
Sun, 11-30-2008 - 8:48pm

>>> Obviously alot of Americans like shopping at Walmart. But there are enough inhumane and unfair business practices occurring within Walmart, that it is important to at least know what we're supporting if we shop there. Sears has a surprisingly poor record, as does J.C. Penney.

Wal-Mart is subjected to exactly the same business practices as every other company in the country. If they're in violation of something, then they can be held accountable. Beyond that, everyone who works there does so voluntarily and can leave at any time.

>>> Again, it's not about just buying American, though that would be nice.

Tell that to the libs out there driving a Prius or a Beemer...or wearing clothing from foreign designers or drinking imported beer and wine. The hypocrisy is rife.

>>> It's about considering what a particular corporation is supporting in their business practice. It's at least important to acknowledge this before decidingi to spend our dollars at places like this:

Sorry, but most of it is crap...

>>> Wal-Mart & Undocumented Immigrants

I think any company who knowingly hires illegal immigrants should be heavily fined, but it's pretty hypocritical of the left to want to throw open our borders and grant citizenship to every illegal who's here, and then bash a company who hires them.

>>> Costs to Taxpayers:

Bunk. The cost to taxpayers of a Wal-Mart employee versus an unemployed person is 100%. If the left wants to give everyone a "living wage" then they better be prepared to pay several hundred dollars to have their newspaper delivered and take out a loan if they want to eat at McDonald's.

>>> Health care subsidies compared to executive compensation

More bunk. It's kind of stupid to offer state-sponsored health care programs and then whine because people use them. Wal-Mart pays it's employees more than the minimum wage for unskilled jobs. Again, if the left wants to force every employer to provide full health care coverage for every employee then it better be prepared to drive a LOT of companies out of business and see companies like Wal-Mart raise their prices to cover the additional expense...which will screw the employees that Wal-Mart will inevitably fire and the low-income families that will have their cost of living increase exponentially.

>>> Your tax dollars subsidize Wal-Mart's growth

And more bunk. Incentives are offered by local governments and communities to entice companies like Wal-Mart to establish themselves. Obviously they believe that it's worth the trade off.

>>> WAL-MART LOBBIES MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO RESIST TIGHTENING PORT SECURITY

First of all, it's impossible to scan every container. Second, even if you could, the cost would be prohibitive and ultimately passed on to consumers, heralding the aforementioned results and destroying the US economy.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-19-2008
Sun, 11-30-2008 - 9:02pm

>>> Pennsylvania House furniture made in China doesn't have "dovetail joints" yet it is still expensive.

How do you know? Stores that sell the furniture say that it does.

>>> It's the name you are paying for. Unfortunately namebrand items that used to be made here aren't as high of quality and STILL are expensive.

That's only sustainable as long as the name remains synonymous with quality.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-26-2008
Sun, 11-30-2008 - 9:12pm

((Wal-Mart is subjected to exactly the same business practices as every other company in the country. If they're in violation of something, then they can be held accountable.))


There is

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-19-2008
Sun, 11-30-2008 - 9:32pm

>>> I think she is in the minority, hopefully that will change. I don't see where it takes money to stress over working conditions of those who produce your goods......surely all it actually takes is humanity? One can certainly decide that ones financial situation is such that this cannot be a priority of course, but that isn't the same thing.

Nah, it doesn't really take all that much humanity to "sympathize" with the plight of others and then do nothing about it. As has been pointed out earlier...lots of companies use foreign labor. Do you have enough "humanity" to check out the way every company that provides good you use, maintains it's facilities and the way they "treat" every employee? I doubt that many people do...especially those who cry the loudest.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-26-2008
Sun, 11-30-2008 - 10:02pm

((Do you have enough "humanity" to check out the way every company that provides good you use, maintains it's facilities and the way they "treat" every employee?))


This saddens me.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2008
Sun, 11-30-2008 - 10:09pm
I agree with you in premise but have you ever looked at your clothing?
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-19-2008
Sun, 11-30-2008 - 10:32pm

>>> There is a difference between something being legal and something being ethical.

What does Wal-Mart do that is "unethical?"

((Tell that to the libs out there driving a Prius or a Beemer...or wearing clothing from foreign designers or drinking imported beer and wine. The hypocrisy is rife.))

>>> But I was telling it to you. I don't know who these "libs" are. I am a liberal thinker, but "lib" is a label you are choosing to apply to those you disagree with. I drive a Ford that was made in Mexico.

How can you buy a car made in Mexico? Aren't you worried about Americans who have lost their jobs so you could afford your car? And did you make sure that the auto workers in Mexico were well treated and fairly compensated before you purchased your car? These are serious concerns and should be of import to all "liberal thinkers."

((I think any company who knowingly hires illegal immigrants should be heavily fined, but it's pretty hypocritical of the left to want to throw open our borders and grant citizenship to every illegal who's here, and then bash a company who hires them.))

>>> The highlighted part of your sentence is the only relevant piece. The rest is just a distraction. It's not about the "left" being consistent in their beliefs, it's about the right or wrong of the topic of hiring undocumented workers.

Aah...if only the issue were that simple. I agree that ONE of the wrongs was the hiring of the undocumented workers, but the wrong that precipitated that wrong was allowing the undocumented workers to be here in the first place...and the failure to aggressively enforce our laws when they are discovered.

((First of all, it's impossible to scan every container. Second, even if you could, the cost would be prohibitive and ultimately passed on to consumers, heralding the aforementioned results and destroying the US economy.))

>>> Not true. We can scan every passenger, no reason not to scan every container. Unless it hurts Walmart.

Six million cargo containers enter the US each year...what technology exists to adequately inspect each container and every ship without bringing the economy to a standstill?

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-07-2008
Sun, 11-30-2008 - 10:46pm

I wish I could say I know for certain the origin and production specifics for everything I consume.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2008
Sun, 11-30-2008 - 10:55pm

"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"

I'd love to know what public school in the U.S. celebrates a Christmas festival.

mccain image

Obama image
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2008
Sun, 11-30-2008 - 10:59pm

mine does!

Pages