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?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2008
Mon, 12-01-2008 - 11:39am

The story you post is from 2003, check - http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06EEDC1639F936A35752C1A9659C8B63

Not only is it old news about subcontractors, once Wal-Mart was made aware of the practice things changed. The subcontractors were found criminally guilty, Wal-Mart was not.

Wal-Mart put in place practices to help assure customers that similar abuses by its subcontractors will never happen again.

This whole thing was wrapped up and long over by 2005.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,150846,00.html

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), the world's largest retailer, escaped criminal charges when it agreed to pay $11 million, a record fine in a civil immigration case, to end a federal probe into its use of illegal immigrants as janitors.

Additionally, 12 businesses that provided contract janitor services to Wal-Mart will pay $4 million in fines and plead guilty to criminal immigration charges, officials said.

Wal-Mart's shares edged down 73 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $51.60 on the New York Stock Exchange (search).

The deal resolves a more than four-year-long Department of Justice (search) investigation into the employment practices of the company's former floor-cleaning contractors.

"This case breaks new ground not only because this is a record dollar amount for a civil immigration settlement, but because this settlement requires Wal-Mart to create an internal program to ensure future compliance with immigration laws by Wal-Mart contractors and by Wal-Mart itself," said Michael J. Garcia, assistant secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (search).

"We plan to use this settlement as a model for future cases and efforts in worksite enforcement," he said.

Wal-Mart received a target letter from a grand jury in Pennsylvania and was the subject of an October 2003 raid spanning 21 states and 60 stores. The raids led to the arrest of 245 allegedly illegal immigrants.

Wal-Mart, which has 1.2 million domestic workers, had pledged its cooperation in the investigation.

"We are satisfied that this is being settled as a civil matter," Wal-Mart spokeswoman Mona Williams said. "Despite a long, thorough and high-profile investigation, the government has not charged anyone at Wal-Mart with wrongdoing."

No longer does Wal-Mart employ outside contractors to clean its floors. Companies that do contract work for other chores will have stricter rules to follow to win those contracts, and upper management will have to approve contracts of more than $10,000, Williams said.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2008
Mon, 12-01-2008 - 11:41am

If each box is examined to the extend you are advocating, a 90 cent box of q-tips will cost $90.

It'll create full employment.

We won't be able to buy much, but many will be working to assure our total safety.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-20-2008
Mon, 12-01-2008 - 1:25pm

Yet they continue to use the courts to

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2008
Mon, 12-01-2008 - 2:04pm
Well, my 6 year old can destroy a pair of Wal-mart running shoes in a week, and their T-shirts often shrink so much that they don't fit over his head after the second washing.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2008
Mon, 12-01-2008 - 3:30pm

"What makes furniture made in China of inherently lesser quality than furniture made in the US?"


In my experience, furniture made in China and other Asian countries often uses wood that isn't kiln-dried to the same standards as North American manufacturers, resulting in more splitting, warping and cracking. Therefore, a less durable product. (in addition

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-03-2008
Mon, 12-01-2008 - 4:25pm

I agree, their products are clearly inferior. I buy jeans for my grandson at Wal-Mart, and today I notices that the snap for the jeans isn't snapping right after only 3 or 4 washes. They a lot of time size clothes wrong. They go a lot of the time by "their" small medium and large and extra large.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2008
Mon, 12-01-2008 - 5:08pm

2) Walmart takes money out of your town and sends it to China. Local stores spend teh profits locally and boost local tax receipts.


Except to the extent that the local store buys locally, it's money is going the same place WalMart's money is - to suppliers, most of whom aren't in the US.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2008
Mon, 12-01-2008 - 6:24pm

Any entity which employees over a million people will be sued by employees and former employees from time to time.

Generally professionals are considered exempt, and not paid overtime. It appears the court has decided this is not the case for these two pharmacists.

There doesn't seem anything sinister about an employee having a difference of opinion with an employer and taking it to court.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2008
Mon, 12-01-2008 - 6:26pm
Most kids shoes are made in China. Wal-Mart, Target, Costco and other box stores sell the same or similar shoes under various brands.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2008
Mon, 12-01-2008 - 6:31pm

The standard in much of north America at this time is either a veneer over particle board or a medium thick dry softwood. I doubt the standard is much different in China.

Many parents want inexpensive kids rooms to be replaced every few years.

In my area discounters seem to sell most furniture. They don't discount by selling the best quality hand honed aged hardwood product.




Edited 12/2/2008 8:43 am ET by postreply

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