Am I the only one that loves Walmart?

[Elaine]

It's the only place to shop for me without driving over an hour. I see lots of people I know, talk to all the ladies who work there that I've know for 30+ years, get all my groceries, prescriptions whatever. I just don't have a problem with WM.

 

I don't mind it. I hate Kmart, but Wal-Mart does not bother me. When we lived in NC, it was the cheapest place to purchase non-perishable food and toiletries. No matter where I go I see people who are obnoxious and loud and inappropriately dressed, and there is always some random screaming child. These things are not exclusive to Wal-Mart.

 

My cousin works for Wal-Mart, has for 9 years. He loves it. He is paid well and has been promoted twice while employed there.

[Rhonda in TX]

If I need a few things, they are invariably at opposite ends of the store and it takes forever. I can't ever get any help from store employees. The crowds can be ridiculous. However, for big shopping trips, you can't beat the convenience and prices. (I do tend to impulse shop more, though, so I'm not sure I'm actually saving any money.)

[AuntPol]

Depends on the particular Wal-Mart. I hate to go to the one closest to me. The clientel there is not so good and the customer service is horrid:

All the price scanners are broken (most off the wall)

always a line (30 minutes average)

no one comes to department even after paged multiple times

customer services won't answer phone until you call the 800- number and have them call and then you get hung up on

they don't enforce the 20 item or less policy for express lane (i understand 21-25 but cartloads???)

Parking lot is always packed

Nobody knows anything, everyone is rude

 

Now I go to another one a bit further away and it's completely different-clean, well-organized, friendly customers, rarely a line because they open up lanes when lines form, great customer service, etc.

 

 

THough with couponing I can get better service and better prices at other stores so I don't do Wal-Mart if I can get away from it. However, Wal Mart and Aldi's are my fallbacks when I get burned out on coupons.

(Aldi's drives me nuts with lines too).

[Haiku]

Capitalism at it's best.

 

I actually see it just the opposite. Capitalism at its worst, race to the bottom and all that.

 

Tara

[Tammyla]

I'll shop one of our 3 Super-Walmarts & Sam's regularly because they are less expensive, but I avoid all shopping at the busiest times.

 

We have plenty of other grocery and big box stores to choose from. Anyone of them can be a shopping nightmare at Saturday around noon, especially now.

 

When there is ice and packed snow on the ground or its pouring, I make small trips to a different grocery store because they carry out and have a drive through pick up. It cost more and I'd never stock up there.

Edited December 22, 2009 by Tammyla

[FriedClams]

I live in too rural and area to be too elitist about where I shop. I don't love Walmart, but I appreciate being able to get what I need at a fairly reasonable price locally. To me, time with my family is more important than the 3-hour round trip drive to the larger town where I buy pretty much the same stuff, produced in the same countries, sold by employees whose employers use pretty much the same business practices/labor options. Yes, I could get some more selection (and in a 5 hour round trip drive I could go to Whole Foods...), but then we have to factor in my carbon footprint, the evil oil companies I am supporting by buying gas....Yes, every starfish thrown back matters to that starfish - and yes our family does our best to buy American, buy local, avoid chain stores, etc. But, depending on where you live your options can be really limited/cost prohibitive and embracing your only local option doesn't need to be met with such disdain.

[Garga]

Depends on where you live. The WalMarts in the Baltimore area were horrible. The WalMarts in my tiny area of PA are delightful.

 

It depends on who the customers are and how many of them there are. There are 2 Walmarts near me (within 25 minutes) and one is practically empty all the time. It's wonderful to go there.

[kpupg]

I don't hate WalMart universally, just certain stores. Especially the one really crowded, not very clean, store that used to be the closest one.

 

Now there's a new, very clean, store nearer to our house, so I've been going there and it's a much better experience. I'm just praying it never gets like that other store is. I can't tell whether it's the manager or the clientele that does it.

 

However, I do not like the produce section of any WalMart I've shopped in -- not enough variety and fairly low quality produce. I go to the local Kroger-owned store for produce, unless it's an emergency.

 

Karen

[PineFarmMom]

There is nowhere we can shop that I'm able to use our $$ as wisely. I do my weekly groceries there. If a couple of grocery stores around here would decide to come anywhere CLOSE to the prices I get at wal-mart, I'd consider switching, but even with coupons they aren't worth it!

[OnTheBrink]

I don't love it, and I don't hate it. We have 3 WM's in my town, 2 of them are Supers, one is not. It's not someplace I go when in a hurry, because it's pert near impossible to get in and out quickly, but when I have a list of things, I usually shop there. Target is across town and is more expensive than WM, so I don't bother going there for the day-to-day things. I'll go to Target for baby or wedding gifts, though.

 

I don't understand the gripe about low pay. Around here, WM's pay is the same as the pay at K-Mart, Shopko and other similar retailers.

 

As for the people, well, I've had good and bad experiences. At the WM I patronize now, the check-out clerks are friendly and competent. At the one non-Super WM, the clerks are like drones and I do think the lighting has something to do with it. The Supers have skylights and some sort of solarized lighting, the nonSuper has all fluorescent lights. Very strange.

 

The newest WM in my town has a really cool exterior and is supposed to be reminiscent of the Lincoln Presidential Museum--they're similar in style. It's the nicest WM I've been to.

[sunflowerlady]

I don't think I LOVE Wal Mart, but I do like it.:001_smile:

 

Prices are very reasonable and I can get most of what I need in one trip. Now, it can be frustrating to shop there because of crowds and long lines, but I just realize that when I go to Wal Mart, I can't be in a hurry.

 

If I am in a real hurry, I should go elsewhere.

 

As for low pay, most jobs in my area pay low wages. I think Wal Mart might even pay a little more than other grocery stores.

[Colleen]

Of course you're not the only one ~ as you know.:) Far more people shop there than don't, and in light of how many choose WM over other options, there must be things they like/love about it.

[Peek a Boo]

For those who wonder why people don't like Walmart -

 

Is Walmart good for America (PBS frontline episode)

 

High Cost of Low Price - documentary film

 

and since documentary films aren't the be-all and end-all of the truth, we can rest assured knowing that there's a second side to that coin. ;)

 

I actually see it just the opposite. Capitalism at its worst, race to the bottom and all that.

 

 

and then there's the other side of THAT coin: socialism at its worst.

 

The WalMarts around here are more crowded than the targets because the local target won't accept WIC or food stamps. Not sure if that's a target thing or a local thing, but the difference is amazing.

 

i also find some "craftsmanship" over rated.

 

and THEN there's the community involvement: walmart lets more organizations stand outside their store than many other businesses will.

shoot, there was even the big hullabaloo about them supporting a gay rights cause once. :tongue_smilie:

 

there's a lot to love and hate about walmart.

back to asta's sig line :D

[christielee7278]

You are a sick, sick person. :lol:

 

Everyone in my family also thinks this. :lol:

[LND1218]

See, for you, it's a pleasant place and since you mentioned the fact that it's the only place you can go to under an hour, I really understand why you would go there even if you didn't know a lot of people.

 

Our Walmart is very different. It's crowded, merchandise is on the floor, sales personnel (some, not all) does not know how to help you because they either don't know their workplace well enough or they don't care to be helpful. I only go there if I cannot find what I am looking for somewhere else and I don't have time to order online.

 

Oh, and then there is that little issue I have with Walmart having their upper management conferences in China??? No nice place in the U.S to hold a conference?? Secondly, I don't like their cutthroat policies in regards to their vendors.

 

 

:iagree:

[Peek a Boo]

Oh, and then there is that little issue I have with Walmart having their upper management conferences in China??? No nice place in the U.S to hold a conference??

you must not be very familiar w/ WalMart's business. ;)

 

 

Walmart operates in Mexico as Walmex, in the United Kingdom as Asda, in Japan as Seiyu, and in India as Best Price. It has wholly-owned operations in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Wal-Mart's investments outside North America have had mixed results: its operations in the United Kingdom, South America and China are highly successful, while it was forced to pull out of Germany and South Korea when ventures there were unsuccessful.

 

 

also--i thought we were supposed to be playing nice and extending global goodwill to other countries, not just adopting an isolationist policy? Last i looked, WalMart wasn't just in the US.....

[Quiver0f10]

 

Oh, and then there is that little issue I have with Walmart having their upper management conferences in China??? No nice place in the U.S to hold a conference?? Secondly, I don't like their cutthroat policies in regards to their vendors.

 

What conferences are these? and what policies? I am curious.

[Peek a Boo]

and what policies? I am curious.

 

Hornblower linked 2 explanations in post #45. :)

[BigMamaBird]

I really don't like Wal Mart except for their kids clothes. I always find what I need for kids play clothes and sometimes even nice dressy clothes at Wal Mart. When they're little and going through two or more sizes a year, I can't stomach paying more than a few bucks for play clothes.

 

I dislike crowds in general, so I just make sure I go on weekday mornings when there are fewer people.

[Peek a Boo]

What conferences are these?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wal-Mart

 

not sure about exactly which conference, but there's a TON of info at the wiki about them. Be sure to verify it, of course ;)

[Liz CA]

I have no issue with them spreading out into other countries. I am just not a huge fan of China. If a Walmart exec had to pick a locale for a mgmt conference, I would rather see that honor going to the UK, Australia or Japan instead of China.

Also, I am not sure about this: Did Sam Walton have this vision for this company or did this all evolve with subsequent CEO's?

[Peek a Boo]

I have no issue with them spreading out into other countries. I am just not a huge fan of China. If a Walmart exec had to pick a locale for a mgmt conference, I would rather see that honor going to the UK, Australia or Japan instead of China.

Also, I am not sure about this: Did Sam Walton have this vision for this company or did this all evolve with subsequent CEO's?

 

I'm not a fan of China, but they ARE a part of the global market. Shoot, even Obama praised what China did w/ the Olympics.

Seeing as how walMart has been around a while, have they had conferences in other locales?

 

and I can't speak to Sam Walton's original vision: he didn't leave a series of Federalist Papers for us to consult.... ;)

[Liz CA]

I'm not a fan of China, but they ARE a part of the global market.

Seeing as how walMart has been around a while, have they had conferences in other locales?

 

and I can't speak to Sam Walton's original vision: he didn't leave a series of Federalist Papers for us to consult.... ;)

 

Yes, China is a part of the global market but I don't trust them - I am not even sure if "trust" is the appropriate word here. When we had the tainted food (pet food and children's crackers if I recall correctly) traced back to China, I had a very bad feeling. Now, I have to admit if these things had come from Australia, I would have been more inclined to think it was an unfortunate incident. But the way China (this is the govt. of course and not all the Chinese people) handled it, made me even more unsure of their intentions. There is something about China that always leaves me with a very uneasy feeling.

But I am always open to reconsidering or reshaping my attitudes if information surfaces that warrant or provide the basis for a change.

[Haiku]

and then there's the other side of THAT coin: socialism at its worst.

 

 

No, the other side of the capitalism coin is capitalism at its best. And that simply doesn't describe WalMart.

 

Tara

[Peek a Boo]

No, the other side of the capitalism coin....

 

depends on which coin we're talking about ;)

I was talking about the "worst" coin, lol.

 

is capitalism at its best. And that simply doesn't describe WalMart.

 

 

sure it does.

capitalism [little 'c'] by definition involves successful financial gains, not creature comforts or social justice.

WalMart has done that. No doubt.

[Peek a Boo]

Yes, China is a part of the global market but I don't trust them - I am not even sure if "trust" is the appropriate word here. ......There is something about China that always leaves me with a very uneasy feeling.

 

Oh, I don't trust China either. But considering that MOST of the stuff we get from them isn't tainted and apparently serves some sort of useful purpose for Americans, I try not to write them off the global market, because [as you noted] there are PEOPLE who have to live under that gvt. There are very few ways that we as Americans can help them, but buying their cheap carp [that very often saves us money] is one way.

 

But I'm game for hearing ways that America can/should deal w/ china....

[Heidi]

Oh, I don't trust China either. But considering that MOST of the stuff we get from them isn't tainted and apparently serves some sort of useful purpose for Americans, I try not to write them off the global market, because [as you noted] there are PEOPLE who have to live under that gvt. There are very few ways that we as Americans can help them, but buying their cheap carp [that very often saves us money] is one way.

 

But I'm game for hearing ways that America can/should deal w/ china....

 

Trust or not, we just borrowed $300 billion to simulate our... no wait.. THEIR economy. Forget latin! We better start learning Chinese!

 

Nee how ma?

[Haiku]

capitalism [little 'c'] by definition involves successful financial gains

 

No, it actually doesn't.

 

an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations, esp. as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth.

 

An economic and political system characterized by a free market for goods and services and private control of production and consumption.

 

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/capitalism

 

Capitalism has to do with who owns things, not how successful it is financially.

 

The idea of capitalism is not value-neutral. The idea that capitalism is "best" when financial gains are greatest is one value judgment. The idea that capitalism is "best" when it benefits everyone is another. As usual, we have a fundamentally different view of something. ;)

 

Tara

[Peek a Boo]

No, it actually doesn't.

 

 

I will absolutely concede that there is a difference between what most people see as a capitalistic enterprise ["capitalism=money" as it is usually thrown around] and the economic theories behind Capitalism.

 

How an enterprise is owned is only one piece of the puzzle: distribution of wealth is another.

 

you can't compete in a free market if you are not [ultimately] financially successful. that's a given.

 

In both ways Walmart has met the definition and succeeded.

 

nowhere in ANY definition of capitalism is "meeting EVERYONE's needs" ever a factor. That's a very basic premise in other economic theories tho ;)

 

so value judgments or not, WalMart has been a very good example of Capitalism at its best. But as some remind us, Capitalism isn't everyone's cuppa tea. :D

[Liz CA]

Trust or not, we just borrowed $300 billion to simulate our... no wait.. THEIR economy. Forget latin! We better start learning Chinese!

 

Nee how ma?

 

:glare: Gosh, just think of all those characters that don't even look like (our) letters. :D

We are all aware that China is not "going away" so we will have to find a way to deal with them. I am just not sure that I will ever be able to accept their view of human rights and human life.

[Peek a Boo]

We are all aware that China is not "going away" so we will have to find a way to deal with them. I am just not sure that I will ever be able to accept their view of human rights and human life.

 

:iagree: :iagree: :iagree:

[Haiku]

"meeting EVERYONE's needs"

 

And never did I say this. You are attempting to conflate what I said with some other economic system that we all know you are opposed to. :)

 

Tara

[EarleneW]

I don't mind it usually- Groceries are cheaper there....however I will NOT buy produce or meat there.

[Laurie4b]

I don't mind it usually- Groceries are cheaper there....however I will NOT buy produce or meat there.

 

Really? Why not? The produce is excellent at the one near us and I've only once had a problem with the meat in 8 years, and it was cheerfully taken care of. I've had multiple problems with meat at another grocery store near us.

[Peek a Boo]

And never did I say this. You are attempting to conflate what I said with some other economic system that we all know you are opposed to. :)

 

Tara

 

ah.

you said "when it benefits everyone."

feel free to explain how that is worlds different and conflated.

yeah....

[Peek a Boo]

Really? Why not? The produce is excellent at the one near us and I've only once had a problem with the meat in 8 years, and it was cheerfully taken care of. I've had multiple problems with meat at another grocery store near us.

 

I find our local HEB to have the best produce on a regular basis, and I usually find meats cheaper on sale elsewhere.

[PineFarmMom]

and since documentary films aren't the be-all and end-all of the truth, we can rest assured knowing that there's a second side to that coin. ;)

 

 

 

 

Well golly gee, Peek!! You mean I've gotta rethink all them thar documentries by folks like algore & Michael Moore and such people as them?? Surely not!! I thought those documentaries and scientists had this stuff all figgered out for us so we wouldn't have to think for ourselves 'n hurt ourselves or sumthin!! :lol:

[Haiku]

ah.

you said "when it benefits everyone."

 

 

I don't really see how it's hard to understand that someone can benefit from something without having all their needs met. I'm not talking about from each according to his ability, to each according to his need. I'm talking about living wages and production methods that don't annihilate the environment.

 

Tara

[hornblower]

Well golly gee, Peek!! You mean I've gotta rethink all them thar documentries by folks like algore & Michael Moore and such people as them?? Surely not!! I thought those documentaries and scientists had this stuff all figgered out for us so we wouldn't have to think for ourselves 'n hurt ourselves or sumthin!! :lol:

 

:blink:

 

You know what? This is offensive. You're implying that people who watched those documentaries and agreed with their POV are stupid sheep.

Yeah. Right. 'Cause only people who watch right wing documentaries/like Fox news/and get their propaganda from message boards are deep thinkers.

 

:001_rolleyes:

[hornblower]

I don't really see how it's hard to understand that someone can benefit from something without having all their needs met. I'm not talking about from each according to his ability, to each according to his need. I'm talking about living wages and production methods that don't annihilate the environment.

 

Tara

 

Ah - remember the promise of trickle down economics?! How the wealth was going to trickle down and now, with globalization, it was going to trickle down to everyone! Everyone could live in a big box house, filled with plastic disposable crap from a big box store, and everyone could eat exactly the same factory farmed/GMO food which was being sold all over the world! Yippee!!!

 

:001_rolleyes:

 

To be fair, there HAS been an increase in prosperity and standard of living in some areas. But there has also been a breakdown of local economies, a degradation of the environment, and exploitation of workers as companies are constantly chasing the 'lowest wages' around the world.

 

And a lot of what's been trickling down has not been good at all.

 

And the BASIC issue with what's wrong with WalMart and the like has been the gutting of the North American manufacturing sector. That's why people question whether 'it's good for America' and talk about the 'high cost of low prices'. Our pursuit of cheap, cheap, cheap; our desire to have more and more while paying less and less, is directly related to factory closures in our countries and DECREASED standards of living for many people who have lost skilled manufacturing jobs and are left with retail & service work (if they can get any work at all, that is).

 

There's a large cost to the community, to the environment (shipping all this stuff all over the world), and to our security - we (collective WE/the country) can't dress ourselves, build our homes, and increasingly, feed ourselves without relying on imports.

 

Bottom line is I try to support local stores, buy locally manufactured, buy durable, and buy as little as possible. I don't always succeed, but I try.

[Karenciavo]

I'm a Target woman myself, but something about this thread has me liking Walmart more than I did before I read it. :lol:

[PineFarmMom]

:blink:

 

You know what? This is offensive. You're implying that people who watched those documentaries and agreed with their POV are stupid sheep.

Yeah. Right. 'Cause only people who watch right wing documentaries/like Fox news/and get their propaganda from message boards are deep thinkers.

 

:001_rolleyes:

 

:001_rolleyes: However you've chosen to take that. I suppose it's no worse than calling those who disagree with the current nonsense to be following the voices of fear mongering. Goose and gander and all that!!

[Jen500]

I HATE Walmart. The workers at our Walmart obviously hate working, couldn't care less about the customers, and can barely communicate. The Target just up the street has much better workers.

[Haiku]

And the BASIC issue with what's wrong with WalMart and the like has been the gutting of the North American manufacturing sector. That's why people question whether 'it's good for America' and talk about the 'high cost of low prices'. Our pursuit of cheap, cheap, cheap; our desire to have more and more while paying less and less, is directly related to factory closures in our countries and DECREASED standards of living for many people who have lost skilled manufacturing jobs and are left with retail & service work (if they can get any work at all, that is).

 

There's a large cost to the community, to the environment (shipping all this stuff all over the world), and to our security - we (collective WE/the country) can't dress ourselves, build our homes, and increasingly, feed ourselves without relying on imports.

 

 

Exactly. The externalized costs of WalMart's "low, low" prices are so high that WalMart could not sustain itself if it truly had to pay the costs. That is not, imo, a sustainable business practice or a captalist success.

 

Tara

[Peek a Boo]

I don't really see how it's hard to understand that someone can benefit from something without having all their needs met. I'm not talking about from each according to his ability, to each according to his need. I'm talking about living wages and production methods that don't annihilate the environment.

 

 

It's not "hard to understand" -- but "benefitting everyone" is not the point of capitalism. At all.

 

capitalism is not about "protecting the environment" or offering "living wages" - again: those philosophies belong squarely in other economic theories. There are more than two. ;) And apparently "annihilate the environment" is far from what's really happening.

 

 

Ah - remember the promise of trickle down economics?! How the wealth was going to trickle down and now, with globalization, it was going to trickle down to everyone! .....

To be fair, there HAS been an increase in prosperity and standard of living in some areas.

 

do you think wealth trickles from the poor to the rich? really?

 

i agree that there have been problems, but they are pretty staunchly in the realm of Bad Gvt Interference: you mess w/ the flow upstream, things downstream suffer.

 

Jobs are not guaranteed. When the cars came along, many horse and carriage and train jobs went away. When planes came along, many passenger ships lost out. People really do need to be able to adapt, and globalization of jobs is a reality. The opportunities to WORK and learn a new skill are so numerous it is idiotic to think that WalMart is the one screwing over workers. The unions have done a disservice promoting the importance of the One Skilled Worker.

 

Do we really want to take a hard, honest look at the effect of manufacturing plants on the local environment?

 

 

Exactly. The externalized costs of WalMart's "low, low" prices are so high that WalMart could not sustain itself if it truly had to pay the costs. That is not, imo, a sustainable business practice or a captalist success.

 

which "costs" do you think WalMart should have to "truly pay" per a capitalistic society? what costs do you think are required to be paid under a capitalistic system?

are you willing to watch what happens to WalMart if you dump the mixed economy w/ our gvt interference and see what happens to WalMart from a CAPITALISTIC stance?

 

If your goal is to protect the environment in the way that you feel it needs protecting and to secure your idea of living wages, then you are NOT interested in a capitalistic system.

[Peek a Boo]

:001_rolleyes: However you've chosen to take that. I suppose it's no worse than calling those who disagree with the current nonsense to be following the voices of fear mongering. Goose and gander and all that!!

LOL!

[Haiku]

If your goal is to protect the environment in the way that you feel it needs protecting and to secure your idea of living wages, then you are NOT interested in a capitalistic system.

 

If good stewardship is considered anti-capitalist, then you're right. I am not a capitalist.

 

Tara

[Colleen]

 

I'm a Target woman myself, but something about this thread has me liking Walmart more than I did before I read it. :lol:

That's not surprising. On the other hand, Tara's reasoned, well-spoken posts are further confirmation of the views I already held. Again, not surprising.

 

[Janet in WA]

There was a time that I liked Walmart, even loved it maybe. But not anymore. But we have other shopping choices close by, and those are where I have the experiences I enjoy -- seeing people I know; friendly, knowledgeable employees, etc. I go to Walmart with my teeth gritted to buy things I can't get elsewhere. I stock up and don't go back for as long as I can help. The last two trips to WM, I've had TERRIBLE checkout experiences, which displayed for me problems across the board, from pricing issues to ill-trained employees and indifferent managers. I think the root cause of the problem is extremely high turnover rate for their employees, including management.

Edited December 23, 2009 by Janet in WA

[Colleen]

 

Well golly gee, Peek!! You mean I've gotta rethink all them thar documentries by folks like algore & Michael Moore and such people as them?? Surely not!! I thought those documentaries and scientists had this stuff all figgered out for us so we wouldn't have to think for ourselves 'n hurt ourselves or sumthin!! :lol:

I agree...with the laughing emoticon, anyway. Your post truly is laughable.