I used to like Wal-Mart, but then I began to learn more and more about their purchasing practices and relations with their suppliers. Now I avoid Wal-Mart and encourage others to do the same. Wal-Mart is putting alot of smaller shops out of business as well, and I prefer the more personal service you tend to get from smaller shops as well.
I tend to feel the same about purchasing online, I used to do it alot more, but now I'm more likely to try to find something in a local store, especially small bookstores and used bookstores (although not big-chain stores, if my choice is between a large chain and ordering online, I'll go with the most cost-effective.)
But, allow me to get back to Wal-Mart. For a very interesting (but long) read about Wal-Mart, check this out:
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html
Read what you can about it and make your own decision. Me, I've made mine and avoid Wal-Mart like a plague.
Originally posted by chatterboxLOL! some of us can't afford to avoid Wal-Mart! as far as i'm concerned, Wal-Mart is the cheapest and easiest market in my area...there aren't many other supermarkets around my area and the one's the are, aren't even close to being competitive! besides they pay their employees (i'm talkin cart pushers 😉 very well! i encourage Wal-Mart! (they also don't hire the Union Workers) 😉
I used to like Wal-Mart, but then I began to learn more and more about their purchasing practices and relations with their suppliers. Now I avoid Wal-Mart and encourage others to do the same. Wal-Mart is putting alot of smaller shops out of business as well, and I prefer the more personal service you tend to get from smaller shops as well.
I tend to ...[text shortened]... can about it and make your own decision. Me, I've made mine and avoid Wal-Mart like a plague.
Originally posted by knapsterWell, part of me says I really shouldn't reply to this, but the part that would enforce that is too tired right now.
LOL! some of us can't afford to avoid Wal-Mart! as far as i'm concerned, Wal-Mart is the cheapest and easiest market in my area...there aren't many other supermarkets around my area and the one's the are, aren't even close to being competitive! besides they pay their employees (i'm talkin cart pushers 😉 very well! i encourage Wal-Mart! (they also don't hire the Union Workers) 😉
I'm hoping your smilies mean your post is in jest, but I suspect from your comments that you work part time as a cart-pusher. I certainly won't tell you that you should quit your job or anything, everyone needs to eat and put a roof over their head.
However, the presence of Wal-Mart itself depresses the local economy which in turn makes the Wal-Mart discount prices more appealing, as you put it, you can't afford not to shop there. It's just like how their suppliers are treated, they can't afford NOT to sell to Wal-Mart or the supplier will go out of business. It's a vicious cycle.
Not everything needs to be a supermarket, there used to be these things called "Grocery Stores" that were plentiful (in the good ole days) where you could get food and produce... But i'm getting on a tangent. Quite simply, the few stores in your area that you say aren't competetive can't afford to be, if they dropped their prices as low as Wal-Mart they would go out of business, as many other stores in that area likely already have.
And Unions are there to protect the worker, their rights, their livelyhood, and general quality of life. For workers, unions are a good thing, which is why companies are doing everything they can to prevent employees from unionizing, it cuts into the company's profits.
It may be worthwhile to mention here that Wal-Mart consistently has the largest profit margin than any other dept. store in the world. So somewhere in all those 'good deals' people are getting taken. Also, I find the quality of product avaliable at Wal-Mart to be lacking in many areas...bed sheets being my specific example...I had much better luck at Target, which is only slightly less evil than Wal-Mart, I suppose. <sigh>
How do we fix this problem? I mean, I never shop at Wal-Mart, but often shop at Target...is it really any better? The mega-corporations have eaten up so many of the 'mom and pop' shops that I don't know how to find them.
Perhaps I will buy a loom and make my own bed sheets, then try to sell them on RHP?! I wonder if a Wal-Mart exec would join the site in an attempt to steal my market share? 😉
TheSkipper
Originally posted by TheSkipperTarget is not good, but anything is better than Wal-Mart. You can read about the corporate shenanigans of Target at: http://www.responsibleshopper.com/basic.cfm?cusip=239753
It may be worthwhile to mention here that Wal-Mart consistently has the largest profit margin than any other dept. store in the world. So somewhere in all those 'good deals' people are getting taken. Also, I find the quality of product avaliable at Wal-Mart to be lacking in many areas...bed sheets being my specific example...I had much better luck at T ...[text shortened]... if a Wal-Mart exec would join the site in an attempt to steal my market share? 😉
TheSkipper
Then you can compare them to Wal-Mart's laundry list of crimes at the link I provided earlier.
Originally posted by RBHILLI've been in the retail business for 35 years. I've seen many a good business closed, and many a good person unemployed because of Wal Mart. Apparently this makes you happy as I see you've inserted a smiley. Does it make you happy that 1000's more people will be unemployed? All because Wal Mart steadily marches to a monoply. A monoply where they won't give a damn about their customers...oh, wait they already don't! A monoply where they won't give a damn about their employees...oh, wait they already don't! A monoply where they can charge whatever they damn well please....they don't yet but they will. Then you'll have something to smile about!!!!
They are losing to Wal 🙂 Mart