Walmart

[Silverzone]

On the subject of Walmart lowering the gas prices. when we got out Wal-Mart super center, they began by dropping the gas prices. But it didnt last due to the other businesses complaining. And now, every gas station in town is at the same price, kind of annoying how one company wants to help the community (Wal Mart) and that makes them get in trouble. Thats one reason i like wal-mart, they do have better prices than most stores. but thats the only reason I would shop their. If the prices were not so good, I would be shopping at another store. I dont like how wal-mart is organized, and I think them not selling a CD with a parental advisory label and turning around and selling Beer/Cigarrates/Firearms/Rated R Movies/M rated games/ etc. Is a bit odd.

 

[YSSMAN]

But the thing is, Wal Mart really isn't saving you ANY money. There was research done that when a Wal Mart moved into a small Californian town not only did the standard of living decrease due to lower wages at the Wal Mart, it also lowered produce prices to the point at which local chains could not compete, and thus their support of local farms dropped, and business alltogether suffered.

Wal Mart is at the pinnacle of American Capitalism, but it does everything in it's power to destroy it. When Wal Mart comes to town, it often takes over the retail industry for that particular area, and that is part of the reason why Wal Mart has not done well in the Mid-West, in particular my home state of Michigan. We take great pride in our local businesses, and often times our cities will not allow Wal Marts to open without a public hearing, and on once occasion, a public vote.

 

[Danoff]

We take great pride in our local businesses, and often times our cities will not allow Wal Marts to open without a public hearing, and on once occasion, a public vote.

Prohibiting WalMart from entering your town BY LAW is shortchanging the people. If they WANT WalMart, why stop them from having it? If they don't want WalMart, WalMart won't stay in your area.

On the subject of taking pride in your local businesses, why? Because they can offer the same product for more money? If they offer a better product, why not let them compete with a low-end store like WalMart and give the worse off in your community the cheap stuff they want.

 

[Silverzone]

Maybe so...

http://slashdot.org/articles/06/07/19/049259.shtml

This is the lamest attempt at attracting new age groups I've ever seen. As for the politics of Wal-mart, I completely agree with Danoff. Some people just can't afford over priced goods at local stores. If you can get the same product cheaper, Why the hell would you not take advantage of that? Yes, it may hurt local businesses, but if the local businesses really wanted to compete with Wal-Mart, the only way is to lower their prices.

 

[Swift]

But the thing is, Wal Mart really isn't saving you ANY money. There was research done that when a Wal Mart moved into a small Californian town not only did the standard of living decrease due to lower wages at the Wal Mart, it also lowered produce prices to the point at which local chains could not compete, and thus their support of local farms dropped, and business alltogether suffered.

I hate to play devils advocate here. But this is not always the case. In Areas like mine when the community at large has already "graduated" from the mom & pop scenario, it's not nearly as severe. Such as my area in Maryland.

However, I do very much undestand and agree with your point in most cases.

 

[YSSMAN]

Prohibiting WalMart from entering your town BY LAW is shortchanging the people. If they WANT WalMart, why stop them from having it? If they don't want WalMart, WalMart won't stay in your area.

Well, part of the issue is that we allready are the headquarters to the Meijer corporation pretty much throughout West Michigan, and they allready have the "death grip" on the industry as a whole. Not that anyone cares however, as we owe a lot to Fred Meijer and his wife for establishing much of the Greater Grand Rapids area, and donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to businesses, schools, cities, etc.

Most of the time, it is the citizens who decide if they want to have a Wal Mart in their town or not. The Grand Haven Wal Mart Super Center took nearly two-years to decide as to if it would be built or not. The City of Grand Haven pushed many different building codes on Wal Mart, so this one will be 10,000 sq. ft smaller than the average Super Center, and given it's location across the street from a Meijer and both of their places in the city, the exterior had to be completely redone to match the City's standards as well.

It isn't that the city itself is prohibiting Wal Mart from opening, it is also that the citizens don't want them to open. There was a lot of opposition to Wal Mart in Grand Haven, but there were enough votes to get them to build it.

On the subject of taking pride in your local businesses, why? Because they can offer the same product for more money? If they offer a better product, why not let them compete with a low-end store like WalMart and give the worse off in your community the cheap stuff they want.

I can't explain the reasons as to why it happens that way, but it works out like that. Its just like asking why so many people in Detroit like to drive GMs and Ford despite the Hondas are "better." I suppose it is a brand-preference baked-in to most citizens in the area that Meijer is better, and thusly most of us would rather shop there.

What I've noticed is that at the two Wal Marts in Grand Rapids, most of the shoppers are as you have noted, of lower incomes, or to put it nicely "from out of state." Those two Wal Marts however are not Super Centers, and thusly they compete more with the Targets of the area.

 

[FoolKiller]

Good news for Wal*Mart.

Maryland Judge Tosses Law Requiring Wal-Mart to Spend More on Health Care

BALTIMORE — A federal judge on Wednesday overturned a Maryland law that would have required Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) to spend more on employee health care, arguing the retail giant "faces threatened injury" from the law's spending requirement.

I'm glad someone realized that letting a private business run privately was the legal and moral direction to take.

 

[Swift]

Good news for Wal*Mart.

Maryland Judge Tosses Law Requiring Wal-Mart to Spend More on Health Care

BALTIMORE — A federal judge on Wednesday overturned a Maryland law that would have required Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) to spend more on employee health care, arguing the retail giant "faces threatened injury" from the law's spending requirement.

I'm glad someone realized that letting a private business run privately was the legal and moral direction to take.

This is good to hear. Of course the stupid liberals are going to try to "rework" the bill and get it through again. Their ultimate goal being to force ALL employers to have healthcare benefits for their employees. 👎

 

[Snortin Norton]

Would it be wrong to compare Wal Mart to GM in terms of their markets?

I mean, GM was the giant. It always has been.

As is Wal Mart-- for now.

But, 70 years later, GM has been rivaled by a more streamlined and higher quality manufacturer: Toyota.

If Wal Mart's mantra/philosophy continues, which is similar to that of GM's, then could it be that they too, will ultimately meet their demise in the face of a better, more efficient competitor?

 

[YSSMAN]

Well it is a tough call to make, as I can't see many companies rivaling Wal Mart unless they are well-established brands in particular areas. I know that there was a lot of hubbub when Wal Mart finially came to the Great-Lakes states (Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio) as this is home turf to Meijer, who has pretty much had a deadlock on the food/retail market. Granted, Wal Mart has had some success, but the home team has been winning by constantly changing to compete against Wal Mart, now by having some stores placed in a more "upscale" way than Wal Mart while at the same time offering somewhat similar prices with far better quality products.

...Hell, people say that Steve and Barry's is supposed to be the "next Wal Mart" on the retail side of things. We sell most of our stuff for $9.98 (actually at $6.98 right now...) or less, and that includes jackets, pants, t-shirts, polos, shoes, hats, etc that really is good quality stuff. I have plenty of customers come up to me while I'm at work and ask me how we have everything priced so low, and I pretty much say that we "pull a Wal Mart" with the way we do stuff. Then they usually say something like they won't shop at a store like Wal Mart and Old Navy again, and they go about their business.

 

[Delirious]

Ok, rant time.

I work at Kroger. The pay isn't the best, but I can top out a lot higher than working at Wal-mart.

I've been there over 2 years, I know everyone who works in the store. I know over half of the customers. I even know a few on name to name basis. The customers almost become friends of mine because we have a closer space to talk since our store is not that big (groceries mainly)

Kroger is good for the personal shopping feel, that the customer service actually cares for the people since a lot of the people we ALWAYS see.

When I see a customer I know, it turns into an actual non-business conversation...with a customer!

Not to mention the parking lot is sure a lot smaller and safer than Wal-mart.

Customer service is something important to us, and we actually try our best to have BAGGERS bag your groceries, not the cashiers (which can wear VERY easily on a cashier, making customer service more difficult)

Less people working I feel makes for a better customer service experience.

For groceries anyway.

 

[Snortin Norton]

Less people working = less people to help you.

I hate not being able to find someone.

IMO, anyway.


Edit: Wait a sec- you just said less people working is better, where before you just said they hired extra people to bag groceries?

 

[Delirious]

Baggers aren't extra people.

Also we try to have the person you do ask for a certain item or customer service to be able to carry it out to the best of their ability.

 

[Crash]

Like Delirious XVII said, baggers aren't really extra people. They are expected to do other jobs around the store, and are expected to be friendly and serve the customers well if they ask you a question.

Also, some of these jobs are sometimes "for teenagers" kinds of jobs since often times there are regulations about working in certain departments (ie, bakery, deli, etc.) Like when I was 16 and I applied for a job at Fred Meyer (grocery store owned by Kroger), the only job they could have hired me for was bagging groceries, cleaning the toilets and floors and stocking shelves. Despite all that, they stressed so much on customer service and knowing where things are, the common questions and their answers, etc.

 

[Snortin Norton]

So how does that relinquish you from the status of "extra person"?

 

[Crash]

You are still treated as part of the staff, you are expected to join the union, you are expected to do what all the other staff does.

This isn't really the "we can fire him if we want becuase he's the extra man" type of job. Granted, if there are layoffs, you might be one of the first to go, but it certainly isn't the "oh, you're really worthless to us" kind of job.

Plus, you're not extra anymore if the store needs you. They wouldn't hire anyways if they have enough personnel.

 

[Time_Attack]

Sorry to bump this thread but after working at kroger and currently working at wal-mart, just wtf are you talking about? I only made $6.50 at kroger and make much more at wal-mart not to mention how wal-mart isnt union but kroger is meaning I get to keep even more money.

 

[Delirious]

...you can top out a lot higher at Kroger (12 at cashier, more in other departments) plus health care is a lot better.

I work at Kroger, and the quality of management is awesome, I love my managers.

 

[Time_Attack]

I get free life insurance and a bunch of other things I forget because I dont feel like reading the book they gave me.

I worked at kroger for 5 months and made the same at the end that I did when I was hired and had no benifits. I hope Kroger burns into the ground.

 

[Delirious]

www.wakeupwalmart.com have fun with that site

 

[3-Wheel Drive]

Sorry to bump this thread but after working at kroger and currently working at wal-mart, just wtf are you talking about? I only made $6.50 at kroger and make much more at wal-mart not to mention how wal-mart isnt union but kroger is meaning I get to keep even more money.

There's no need to apologize for gravedigging, so long as you're adding something relevent to the topic.

 

[FoolKiller]

Sorry to bump this thread but after working at kroger and currently working at wal-mart, just wtf are you talking about? I only made $6.50 at kroger and make much more at wal-mart not to mention how wal-mart isnt union but kroger is meaning I get to keep even more money.

This is excatly the same kind of experience I had after working at both a Kroger and Meijer and then working at a Sam's Club. There was even one day at Sam's where we were extremely busy and I got a customer with two flatbeds full of stuff and it was causing my line to back up. Suddenly I felt the item I just rang up lifted out of my hands and I looked up to see my store manager helping me reload the items. He told em to just ring it up and he would take care of this. It got the customer through in no time and then eth manager told me I was doing great and to keep it up. This was the store manager who at closing timne would stand by the door and thank every employee and wish them a good night as they left.

www.wakeupwalmart.com have fun with that site

Sure thing. I am sure there is no bias here.

I'll start at the "Wal-Mart's Agenda: A Right Wing America" (AND?) section.

OPPOSE EXPANDING HEALTH CARE TO WORKING FAMILIES & CHILDREN

-Wal-Mart vehemently opposed fair share health care legislation. Fair Share Health Care bills would require large profitable corporations, like Wal-Mart, to pay more to provide their employees and their dependents with affordable health care.

The site forgets to mention that this bill targeted Wal*Mart and only Wal*Mart, something which even courts ruled was unconstitutional.

-Currently, Wal-Mart's unaffordable health care leaves more than half of its employees (over 700,000 employees) without company health care at a cost to U.S. taxpayers of $1.39 billion every year.

Accoridng to this same Web site Wal*Mart's deductibles are $1,000 for single coverage and $3,000 for family coverage. They forgot to say it is per year. Oops. First, this is not any different than the benefits at Kroger or Meijer, despite their unions. This may sound like a lot to California grocery workers who strike over $5 a month, but this is about average for the US. It's less than I pay. Second, compare it to some other things. My wife works for the state of Kentucky and she has a 20% deductible. Imagine how much she would have to pay if she had to have surgery or was in a major car accident. This kind of healthcare plan is not uncommon in the US today. My wife could have better healthcare options being a cashier at Wal*Mart. 💡

OPPOSE A LIVING WAGE
-Wal-Mart fought against a living wage bill in Chicago and even threatened to stop building stores, if the people of Chicago required Wal-Mart to be a responsible corporate citizen.

Once again this was purely anti-Wal*Mart legislation. It is a bill that is targeted to only affect Wal*Mart. That is convenient isn't it? Would you stand for this kind of thing even though you knew your competitors didn't offer a whole lot better?

-The average Wal-Mart employee makes $2,000 below the national poverty line for a family of four.

What about other grocery employees or fast food employees or any other low-wage employee. Why are we just attacking Wal*Mart? Oh, that's right, they have the most money. Why is it that success is such a sin in this country?

A Substantial Number of Wal-Mart Associates earn far below the poverty line

In 2001, sales associates, the most common job in Wal-Mart, earned on average $8.23 an hour for annual wages of $13,861. The 2001 poverty line for a family of three was $14,630. [“Is Wal-Mart Too Powerful?”, Business Week, 10/6/03, US Dept of Health and Human Services 2001 Poverty Guidelines, 2001]
A 2003 wage analysis reported that cashiers, the second most common job, earn approximately $7.92 per hour and work 29 hours a week. This brings in annual wages of only $11,948. [“Statistical Analysis of Gender Patterns in Wal-Mart’s Workforce”, Dr. Richard Drogin 2003]
Wal-Mart Associates don't earn enough to support a family

The average two-person family (one parent and one child) needed $27,948 to meet basic needs in 2005, well above what Wal-Mart reports that its average full-time associate earns. Wal-Mart claimed that its average associate earned $9.68 an hour in 2005. That would make the average associate's annual wages $17,114. [“Basic Family Budget Calculator” online at www.epinet.org]

To sum up, Wal*Mart pays less than we think they should. And? Don't work there, plain and simple. If every other company on teh planet is better than Wal*Mart then go work there. There are jobs within driving distance (I drive 40 miles one-way myself). Or better yet, every time I see a Wal*Mart pop up there are restaraunts and gas stations that seem to try and surround it. Plus, in Kentucky it seems like a law that Lowe's hardware store must build next to Wal*Mart. See, all kinds of options for people without a degree. But with all these options out there in the world why do people keep working at Wal*Mart? Perhaps it isn't as bad as sites like thsi make it out to be. Of course, it could also be that the typical Wal*Mart employee is too lazy to look for something better, in which case I have no sympathy.


You're right. That was fun.

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

They just built a new Walmart about 2 miles from my house. It is a LOT better than the other Walmart thats about 10 miles away. The wait in line is a lot shorter, much cleaner, the prices are very nice, it is just a great place to shop compared to the other one. The only bad thing about Walmart is that they dont sell Guinness. So that means I run across the street to Meijer just for my Guinness.

 

[Delirious]

Give it a month or so, the newness will wear off and so will the cleanliness...the super wal-mart by my house is dis-organized and dirty...and just plain cheap.

I like Kroger, I can earn more by working there, health-insurance is more affordable, managers are really nice, people are really nice, I love our product selection...if I like my job, make enough money, then who am I to complain about Kroger? Just don't tell me to work at Wal-mart.

 

[Time_Attack]

I just saw a former co worker from kroger while I was at work today... Even kroger employes dont shop there. This guy does everything there but still doesnt make more money like I should. I told him I get paid for doing one thing even when I'm doing anothet and he said he wishes he got that.

Wal-mart even has a no quit policy so that if I'm ever not happy I can talk to anyone to make it better or get transfered to another department.

They also have those cart pushing machines meaning when I get drafted into that I dont have to work my ass off.

 

[Danoff]

This guy does everything there but still doesnt make more money like I should. I told him I get paid for doing one thing even when I'm doing anothet and he said he wishes he got that.

What?

 

[Time_Attack]

Sorry. What I was trying to say is that he and I do just about the same thing but I get paid more no matter what part of my job I do but he gets paid less even though he does the same things.

 

[Danoff]

Sorry. What I was trying to say is that he and I do just about the same thing but I get paid more no matter what part of my job I do but he gets paid less even though he does the same things.

I see. And you work and Walmart and your buddy works at Kroger, so you're saying that Walmart is a much better employer from your point of view.

Got it now.

 

[Time_Attack]

Well its not really fair to him. I know he busts his ass doing several things in the store and I do just about the same stuff at wal-mart. I'm trained as a cashier and get paid for being a cashier but today I was getting carts because they dont have enough people to do that. I still got paid for being a cashier even though the cart guys get paid less. This guy does the same stuff but he only gets paid for being a cart boy.

 

[YSSMAN]

Meijer, w00t!!!

We were on a tangent today in my PS101 class today at Aquinas, and Wal-Mart came up, and will come up again next week. Its awfully strange how "hot" of a topic it can be with people, even those of us who generally don't care about politics or economics.

...Stange, as even I, pretty much a GOP person, don't like Wal Mart one bit. In the world of "compeditive capitalism" here in the US, Wal Mart does everything within it's power to end it, and I have a problem with it. While I cannot deny it for it's success in the free market, they have done "too good" to be liked by everyone.