Is Walmart ethical?

[Autumnleaf]

We've got basically a monopoly discount retailer here. They use cut throat business practices to buy cheap, incidentally these ways of doing business have been the reason for many former US factories to move jobs overseas. They tend to sell mediocre quality for mid to low prices. They are also the 'lack of options' choice for many people in America when it comes to buying anything from clothes to food. Should they be taken down from their monopoly-like status or are they a white knight to the American people?

 

[HannahBanana]

Of course Wal-Mart isn't ethical. They take advantage of poverty-stricken, naive young Chinese women by "employing" them in factories that are more like slave-labor camps. Anyone who thinks that is ethical should seriously examine their morals.

Here's a link to some of the shocking facts about Wal-Marts heinous business tactics:

http://www.walmartmovie.com/facts.php

 

[yasic]

Yes they are ethical.

They increase the average rate of pay someone makes in the general area around which they are built. Provide superior jobs to people overseas than what they would get on their own, and provide cheap yet durable equipment for my everyday use.

I personally love WalMarts.

 

[HannahBanana]

Yes they are ethical.

They increase the average rate of pay someone makes in the general area around which they are built. Provide superior jobs to people overseas than what they would get on their own, and provide cheap yet durable equipment for my everyday use.

I personally love WalMarts.

Have you ever done any actual research into Wal-Mart's business practices?

 

[JackKerouac]

Wal-Mart employs young Chinese women in their factories? Where are these factories? Wal-Mart is a retail chain, not a manufacturing firm.
As for that link...yeah...I suppose if it's on the internet, it must be true.

Autumn, I invite you to consider not buying in to the hype. What does Wal-mart do that isn't also done by K-Mart, Target, or Amazon.com? They all buy cheap so they can sell cheap. As for the quality of their product, I don't buy that argument. Are you saying that Sony, Marie Callenders, and Douglas tires (all sold at Wally World) are low quality stuff. As I said before, Wal-mart doesn't manufacture, they sell.

As for lack of options, I'm not sure that's something you can lay at their feet. In many small towns, Wal-mart's existence actually increases options. Any business selling nice, name brand clothing will not be put out of business by Wal-Mart because they aren't a competitor in that market.

I live in a very economically stressed area of south-central Kentucky. About 10 years ago Fruit of the Loom shipped their factory work overseas, causing a devastating job loss in this area. The only substantial recovery in jobs our county has seen since has been due to the Wal-mart Super Center opening a year ago.

There is a lot of hype surrounding Wal-mart that is based on a lot of hysteria, some radical agendas, and not a lot of thought. I'm not saying they don't have some questionable business practices, although I contend it's no worse than any other corporate giant that has grown so big it ceases to be personable. I'm just saying it's kind of pointless to join in the kind of dragon slaying that happens a lot.

 

[JackKerouac]

Have you ever done any actual research into Wal-Mart's business practices?

I have. I think yasic's closer to right than you want to give her credit for.

 

[yasic]

Have you ever done any actual research into Wal-Mart's business practices?

Yes I have, as well as studied other ethical implications to having a walmart, the market price changes, effects on environment, and many other aspects related to this issue.

 

[HannahBanana]

I suggest everyone who thinks that Wal-Mart is ethical watch this film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJMYZwL8sPA

Then tell me what you think about Wal-Mart.

 

[yasic]

Ok, once I get home I will watch and comment on the film. (Cannot right now as I am in my university without sound)

 

[HannahBanana]

Ok, once I get home I will watch and comment on the film. (Cannot right now as I am in my university without sound)

Okay, thanks. Good luck with your finals! (Assuming that's what you're working on at your university.)

 

[Infernalfist]

personally, i believe anything unethical surrounding wal-mart are it's customers. before i started working at wal-mart i refused to shop there solely because i disliked the type of people it attracted.

 

[HannahBanana]

personally, i believe anything unethical surrounding wal-mart are it's customers. before i started working at wal-mart i refused to shop there solely because i disliked the type of people it attracted.

What about Wal-Mart's unethical business practices? Why didn't you mention those at all?

 

[Infernalfist]

is it foolish to sell something low quality for a low price? or is it foolish to purchase something of low quality for a low price? i have found nothing unethical in wal-mart practices since i started working there, but i have seen a mountain of foolery.

 

[HannahBanana]

is it foolish to sell something low quality for a low price? or is it foolish to purchase something of low quality for a low price? i have found nothing unethical in wal-mart practices since i started working there, but i have seen a mountain of foolery.

Have you ever watched the documentary "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices"? If not, then I suggest you do watch it, because it's really eye-opening.

 

[Infernalfist]

i do not watch those kind of movies, because they are just propaganda, plain and simple. i refuse to watch anything i feel to be propaganda, even if it is in agreement with the way i feel.

 

[HannahBanana]

i do not watch those kind of movies, because they are just propaganda, plain and simple. i refuse to watch anything i feel to be propaganda, even if it is in agreement with the way i feel.

How can you know whether or not they're propaganda if you don't even watch them, though? That's just as bad as the Christians who claim that the Harry Potter books and movies are demonic, even though they've never actually read the books or watched the movies.

 

[Infernalfist]

How can you know whether or not they're propaganda if you don't even watch them, though? That's just as bad as the Christians who claim that the Harry Potter books and movies are demonic, even though they've never actually read the books or watched the movies.

lol, you know that was actually a low blow comparing me to that type of person. fine then, i accept your challenge, even though i have already "been in the belly of the beast" so to say. ironically enough, i learned a great deal about playing chess while working at wal-mart.

 

[HannahBanana]

lol, you know that was actually a low blow comparing me to that type of person. fine then, i accept your challenge, even though i have already "been in the belly of the beast" so to say. ironically enough, i learned a great deal about playing chess while working at wal-mart.

Well, sometimes the truth hurts. I am glad that you're going to watch the movie, though. And I do realize that you have learned quite a bit about Wal-Mart by working there, but as an employee, it's pretty much guaranteed that everything you learned is biased towards the pro-Wal-Mart side of things, since I doubt employees are allowed to speak negatively about the company (or at least they aren't allowed to do so while their boss is nearby).

 

[Infernalfist]

Well, sometimes the truth hurts. I am glad that you're going to watch the movie, though. And I do realize that you have learned quite a bit about Wal-Mart by working there, but as an employee, it's pretty much guaranteed that everything you learned is biased towards the pro-Wal-Mart side of things, since I doubt employees are allowed to speak negatively about the company (or at least they aren't allowed to do so while their boss is nearby).

Ha! actually wal-mart is the worse company i have ever worked for. i will gladly wear a mcdonalds uniform before a wal-mart uniform. i still however never saw any of it's practices as evil or a conspiracy. just the quantity of foolish decisions made, made the whole working experience horrible.

 

[JackKerouac]

Hannah, with all due respect, it's kind of a low-blow argument to assert that Wal-Mart is wraught with unethical business practices and then every time someone challenges that assertion to respond repeatedly with "watch this video". It makes it look (to me at least) like that video is your only argument. I plan on watching it when I get a chance (hopefully tonight). But in the meantime, I invite you to share with us what the video says that has you so convinced. I also challenge you to back what you say up with valid sources (which I suspect the video doesn't do.)

Do you actually think Wal-Mart employees are brainwashed? I think you'll find that they are free to speak up as they wish. I also think you'll find that while Wally World employees are in a pretty good position to verify or deny your almost-claims, most of them will agree with Infernalfist.

I hope I'm not coming across as contentious or anything like that. I just hear these assertions tossed around a lot and think this might be a good time and place to actually have the discussion about it. Apparently, it's something you're pretty passionate about, so I'm betting you've got a lot to contribute.