Walmart.

[Autumnleaf]

Most of us shop there but have mixed feelings about the ethics of it. Walmart is like a vacuum cleaner sucking up dollars from local economies.

 

[bhsmte]

Most of us shop there but have mixed feelings about the ethics of it. Walmart is like a vacuum cleaner sucking up dollars from local economies.

How so?

 

[Autumnleaf]

How so?

It starts when they put the money in the registers. Then they deposit it in a bank where it is electronically sent wherever Walmart wants it to go.

 

[bhsmte]

It starts when they put the money in the registers. Then they deposit it in a bank where it is electronically sent wherever Walmart wants it to go.

And, other stores don't deposit their receipts in a bank?

 

[Autumnleaf]

And, other stores don't deposit their receipts in a bank?

Local stores would do that but the owners would add onto their houses or expand their businesses etc... The money doesn't stay in the community with Walmart. Some also say Walmart workers get paid less and get less benefits than small business employees.

 

[bhsmte]

Local stores would do that but the owners would add onto their houses or expand their businesses etc... The money doesn't stay in the community with Walmart. Some also say Walmart workers get paid less and get less benefits than small business employees.

Well, we have a lot of national companies who own stores throughout the United States and do the same thing. Do you think national companies should be abolished?

In regards to keeping the money in the economy, you are not exactly correct. The employees that work at the store spend money in the local economy, the store pays expenses related to local companies they have to engage to do business and they pay taxes. If employees make less money at Walmart, then that would put competing stores in a good position to outbid Walmart for quality employees.

Lastly, if you have ever shopped at Walmart, they are doing something positive for most people who shop there. Walmart's prices are typically lower than their competitors (not a bad thing for consumers, correct?) and this means, the local people have more disposable income to put back into the local economy.

 

[Cactus Jack]

It's part of the free market. They can get more items in quantity far cheaper than a mom & pop store can, thus has lower costs. It sucks, but in this economy I am not sure how many people can afford to go to a mom & pop. I used to myself, but the "mom" was so snotty to her customers, they ended up going out of business, and of course blaming big box marts like Walmart, K-Mart, Alco & Pamida.

 

[theonelight]

I've visited walmart a few times, initially out of sheer curiosity, given the enormous amount of bad press they've received.

I've also purchased items occasionally from there when they've had enormous discounts or on items I couldn't find at other stores.

Unfortunately, the peopleofwalmart website isn't too far off in it's depiction of customers and staff. It was always a little startling seeing the staff. I've never seen a more slovenly appearing and unattractive group of humans in one location, ever.

I didn't think they were bad people, or even bad employees generally speaking, although gross incompetence was a common problem. Instead, they looked so misshapen, one could've gotten the impression that they were a different and inferior evolutionary branch of homo sapiens.

 

[Tigereyes12]

Most of us shop there but have mixed feelings about the ethics of it. Walmart is like a vacuum cleaner sucking up dollars from local economies.

It's a cheap place to get food if you are on a budget.

 

[bhsmte]

It's a cheap place to get food if you are on a budget.

It's a cheap place to buy anything, unless you have a desire to pay more somewhere else.

 

[revanneosl]

They treat their employees like garbage.

 

[bhsmte]

They treat their employees like garbage.

Do you have specific examples? It may be they are not as employee friendly as other places, but as a consumer, my main concern is getting a certain product at the best price I can.

Employees can choose not to work at Walmart, as there are many similar establishments that could seek employment.

 

[Nithavela]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKv6RcXa2UI

Have fun!

 

[ValleyGal]

In one of my community development classes, we watched how Wal Mart does it. There was a small town that had no Wal Mart, but they wanted to plant a huge one there. The town rebelled, as the nearby Wal Mart was only a 20 minute drive, and they would prefer to drive there. Some of the older people, though, liked the idea of not having to drive to pick up prescriptions. So the divide in the community began. Some for, some against. The local business owners complained that they would go out of business if the giant planted a store there. The arguments and discussions took a couple of years, and the town succeeded in having court orders to keep Wal mart out - only for the couple of years. instead, Wal mart bullied their way in by purchasing property outside the town limits, and sure enough, the local stores shut down leaving previous business owners in a position of having to start over - some going to work part time at Wal Mart, just like the cute (but true) video posted by Nithavela said. There is a whole "Wal Mart culture" that I try to ignore when I shop there. Yes, I shop there, but wish I didn't have to.

 

[Nithavela]

Why do you have to go and shop there?

 

[bhsmte]

Why do you have to go and shop there?

Precisely.

 

[Tigereyes12]

Why do you have to go and shop there?

Because it's cheap, and if you are on a budget and can't afford the expensive stores, that's where I go. A lot of hardworking families with mouths to feed can stretch their dollar farther.

 

[Purge187]

Brain-damaged woman at center of Wal-Mart suit - CNN.comAll I needed to know about Wal-Mart:

Brain-damaged woman at center of Wal-Mart suit - CNN.com

 

[KitKatMatt]

Why do you have to go and shop there?

Unfortunately, two reasons:

1. They've run off nearly ever bit of competition.

2. The competition that's left is either more expensive (the pharmacy sells things I need but the markup is horrible), or are just smaller "cheap" chain stores that don't sell things that I need (I can't find my Denorex shampoo anywhere but WalMart, I can't find clothing in my size anywhere but WalMart, etc).

I guess I could start ordering stuff online. I wonder if I'd save money?

 

[Cactus Jack]

Why do I shop there? Hmmm. The Wal Mart here is 1/2 hour away. The local grocer is only 5 minutes away. But who is better?

1. I already go to the "city" (pop. 9,000) around once a week.

2. If I get chicken there, it's usually $5 per packet where as the grocer is about $5.50-$6. The chicken is fresher at Wal Mart.

3. Hamburger, 92% lean, is about the same price as the grocer, but it's not going to go bad on me after sitting in the fridge for half a day. The grocer, frozen hamburger 85% lean, usually starts get rank within an hour after thawing.

4. The bread from Wal Mart can last me 3-4 weeks without being opened (it's the climate). Same brand from the grocer, is about 50 cents per loaf more and I'm lucky if it doesn't get moldy within 4 days.

5. Canned veggies, on sale at the grocer per case, is about 65 cents/can. At Wal Mart, regular price is the same, but on sale any where from 40 to 50 cents/can. One sale had it down to 36 cents a can.

I already drive to the city anyhow, so why not save money and get something decent to eat instead of paying a little extra for food that leaves me wondering if I'm going to get food poisoning from so the mom & pop can stay in business? Let me break this down for you if you don't "get it"-
Drive 30 minutes and pay $5 for a meal.
Drive 5 minutes, pay $6.50 for a meal, and be uncertain if you're gonna spend that night sitting on the toilet playing Rocket Man for a few hours.