Critics: More Turning Away From Wal-Mart

[deadparrot]

BERRYVILLE, Ark. - Nancy McShane used to spend $600 to $700 a month at Wal-Mart on everything from groceries to oil changes. Then in March she abruptly switched to other discount stores, upset over what her turkey-farming relatives saw as undue price pressure from the world's largest retailer.

McShane, a Springfield, Mo., housewife with children aged 11 and 12, is among what organized critics claim is a growing number of Americans turning against Wal-Mart amid allegations from unions and others that the company is bad for workers, the environment and communities.

"We cut off Wal-Mart cold turkey. Now I'm preaching it to other people," McShane said.

But for James Butler, a chicken plant worker from Alpena, complaints that Wal-Mart is bad for America just don't add up — but the savings do.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051201/ap_on_bi_ge/wal_mart_opinion

[Ron Green]

1. Yeah, the savings. I'll bet for every dollar people "save" on their

necessities, the same people spend a dollar on something truly useless and unsustainable.

[1monster]

43. Yeah, like unconscionably high medical bills left over after the

insurance paid a generous amount.

And that 29.9 percent interest rate we are being charged on late fees and what little principal there was left on the credit card before two medical emergencies and the subsequent medical bills along with reduced work hours and higher prices for everything, including gas, made it impossible to make payments on time.

I agree, I'm getting nothing useful or sustaining from any extra dollar I manage to save by shopping at Walmart. But I'd be even deeper in debt if I shopped for my groceries elsewhere.

I save a lot on groceries at Walmart, and it all goes to pay those crummy loan sharks who now legally do what got organized crime sydicate memebers ten years in prison ten or so years back.

[Erika]

2. Wal Mart gives employees a job ap & a state welfare ap

at the same time. They don't pay enough in wages or offer any benefits. So the billionaire Walton kids just offer minimum wage and provide applications for state aid. What an employer. They will pay low wages and expect American tax payers to come up with health care. Yet they are billionaires. I expect they may need to hide their faces in the future, to prevent tomatoes.

[niyad]

4. and don't forget that sam walton tried to get the company exempted from

even paying minimum wage.

[LostinVA]

19. Now THAT I've never heard! Story? Link?

This one I'd love to hear... jackals.

[AllegroRondo]

29. I know its true in Missouri

when a relative started to work there, she was given classes in how to apply for food stamps and medicaid.

She has since left and is now working a union job at a grocery store.

[LostinVA]

32. She wasn't paid minimum wage???

[AllegroRondo]

33. She was, but not allowed to work enough hours to qualify

"full time" for Wal-Mart was 27 hours a week, I believe. She could not work more than that.

[LostinVA]

36. Sorry -- I was asking the other poster about WM not

paying minimum wage, when you answered that in the affirmative...

[brainshrub]

22. What's particularly gross

is that the Walton kids pretend it's all out of their hands.

Let me get this straight: You are entitled to billions of dollars for doing nothing, but you can't lobby within YOUR OWN COMPANY for the people upon your wealth depends.

Sick, insulated wankers.

[ikojo]

55. Paige Laurie, whom I believe is a grandchild

of Bill Walton, exhibited Wal Mart family values by buying her degree (which she has since returned to the California University from which she graduated). She paid a working class hispanic student approx $20k to take tests and write papers for her while enrolled in some university in California.

When it came to light of course the billionaire Laurie family denied it and said the student was lying.

These are the Wal Mart family values!

[napi21]

3. I'd love to see the background on this WM comment!

"A good poll would be to ask if working families enjoy the $2,300 in savings we provide per year."


I wonder just how they came up with $2,300 a year savings? Just how much would someone have to spend each week to actually save $44.23 per week ($2,300 /52 weeks)?

This looks like another "you can make numbers prove anything you want" story to me!

[Erika]

5. Or maybe they knocked off $2,300 from a living wage

and are calling it cost savings. These people are disgraceful. The one Walton grand daughter had to turn her college degree back after it was revealed she paid another student to do her work and take the exams for her.

[napi21]

6. yea, I heard about that. Dumb broad. I don't recall what

school she was enrolled in, but we all know at the ivy league ones, then always give out the "gentleman C" and you don't even have to pay someone for it.

[Erika]

7. That's right

and I don't think her family qualifies for any humanitarian awards.

[lolly]

51. USC

In this case, the "University of Spoiled Children" charge seems to have fit well.

[guruoo]

57. "She is not a graduate of USC"

Wal-Mart Heiress Returns Diploma
"Paige Laurie voluntarily has surrendered her degree and returned her diploma to the university. She is not a graduate of USC."
statement from the University of Southern California
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/19/national/main956890.shtml

[dennisnyc]

13. "Are you happy to subsidize walmart employees with foodstamps and

healthcare paid for with tax dollars?"

As a polling question, this would be interesting.

[xchrom]

27. it's from the bureau of making shit up.

same place they get economic and {un}employment figures from.

[donkeyotay]

37. I love that - Bureau of Making Shit Up, aka BOMSU

I think it exists... why it's probably a working group in the WH.

:-)

[xchrom]

39. me too

[Patiod]

40. No - they priced comparable things at Nordstrom's and Zabar's

and then said people "saved" by shopping Walmart.

[durablend]

44. Couple of hundred a week at least in spending

There's no way they're saving more than 10-20% overall. Especially if we're talking about mostly groceries and such which are EXTREMELY low margin and where WM can't cut more than a couple of "see, we told you we're cheaper than the place across the street" cents off of most items. Maybe these people are buying a TV and DVD player a week to replace the one that broke.

Same reason I call bullshit to anyone here who claims that they "save" 50% over shopping somewhere else. Not happening unless you're comparing regular prices with clearance or brand names with bottom-of-the-line Sam's No-Choice Crap.

[Scooter24]

8. And yet profit is up...

the company on average makes $20,000 in profit per minute.

[Jamison]

9. Good news!

I try to educate people I know about Wal-Mart's misdeeds and turn them onto Costco as an alternative. Usually when most people hear about the low wages they pay, union busting, illegal immigrant labor, and workplace abuses that have been documented against Wal-Mart, it's enough to definitely make people think twice about ever setting foot in one again.

[Hekate]

10. Wall Street says Costco is "too good to its employees" -- works for me!

After Costco came our way I wasn't sure if I should feel guilty or not for being seduced by the bargains -- and then my husband relayed that comment to me. Dag -- you don't hear that too often, do you?

It's most encouraging to read that a growing number of WalMart shoppers are catching on to the *real* cost of that chain.

Hekate

[Born Free]

11. read many good articles about Costco...

However, my favorite are from the employees, just last evening an employee was teasing me after she learned I packed my own cart, she said "Better watch out, they will hire you... ... but, they pay good


Costco doesn't have as big as selection as some other warehouses, but they are very nice there and if you are not a big eater you could probably fill up just trying all the samples they are cooking, every time we are there they have a few items that are great - never go there if you are hungry or you will buy too many items, just because the samples taste good.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

16. Gas Savings

I pay for my Costco membership just through the lower price on gas. I love that place.

[fasttense]

12. James Butler better be careful about what he buys at Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart gives discounts only on certain items. I bought a Christmas novelty the other day at (of all places) a furniture store for $10.00. Went into Wal-Mart to return a coffee pot that caught on fire, they were selling the same novelty for $25.00.

Between the burning coffee pot and the over priced novelty I've stopped shopping at Wal-Mart. It is too expensive.

[kstewart33]

14. I absolutely will never shop there.

I did once in Alabama, but that's it.

[Arianrhod]

30. I've never shopped at Wal-Mart. And never will. n/t

[Raine]

53. Same here

I was in one once and looked around I was not impressed and left without buying a thing, haven't been in one since.

[cliss]

34. Same here. I've only been in a Wal-Mart store once.

To buy an inflatable mattress pump which you plug into your cigarette lighter (for camping).

Other than that, never will. Even if I have to sleep on a flat air mattress in the tent.

[converted_democrat]

15. I have not stepped into a Walmart for years.

I've seen the result Walmart has had on our community, driving business of all stripes out of town. I don't care how much money I can save shopping there, it isn't worth the toll it takes on a community. The only "real control" I have outside a voting booth, is how I choose to spend my money, and this has been one of my better choices.

[UpInArms]

17. same here c_d!

:toast:

:hi:

[LostinVA]

21. And me!

[UpInArms]

38. here's to you (and all the others that have cut Squal-Mart off)

:toast:

:pals:

[converted_democrat]

35. Great minds think alike!!

:toast:

:pals:

[kurth]

18. Give your money to anybody but Wal-Mart

[maseman]

20. I used to shop there

I must admit before I was more educated on the evils of Wal-Mart I shopped there like the lady in the article. Before I figured out the horrible implications of the Wal-Beast, it was becoming a miserable experience anyway. Tight, narrow aisles, gross people, miserable employees, long check-out lines, etc.

I probably spent about $400 to $500 per month there (before kids) and also cut them off cold turkey. My folks did the same thing as did our neighbor couple.

Wal-Mart's competitors should advertise directly against the beast.

[AlinPA]

46. Welcome to DU! Good hearing from you.

[Terran]

23. Alright, Missouri wakes up!

Sadly, my state is studded with Wal Marts like warts on toads's butt. We have them in *tiny* little communities where there is no way they are needed, and now they want to build a *second* "supercenter" in my town, which is only 45,000 people. I could not be happier to see that other people besides me are preaching against Wal Mart!

[oneold1-4u]

24. WM price of savings

Just one item of notice: coffee is something people pick up when shopping WM for anything else. $2 higher than down the street one block! But of course one might have saved that on price of a movie! ROFL

[Bloodblister Bob]

25. The bottom line for me: Wal-Mart is an unpleasant place to shop...

...Beyond all the legitimate concerns about low wages, etc., etc., the Wal-Mart shopping experience simply sucks. The stores I've been to are carelessly stocked, poorly-lit, and on the dirty side. Who needs it?

[Nickdfresh]

41. You forgot to mention...

aisles so filled with crap that you can't move. The atmosphere turns people rude and belligerent. No wonder why people donnybrook in those places.

[noamnety]

26. I saw an anti-walmart poster yesterday

tacked to the bulletin board in my regular grocery store. I got all excited, just knowing there was an anti-walmart activist doing something in my neighborhood (besides my own kid, and I know it wasn't her because she's away at college).

[Straight Shooter]

28. The closest W-Mart to me is 75 miles away. So is Bi-Mart.

I haven't shopped at W-Mart in years. I shop at Bi-Mart now, because:

1. Cleaner atmosphere, wider aisles
2. Better prices, comparable selection
3. No hassles about returns (W-Mart was horrid)
4. Bi-Mart is employee-owned, which is the best reason of all.
5. Bi-Mart mails out little coupon books; W-Mart mails out huge, wasteful, environmentally irresponsible glossy advertisements

[Lorien]

31. Save a dollar now, lose your paycheck and your planet in the near future

it ain't worth it.NO ONE can call themselves a patriotic American if they shop at China-mart! (I'm broke, and I'll do without instead of shopping there)!

[Raster]

42. Some of the richest, greediest people on the planet can't treat their

employees like human beings. Fuck em. I haven't shopped at ANYTHING associated with the Arkansas mafia for years. Spread the word. wally world isn't good for anyone or anything. Talk about rich white trash...

[AlinPA]

45. We don't shop there at all. When their store came to our town, it hurt

many of the locals' small businesses. It is hugely popular here, though, in a depressed area and with a lot of very low income people.
We still shop at K-Mart and drive to Target once in awhile (30 miles away). A lot of people I know say that WalMart is trashy and cluttered, poorly lighted and food displays (meat, produce) are not fresh-looking.

[Pharaoh]

47. bravo! Bravo!

nominated...............


the sheeple are awakening........

[goforit]

48. Hell...I haven't shopped there since 2000.

Certainly people can find more respectable places to shop.

[Trish1168]

49. I try to avoid it. Once in a blue moon, I'll shop there

I only go if I'm too busy to find an alternative.

[Piedras]

50. No Wally World for this leftcoaster

I don't shop at Wally World. Mostly Food 4 Less, Trader Joe's, and a newly opened Costco. About a week ago I went shopping at a Ralph's for snacks. Was shocked at prices in a major chain grocery. For example a two pound bag of baby carrots was about $4.50. That same evening I went to Trader Joe's. A two pound bag, of better quality, baby carrots was $1.49. Costco gas prices are the best in the area. Maybe so good that a nearby Shell gas station closed and it looks like it's being remodeled into a mini-mart sans gas pumps.

[PassingFair]

52. I saw a bumper sticker somewhere that said:

I Support Forced Abortion in China
I Shop At Walmart!

...or something like that....

[OKNancy]

54. Kick

[shrike]

56. I just don't like shopping at Walmart, period.

Stores are dirty, noisy, poorly staffed, etc. I get better service at Kmart, down the street, and if at all possible I shop a local mom-and-pop (we still have a few of those: garden store, men's clothing, jewelry, etc.)

[guruoo]

58. Two more Walmart documentaries

These might be good to use in public screenings as
a followup to Greenwood's film.


PBS Frontline
"Is Wal-Mart Good for America?"
This profile examines Wal-Mart's evolution from
"Made in America" to "made in China."
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/

"The Age of Wal-Mart: Inside America's Most Powerful Company,"
takes an unprecedented look at the biggest and most influential company in the world: Wal-Mart. "The Age of Wal-Mart" examines how the company has ascended to its heights of power - raking in close to $300 billion in sales this year alone - and probes the question: can this juggernaut continue to succeed in the face of increased opposition?

"The Age of Wal-Mart" tells the tale of how a family-owned retailer in Northwest Arkansas became the most successful retailer the world has ever seen. Given unprecedented access, Faber takes viewers from an annual managers' meeting that resembles an evangelical revival to the opening of a new store in China, where Wal-Mart is the country's 5th largest importer, following 3 countries and all of Europe combined. In addition, Faber also sits down for a one-on-one with CEO Lee Scott - who, for the first time, addresses the criticisms over outsourcing, community friction, lawsuits and other challenges the mammoth company faces today.
http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:UkJe2KQmEIUJ:cnbc.burrelles.com/Products.asp%3FParentID%3D49179+%22The+Age+of+Wal-Mart:+Inside+America%27s+Most+Powerful+Company,%22&hl=en

[guruoo]

59. Walmart's predatory capitalism

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html

The Wal-Mart You Don't Know

The giant retailer's low prices often come with a high cost. Wal-Mart's relentless pressure can crush the companies it does business with and force them to send jobs overseas. Are we shopping our way straight to the unemployment line?

A gallon-sized jar of whole pickles is something to behold. The jar is the size of a small aquarium. The fat green pickles, floating in swampy juice, look reptilian, their shapes exaggerated by the glass. It weighs 12 pounds, too big to carry with one hand. The gallon jar of pickles is a display of abundance and excess; it is entrancing, and also vaguely unsettling. This is the product that Wal-Mart fell in love with: Vlasic's gallon jar of pickles.

Wal-Mart priced it at $2.97--a year's supply of pickles for less than $3! "They were using it as a 'statement' item," says Pat Hunn, who calls himself the "mad scientist" of Vlasic's gallon jar. "Wal-Mart was putting it before consumers, saying, This represents what Wal-Mart's about. You can buy a stinkin' gallon of pickles for $2.97. And it's the nation's number-one brand."

Therein lies the basic conundrum of doing business with the world's largest retailer. By selling a gallon of kosher dills for less than most grocers sell a quart, Wal-Mart may have provided a ser-vice for its customers. But what did it do for Vlasic? The pickle maker had spent decades convincing customers that they should pay a premium for its brand. Now Wal-Mart was practically giving them away. And the fevered buying spree that resulted distorted every aspect of Vlasic's operations, from farm field to factory to financial statement.
<snip>

[yorkiemommie1]

60. have only been a couple of times

our first time was when we got a complimentary card from Mont. Ward's. we left WM because of the general grubbiness and the fact that the checkout line was so long.

[DiverDave]

61. I have spent money there, but not for 6 years now.

No way, the last time we went I commented on the shopping carts all over the parking lot, and the clutter in the isles.

Now we do our shopping at Trader Joe's and Costco (when I have a few extra bucks. Costco is a 150-200 dollar trip for us, I just cant resist the big packs of stuff)

[tomg]

62. I absolutely despise Wal-Mart and haven't

gone in one for a few years. As glad as I am to see people refusing to shop there, you know that that numbnuts O'Reilly is going to claim that it is his call to boycott them because they say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas or some horsehit like that that is reason. You know. Sort of like how he brought the French economy to its knees.