I am curious: Who here doesn't use Wal-mart? Why??

[me&thegals]

I don't shop Walmart *much*, mainly just b/c I don't buy much that they sell (junk food, electronics, new but cheesy clothes, home decor items, OTC pharmacy and beauty products, and seasonal cr*p designed to fall apart after thirty-two days).

I do buy a few things there, primarily kids' shoes/boots when I can't get adequate ones secondhand. The other places I could buy new kids shoes and boots are getting them manufactured in the same parts of the world as Walmart's, and frankly I have found Walmart's to be better quality than many other chain stores.

Oh, the other thing I mostly buy at Walmart is the occasional paper/pencils/markers/tape sort of thing. Again, you buy 'em anywhere else, they're still coming from the same places.


Pat

Snort! Yes, they sell very cheap garbage.

You reminded me of the other thing I buy there when I can't find it secondhand: Boots, snowpants and gloves. Then my kids go to school and have the EXACT same set as every other kid in the school.

Yes, WM has a lot of stuff that I would otherwise need to make 10 separate trips for, but it does feel great to not be shopping at that store when I do manage to avoid it for big chunks of time.

I don't think the employees look downtrodden, but neither do a lot of people I know who work for low wages and no/bad health insurance. Doesn't mean life isn't tough for them.

 

[me&thegals]

From a small business aspect, I can tell you that you would either have to be desperate or unwise to do business with them... Of course on the other hand you could be a middle man, or be big enough to have your hands in several different markets.

You reminded me of the other reason I dislike WM. They squeeze their suppliers until they have no room to breathe.

 

[dacjohns]

We prefer not to shop there but we do at times. Prices and convenience dictate, especially the after holiday clearances. We also buy our tires there. We travel a lot and Wal-Marts are everywhere so it makes it easier if we need warranty work done.

We do most of our grocery shopping at other stores. Even though many say Wal-Mart's grocery prices are cheaper we haven't found that to be so, maybe because we shop the sales. We have also found that Wal-Mart's selection is not as large.

 

[Yaklady]

I don't ever shop there, but it's not due to political reasons. We simply do not have them anywhere near us. Meijer is the big thing here. Also, my ex husband works for WM, so I would boycott it for that reason if we did have one near us. LOL!

 

[Henrietta23]

I never really minded the layout of the WalMart store near us, but Target? Man-o-man, I'd rather take an azz-whippin' than step foot in that place! It is freakin' HUGE! It's like a 3 day forced march to find whatever it is The Wife is in need of! The only GOOD thing, is the fact the isles are sooooo wide that ya NEVER bump into anyone. Feels like your shopping on a four lane highway!

LOL, apparently you haven't tried to manouver a carriage through the children's clothing departments. Ugh! I was there recently and they were stocking the shelves during a very busy time. I knew exactly what I needed and had an employee refuse to move or hand it to me. I had to wait for more than 5 minutes while she finished what she was doing. Jeez, I asked nicely!
Back to Walmart, I do go there because it's closer than anything else, but only when it's a matter of not being able to get anywhere else for what I need. I don't buy groceries there because they don't tend to carry what I buy.

 

[Wifezilla]

Walmart is just like any other chain store. It, Applebee's, Chili's, etc... are all designed to siphon money out of the local economy and send it back to corporate.

The jobs they generate are low paying. With the exception of the manager and maybe a few other people, workers qualify for food stamps and other social services.

Towns love chain stores and will bend over backwards to get them to town because of the sales taxes they collect. Of course, the towns give them sales tax exemptions and waive other regulations the mom and pop stores can't get away from.

Does my rambling have a point? Sort of. I guess it is if you hate Walmart, but still shop at other big box stores... you are still part of the problem.

In the case of our area, Walmart came in and replaced.... a Kmart. I call that a wash

 

[On Our own]

Actually wifezilla it is not a wash.

Wal-Mart has put so many really large manufacturers out of business it is not even close to funny. They start a contract for the manufacturer to produce on a massive scale - the firm invests big on capital outlay to ramp up to meet Wal-Mart style demands. Then Wal-Mart demands that they shave off prices. They will push them, now in debt, to move their manufacturing overseas to lower costs. If they refuse Wal_Mart pulls the contract and the firm, with no outlet for their goods, sinks. Frequently, a Wal-Mart subsidiary then buys the remains and profits.


It is written down as standard business practice. They train people to do this.

 

[sylvie]

The jobs they generate are low paying. With the exception of the manager and maybe a few other people, workers qualify for food stamps and other social services.

Perhaps our Walmart is the exception, but they start the general unskilled worker at $10.14 per hour. There are very affordable health benefits and other perks. They pay more than any other employer in the town, presumably to keep from being unionized in a town with many displaced factory union workers.

 

[Javamama]

I go there when I need pickles. I like their dill pickles.
I prefer local shops, but there aren't very many to choose from. It's all large chain stores around here. When the farm markets are open I do go there for whatever I can get. I also buy beef and lamb from a local farmer who uses rotational grass pasturing. Expecting our delivery tomorrow - can't wait! 1/2 a beef and whole lamb.

 

[hikerchick]

The jobs they generate are low paying. With the exception of the manager and maybe a few other people, workers qualify for food stamps and other social services.

Perhaps our Walmart is the exception, but they start the general unskilled worker at $10.14 per hour. There are very affordable health benefits and other perks. They pay more than any other employer in the town, presumably to keep from being unionized in a town with many displaced factory union workers.

I think it is sad that $10 an hour is considered a good wage. You can't support a family on that.