RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices

RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices (Full Version)

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kisshou -> RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices (4/7/2007 4:29:11 PM)
Walmart does offer insurance. The greeter position employs alot of people who otherwise would not be able to work many times due to disabilities . A 3rd Walmart and a Sam's club just opened here. We also have a Wal Mart distribution center that pays really well. There are also many who are employed as truck drivers. Hard working people without a college education can work their way up the ladder to store manager.

GoddessDustyGold -> RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices (4/7/2007 4:30:27 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: juliaoceania http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2005/11/09/walmarts_tax_on_us.php quote: Wal-Mart, the Alpha Dog of discount stores, has also become the Alpha Hog at the public trough. The phenomenal growth of the world's largest corporation has been supported by taxpayers in many states through economic development subsidies. A Wal-Mart official once stated that the company seeks subsidies in about a third of its stores, suggesting that more than 1,100 of its U.S. stores are subsidized. A national survey by Good Jobs First in 2004 looked at 160 stores and all of the company's distribution centers—and found that more than 90 percent of them have been subsidized. Altogether, 244 subsidized facilities in 35 states received taxpayer deals of more than $1 billion. It is difficult for some to connect the dots on how harmful one corporate monster can be, I know... and a lot of people have the attitude "if it does not hurt me I do not give a fuck", but it does hurt all of us.. People can take stabs at my "useless" education, it does not change the truth of what I have posted. Oh for goodness sakes, Julia. Walmart is not the only company to take advantage of community economic development subsidies. This is not new news. The Target in My area got a huge subsidy for coming in and I live in a fairly well heeled community. And because of My community average income (it certainly isn't Mine... I am proud to say I drag it down! Smile) this Target charges upward of 30% more for the same item I can get by driving into a nearby suburb. *What is your solution, Julia?* Other than a boycott, that is. Boycotts are always the fastest way to get private business's attention. But, as already stated, if this is forced, then what is the cost to the rest of the consumers? If it is not and the companies go out of business, what is the cost to both the consumers and the employees? Do you ever look at the long range? Think it through? I have no problem with anyone feeling that something is wrong. I appreciate your passion, even if I don't agree with you most of the time. But you better come with a solution in hand and a showing of a well thought out position that takes everything into consideration. I have no patience with people who just like to jump up on a soap box and stir the pot. It's called rabble rousing. Several things have been addressed in this thread that you have completely ignored. Instead you come up with more links trying to prove why you are so incensed about all this, and why everyone else should be also. What are you accomplishing?

sambamanslilgirl -> RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices (4/7/2007 4:53:16 PM)
does anyone remember riding a Schwinn bicycle when they were a kid? i do however did you know Schwinn before they moved to South Korea had a factory here in Chicago? when the company announced back in the 1980s they were moving to Asia (cheaper labor, new factories, opportunities yadda yadda yadda), my father and few others were offered management positions to the new factories - the rest of the plant was laid off. he declined the offer. many factories like Schwinn, International Harvester, American National Can (now known as Rexam owned by a French corporation), etc once part of the thriving American economy either are now overseas importing back to the USA or own by foreign corporations.

KenDckey -> RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices (4/7/2007 5:31:21 PM)
Hey you guys leave Julia alone. It doesn't make any difference that it is over 200 miles to anything. Doesn't make any difference that they are the largest employer in town. Doesn't make any difference about anything except that they make more money than we do and we know that is totally unfair. <dodging and ducking>

Aubre -> RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices (4/7/2007 5:37:01 PM)
Wal-Mart is the closest grocery store to me. I go to Winn Dixie because it is less of a pain in the rear.

ownedgirlie -> RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices (4/7/2007 5:58:00 PM)
I'm always glad to see this topic/discussion brought up. We had a really interesting thread on it a few months ago: http://www.collarchat.com/m_634641/mpage_1/key_walmart/tm.htm I don't shop at Walmart if I can find what I'm looking for elsewhere.

farglebargle -> RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices (4/7/2007 6:57:52 PM)
quote: Hard working people without a college education can work their way up the ladder to store manager. Ahh... the Privilege of working 85 hours in a week, but getting paid for 40... At least you get to steal stock before the other employees.

lockedaway -> RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices (4/7/2007 7:15:44 PM)
If you don't like Wal-Mart, don't work for them or shop there. If you need a job, however, and you don't have much education and no skills then Wal-Mart will probably be an oasis for you. Reading the posts of people that think Wal-Mart is unfair is pretty hilarious. You get to rise in this country as far as your education, ambition and business acumen will take you. If you fail to do anything with your life, that's your fault not the government's and not Wal-Mart's; with one exception discussed below. As far as factories closing down and moving overseas, that is NAFTA. I certainly wasn't in favor of NAFTA and while it has raised the living standard of the entire world, it has been pretty deleterious to the United States. Sure, we have cheaper products but they are usually of poorer quaility as well. Not too mention, we enjoy the cheaper prices at the expense of fellow Americans who used to have those manufacturing jobs. Thousands of American men and women started working in those factories in their late teens and didn't feel like they needed education because they could always count on those manufacturers or manufacturers like them. Those folks got the rug pulled out from under them with NAFTA. Frankly, I think it was better that the bicycle was more expensive and five dads across town had jobs. Economists say I'm both dumb and protectionist. Maybe...but many years have gone by since NAFTA was passed and I'm still opposed to it. The cheaper prices that we enjoyed will start to creep upwards...and have...but the jobs won't come back.

ownedgirlie -> RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices (4/7/2007 7:23:05 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: farglebargle quote: Hard working people without a college education can work their way up the ladder to store manager. Ahh... the Privilege of working 85 hours in a week, but getting paid for 40... This is pretty much the case in any salaried position in Corporate America [;)]

Totalmaster4you -> RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices (4/7/2007 11:45:35 PM)
julia I know when someone is fixated, as you seem to be, no amount of logic will change your opinion. In one of your postings you said they were the alpha hog of public money. The subsidies are given because the tax revenues reaped by the city and/or county far exceeds the subsidies. Also the subsidy is usually for construction or land and therefor is very short term and recovered quickly. Some susidies are tax breaks so no money is given just less recieved for a fixed time, like 5 years and then return to normal rates. This is frequently done by public entities because there's no upfront cost and and a 5 year discount on a store that brings people in who wouldn't normally shop in their city and lasts say 50 years is a deal anyone would make anyday. If you don't like them don't shop there or open your own and compete. These companies have responsability first to their stockholders, then their employees and last to their community. One last example about wages A MacDonalds in Idaho ran adds for jobs at $7.50 p/h about $2 above the fed, min. wage. They had no takers so they kept raising it until they did. (somewhere around $9.50p/h) The moral is, the pay is what the market will bear. If health coverage is important to you negotiate it in when your being hired or buy it yourself or become your own insurance co. by putting the money into a savings acct. and pay all medical bills from the acct. ie: $300x12=$3600 per year/ I'll bet you have money left at the end of the year. Don't worry,be Happy.

Totalmaster4you -> RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices (4/8/2007 12:00:12 AM)
Goddess Dusty well said. lockedaway NAFTA was designed to bring up the standard of living in all the countries you mentioned so they would buy American products. The target was to make what we import equal to what we export not to get cheaper products.

juliaoceania -> RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices (4/8/2007 12:15:13 AM)
quote: julia I know when someone is fixated, as you seem to be, no amount of logic will change your opinion. In one of your postings you said they were the alpha hog of public money. Actually I was quoting another article... I put the comment in a quote and linked to it, please make a note between my words and those of others.. thank you. It is something I make a habit of, citing sources to back up my opinions.. you might try it yourself, it is a rather good way to back up what one says.

juliaoceania -> RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices (4/8/2007 12:28:00 AM)
quote: *What is your solution, Julia?* Firstly, I was not aware that offering opinions based upon facts gathered that I presented a link to meant that I was supposed to come up with a "solution". I offered information, now you may not like the information that I presented.. but it is just information. I find it rather amusing that I present information and an opinion about that information and then I get dog piled by a bunch of emotionally charged responders... that's cool... it just leads me to believe that many people are addicted to cheaply made Chinese shit that has destroyed our manufacturing base, a living wage, and jobs that progress past more than low paid hourly wage walmart jobs.... I did not know I was the one that had to have a "solution".. but since you asked... I will offer one. My solution is to put your money where your heart is... if your heart is in a place that wants to exploit third world peoples in sweat shops in China, Indonesia, and India... shop at walmart. If it is to take tax money out of schools and give it to walmart, shop there. If it is to further destroy mainstreet america, shop walmart... My heart tells me to spend my money elsewhere and to tell others that they can choose another way also. I would rather shop at a thrift store than walmart or go to a yardsale... and I have when I needed something I could not afford to buy new. I also owned my own antiques/collectibles business selling things because people often want to buy because it was from a time when Americans made high quality stuff... and people would rather buy well made American stuff that was old than new Chinese made plastic disposable shit. That is also a solution... buy old stuff. It retains its value. I will continue to talk about what upsets me when it comes to walmart, and i will continue to be attacked for it like i have been on this thread... but I do not care to be honest. I would rather be attacked for making a stand about something I feel strongly about and believe in than be a quiet little mouse that was easily intimidated... there has not been one rational argument to any of my points... and stating over and over again that other companies do this so it is ok is NOT a rational argument to allow walmart... the biggest cuplrit, to get away with the evil they do.... wrong is wrong.

hisannabelle -> RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices (4/8/2007 12:36:21 AM)
julia, where else are we supposed to shop? for a lot of us, our other options include companies that do pretty much the same things. would shopping there fix the problem? somehow i don't think so.

juliaoceania -> RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices (4/8/2007 12:37:07 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: UtopianRanger quote: ORIGINAL: juliaoceania Riveting documentary about Walmart http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3836296181471292925&q=genre%3Adocumentary&hl=en You're a warrior.....but I pity you today. Did we not do this one time before? Where's LaM and Chaingang when you need them [;)] - R I am tireless when it comes to certain things, I smell walton blood, it is time for us to beat up on them endlessly until we liberate our economy from them[;)]

juliaoceania -> RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices (4/8/2007 12:40:21 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: MstrDouglas I recently lost a step-neice, she happened to work for Wal-Mart. I will NOT bad mouth Wal-Mart for any reason after their treatment of her. Not only did they adjust her schedule and hours to allow her to work whenever she was physically able to, and thus maintain her employment and insurance, they called in workers from other stores so her friends and co-workers could attend her funeral. J passed away after a 2 year battle with lukemia, out of the almost $2M hospital bill, she and her family had to pay........$0...........keep complaining about Wal-Mart if you want to, they will get my and my family business. As with any business a lot has to do with the local management. Walmart employees started an emergency fund for fellow employees that work for the company to help with things like you describe. I would have to ask, was it this fund that helped your neice? Employees have given 5 million to the fund... the Waltons only gave 6000 dollars...

juliaoceania -> RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices (4/8/2007 12:49:28 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: hisannabelle julia, where else are we supposed to shop? for a lot of us, our other options include companies that do pretty much the same things. would shopping there fix the problem? somehow i don't think so. My mother shops at walmart at times, she does so less and less when she can find a way to avoid it. She is on a fixed income. I slowly quit shopping there myself. I found other places to get the things I needed, I am not judging people that shop there. I do not necessarily want walmart to go out of business either, but I DO want them to be pressured by consumers into less predatory practices, which means hitting them in the pocketbook... there are other business models out there, like Costco for example... I shop at Costco often. I think that walmart will just become more of a monster if we leave them unchecked, and they border on being a monopoly as it is, a scary one that buys politicians. Since walmart is the biggest offender and walmart is the company that others are competing with and this drives other companies to mimmick walmart, it seems logical to boycott walmart to show other corporations that their business model does not work. Costco pays well, has great benefits, and refuses to follow a sam's club model... and they have been extremely successful. Edited to add, I think part of the solution is to spend the least amount one can there... if walmart lost even 10 percent of their business it would be a huge wake up call.

KenDckey -> RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices (4/8/2007 5:20:58 AM)
I think thatt we should close all companies that buy so much as one item from a foreign country that exploits their workers or has more than 2 non related employees. Then the mom and pop shops will survive. And anyone that works for or shops in those stores will be taken to the middle of the street and run over. Oh we can't do that either - All american autos are made with foreign parts. Well how about we just put them out in the middle of the street and leave them there to bake in the sun. The all the Julia's in the world would be happy. Those people that make money following the American Dream will be dealt with and the rest of those that are left will be little clones that like to spend their money on expensive things.

farglebargle -> RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices (4/8/2007 7:45:33 AM)
Wal-Mart: Made for America's Children, by China's Children.

pahunkboy -> RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices (4/8/2007 8:16:42 AM)
Walmart actually does effect YOU. Here is why. The company dictates the specs of a product. It is to be pruduced cheaply. Trouble is that same widget bought at store A b or C is still pretty much a disposable item. We accept shoddy goods as it "seems" like a bargain. S00000000000, how do you feel about a replacement heart valve, or nuclear parts made this way?

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