I will never enter a Walmart again--------

[candy]

Just finished it's "success" story on PBS---Thar's it for me.

[alittlelark]

1. Good for You!!!

Almost 3 years for me now..... if feels good!

[Snotcicles]

94. It's SearMart for me n/t

[Starlight]

132. I assume you mean Sears/Kmart? Not a good choice.

Sears, Roebuck and Company S
Republicans $473,430 (61.12%)
Democrats $290,610 (37.52%)
Others $10,511 (1.36%)
-------------
Total $774,550

KMart Holding Corporation KMRT
Republicans $147,572 (90.26%)
Democrats $14,347 (8.77%)
Others $1,581 (0.97%)
-------------
Total $163,500

[Lex]

2. I've been boycotting for years

and I didn't even see the "success" story on PBS.

For quite some time, it's been all over the media how evil Walmart is and has been.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

3. I don't go to Wallyworld!

[AlCzervik]

4. I'll be watching that tonight-westcoast here

i haven't been in a Walmart for 4 years. My daughter wanted something they only sold there, she was going to pay for it with her own saved up money. I told her no way, if she could find it online independent of wally world i'd buy it for her, she did and i gladly paid for it.

[UpsideDownFlag]

5. could you share the details of it's success?

[HuskerDem]

35. Would be nice to have some details, yes?

[fwiff]

40. Basically, it's this premise

Price drives everything and Wal dictates to the vendor/manufacturer to the penny what they are willing to pay.

They do cutthroat 'negotiation' playing manufacturers off of one another in little cubby rooms.

Therefore, to offset manufacturing costs, to be 'competitive' or aka acceptable, they must manufacture somewhere where it's dirt cheap production- and right now that's china.

China was awarded most favorite nation trading status by Clinton admin. under the premise that an enormous market would now be open for american export.
In reality the lack of tarriffs and the influx of investment made it extremely attractive for manufacturing -
couple that with artificially keeping chinese currency at about 40% lower than what the market dictates, and it's value is directly tied in to the american dollar-
These combine to make profit margins MUCH higher for Walm.
The trade deficit is massive, because we have outsourced all manufacturing, and in fact, the only things we end up selling to china are raw materials.
The show gave a few direct examples- 2 plants that ended up closing were Rubbermaid and Thompson, a TV/Electronics assembler, both in Ohio, where according to Treasury Sec. Snow, job loss is a myth.
Another manufacturer is surviving because he won a lawsuit, contending that china was 'dumping' product onto the market below market value (apparently one of the few provisions in the global trade law, but it was too late for other companies).

So, in essence, buying from Walmart removes real competition by dictating a price, has all products manufactured overseas, removes good paying jobs from the US and replaces them with low wage service jobs. It is serving as a paradigm for other companies.

It is an excellent short-term strategy that pays high dividends, but is sorely lacking in maintaining a stable economy, and ends up draining the large picture more than it saves any individual.

anybody have anything to add?

[tsuki]

43. Yes, it increases the wealth of the Walton family. That is the

single most important issue in the nation to them.

[salin]

91. good summary of the npr "Market Place" story last night.

Pretty depressing - they hole the folks up who would like to sell at Walmart and essentially say that if they (the vendor) would like to sell to the "low end" market that they would have to knock prices down further - and to do so have to move American jobs overseas (primarily - right now - to China.) Described power tactics, and exceptional amount of knowledge on the part of the Wallmart folks about the company (the various cost point/production costs) and push them to do their manufacturing off-shore.

Remember that it was only about 12 years ago that Walmart marketed themselves as patriotic - and selling "made in America" products - until it was proven that this was false (that most products were not made in America.) The company certainly doesn't seem to have much concern for American jobs anymore.

I feel for those who live in areas where other options have been driven out of business, so that there is little choice but to shop at walmart.

[CitySky]

100. yes, and

leading the race to the bottom in worker pay and benefits. They get caught every now and then -- skimming overtime pay, using less-than-min-wage illegal immigrants to clean at night, etc. -- but there is still a tidy profit in exploiting workers here at home.

Would people re-institute slavery if it made products cheaper? Because that's essentially what we're doing, here and abroad.

Slave-Mart?

[Mike L]

123. Correct.

[Deja Q]

6. I've a friend who has a sams club membership. She'd let people go with

her, She recently let the membership expire, but she had no qualms screwing them over.

I'd only ask the suppliers of sams club what sort of contract they're in and how much profit they're losing by giving sammie such deals on wholesale stuff.

[lectrobyte]

7. I haven't been in one in a couple of years, myself...

mainly because I heard they were selling censored copies of CDs etc. Can you give us some more details on the PBS story?

[haydukelives]

8. me neither

plus thanks to D.U. i went to super K Mart to buy grocerys. both safeway and kroger are big repug. doners. and it feels real good.

[bsuz]

18. PBS Special- WalMart

I would like to find some people to help me picket my local Super Wal-Mart. But, due to weird circumstances, I live out in Hickville ( for a very short time ). All I know is that the fattest and most brain-dead people shop there, because #1) They are poor ( but they don't have the brains to correlate job loss vs low prices and why??? ), # 2) They are too fat and lazy to go to too many places for prices they can afford. I for one, stopped shopping there long ago, due to my distain of foreign made imports. Not to mention all the screaming kids, whom their parents do not have a clue as how to raise. So, to all you brain-deads out there, you're going to get what you deserve. And while you're at it, stop complaining. Why don't you start doing your homework and learn the English language. I'm talking about Americans here. The hicks. It's so sad. Sometimes I don't even know where to look when I hear English so abused.

[Biased Liberal Media]

53. Whoa whoa whoa...can we stop with the generalizations please?

First off, not all fat people are lazy, secondly not all fat people shop Walmart. I live in hicksville and there are your share of fat stupid lazy people, but there are also your fat, poor people who don't like what Walmart is doing to businesses such as Toys R Us and absolutely refuse to shop there.

I'm a fat person and not exactly poor but we have been boycotting Walmart since July. The more I see from them the more I want to vomit. Not ever fat person is lazy or stupid.

Just a clarification.

[JNelson6563]

69. While not all fat people are stupid and/or lazy

have you been to a Wal-Mart lately? I know very overweight people who are neither stupid nor lazy and they don't shop Wal-Mart.

Just driving through the parking lot of a shopping center with a WM is rather telling. Drive by real slow and take a good look at the people streaming in and out. For added flavor take a look at the bumper stickers in the parking lot. Ugh.

Julie

[Biased Liberal Media]

98. Did you mean to post under me?

Because I'm confused...that was kind of my point.

[Javaman]

83. Is Hicksville the name of your town or are you joking?

There are two Hicksvilles, one in Ohio and the other in NY. I'm originally from the one in NY. I was just curious.

[Biased Liberal Media]

101. No it's not the name of the town

I live in a small rural community in Washington State and it's a "hick" town, that's what most people here call it. Sorry for the confusion.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

72. bsuz shame on you!..you are very very ugly.....why can't you articulate

your displeasure at WalMart without insulting and attacking people?

[Name removed]

106. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Biased Liberal Media]

116. I've been to Walmart and the majority are NOT

why are you continuing attacking a group of people?? It's highly offensive, it's generalizing and simply NOT true.

[verdalaven]

75. Wow....

[buckettgirl]

80. EXCUSE ME!

I AIN'T NO FUCKING HICK! IT AIN'T MY FAULT WALMART CAME TO MY TOWN - AND THEN SUPER WALMART LATER ON! I can't change that they ran out the competition. I can only do what I need to do to live. I'M POOR AND I SHOP AT WALMART! I can say that I attempt to find bargains elsewhere when I can, but as far as groceries goes, the off-brand at Mr. K's Foodtown (Affliated Foods) can't compete with walmart. My dollar has to go as far as possible. I am lucky to get maybe $35/week to buy groceries for two of us. If you don't want me and people like me to shop at walmart, then I suggest that you hand me an extra $100/week so that I don't have to worry about bargain shopping. Otherwise shut up!

[Quill Pen]

104. How were you eating before Wal-Mart came to town?

>>>My dollar has to go as far as possible.<<<

I've heard this argument from many self-described poor who shop at Wal-Mart. I often wonder how they managed to live before Wal-Mart moved in. I suspect that what Wal-Mart's predatory prices allow them to do is not just "get by," but overconsume. Before, they used to buy enough to meet their needs, but in Wally World, they get to buy enough to meet their needs, and throw a lot more in the basket besides.

>>>I can't change that they ran out the competition.<<<

You helped run out the competition, by shopping at Wal-Mart.

One of the chief points of the Frontline piece on Wal-Mart was that their anti-labor buying practices and heavy demands upon the communities in which they operate actually create poverty. I hope you'll ask yourself why it is that you can't find a good job in your town that allows more than a $35 per week grocery budget. That's what a Wal-Mart town is all about: if they run the good, family-wage jobs out of town, the poor slobs will be forced to shop at their stores.

Even back in the days when I was so poor I was stealing TP from work, I never darkened the door of a Wal-Mart. If Wal-Mart's the only way I can afford shit, I figure, then I must not need it that badly.

[buckettgirl]

117. you should be careful what you assume

How did I live before walmart? I don't know, because I don't remember!
Um, maybe I need to make this clearer.
I was only born in 1981. Walmart came to town in 1984. Super walmart came to town when I was in high school. So, I really, truly had nothing to do with walmart coming to my town!
The competition was already gone before I even got my first job!
Just so you know, I am a poor college student supported by my husband's income. We don't get government assistance, never have, never will.
Lets see... tomarrow is payday. That means that sometime today I will take an inventory of my frig and pantry. Then I will decide what meals I want to fix next week. After that, I figure out what I need to buy in order to fix those meals. Then I will make my list (I have prices memorized for things I buy most often), with a set grocery budget based on the size of the anticipated paycheck. Friday evening, we will go to WALMART and buy groceries WITH A LIST AND A CALCULATOR! We never buy extra because we don't have extra money to spend.
OH and the company my husband works for has been around for like 30 years... I'm sure thats because walmart can't make manufactured homes.

[bsuz]

109. We understand.

I guess you don't understand what I was trying to say... The reasons that these huge Corps are getting away all their Corporate riches are because they are the ones that inflicted poverty on this great Country to begin with. And the poverty stricken continue to feed it. I am poor. I have been homeless. I understand fully. I get assistance. I know. And I read everything. Thats' the only way you will get an objective on both sides. You have to decide for yourself. But, arm yourself w info. But, I for one, have been doing my homework for a very long time, and I will not "feed" the largest Corporation in America , to buy imported goods, when jobs are vanishing in this Country. Are you going to be a new "consumer" for the new K-Mart/Sears merger, who is next in line to "feed" on the poor? Do you see the correlation here? I will not buy foreign goods. It's pretty simple, actually.

[buckettgirl]

118. Reread your orginal post.

I quote "All I know is that the fattest and most brain-dead people shop there, because #1) They are poor ( but they don't have the brains to correlate job loss vs low prices and why??? ), # 2) They are too fat and lazy to go to too many places for prices they can afford."

Stereotyping "fat", "lazy", and "brain-dead" has nothing to do with corporations doing shady business.
If you want to make a point, make it in an intelligent manner, or don't post!

OH, and I'm not poor because of walmart or large corporations. We're poor because I'm going to college!
I have to do what I have to do to live and to make ends meet. Ok, I'll go get a job so that I can have more grocery money. Does that mean that you will go to class for me? Does that mean you will finish college for me?
We have sacrificed ALOT! for me to return to school. Being poor is a fact of life for us until I finish college - and walmart can't run out jobs for me... i'll be an RN. Maybe then I'll be able to shop elsewhere... I hope so, because walmart christmases suck.

[bsuz]

120. Didn't mean to be so harsh

After being up for 2 days w no sleep, I venture to say I was a bit crabby and sarcastic, which is not my nature. Probably not a good time to get on DU. Sorry if I offended anyone. Will make a mental note not to post when overly tired.

[madmax]

115. You do what you gotta do, love.

:hug:

[DuaneBidoux]

128. Well one thing is for sure, if enough people don't figure out how

to get along without them, you'll have a hard time imagining how poor you'll become when there's no jobs that pay left.

[Dem2theMax]

68. Safeway is a big DEM doner. Check your facts.

Republicans $355 (2.07%)
Democrats $16,812 (97.93%)
Others $0 (0.00%)
-------------
Total $17,167


http://www.followyourmoney.com/

[Sterling]

96. GE funds Dems more than pukes?

Damn what the hell is up with that? The make bombs and shit and own NBC who are not exactly kind to progressives.

This makes a great case for why we need to start a new party free of this kind of influence.

[otohara]

119. Check These #'s From OpenSecrets

Safeway to Republican's

$194,327
$300
$211,700
$131,700
$80,000

Safeway to Democrat's

$000,000

http://www.opensecrets.org/softmoney/softcomp1.asp?txtName=safeway

[Cleita]

9. I don't get it until tomorrow.

However, our local Walmart had a bomb scare yesterday. They had to close for six hours. I don't shop there much, anyway, but now I will definitely pass. We do have other choices in our area so Walmart isn't necessary.

[linazelle]

10. I'm watching now...this is UNREAL

I will never shop there again either. They are destroying this country.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

11. I walked into the new one in my little Oregon town in 1992 and walked

right back out. I haven't been inside a Walmart since then.

Walmart was instrumental in destroying the town's historic downtown and pushing the town into a suburban sprawl model of devleopment.

If I were ever stuck in a town that only had Walmart, I would drive for miles to shop somewhere else.

[slowroll]

12. Been about three years for me.

I wish K-mart would revamp its image and go as Made In The USA and union-friendly as possible, offering itself up as the responsible alternative to Wal-Muck.

[Cleita]

16. I wonder about the Martha Stewart brand at Kmart.

I wonder if they are behind bringing Martha down. It seems to follow the pattern of these corporate behemouths. They have been doing it in our government and I'm sure the model was well honed in corporate America.

[Mabel Dodge]

87. I like the name GreatWal-mart....anyway

it’s been almost a year since we made the decision not shop there. I think it's saved money for us, since we always spent more than we intended. Wal-mart is good at seducing the cash out of your pocket.

[Starlight]

131. That's an interesting thought...

With all the *huge* criminal activity in the government & big corporations being totally ignored, it's kind of strange that Martha was arrested & convicted for lying, isn't it? :tinfoilhat:

[AdollarTwoNintyEight]

13. Details?

What is the latest reason we should not buy from Walmart?

[sangh0]

14. My friend just almost threw up

I've been telling him about Wal-Mart and the others, and lately he has been warm to the idea and has been keeping away from the worst offenders, but after tonight I have no doubt he'll never see the inside of a Wal-Mart

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

15. watched the sam walton story on a&e the other night

amazing how this guy could wipe out entire downtowns, yet at the same time convince the sheeple that his empire represented good ol' american values

[Cleita]

17. Seems to fit into Republican M/O, doesn't it?

I just saw a commercial about all the things they are doing to contribute to the communities that they are in.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

20. yes, though bill and hillary were quite chummy with ol' sam

hillary even served on sprawl-mart's board of directors when they started taking over the usa back in the 80s

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

22. people in wv get mad if you bash wal-mart

editorials in the charleston daily mail were furious when a charleston community successfully kept wal-mart out. my conservative grandparents were furious that those 'trouble makers' wanted to gripe about wal-mart

like i said, sam had a masterful way of making his evil empire come off as being as american as apple pie

[mediaman007]

23. I'm sure that what they donate is less than the tax breaks that

they get from communities when they build. Hats off the the towns that tell Walmart to kiss off.

[Cleita]

27. My community told Walmart to piss off, but they got in anyway.

They made them build it in a sort of Spanish style architecture to fit in with our community so at least it isn't as unattractive as most of them. When they got permits anyway, they wouldn't let them have a nursery to sell plants, but they got around that and sell them in the parking lot. They refused to let RV'ers park in the parking lot but they do anyway. I mean they just seem to be the Borg and assimilate everyone.

[Winamericaback]

37. Techically

So did mine,

We have 2 wal-marts (ugh) but they wanted to buy over 200 acres of land to put in a main distribution center.

The county told them to piss off and wouldn't change the zoning of the land.

[SaintLouisBlues]

19. I'm calling them China-Mart from now on

"Shop there now, work there later"

[mitchum]

36. That's very good!

I also will start calling them "China-Mart" :)

[SaintLouisBlues]

38. I can't take credit

Saw it somewhere on DU

[TahitiNut]

42. Or "GreatWallMart"?

:evilgrin:

[NuttyFluffers]

65. sweet! labels are everything in short attention span america!

from now on i shall call them the same. along with that little slogan.

[buff2]

21. I live in Hick City,USA

We have a Krogers,Save a Lot,and Walmart. Those are the closest stores we have to shop. WTF am I supposed to do? I have to go to all three stores to get what I want. What one store doesn't have,the other one does. My husband moved me here dammit. I lived in the city close to EVERYTHING all my life and then we moved here where there's NOTHING. I hate this place,but it does have it's good points too. It's peaceful here and I don't have crappy neighbors to deal with,thank goodness.Since we moved here,I feel like Lisa on Green Acres...:cry:

[mediaman007]

24. So what happens in your town? Do people work at Krogers, Save a Lot and

Walmart? Or is there some other way to make a living in your town?

[K8-EEE]

32. Hi, Just A Suggestion...

I know it's easy here in L.A to not go to Walmart! But if there are things you buy on a regular basis like dog food, wine, just whatever -- maybe you can look for an on-line source for that. A lot of people are surprised that it sometimes costs the same to have stuff delivered to your door, sure beats lugging it out of the car, especially dog food!

[buff2]

77. Either you have a profession,travel out of town to work........

Or work at Wal-Mart,Krogers and Save A Lot. It's really pathetic here. Of course there are gas stations and drug stores,pizza shops ect. Small town,and country living. It's peaceful...but pathetic.

[NuttyFluffers]

66. if you can order steaks online you can get everything online...

you got a computer, open an account. :)

been shopping online for years now and relatives used to be huge online grocery shopping customers (until webvan bought 'em all and then collapsed...).

you have a lot more options than you think, just ask around and keep your ears open :D

[xpunkisneatx]

25. Amish country PA has been trying to stop Walmart from coming for years

I doubt it will work much longer though. They are willing to pay a shit load of money for a lot. I for one don't go into Walmart very much because none of the cashiers speak english and I always get the strange sense that they are talking about me to each other. :scared:

[jean]

26. Someone should do a 527 ad using the out of work Thompson

employee's comments at the end of the show - paraphrasing:

People are free to shop at Walmart for low prices. But, by doing this they support the loss of American jobs to China and the ruination of the American economy.

[Quill Pen]

108. That guy was wonderful

I just wanted to hug him.

Ya wish people would wise up and realize that the very reason they need to scrimp and save -- the very reason Wal-Mart's predatory pricing is so appealing -- is because the good, decent-paying jobs with benefits have vaporized. And Wal-Mart's one of the driving forces behind that loss.

[2bfree]

28. I watched it as well.............

I will cut down on my trips to China-mart (thanks to the DUer who started that one!) as well. My problem is that it is one of our only stores now. We have an Ace Hardware, HEB and a small crappy department store and that is it in town. What happened to "made in the USA" that was the slogan for so long?

[tsuki]

45. It was a lie they finally got caught in.

[Carolab]

61. BUY ONLINE

you can get anything and delivered and at GOOD PRICES too.

DON'T FEED THE WALMART!!!!!

[K8-EEE]

29. I'm Going To Walmart On December 26!

If anybody gives anyone in my family anything from there for Xmas, that is -- I'm gonna be in that return line when the store opens, get the cash, and go buy it somewhere else.

[proud patriot]

30. amen n/t

[HarrietBrown]

31. I have boycotted them for years and we successfully fought one off

in our town--their reps came to town meetings and lied, lied, lied about all the good Wal-Mart would bring to our town. A local businesswoman showed how their promises of charity came to less than our mom and pop shops give annually. The sad part was that so many people in town were ready to sell their souls for the pleasure of being able to buy cheap underwear close to home.

[holboz]

33. How about this for irony...

One of the members of the Walton family owned a small bookshop here in Bentonville. About 2 or 3 years ago a Barnes and Noble opened up and the bookshop went under because they couldn't compete with them.

[mitchum]

34. I have never spent a penny with those rapacious vampires

[DuaneBidoux]

39. We stopped 2 months ago...spread the meme

they are evil and worthy of none of our money

[BlueStatesForever]

41. Uh, yeahuh

Thought everyone knew not to shop at Walmart.

[fnottr]

44. Ugh, we're getting one here in January

I guess the one nice thing is the Smith's grocery is going to get some more competition. Let the giants duke it out amongst themselves.

[kaitykaity]

46. My mom looked at me like I was nuts when I told her

I wouldn't go to Wal Mart again. I was listening
to Schultz explain why he wouldn't darken their door
and I was like, yeah, if I'm really a leftie or whatever,
I shouldn't shop there.

Now we go to Costco.

[LizW]

97. My mom can't understand either

I've explained it all to her, but she can't get past "everything's so cheap!" thing. She also lately says that WalMart has things she can't get anywhere else. I say, "Mom, why do you think that is? Because they've put all the local stores that sell those things out of business. And once they are the ONLY place you can buy things, those things won't stay cheap."

I think she gets it intellectually, but the lure of cheap stuff is just too strong for her. :(

[kaitykaity]

99. My mom gets her prescriptions there.

Since neither one of us has a car, she always gripes
that she can't get there (it's not on a bus line).

I'm working on her, little by little. She doesn't like to
go shopping by herself, and since I won't go there...

It's like I know her well enough that I can get her to
do something by going at it sideways. Maybe that would
help you with your mom?

[C.C.D.]

47. I used to live across the street from a Super Wal*Mart...

it was sickening how packed their parking lot was. ALL THE TIME.

One of my things for choosing our new town was NO Wal*Mart!!

[fwiff]

48. Their shareholder's meeting looked like a great revival

Singing, cheering, doing dittohead things like some pep rally revival thing. That was scary. :freak:

[LongTomH]

85. Did you miss the group in back with the Red Chinese flag?

Good, conservative, American values!:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[slowroll]

49. My hometown

is battling to keep Wal-Mart out. They're insisting on building a store right on fucking top of one of the most scenic views around our town. The entire town council that approved the initial deal, along with the mayor, was thrown out of office in the last election solely because of their votes on Wal-Mart. Now it's being fought out in court...regardless, after seeing some of the tactics Wal-Mart has employed there I will never set foot in the place again.

[VaYallaDawg]

74. I hate them too, Slowroll.

I see you're in Charlottesville - I'm in Richmond. I have only been in WalMart once in my life and that was in Staunton. Had to get some benadryl for a bee-sting. I could only find two stores there - one was a 7-11 (good luck finding benadryl there) - only other option was the WalMart. That was an emergency, and I'm proud to say I've never gone to one since. Hope you can keep them and all that nasty Chinese junk they sell out of beautiful C'ville.

[MattNC]

50. i thought the program was disappointing

I've seen much better material on Wal-Mart before. It was especially different given Frontline's track record for outstanding reporting.

[candy]

76. I liked it because it was from the supplier's point of view------

rather than from the point of view of all the small businesses and downtowns that have been destroyed because of Walmart.

The Rubbermade story enraged me. Walmart is no better than organized crime IMHO.

[cattleman22]

79. Organized crime?

I do not understand this sentiment? How is walmart forcing any company to sell to them at unprofitable rates?

[candy]

86. It isn't but when they got so huge they could make demands on a

supplier that were impossible to meet.

An indirect way of saying "You do business with us,on our terms, or you're out of business" like the old protection rackets.

[flygal]

51. Is there an email I could send to people ...

listing all the damage Chinamart causes to communities and the country. Even my repuggy in-laws don't shop there b/c they have a small business and know it's shut down several others in their town.

Also, very disturbing about the Clintons. Does someone have a link? is it b/c of their Ark. connections?

[Ladyhawk]

52. Could someone capture this and offer it for download?

I'm TV-less.

[idiosyncratic]

56. Here is a link for more info.

Is Wal-Mart Good For America

[DrGonzoLives]

54. Welcome to the fold

I've boycotted them for years...except to go in and stash UFCW literature all over the place. Guerilla organizing.

[Malebolgia]

55. I like Wal-Mart.

Sure, it may help the family make tons of money, and the Waltons will use that money to fund republicans, but they're cheap! I'm a poor college student, so I need to buy cheap food. I can buy a 12-pack of pop for a $1.50! $1 for a large bag of chips!

Sadly, we cannot get away from the businesses that fund repukes. Basically, most business do. :(

I only shop at Wal-Mart, though, once every 3-4 months (The nearest one is an hour away).

[CountDmoney]

58. Great Wal-Mart Ha ha ha awesome

I live in NYC and have never even been in one thankfully. I saw frontline tonight and will never shop in one ever!! What an awesome eye opener that was. Cool.

[Jack Schitt]

59. What was it about?

[Carolab]

62. GOD--STOP IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

STOP JUSTIFYING IT.

JUST DON'T GO THERE.

And stop with the pops and chips. They are really bad for you, don't you know that?

[kcwayne]

71. you must not be a math major

It costs you $13 in gas to travel to the Wal-Mart, so you better buy alot of the loss leader products to make up for the transportation costs. Wal-Mart does not have the lowest prices on everything, so you are potentially paying more for other items that you purchase while you have gone to the effort to drive 120 miles to save $1.50 on a bag of chips.

But the larger point is that if people keep validating this company, you will never be anything but a poor student or a poor WalMart worker. Price is relative. If your earning potential is reduced by 70% because of the predatory practices of the WalMart business model, their prices are costing you more in the long run.

WalMart is an engine that will ultimately run out of gas and fail. They are cannibalizing the economic infrastructure of the US, but the time will come when it does not matter how cheap they sell it, no one will be able to afford the products. They will revert to being a food commissary, which is how their stores in China are structured. They only sell food items in China because there is no disposable income to buy the type of products found in the US stores.

[DrWeird]

82. "but they're cheap"

Well, not really. They just stick a few token items at really low prices in the middle of the aisle, like 12 packs of pop for $1.50, but everything else is higher priced than their competitors.

[Contrary1]

57. Here's Walmart's secret to their success...

Walmart won't be happy until they have a supercenter in every
neighborhood. Within 5 miles of me, there are 2 new ones
being built. I refuse to shop there.

Their clothes have an odor to them, that makes me ill. When my
mother-in-law used to send the kids clothes from there for
Christmas, they went straight to the Goodwill bag, tags and all.

A long read, but worth it:

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?"

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

[President Jesus]

60. Walton family campaign contributions

These people are very active politically...and just take a wild guess which party they open their checkbooks for?

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?city=BENTONVILLE&st=AR&last=Walton

[Qanisqineq]

63. My in-laws ALWAYS buy me Walmart gift cards

for my birthday and for Christmas. Ugh. Doesn't matter what my husband tells them or I tell them, never fails. We don't get along anyway.

I just recently had a birthday and there it was again... the dreaded Walmart gift card. My husband took it to Walmart (I won't even enter) and bought a new VCR. An hour later, he returned the VCR and got his money back in CASH. Thank god they don't make you take store credit.

[donheld]

64. It's been a long while since i've been to Wal-mart

and i have no intention to ever go back. Wal-mart is one of the very worst things to ever happen to this world.

[Dem2theMax]

67. I've never been to a Walmart.

Isn't that great? :bounce:

[binglis]

70. Right on

they are actually attempting to take over the world!!!

[donheld]

111. They've just about succeeded

Welcome to DU :hi:

[Jack Rabbit]

73. WalMart should be boycotted into oblivion

We'll all be better off if they weren't around to drive down wages.

[corker]

78. frontline link

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/

[durablend]

84. Will it be on again soon?

Anyone know if they're planning on rerunning it?

[Biased Liberal Media]

102. They are having it online as of Friday but not sure

when they are re-airing it.

[Javaman]

81. It took you this long to realize they are evil?

[LongTomH]

88. I've hated Wal-Mart for years!

Ever since I saw what they did to my hometown. They opened up a Wal-Mart and drove all the little mom and pop stores I grew up with out of business. Then, they consolidated all their stores into a Wal-Mart Supercenter in a town 20 miles away, and left my hometown economy hollowed out.

Everything I've learned about Wal-Mart since then just reinforces my hatred. They actually take more out of a town in services than they pay in taxes - that's before you consider the tax breaks they usually get to move in. Their wages and benefits are so stingy, the state and local community have to shell out MedicAid and public assisstance money to help their workers.


:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[candy]

103. I like their yarn but after the PBS show never again. n/t

[JanMichael]

89. But de r' CHEEP! An I like soda pop an chipps!

Cheep chiiips and soda poop.

[NC_Nurse]

90. Even my Repug father thinks they suck...

they kill other businesses and ruin towns...

they have no selection except those they can strongarm.

We are subsidizing their employees' families healthcare, daycare, school lunches, etc. because they make as many people as they can "part-time" so they can deny benefits.

They suck HARD!

[Domitan]

92. At work, I shat on Walmart's

and my workmates chided me saying that I'd be quick to go there to get a bargain. I just gave them a smirking huff. Little do they know the full story behind that chamber of horrors...and how I have no desire to cut a few dollars to feed the monster.

[Shopaholic]

93. I love to shop but not at Wal-Mart.

I refuse. Thank goodness our town has other options.

[raggedcompany]

95. I have never

spent a dollar at Wal Mart. Honest. Didn't have them near me for years, and by the time they came, about 5 years ago, I had already figured those bastards out. They are a startling crystalization of most of what I don't like about our current society.

[VOX]

105. I've got a Walgreen's close by, but I won't go there...

There's also a Sav-On, which will do just fine.

[GetTheRightVote]

110. Walmart is UnAmerican - I like it "China-Mart"

I use to shop there but no longer do. I am amazed at other people's reaction to this but after explaining the reasons why I leave while their mouths are still hanging open.

[donheld]

114. Walgreens is not Walmart

what are walgreens crimes?

[Starlight]

130. That doesn't make any sense.

Sav-on is a big Repub donor. Walgreen's doesn't get involved in politics.


Walgreen Company WAG
<No Political Giving Information>

ALBERTSON'S INC ABS^
Republicans $180,868 (72.83%)
Democrats $67,468 (27.17%)
Others $0 (0.00%)
-------------
Total $248,336
Products/Brands
Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, Acme Markets, Sav-on, Savon, Osco, Acme & Shaws, Super Saver Foods

[Quill Pen]

107. Never have spent a dime in Wally World, never will.

Sure, you get less for your money by shopping locally-owned places and being picky about country of origin. But criminy, how much crap do we need? How 'bout, instead of 30 pairs of shoes sewn by Chinese girls making $0.25 a hour, you have four or five pairs of shoes made by people who are actually allowed sick leave and rest breaks? Really, how many pairs of shoes can you wear at one time?

(That's a rhetorical question, I don't need anybody's experiment results, BTW.)

[Cleita]

112. Watching it now. Christ these people are a cult!

eom

[SujiwanKenobee]

113. Walmart may be the "answer"

The (politically incorrect term) Third World has long complained that Americans have eaten up the world's resources. How better a revenge than to be cannabalized from within while following so-called free market principles! The desire of the US masses for stuff at lowest cost leads to greedy multinationals like Walmart to blanket the face of the nation to provide these goodies. The quest for low prices undercuts true competition and drives companies wanting a market in the US offshore.

Meanwhile in the less-developed world (insert country with lowest manufacturing cost of the year), American dollars are redistributed and provide economic development to the Third World. It is hard to object to the need of billions of Chinese to raise themselves out of poverty even a little. And it is true that we have more than our fair share of the earth's resources.

Still, I'm nationalistic enough to not want to feel the pain of said redistribution. And I have to wonder what will become of this "Nation of Shopkeepers" once we no longer have facilities or know how to make anything.

Back to mercantilism. Barf.

[Im_Your_Huckleberry]

121. i used their bathroom the other day

was on the road and had sort of an 'emergency'. left 'em a real stinker.

[seg4527]

122. I like walking around walmart and looking at all the dumbnuts browsing...

around, not caring about anything in the world but how to get the "lowest price" on something, not considering what it actually costs them to pay less.

It's all very depressing, actually, I dont' know why I do it. Boredom, I guess. I never buy anything there.

[bsuz]

124. Trance-like... scary.

Had to let you know I'm also a big Kerouac fan, just finished re-reading several of his writings.

[Logansquare]

125. Strange, I grew up in a working class family

and we somehow got along without a Wal-mart. Mom sewed, Dad fixed things around the house and changed his own oil. We almost never ate prepared foods; every meal was made from scratch.

[walldude]

126. Read Jim Hightowers book

Thieves in High Places, there is a ton of stuff in there about how the big W sucks the life and money out of local communities. It also has a list of communities that have beat back Wal-Marts.

[Zorra]

127. Wal-Mart is the freeper Vatican. Scary place. n/t

[DuaneBidoux]

129. The important thing is to spread the word to boycott

I have actually converted a couple of hard core wal-mart shoppers in the last several weeks. Feels great. I found the "contributes to child labor in China" argument to be fairly effective. Not sure if it's true, but what the fuck, this is war now.

[Silverhair]

133. That means you have the money to afford the higher prices elsewhere.

I know that everybody here is supposed the hate WM, but the grocery prices are 20% lower than at any other grocery stores in my area. And the other supermarkets are all chains too.

[hollowdweller]

134. Wal Mart is the Beast 666 as mentioned in the Book of Revalations

And Bush, Cheney, Rummy and Rove are the 4 horsemen(or horses asses;-)