Wal-Mart really is that huge

re: Wal-Mart really is that huge

susan — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:24:12 GMT

Wal Mart is the prime example of the rich getting richer and the poor staying poor, because the model for Wal Mart now is to pay the top execs mucho while only hiring part timers so they pay no benefits, their health insurance is refused by some Doctors because of slow pay and no pay, the average associate is treated with contempt by their supervisors on up and because our economy is flooded with people looking for work, they just use you up and kick you out the door and hire another sucker for minimum wage to replace you. Open your eyes america, if you had to live on a Wal Mart JOB, you would have a different opinion than someone using it for as a part time job for extra cash on the side!!!

re: Wal-Mart really is that huge

Bill — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:51:21 GMT

There is always a danger when any entity gets too large. Walmart is successful, yes, but the average customer doesn't understand that what any large company can and does demand of it's suppliers can be harmful to those companies, their employees, shareholders and the economy in general. Also, how do we measure social responsibility?

re: Wal-Mart really is that huge

ajs — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:46:24 GMT

i buy most of the things i need at walmart....this tough times you really should stretch every dollar you make....

re: Wal-Mart really is that huge

33cap — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:31:50 GMT

if Wal Mart doesn't have it, I don't need it.

re: Wal-Mart really is that huge

Carolyn — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:05:22 GMT

I have worked for Wal Mart for 17 years,they pay very good and have very good bentfits.We treat our customers better than any store I have ever delt with.Im 63 years old and have been in retail since I was 25 years old,Wal Mart is the very best company I have ever worked for.

re: Wal-Mart really is that huge

Les WEatherford — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:01:43 GMT

Walmart ... growing, growing and always seeking more market advantage. Several techniques, obvious to the casual observer are:

No local competition and prices are jacked up higher that the closest major town Walmart. Check it out for yourself.

Find "small" sizes missing like cream cheese and others, you have to buy the next higher size, when no local competition.

The day after thanksgiving, aisles clogged, not with customers, but boxes and employees, re-stocking during the busiest day of the year. Why? They don't have to pay the night bonus.

Soon as they get big enough folks. It will become a MONOPOLY. Just like AT&T was.

TOO BIG. Your government can always BREAK THEM UP! Just like it did AT&T.

re: Wal-Mart really is that huge

susan — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:18:36 GMT

if walmart is so huge why have they stopped carrying womens plus sized jeans and other brands I once bought regularly?even online they are no where to be found;I don't shop there much now as they wiped out the clothes section for plus sizes(been to 3 different stores too)-Kohls online is better;I can go to Target to get the rest of the things I buy; true they have better prices but why support a store that stops carrying something that was a staple for years?

re: Wal-Mart really is that huge

Debra Whitehurst — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:03:11 GMT

Whether anyone liked Wal-Mart or not, they are offering items and goods we all need. They are at a price we can kind of afford. I do not think or feel Sam Walton wanted it to be the way it is now, but we are lucky we have them or anything to be able to meet our needs.

re: Wal-Mart really is that huge

Van from Lords Valley, PA — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:41:25 GMT

Wal-Mart is my first choice for everything that's "expendable". I.E. garbage bags, toothpaste, bird seed, reusable plastic boxes, DVDs, certain grocery items (they're not cheaper that store sales on many items) and name-brand stuff like Jockey underware. Name brand stuff like Rust-Oleam paint, office supplies and the like. What's wrong with paying less? That's what capitalism is all about.

Regarding putting mom-pop stores out of business; let's say there are four mom-pop stores in a town - employing 6 people each... That's 24 jobs... Wal-Mart comes in and employs 300 people in a Super-Store... That's a HUGE net gain in employment. What's wrong with that, unless you're the mom-pop that's displaced, but again, that's capitalism at work. America's been built on that concept - do it better and win!

Chinese stuff? Yup, right-on, why can't we/don't we buy American? Because we want to save money. If we all were willing to spend $XX extra for a TV or plastic junk, they'd be made in America and we could "but American" but the unions and our constant striving to keep more of what we earn for ourselves have chased business overseas - not just at Wal-Mart, but Target, Sears, Macy's, et al. Check the bottom of the expensive stuff in any of those stores and I'll bet 90% say "made somewhere besides the US". So don't blame it all on Wal-Mart.

Last - I've personally asked several Wal-Mart associates why they work there, and they all say the same thing - good pay (not minimum wage, by a long-shot), great chance for advancement - their department heads and assistanc mgrs. almost ALL come from the employee base, and flexible hours/benefits. Several million of them can't be wrong - they'd all quit if it was "that bad".

I shop there all the time, and I'm proud of it. I love the bargains, selection and convenience of getting it all under one roof.

Lastly, why can't bloggers spell? Don't their computers have "spellcheck"? some of the spelling in the comments on this page are 3rd grade level, at best. If you have the time to post a comment, you have time to hit the "spell-check" button, which will make your comment seem like it came from an "intelligent" person, and therefore much more believeable.

re: Wal-Mart really is that huge

Phil — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:26:09 GMT

Wal-Mart provides a valuable service by raising the living standard of millions of poor people. Even though I don't have to, I shop there for that reason. After all, they don't steal money out of my pocket to do it, unlike the government.

Furthermore, I say flush the 'mom and pop' stores. They were from anothere era where the poor could only press their faces on the store window and dream. Regardless of your political persuasion, shouldn't we all agree that anything that raises the standard of living for the average American is a good thing?

Products come from China to all retrailers, not just Wal-Mart, because our labor has priced themselves out of the market through fat union contracts and onerous work rules. Like the steel industry in years past, the auto industry is an excellent example.

If you want manufacturing jobs to come back to America, dump the unions. You can't legislate American labor since we need resources from overseas so trade has to be international. In addition, there are American companies the do export, (Boeing, Caterpiller, etc.), and isolationist legislation would kill them. Bottom line, don't blame Wal-Mart for China's inroads, blame the unions.