Walmart: Evil or no?

[SuperFemme]

Originally Posted by apretty

incase any of us lose sight of the real *cost* of shopping at wal-mart.

my daughter and her husband both work there. they are encouraged to apply for food stamps and aid.

i found them an apartment with the full knowledge that I may have to subsidize their rent sometimes because the hours they get can be so erratic.

also, my son in law was hurt but wouldn't report it because employee's are on a *point* system. He would have been docked a very large amount of points because on the job injuries there are ALWAYS considered the fault of the employee.

the good news is that reality has spurned them both to get back into college. Praise Sam Walton.

[NJFemmie]

I was (and still am) thinking about switching my scripts over to Walmart because they may be cheaper. Most of my meds have generics - but CVS (where I currently get my meds) - actually charges me more for the generic than the pill would cost non-generic! WTF?!!? After I bitched, moaned and complained - I am now being charged the actual cost for the med - which is cheaper than the stupid co-pay. Go figure. And then people wonder why they go to places like Walmart to save a few dollars and not get ripped off?

Again, don't get me wrong - I am not a huge Walmarta fan (that's what we call it) - but I refuse to pay more than I have to. If it means places like CVS suffer because of it - well, my feeling is they shouldn't be ripping people (and insurance companies) off.

[Mitmo01]

While I def do not like the inherent policies and procedures that Walmart has been sued over like shaving Overtime from workers and forcing them to skip lunches etc. I am a consumer who is educated but poor and while i do patronize many local small businesses in my city im inevitably held hostage by my finances like many others lol im torn on this issue im glad that Walmart has been sued in every court imaginiable from class actions to state courts over thier policies, they also employ a large number of people and allow me to afford products that many local stores charge way to much for....I try to balance it out in other ways....

[Andrew, Jr.]

I just don't know what the answer is. I think everyone who is a customer faces this issue when it comes to money, and the price wars. It is like a catch 22 or dam if you do or dam if you don't. That is why so many are going to Canada, Mexico, or overseas for medical care and medicines. Heck, now you can buy stuff off the internet. It really is up to your own disgresion.

Andrew

[Sachita]

Originally Posted by Blushingfemme

While I know you mean the "You" in this senario in the general way, I do not shop for most of my things at Walmart. I use Fresh and Easy for my food shopping (cheap and mostly organic lovely foods) because they do not have a union for their employees (don't get me started on the evils of unions), and the 99 cent store for household items sold cheaply, and the regular grocery for things my invalid Mother will not compromise on the quality for saving a buck. We have Whole foods markets (I won't shop there because the CEO is an asshat and the cost is too high) Trader Joe's, Bristol Farms,,, Tom's farms which is, suprise a farm.

My grocery bill with an invalid Mother, teenaged daughter, picky spouse, a cat blah blah blah runs nearly $2,000 a month. If I didn't have Wal-mart for medications, adult diapers blah blah blah....I would be living in my car. Oh, and I cook those lovely organic healthy foods...a three way bipass helps to change your attitude about food just a little. We eat "fast food" maybe 2x a month on the run after Kidney dialysis, doctor's appointments etc...

Okay, done...off the soap box...stuff to do

Trust me I know. Many of us are in that same trap and few can escape it. We gotta do what we gotta do but I can only hope that within that we also make choices for the good of all. Taking even the smallest thing and allowing that to make a little change.

[morningstar55]

I agree with the evils and good of wal mart......
and i vote that target and Kmart are just as bad........

my daughter has been working for . Kohls..... since last June...
and they keep her just under the hours of barely full time..... so its consider'd part time....... just enough for her NOT to get benifiets.
sooo its not just wal mart.

and speaking of Wal mart....... im waiting for my blood pressure meds to be filled here..... i could go to wal greens or rite aid or???
i can 't get my truck in there parking lots..... sooooooo wal mart it is.

[UofMfan]

For me, Wal-Mart is evil and Whole Foods is not far behind.

I have read that some go miles out of their way to get a coffee at Starbucks (another capitalistic empire) but somehow can justify shopping at Wal-Mart simply because it is closer. I do not understand this type of logic.

Super stores are killing small business in the U.S. This economic crisis came about because banks were too big to fail. We can apply the same to stores one day. Let's not get to that point.

I understand the opinions of those who have close family or friends who work there, but in general, and it has been well publicized, it is a fact that Wal-Mart is basically evil.

My motto is to put my money where my moral values lie.

[Rufusboi]

Originally Posted by UofMfan

For me, Wal-Mart is evil and Whole Foods is not far behind.

I have read that some go miles out of their way to get a coffee at Starbucks (another capitalistic empire) but somehow can justify shopping at Wal-Mart simply because it is closer. I do not understand this type of logic.

Super stores are killing small business in the U.S. This economic crisis came about because banks were too big to fail. We can apply the same to stores one day. Let's not get to that point.

I understand the opinions of those who have close family or friends who work there, but in general, and it has been well publicized, it is a fact that Wal-Mart is basically evil.

My motto is to put my money where my moral values lie.

I'm glad you have enough money to support your moral values. You are very lucky to be able to do that. Some, unfortunately, don't have these choices. My girlfriend has to take iron pills due to chronic anemia. She was buying them at Walgreens until she noticed the same brand of pills, same number of pills in the pack for $7 less at Walmart. Now where do you think we are going to buy them from? Why should I give walgreens an extra $7? And what makes Walgreens morally superior to wal mart? And if you happen to work a $7 an hour job that's a whole hour of your life/work day you just saved. When you start adding up how many hours you have to work just to purchase one item it gets a little shocking.

Rufus

[UofMfan]

Originally Posted by Rufusboi

I'm glad you have enough money to support your moral values. You are very lucky to be able to do that. Some, unfortunately, don't have these choices. My girlfriend has to take iron pills due to chronic anemia. She was buying them at Walgreens until she noticed the same brand of pills, same number of pills in the pack for $7 less at Walmart. Now where do you think we are going to buy them from? Why should I give walgreens an extra $7? And what makes Walgreens morally superior to wal mart? And if you happen to work a $7 an hour job that's a whole hour of your life/work day you just saved. When you start adding up how many hours you have to work just to purchase one item it gets a little shocking.

Rufus

You have no idea if I have enough money or not, so please do not make assumptions and I will do the same for you, ok?

[Rufusboi]

Originally Posted by UofMfan

You have no idea if I have enough money or not, so please do not make assumptions and I will do the same for you, ok?

You're right. I have no idea how much money you have/earn. However, you said you put your money where your moral values are. Ergo, you have the money to support your moral values. I pointed out that some people don't. Some people have to shop at Wal mart because they find significant savings on products they have to have. They might choose to shop at a locally owned store or pharmacy if they did not feel the need to save an extra $3 or $5 or $10. That's all I'm saying. I'm not trying to assume. I am just trying to point out that we all have moral values and where we shop does not make us less moral or less concerned or less unaware.

Rufus