Walmart: Evil or no?

[Sachita]

Originally Posted by Blushingfemme

My daughter's Father works at Wally World, and has since 1992. He is full-time, has Medical (for my daughter as well), dental and profit sharing. Since he had his pace maker (he is 49 years old) implanted, he has been unable to return to the heavier lifting and assembly type work he did for them. So, they CREATED another greeter position for him and he is able to be employed at the same hours and pay he received before.

He and his 10% discount have saved his and my family major money over the years. Walmart out to make a profit yep....Walmart evil? Well, I guess it depends on who is telling the story.

My totally biased 2 cents

Yes obviously they can afford to take on the liabilities, pay for the insurances, etc. They have huge buying power.

Part of me wonders if the world is moving more towards this monopoly concepts and if so its really sad because so many deeper levels are effected.

I'm not sure I can get into all that today. Maybe this weekend tho. Just let me leave you with this little thought...

You're children scream for fast food, you give it to them because they enjoy it. They become adults and a whole host of healthy problems arise. They have never been to a farm or seen how food is grown or processed. They become depressed human beings because of the additives and chemicals in the food they eat and no connection with the earth.

Now when Walmart has a its shelves filled with recycled products, organic and local foods, recycle area, and offers all of this at a low price? well thats a whole other story.

[MsTinkerbelly]

Originally Posted by Sachita

You're children scream for fast food, you give it to them because they enjoy it. They become adults and a whole host of healthy problems arise. They have never been to a farm or seen how food is grown or processed. They become depressed human beings because of the additives and chemicals in the food they eat and no connection with the earth.

Now when Walmart has a its shelves filled with recycled products, organic and local foods, recycle area, and offers all of this at a low price? well thats a whole other story.

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

[Andrew, Jr.]

Wal-Mart could change how drug stores do business in the US if they really stuck with their program of the $5 and $10 co-pays of all drugs and not just the generics. For example, my diabetic drug, Actos, there is no generic for. So, I have to pay full cost or change what I take. I change what I took.

To me it would make more sense to keep a customer happy and stay with my store by saying ok, we will make it a $10 fee and eat the rest of the cost (we make it up anyway with our profit).

I spend $700 a month on my prescriptions alone. And that is with the generics as well as 1 reg. brand of anti-seizure med. that there is no generic for. That alone is $240 a month with a prescription plan. I can't live without it. It is what it is.

We have a long way to go with our healthcare system in the US. Too many are falling thru the cracks. I know for myself, I have skipped taking blood draws on some days because of the cost of the strips. I also skip taking full doses of xyz drug because I want to stretch it out due to my budget constrants. When folks have to choose between food and med. I know how they feel. It isn't just the old that get caught in this catagory.

[Selenay]

Walmart costs taxpayers each year over 1 Billion (that's with a B) dollars in state money. How, you may ask?

Federal aid, food stamps, WIC, state health care and welfare subsidies for fulltime and part time walmart employees.

For more scintillating information you can read Nickle and Dimed, or The Wal-Mart Effect

[apretty]

Originally Posted by Selenay

Walmart costs taxpayers each year over 1 Billion (that's with a B) dollars in state money. How, you may ask?

Federal aid, food stamps, WIC, state health care and welfare subsidies for fulltime and part time walmart employees.

For more scintillating information you can read Nickle and Dimed, or The Wal-Mart Effect

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

[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.

[apretty]

superfemme,

that's about the only success story coming out of wal-mart that i've ever heard! yay for those two!

oh and tell your son-in-law that it only takes 3 people to file a class-action lawsuit--he should EASILY be able to find 2 other injured workers.

[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

[NJFemmie]

I agree. Sticking to a principle isn't going to pay our mortgage. If I had the money to burn, that might be another story - but we shop wherever is cheapest to stretch our dollars. I wish I didn't HAVE to shop in certain places, but, I have to do what I have to do.

[TIMBERWOLF]

I don't think it evil . There are a lot of stores that do the same thing. It depends on where you live and whats available to you. I don't by my meat there. I prefer to go to HEB and buy my meat. I check prices because Wal Mart isn't always the cheapest on everything. My Lady shops at Target a lot.If I have to go to a few places to get what i want I will.Hey we go to the 99 cent store only for things.I do normally buy my milk at Wal Mart. I go to the Mrs Baird's bread thrift store where I can buy my Orowheat Whole wheat bread for $1.69 a loaf instead of over $3.00 at Wal Mart.So I think you just have to go with what you can afford.No shame, no guilt. We are consumers and each one of us chooses what is best for us,our family.
TIMBER

[Laidbackgrly]

i cant stand walmart ive gone there 3 times since july i go only if i have too

[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