Walmart: Evil or no?

[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.

[Ashlea?]

DOWN with Monopolopiessss..

Walmart is specifically racist against homosexuals. Openly racist. Cheyea, no thanks. Aldi's, cheaper prices, same shiz.

[Sachita]

Originally Posted by T D

I suggest that you watch the documentary on Walmart. I think it's called The High Price of Low Cost, something like that. Walmart for the most part does NOT treat their employees well, and most definitely does NOT in their over seas manufacturing plants. This documentary will definitely enlighten you. For instance they provide really poor housing for their workers, but if a worker chooses not to live there they're still docked for costs associated with living in Walmarts piss poor housing.

I think the thing that makes me vote EVIL, is that they (the family) has more money than they could possibly EVER spend or need, yet they have had to be pressured into providing some basic things, such as providing parking lot security, etc. Of course not until people have been maimed, raped, even killed.

They also kill small business in many, many towns, and have been run out of some towns or denied access to building/opening in them. I know in my town Walmart was not allowed to build one of their super stores, you know the ones with a grocery store as well.

Can you find the name or a link to share with us? Maybe we all need a reality check.

[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.

[Ashlea?]

Originally Posted by Sachita

Can you find the name or a link to share with us? Maybe we all need a reality check.

http://walmartwatch.com/img/blog/glbt_policy.pdf

That's just for starters. People get fired all the time for being "suspicious". It's disgusting.

*Edit*
Little old, but it is still red listed. I shop by the BuyersGuide and have had a lower bill than when I "thought" I was saving by going to walmart.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/indust...art-gays_N.htm

[Selenay]

Originally Posted by Sachita

Can you find the name or a link to share with us? Maybe we all need a reality check.

I actually watched this yesterday in a course I'm taking on social organizations. . .

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6AgKG-f4Tw&feature=related"]YouTube- Wal-Mart - High Cost of Low Price part 1 of 10[/ame]

[NJFemmie]

Originally Posted by Ashlea?

DOWN with Monopolopiessss..

Walmart is specifically racist against homosexuals. Openly racist. Cheyea, no thanks. Aldi's, cheaper prices, same shiz.

We shop Aldi's. MUCH cheaper than Acme or Shop Rite - and they also just opened up a local-dollar produce market by my house. I am surprised with all the farm land here, there aren't many more of those besides the little pop-up stands here and there (which we do shop when we can). I would prefer to spend my money on private farms when we don't grow it ourselves.

We usually shop wherever the sales are ... sometimes Walmarta manages to beat the sale prices - but if we shop Walmarta twice a month for a (very) few items, that's a lot.

[Sachita]

Originally Posted by NJFemmie

We shop Aldi's. MUCH cheaper than Acme or Shop Rite - and they also just opened up a local-dollar produce market by my house. I am surprised with all the farm land here, there aren't many more of those besides the little pop-up stands here and there (which we do shop when we can). I would prefer to spend my money on private farms when we don't grow it ourselves.

We usually shop wherever the sales are ... sometimes Walmarta manages to beat the sale prices - but if we shop Walmarta twice a month for a (very) few items, that's a lot.

You should check flea markets and farmers markets. lots of farmers go to flea markets now and you can get stuff so cheap because they dont have the overhead. even close outs, clothes, etc.

[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.

[morningstar55]

Originally Posted by Sachita

You should check flea markets and farmers markets. lots of farmers go to flea markets now and you can get stuff so cheap because they dont have the overhead. even close outs, clothes, etc.

oh wow.... i love flea n farmers markets

[bright_arrow]

I work at Wal-mart...
Seven months unemployed and they were the only call I got - of course I took it.

I am openly gay (although I may not LOOK it), but I am not the only one there, there is a very butch pharmacist in the department next to me (though I believe the pharm tech told me once that Wal-mart doesn't hire the pharmacists, they have their own superiors).

As for woman not making it in management, the majority of our department supervisors are female, and our store manager/asset protection manager and one of the asst mgr's is female.

Benefits? Well. Don't want to talk about it LOL I am only offered medical, profit sharing and now a 401k. Not shabby, but optical and dental would be nice (but you must be full time for that). My hours range from 25-38. Co-workers tell me the cost of full-time benefits is high, even as a full-time employee. I can believe it. Your starting pay is based on your previous experience. I got hired at $8/hour, the other girl in my department was at $10 because she had been a manager in a previous job.

ETA: When I first started I was offered some low medical plan through Starbridge until my year mark hit and I was eligible for other benefits (not sure if I would say better, I've yet to use them). And I know people who have been injured at and outside of work, can't meet their job requirement's, so Wal-mart makes a position for them so they can continue to work until they're better.

We have quite a few mentally challenged people working at my store (people greeters and cart pushers), but they are some of the nicest people ever. One man constantly repeats himself and will talk your ear off, but he knows everyone by name, asks how you/your family is doing, will always ask whoever he passes if they need help, and has on more than one occasion told many of us females how nice we It shocks me how many people are rude to him and blow him off/tell him to stop talking.

Oh - about the over time? They will ask you to extend your lunch to make up for any overtime you have made (this applies to full time only it seems).

I don't really have a point with this post except to explain some of the posts I've seen from an employee's view.
We are a small town, with other towns 20 minutes away, and the next Wal-mart 40 minutes away. I know many of my customers, and a lot of my co workers I went to school with, have worked with when I was at P&C, or are people that know my dad from the VFW lol.. So I love my job mostly because the people I work with are fantastic.

OH! And about parking lot security? As someone who has had customers 'stalking' me for lack of a better word, that would be a good idea. The parking lot is vast and there are few cameras. The manager I reported to at that time shrugged me off, it took telling a co-worker (I told her, she is one of my good friend's mom and works in the pharmacy right next to HBA) who told her manager she reported to for anything to be done (i.e. they came through by department at the time the men normally came, they approached them when they came, and they escorted me to my car after a co-worker said the men were outside waiting in a car by where the employee's park).

That is all I have for now I think.

[NJFemmie]

Originally Posted by Sachita

You should check flea markets and farmers markets. lots of farmers go to flea markets now and you can get stuff so cheap because they dont have the overhead. even close outs, clothes, etc.

Yeah, we have a huge flea market with farmer's markets here - but we find that the quality of the produce isn't all that, believe it or not. I don't know what these people do to their produce - (or where they are traveling from - I don't think they are locals) but we'll buy it looking fantastic, and within a day, it's beyond nasty. Actually, when we drive along the roads here, there are a lot of pop up stands with veggies and fruits fresh picked. I prefer those to the farmer's market, which is hit or miss for us. Even if they charge a little more, the quality is well worth it.

However, I do love the flea market - (and it is HUGE).

[Rufusboi]

Originally Posted by T D

I suggest that you watch the documentary on Walmart. I think it's called The High Price of Low Cost, something like that. Walmart for the most part does NOT treat their employees well, and most definitely does NOT in their over seas manufacturing plants. This documentary will definitely enlighten you. For instance they provide really poor housing for their workers, but if a worker chooses not to live there they're still docked for costs associated with living in Walmarts piss poor housing.

I think the thing that makes me vote EVIL, is that they (the family) has more money than they could possibly EVER spend or need, yet they have had to be pressured into providing some basic things, such as providing parking lot security, etc. Of course not until people have been maimed, raped, even killed.

They also kill small business in many, many towns, and have been run out of some towns or denied access to building/opening in them. I know in my town Walmart was not allowed to build one of their super stores, you know the ones with a grocery store as well.

Why do we blame wal mart for killing small businesses? Why don't we blame shoppers for abandoning small businesses in favor of wal mart. No one makes anyone shop at wal-mart.

Rufus

[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.

[NJFemmie]

Morals are relative.

[UofMfan]

Yes, that is why I said MY MORALS.

[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

[NJFemmie]

Originally Posted by UofMfan

Yes, that is why I said MY MORALS.

I understood that.

But, I also wanted to make a general statement.

Morality is great - but it doesn't always keep food on the table. I am sure a lot of people don't want to do half the things they do, but have to in order to keep afloat. Shopping in certain stores, in my opinion, does not imply lack of morality.