Wal-Mart made it into the news today ... record sales on Friday and the shopper being trampled.

I was just wondering what you think about Wal-Mart.

Also, the L.A. Times recently published an excellent series on Wal-Mart, and you all might find it interesting. The link is:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-walmart23nov23,1,2729555.story?coll=la-home-business

Enjoy.

Decent place to buy Delvac 1300 and Power Service Diesel Kleen...

It's the first place I'd go if I ever wanted to feel thin and good looking. It also has the largest assortment of barefoot shoppers I've seen anywhere. It is consistent also, because it’s like that at every Wal-Mart I visit around the country!

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Married men live longer than single men do, but married men are a lot more willing to die.

I shop at Wally-World regularly, for exactly one reason: my financial situation dictates it. They've got a right to do what they do, but I dislike their business practices and HATE being in their store due to the other patrons (around here, other Wally-World patrons typically know very little English), coupled with the fact that they're extremely crowded (I'm somewhat solitary by nature).

However, when I'm on an extremely limited income, $2 for a box of cereal (Safeway wants $5 for the same size box) is impossible to pass up. At the moment, I can't argue with their prices, but as soon as I'm in better financial shape (i.e. graduate college ), I will hopefully be regularly shopping at Wally-World for the last time.

LONG LIVE SMALL BUSINESS!!!

Around here I noice that everyone in the Walmart has a look on thier face like they are just looking for a fight.

I agree,

I go to Target to lower my chances of getting bitten by a rabid person. The few times I've gone to Wal-Mart I get the stink-eye before I even get in the store. I guess driving up in a benz qualifies me for that. Little do they know its old. Or maybe its just the fact that it messes up they're monster truck rally.

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Brandon



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"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here." Patrick Henry 1776

They've developed a butt-kicking business plan. It works like a machine and results in huge profits. Its employee relationship reminds me a bit of the military in that they hire entry level, unskilled labor that can work into good paying jobs. I can see why unions don't like Wallmart. In my area, they're very merit-oriented and the employees reflect that--loyal and hard-working.

I hat what Wallmart has done to small town mom-n-pops, and smalltown downtowns. They suck the life out of a small community.

I shop Wallmart as little as possible. My wife goes there for groceries occasionally.

Botnst

Wal*Mart has a very well documented history of arriving in small towns, underpricing every mom & pop store till they fail, sucking the life from the historical retail shopping district, replacing a huge farm field with the same homogeneous offerings of outbuilding stores/restaurants, and then returning prices to a more profitable point when domination has been achieved.

Their marketing/business plan is indeed successful. They strategically breed a dependence on their goods/services within a geographical area, then frequently consolidate locations to a larger 'supercenter' around 20 miles away from two previous successes. They even have their own real estate company to handle all of the empty big boxes. There has been a book written on the subject- something like "how walmart is ruining america"?

I would like to think that americans would be wise to this, but they instead buy in to the rediculous hopping smiley face ad campaign that depicts prices falling around the store. Low prices ought not be the entirety of one's decision making factors. Even in difficult economic times, some things ARE more important.

As one who drives three cars from the 80s, and had to sell my house due to financial difficulties in the past, I can empathise with those who appreciate the low prices. I feel that the long term cost is far greater though, and am happy to patronize local businesses when I need something, even if it is a few cents more out of my pocket.

The extra payment is simply spent to preserve my choices. I'd rather not encounter the door dings and regurgitating children and screaming parents and parking lot strewn with diapers and 1/2 stocked shelves, and HORRIBLE service. I'd like the future to have the option to avoid these things as well.

So, I vote with my wallet, and budget my money for those things which I actually NEED, rather than buying a cheap plastic version of whatever for only $48.72 AND getting a color and saline and preservative injected (but good looking) steak for ONLY $2.76.

I only ever purchased anything at walmart when it was the only place in a reasonable driving distance that had the item for sale at any price. If you care to try, it is actually very nice to meet all of the small business owners/merchants who are trying to support their families in your town.

stay away from walmart
K

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I second the comments about their parking lots. Parking slots seem to be painted in every direction at every Wallyworld I have ever been to. I'm always amazed if I get out of their parking lot without gettin in a wreck.

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Amen. My sentiments exactly. I hate Wal-Mart with a passion. I'd rather give my business to the local mom and pop Ace Hardware. If I'm feeling really low, I'll go to Target.

Further, like the previous post by The Warden, The Wal-Mart nearest to my house is in the city of Pomona, and 90% of the shoppers are Spanish-speaking (probably non-legal) immigrants from Mexico. Most of the workers speak English very, very poorly - some so bad that I can't communicate with them.

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Paul S.

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I hate wal mart as well. Unfortunately, they already HAVE sucked the life out of the entire area where I live, as they were here before I was. So, in my case, ya gotta go where ya gotta go to get anything. My biggest nit is their parking lots as well. They are ALWAYS jammed full of their stupid shopping carts. I guess hiring a couple of high school students part time to keep the lot up is gonna put 'em out of business or something.

Speaking of crazy lot layouts and wrecks. It's in my local wal mart that there was a head on collision bad enough to total both vehicles.

I hate wal mart and wish the company would die a horrible death.

You all might want to read the L.A. series mentioned in the initial post. The newspaper found that Wal-Mart has a profound adverse impact on the economy here in the U.S. and worldwide. And woe to you if you happen to be one of their suppliers. I urge you all to become informed by reading the series. Their treatment of foreign countries is reason enough to stop shopping at Wal-Mart.

Now then, as for price, check this out: I recently had a prescription filled twice ... first at Wal-Mart and second at Walgreen's. I almost fell over. The Walgreen price was about half the Wal-Mart price. Same medicine, same quantity. Moral: Wal-Mart has created a fiction that it's always low price, and most people buy into it and don't even bother to keep track of prices.

Alternative buying: If price is crucial, use coupons, keep track of Walgreen's and Rite-Aide, etc., specials and become a frequent Big Lots shopper. Big Lots cereal prices can't be beat by anybody, including Wal-Mart. There really are alternatives to Wal-Mart, even though Wal-Mart doesn't want us to think so.

I urge you to read the L.A. series. And share the information with friends.

I don't mean to sound like an alarmist, but Wal-Mart is destroying our economy. And if you don't believe it, talk to a supplier who has struck out on Wal-Mart's "vendor's alley."

Resistence is futile.

As long as they supply the largest line of goods at the best price (on average) consumers will go there. Wanna kill Wallmart? Beat'em. Offer something that they don't offer or beat their prices.

I'd love to see it happen.

Botnst

First let me acknowledge that we are in a capitalist economy and that there are many different ways to compete, Wal-Mart being one version of how to "do business."

That said, IMO they are going to run this country into the ground. In fact it's happening as we speak. Just last month I went to a supplier conference for a major supplier to Walmart, as well as others. But when it came to speaking about Walmart, everyone was in fear of them and there $000,000 level FINES if you do not make their ridiculous delivery dates. IMO they are a major reason why so many of us find that we have to work longer and harder with less (staff, resources, etc.).

Again, just my opinion but this short-term greed is causing long-term damage. We (American manufacturing and services) cannot adjust to the outflow of jobs overseas and to Mexico. It's happening WAY to fast and retailers like Walmart are accelerating the process.

The most effective, immediate solution is not to shop there. I too am very price point conscious, but for me going to Walmart is just not worth it in the long run.

I think we, as consumers will need to take a hard long look at our behavior. Ultimately businesses succeed because of us. I think we are caught in a vicious cycle of having to do more for less (or same amount) and thus being driven towards cheaper and cheaper goods.

Suppliers - you too need to ban together and stop being bullied! Yes they are the biggest on the block, but good business relationships are a two way street. Suppliers and retailers need each other. Have faith in your brands!

My wife and I limit our Walmart shopping to those things that are disposable. I have started to look at the "Made in ..." label more and more. If it is a big ticket item I say away from Walmart and Chinese made products.