Emotions and Walmart

[2moretrees]

What it is that makes people either love or hate Walmart? I had two good friends almost attacking each other the other day because one thought Walmar was the greatest place in the world to shop and the other thought it was like shopping with the devil. Why does that store in particular bring out so much emotion in people? People don't have the same passion about Target.

[akaivyleaf]

People feel that Wal-mart and their incredible buying power puts little folks out of business and doesn't allow for "free trade" in any area they move into. Plus people have a problem with the fact that they get their products from anywhere-not just American made. In other words sweat pants may be made in Asian Sweat Shops where underage labors get pennies an hour for their work. The prices are good for the consumer because they are agressive in getting the cheapest wholesale price for everything. Other retailers can't compete on their same level.

Then people have issue with the increased traffic the stores bring to otherwise rural areas. Notice that a Wal-Mart is never built in a metropolitan city. Take Atlanta for instance, no Wal-mart has an Atlanta address, but they are in surrounding suburbs. People moved to these suburbs to get away from traffic, congestion, people etc, and to put one of these mega structures in- people flock to them in droves violating the sanctity of the area.

But the flip side is that everytime a wal-mart comes in, jobs open up, they provide an economic boost to the community and they are a philanthropic company.

How target has remained is a mystery to me. Well actually some targets have closed, but Target is more readily available without riding 30 miles to a Walmart and thats a big plus for some people. However I've not found target to be as inexpensive as Walmart on merchandise. K-mart basically has been usurped by Walmart in these parts.

[gypzye]

What Sharon said. My major beef with Wal-Mart is their treatment of female employees. I read an expose on.... cnn.com? I think?... and was just floored. I don't shop there if I can at all avoid it.

[MrsChambers]

yeah, I don't shop at wal-mart either.. it is my belief that walmart just contributes to the decline of the western civilization and that everyone that continies to shop their is just as guilty for this decline.

I have also found that most wal-mart shoppers don't know the value of a dollar and just shop there because the sh*t is cheap!

COSTCO all the way baby!!! (Costco pay's it's employee's not only a decent wage but more importantly a LIVING wage)

PEACE

[gypzye]

Originally Posted by MrsChambers

COSTCO all the way baby!!! (Costco pay's it's employee's not only a decent wage but more importantly a LIVING wage)

Exactly. I turned down a free Sam's Club membership for just that reason. I prefer to spend my money someplace with just as much value but who values their employees. I've worked too many jobs where I was underpaid and unappreciated to not support those businesses that DO treat their employees well.

Vote with your wallet!

[kashi]

I shop at Walmart and Sam's Club, and I will continue to shop at Walmart and Sam's Club. They are cheaper than Target or Kmart on a lot of things I use regularly. I prefer to pay the lowest price for things I use regularly and use what is left over to bring down my debt. If that makes me responsible for the decline of western civilization, and if that somehow means that I do not know the value of a dollar, then so be it. I believe there are plenty of factors bringing about the decline of western civilization, not the least of which are reality tv, an attitude of entitlement, and people who jump to conclusions without all the facts.

Find me a nationwide employer who treats all of their employees equally well, and I will apply for a job there. Women in our country make less than men, poor and disadvantaged people are treated disrespectfully every day, and equality is an utopic dream.

I wish our world was perfect. I do what I can and choose my battles. I don't eat meat and I don't buy leather, but you won't find me harshly judging everyone who eats a burger and wears a leather jacket. To each her own.

[txjman]

Now that's a hot sports opinion.

[gakline]

I don't care for Walmart, but I do occasionally shop there. My parents lived in Rogers, Arkansas (home of the first Walmart) for a few years and the opinion was just as divided. I've never seen a Kmart as busy as the Super Kmart right across the street from the Super Walmart.

Anyways, I always feel like I lose about 10 IQ points by just walking in. Everyone has the Deer-in-the-headlights stare. I also find people are more inconsiderate there. They don't realize that they're taking over the whole entire aisle to stop and look at some plastic trinket when there's a line following. If you say excuse me, they give you the evil eye for making them move their baskets. Now I'm sure no one here is in that category.

Sam's Club isn't nearly as bad, but i have seen some dumb shoppers.

[kashi]

agreed. people in Walmart tend to frighten me, and every Walmart store I've ever been in has an odd odor to it. but I continue to shop there, much like I continue to go to my mechanic because he fixes my car, despite the fact that he looks like he just crawled out from under a rock and could break my neck using two fingers.

I've ran into plenty of inconsiderate people in really fancy department stores, though, with people doing all those things you mentioned (standing in the middle of the aisle, giving you the evil eye for asking them to move, etc etc). So many people are rude in general...it makes the nice people an exception! but it's oh-so-pleasant when I run across someone nice.

[barbd00]

I hate a lot about Walmart but the prices keep bringing me back. I can get my shampoo and so forth there cheaper than the dollar store, most of my food cheaper, and all my pet supplies cheaper.

[amomof4]

I have a friend who hated walmart. She says it's THE END TIME store. Of course that was until she found out that she paid $30 more for a space heater at another store. Now she's reformed. The way I figure if it is an end time store, it won't really matter as only those who take the mark of the beast will be able to buy whether it's walmart, target, or safeway.

But the reason I shop at walmart is because I do know the value of a dollar. The other stores in my area are 10% to 20% higher than walmart. Ok, so it's also closer to me than any other store.

I am pretty certain that other retailers buy at sweat shops. It wasn't too long ago that clothing at Kmart was found to be made in sweat shops. And for the most part, it's pretty hard to find anything that is American made. Even Ford cars are no longer 100% made in America.

I can't imagine how shopping at walmart contributes to the decline of Western civilization. I think that would be more of a 10 commandment thing.

[DivaJen]

If you go to Google and do searches like "walmart benefits" or "walmart lawsuits" you will come up with a lot of interesting reading.

I hate walmart. I will not shop there. I'll pay a bit more from a local store and adopt a less is more attitude so that ultimately I'm still going to stay within my budget.

It would be interesting to see what affect walmart has on the cost to all of us in terms of those using public assistance for healthcare.

[csaville]

I hate Walmart because they do shut out the little man. I might still go there occasionally if it weren't for the nightmare parking lot. It takes fifteen minutes just to get into the store. Then, it seems like no matter what I'm there for it's on the other side of the store.

[gypzye]

Some people, because of moral or political objections, will not buy guns. I do not shop at Wal-Mart. DivaJen made some good points.

Although I understand much depends on your priorities and your situation. I can afford to take my shopping elsewhere. I've known people who needed every last cent. Would I get out of debt faster, if I shopped at Wal-Mart? Probably, but not by much. But sticking my money where my mouth is means more to me than my dollar's bottom line. If that's not where your mouth is, of course I wouldn't expect you to feel the same way.

[PennyPincher]

I had no idea how much this topic light a fire under everyone...

I shop at Wal-Mart rather regularly and hadn't thought much about it. I have a Super Wal-Mart nearby, so I do quite a bit of food shopping there ~ their prices are lower than the grocery stores, and their own store brand is competitive with most others. It is a convenience and price issue for me.

I love being able to pay less for my everyday items. That is what I buy there ~ groceries, personal care products, home + garden stuff ~ not clothing.

It does scare me thought that they are becoming such a monopoly. They are the #1 seller of toys, and high up there for jeans and many other items. It is sad to see old giants like Toys R Us close their doors nearby, let alone the small guys.

After reading the groups' comments, I think I'll make a more conscious effort to shop at Costco rather than Sam's though. Good reading.

[amomof4]

I suppose it's good that there is a lover & a hate relationship with walmart. I imagine if everyone shopped there, then their prices would go up because the killed all the competition.

[kashi]

I think 2moretrees's point was well made. People get violent about their opinion when it comes to Walmart for some reason. Still no insight as to why, though!

[DivaJen]

Maybe Walmart seems to embody much of what angers some people -

Poor health benefits/expensive health benefits/excessive wait times before workers are eligible
Running small businesses out of town/out of business because they can afford to undercut them in the short-run or due to economies of scale
Not allowing workers to unionize/threatening to shut down a store if workers try to
Making use of sweatshop labor
Gender discrimination

Some people worry about their own bottom line first and foremost. I think in the long-run, we all get what we pay for.