56% Say Wal-Mart Is Bad For America

[jeffrey]

According to a poll released by Zogby International for WakeUpWalmart (a union-funded group which wants Wal-Mart to raise employee wages and benefits), 56% of U.S. consumers believe that Wal-Mart Stores are bad for America. The survey contacted 1,012 randomly chosen adults on their attitudes toward Wal-Mart.

When asked asked to choose between two statements that most closely represented their perspective, 56% chose: "I believe that Wal-Mart is bad for America. It may provide low prices, but these prices come with a high moral and economic cost for consumers." 39% chose "Wal-Mart is good for America. It provides low prices and saves consumers money every day."




Wal-Mart responded by implying the timing of the poll may have skewed the results. The survey was conducted from Nov. 15 to 18 when there was a large effort by Wal-Mart critics to highlight their concerns about the company. It was also the dates when a Wal-Mart documentary was screened which cast Wal-Mart in a negative light.

WakeUpWalMart defended the poll as showing that consumers are becoming more aware of the concerns regarding how Wal-Mart does business.

Some other finding from the survey:

33% were very concerned that Wal-Mart was becoming too powerful an economic force in America while 20%said they were not at all concerned.

33% strongly agreed that Wal-Mart was a retail monopoly that threatened the future health of the U.S. economy while 35% did not agree that this was true.

[weiwentg]

I don't like Walmart myself, but I think it's wrong to single out Walmart when so many other companies profit from outsourcing. they've been criticized for the stinginess of their company health plan, but perhaps the problem is that company health plans in general are becoming impractical, and healthcare should be nationalized.
I think that giving people only two statements, one supporting Walmart and one opposing, can produce misleading results. 56% of Americans are apparently worried about Walmart, and that's good, because it can create a dialogue on the whole issue of outsourcing. but I'm not sure that 56% of Americans are boycotting Walmart.
I support unions, but they need to start working with, not against, management (and of course, management needs to reciprocate and stop union-busting). I'm not just talking Wal-Mart here, I'm talking everyone. Harley-Davidson's unions work cooperatively with their management, and the company is doing well. companies need to see unions as potential partners in business.

[suedavids]

The left hires studies to hurt businesses that don't follow the unions. Walmart has been a God sent to those on limited budgets. They get my support and shopping $$$

[brandondrury]

but I'm not sure that 56% of Americans are boycotting Walmart.

I was getting ready to say the same thing. I don't know anyone who refuses to shop at Walmart.

People claim that Walmart is running out the smaller mom and pop's type of shops and therefor reducing quality of various products. I think the internet has balanced this nicely. There are people who run shops that sell nothing but $5,000 microphones and they do just fine online.

I like the idea that I don't have to waste my entire day running all over town. I like getting everything in one place.

Powerful or not, I don't care. They take care of me.

Brandon

[sweeps]

Not a good day for Wal-Mart haters....
Wal-Mart to Open About 1,500 New Stores

[brandondrury]

For better or worse, this is a glaring illustration of democracy. People vote with their wallets. It looks like Walmart is winning.

Brandon