Walmart - should I continue to support them?

boehljed · 08-16-05, 11:11

This may be a little off topic but I know a lot of people buy detailing products at Walmart. I came across this article today which disturbed me.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/new...F?OpenDocument

Should I contiue to shop at Walmart knowing what is happening in this case? What do you think?

Picus · 08-16-05, 11:46

This thread is probably going to get ugly, they always do. All I will say is that if you want some objective research done on Walmart and their impact on the local, state, and national economy, you can find a number of privately conducted research studies done by Universities from places as far apart (psychically and politically) as Louisville, KY and Berkeley, CA. There are a number of others, the most recent by the University of Michigan. There are also some studies done by the government of Canada, and a slew of court cases from the US and Canada regarding Walmart. They all come to the same conclusion.

Rollman · 08-16-05, 12:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by boehljed

This may be a little off topic but I know a lot of people buy detailing products at Walmart. I came across this article today which disturbed me.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/new...F?OpenDocument

Should I contiue to shop at Walmart knowing what is happening in this case? What do you think?

Do what you think is right for you , I don't agree with what Walmart is doing. We could talk a long time about how Walmart conduct's business but in the end people are going to shop there no matter what.

Griz · 08-16-05, 12:10

We really don't know all of the details behind it, perhaps Walmart has some reason to believe that Shank incorrectly made that U turn in front of the semi... regardless, it's a sad situation.

At least one thing that I thought was laughable was Walmart suing her additionally for the cost to sue her.

Spilchy · 08-16-05, 12:36

Yes, shop there. I'm a shareholder

You can sit here for ages and go back and forth about corporate responsibility or their impact whether good or bad on our society.

Not shopping there based on a single incident is a bit ridiculous. Besdies I need my plush Eurow sheepskin mitts from them.

Do you like Altoids, Jell-O, Kraft cheese, Oreos, Maxwell House, Oscar Meyer, Philadelphis cream cheese, Raisin Bran and a BILLION other products we eat daily?

Well they all fall under the umbrella of Altria Group, the parent company of Kraft Foods, Philip Morris International, Philip Morris USA and Philip Morris Capital Corporation.

Yes the same folks that make Marlboros and knowingly for years, poisoned people's lungs (and lie about it under oath in front of Congress), directly contribute to the misearble pain and deaths of millions over the years and add a major burden to our health care costs; make the products we eat everyday.

Does that disturb you too? Should you continue to shop for these products?

My point is, do what you feel is right for your moral compass. It's almost impossibe to take a stand on one issue and then not do it for all other issues too.

JBM · 08-16-05, 12:46

I didnt read the article, but i hate Walmart, and i try not to go there.

In fact, i am trying to stay away from Circuit City, Home Depot, ect, all the chains.

Vincent Vega · 08-16-05, 01:02

I live in Stoughton, WI. They are trying to get a Supercenter built here. I used to shop at their current store(40,000 sq feet). I have not since November. They are basically telling us if you won't let us build a 150,000 sq foot store we will leave. Many people in the community have been led to believe if they leave they will not have a place to buy the basic supplies they need. It is getting very ugly. I won't support a company that is willing to drive out all the local competition. The locals keep their money in the community. Walmart sends it elsewhere.

SpoiledMan · 08-16-05, 01:06

...and we're doing all we can to keep them out of here!!!

Picus · 08-16-05, 01:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spilchy

Yes, shop there. I'm a shareholder

Does that disturb you too? Should you continue to shop for these products?

My point is, do what you feel is right for your moral compass. It's almost impossibe to take a stand on one issue and then not do it for all other issues too.

That's only when you're comparing similar issues. I personally have no problem with Phillip Morris - they can poison people who choose to smoke all they want. This isn't apples to apples like vegetarians that wear leather shoes. What I have an issue with is a company that is a detriment to local and state economies, which Walmart most certainly is. There is currently no other major North American company that can make that claim. It's all about choice. You choose to smoke, you choose to eat meat or wear leather, you don't choose to open a Walmart store in the local plaza. I don't like when my life is impacted negatively based on someone else's choices, which is why I don't shop at Walmart.

I'm not condemning you for shopping there or owning their stock. Sometimes I stare at teenage girls' butts, we all have out vices.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincent Vega

I live in Stoughton, WI. They are trying to get a Supercenter built here. I used to shop at their current store(40,000 sq feet). I have not since November. They are basically telling us if you won't let us build a 150,000 sq foot store we will leave. Many people in the community have been led to believe if they leave they will not have a place to buy the basic supplies they need. It is getting very ugly. I won't support a company that is willing to drive out all the local competition. The locals keep their money in the community. Walmart sends it elsewhere.

That's how Walmart works. In Vancouver the local Walmart unionized so Walmart closed the store. It cost them $150 million to build it, and they closed 21 months after opening because they didn't want to deal with unionized workers.

Sorry this sounds "ranty", I'm all for people choosing where to shop and am cool with the folks that do shop at Walmart.

Spilchy · 08-16-05, 01:47

WalMart is a benefit to the community as a whole. It may be disasterous for a handful of business owners - it's capitalism and free trade folks, get over it, but the community as a whole wins especially poor, working and middle class folks.

Their grocery prices as ONE example of many (a large portion of family income) on average are WAY cheaper than other local places, and that means poor people save.

With cheaper products comes more money in your pocket (when multiplied over an entire state means BILLIONS in extra disposable income) which means you spend it elsewhere helping the economy which leads to more folks becoming employed in other areas.

Why should I have to pay higher prices because you don't want a WalMart? So you can inhale the musty smell in an old hardware store or shoot the breeze with Sal the produce guy at the corner shop?

I'm willing to sacrifice the jobs and solvency of local businesses (if that TRULY occurs) to help the MILLIONS of local residents while providing hundreds of jobs at the WalMart (offsetting local business job loss), not to mention the job creation to build a WalMart and the positive ripple effect that has on all the industries that supply the matrial for construction.

I have a Home Depot and WalMart in the towns next to me. All the local businesses are still there selling their goods. I know of one hardware store that went under, but the other two are still flourishing. In fact, the street the Home Depot is on is scheuled to go under a major beautification project funded by State money which will TOTALLY help the local businesses with new store signs, sidewalks, roadway and lighting fixtures.

Corey Bit Spank · 08-16-05, 01:55

I never found Walmart's grocery pricing to be anything spectacular...

Vincent Vega · 08-16-05, 03:15

Our Community is roughly 12,000. Add another 5,000 for rural residents. Our local business owners will not be able to compete with WalMart pricewise. Hardware, Grocery, Pharmacy, Optometry, Appliance, etc.. all locally owned and employed will suffer. Some may lose their entire business. The part timers and students can get new jobs at Walmart. They also want to open the new store a mile further out of town. They plan to add a strip mall and more restaurants. What little fast food we have will most likely relocate there. All the abandoned real estate will be hard to lease. The buildings will deteriorate. Who will want to lease their current 40,000sqft store? Who can compete with Walmart? Big Lots? Dollar General? If they backed off and opened a store more appropriately sized for our community I would support them. I don't see that happening. Spin the Capitalist angle all you want. It's true. They have a great business model. They don't care who gets in their way.