shopping at walmart

[uofom3]

Cheaper goods for the community, but fewer jobs and very troubling trade imbalance, and the loss of variety or quality available.

I'd rather see buying power distributed among few large than one juggernaut buyer. I don't want Sam Walton determining if I can find Rubbermaid or their Sterile or whatever brand.

Sure, prices are low, but quality is plummeting. I try to avoid Walmart as much as possible if I can. What good is a $20 fan if it is just going to break every year unlike a good quality $50 at Target that last several years.

80% of goods come from China. Will you buy your kids someday cheap toys there covered in lead-based paint? Dog food dangerous to your pet's health? The use of buyer power for low prices with little to no concern to quality is what you are approving when you shop at Wal-Mart.

And it's not like there cannot be multiple always low price retailers - like in Germany. Walmart tried there and failed greatly. I hope Target picks up their game or someone else. Discount retailers can co-exist and counterbalance each other while still having buyer power against suppliers.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/mighty-walmart-admits-defeat-in-germany-409706.html

I miss Sainsbury's... which along with Tesco give Walmart's Asda solid competition.

Variety is not lacking in a wal mart store. They have a more comprehensive product line than Target, K-Mart, etc.

Sam Walton does not determine that - you have free choice to shop wherever you like.

Wal-Mart sells the same products as Target (see previous statement), or a Safeway, etc. If you buy a bottle of Gatorade at wal-mart it is no different than one from Target other than it costs a lot less. Same goes for consumer electronics, etc.

Again, Wal-mart sells much of the same toys that other specialty retailers like Toys-R-Us does. You're not going to be able to scare me into thinking that Wal-mart is the only store that sells chi-com made toys and if I shop at target the problem will be solved.

There are other low cost retailers - Costco? WinCo foods?

People make a huge mistake in thinking that Target and Wal-Mart serve the same market segment - they don't. Target tried to out Wal-Mart Wal-Mart and they failed big time. Target then made an effort to change its brand image by moving to moderately priced goods; below bed bath and beyond but above wal-mart. This was a great move because it differentiated them from Wal-Mart, and allowed them to charge their slightly higher prices. People who are brand loyal to Target will not go to a Wal-Mart in general - they have the money to be able to make the decision that they won't go to a Wal-Mart, but can't justify going to something on the pricing scale of a BBandB or a Piere 1. This is why you see a lot of college girls in a Target store, and why they cater to them.

[FL318is]

i dont really give a fuck what color people are or where they hail from. but if you choose to work with the public then learn the fucking language and put a smile on your face and treat customers as if they are your friends. i want to reach across the cash register and choke a bitch out next time she acts like shes doing me a favor taking my money and then grunting at me instead of smiling and saying thank you.

LOL! First let me say. I have been to the twin Wal-Mart here in Orlando and it sux ass. I have also been to one acorss town and it is decent.

Now for my point and this is not meant to be antagonistic but simply my first hand experiences.

I will work seasonally at costco. Great source of mod money no one can bitch me out about. It is not my career (even though some employees driving forklifts make 80K).

Let me alienate the world with this comment. It is MY experience that 80% of the shopping public are self centered, rude, VULGAR, trashy and in general have an attitude that you, the employee should kiss their ass.

Trust me, I see how employees get treated and man, a street dog shouldn't be exposed to this.

Example 1: FL state law requires the engine be shut off while fueling. Customer A refused to shut it off. After several requests from the fuel attendant and informing the customer that the company policy requires the shut down of the pump. Long and short of it, the pump was shut down. Guess what this "treat me like a friend customer did?" He f###ing SPIT on the attendant.

Example 2: A cashier who has a noticeable eye "alignment" problem/medical thing was told by another " customer friend", "hey why don't you take some of that BIG money you make here and get that s##t fixed? I don't see why they let you work with the public. You look hideous. Get a position where we don't have to look at you!"

Example 3: Quotes- "Is this the best you can do with your life?"
"you are pathetic." "you minimum wage moron!" (last I checked min wage is about $6.50 and costco starts you at $11.00) "are you that stupid?" These employees are pre-med, pre-law and a pilot.

These are all direct quotes unsolicited when these "customer friends" were asked for their membership card. How hard is that?

I believe in customer service and think it is sadly in high demand but lacking in availabilty everywhere. We could learn to treat everyone out there a little better. We would probably live longer.

[Dave]

Ted,

You are incorrect. THere are hundreds of companies that make a "WalMart" line of cheaper products that they do not sell elsewhere.

One need only look at the tire selections at Sams and WM. GoodYear makes tires that are only sold at WalMart stores. They are NOT the same as what you would get elsewhere.

Hanes does the same with underwear.

[Maluco]

ok, I just stuck it to Walmart an hour ago! I went to my local Dollar Store and stocked up on some Gatorade and almonds. Two things I go through like crazy on a weekly basis. I saved aprox $7 compared to what I would have spent at Walmart. Those $7 saved buy the next round...

I believe they're 64oz bottles. $2 at Wal-mart. I also save about $1 on a pound of almonds.

Wherever inexpensive is nearest, I'm there. I could give a flying fuck less if someone at a Wal-Mart, grocery store, gas station or the like even acknowledges me. If they're not overcharging me or ringing shit up incorrectly, I thank them for their service.

Furthermore, I don't even give anyone the chance. I always greet whoever makes eye contact with me. If at that point they don't respond, I could still care less...

[rwh11385]

Variety is not lacking in a wal mart store. They have a more comprehensive product line than Target, K-Mart, etc.

Sam Walton does not determine that - you have free choice to shop wherever you like.

Wal-Mart sells the same products as Target (see previous statement), or a Safeway, etc. If you buy a bottle of Gatorade at wal-mart it is no different than one from Target other than it costs a lot less. Same goes for consumer electronics, etc.

Again, Wal-mart sells much of the same toys that other specialty retailers like Toys-R-Us does. You're not going to be able to scare me into thinking that Wal-mart is the only store that sells chi-com made toys and if I shop at target the problem will be solved.

There are other low cost retailers - Costco? WinCo foods?

People make a huge mistake in thinking that Target and Wal-Mart serve the same market segment - they don't. Target tried to out Wal-Mart Wal-Mart and they failed big time. Target then made an effort to change its brand image by moving to moderately priced goods; below bed bath and beyond but above wal-mart. This was a great move because it differentiated them from Wal-Mart, and allowed them to charge their slightly higher prices. People who are brand loyal to Target will not go to a Wal-Mart in general - they have the money to be able to make the decision that they won't go to a Wal-Mart, but can't justify going to something on the pricing scale of a BBandB or a Piere 1. This is why you see a lot of college girls in a Target store, and why they cater to them.

Variety is lacking compared to Marsh, a Hardware store, an Automotive place. If Walmart uses its muscle to drive out small people with its supercenters, then all we will have is Walmart.

A lot of people don't have a choice when it comes to Walmart vs more costly places like Marsh. Since one store dominates, its choices make choices for all. Since such a large share of some company's products go through Walmart, it can make or break products/companies.

Walmart is helping to push everything to China, and pushing them to make cheaper products. Toys R Us could have had quality toys but now competitive pressures will force them to give up quality for low price. If you want to encourage any competing or substitute industry to move to selling the same crap as Wally world, then continue to go there.

There are others, but not on Walmart's level or unequal strength.

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/snapshots/371.html

Costco Wholesale (28th in Fortune 500, where Walmart is #1 or #2)
Revenues
52,935
Industry: Specialty Retailers

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/snapshots/1551.html

Industry: General Merchandisers
Wal-Mart Stores
315,654.0
Target
52,620.0 3 Sears Holdings
49,124.0

[Maluco]

I also hit up Sam's everyone blue moon when I want to buy a pallet of something or stock up on wines. It's just like a Costco.

It's owned by Wal-mart or vice-versa or whatever....

[Turf1600]

I also hit up Sam's everyone blue moon when I want to buy a pallet of something or stock up on wines. It's just like a Costco.

It's owned by Wal-mart or vice-versa or whatever....

I bought a membership there and went once for halloween candy. The membership expired. That place is good for families and that's about it.

[rwh11385]

Ted,

You are incorrect. THere are hundreds of companies that make a "WalMart" line of cheaper products that they do not sell elsewhere.

One need only look at the tire selections at Sams and WM. GoodYear makes tires that are only sold at WalMart stores. They are NOT the same as what you would get elsewhere.

Hanes does the same with underwear.

bingo. unfair competition.

walmart loves predatory pricing and exclusive dealings - fundamentally anti-competitive and unhealthy for all of us, even the people who buy its cheap goods

[Ryan Stewart]

I also hit up Sam's everyone blue moon when I want to buy a pallet of something or stock up on wines. It's just like a Costco.

It's owned by Wal-mart or vice-versa or whatever....

I went there once (sams) and realized that the expiration dates on half of the shit was rubbed off. No bueno.

[DarkWing6]

heeter, can you explain unfair competition to me? i am pretty sure i understand it, but i don't buy it. as long as you are not breaking the law then it cannot be unfair.

[1991 318is]

The good news out of China is that the active ingredients in a lot of prescription drugs sold in the US are made in China. The drug companies takes those ingredients and combine them with others to make the final product. These "drugs" can be and are labeled "Made in USA".

"The FDA has now discovered that the raw ingredient in Heparin from Baxter and B. Braun came from China. It was doctored with chondroitin sulfate, a widely used, over-the-counter dietary supplement made from animal cartilage and used to treat joint pain. When chondroitin sulphate is altered, or "oversulphated," it mimics the blood-thinning action of heparin."
It isn’t clear whether chondroitin sulfate was added deliberately or accidentally, but the agency does know that the doctored drug did not occur naturally or as a result of the manufacturing process."
Run that through your "as long as you are not breaking the law then it cannot be unfair" thought process and present you conclusions to the families of the people that have died as a result.

[TwoJ's]

Back on the original topic, when I was like 16 my friends and I would smear dog shit on the bottom of $5 bills and put them on the sidewalk in front of Wal Mart. Seeing the people freak out and fight over the money, only to realize that they just smeared shit all over their hands was absolutely hilarious at the time.

Young and dumb, but it was fun at the time.

[TDE30]

Young and dumb, but it was fun at the time.

Young, dumb, and apparently with a lot of Lincoln's to spare. :)

[eurostyl e30]

bingo. unfair competition.

walmart loves predatory pricing and exclusive dealings - fundamentally anti-competitive and unhealthy for all of us, even the people who buy its cheap goods

II completely agree with everything you've stated about Wal-Mart thus far. Sparing any more economic jargon, eventually the purchase of loss-leading products from China will haunt us all not only on a larger economic scale but also when Wal-Mart truly is the only game in town.

I work at an independent record store that has experienced a lot of trouble not only from iTunes/bit-torrent, but also from stores like Wal-Mart selling new releases for prices impossible for a small store to match. Does this benefit you? Yes, perhaps in the short term. But try getting Wal-Mart to order any disc in a distributor's back catalog. Used CDs, vinyl, NON-CLEAN copies of regular top 40 albums? Sure, there is eBay. But the point is the source of these items existed on Main St. in your town before Wal-Mart shut down the business district - specialization and variety go out the window.

I think it was MSNBC or another news outlet that ran an hour long special on Wal-Mart a few years ago. It documented the major manufacturers of consumer goods and the troubles they encountered attempting to get their goods in the stores. The inferior 'Wal-Mart' line of many consumer goods is a reality, as is the reduction of quality in order to meet the constraints of WM's demands.

[Sean5294]

Sam Walton was an Evil Genius MMMMUUUUUHHHAAAA!! All Hail The Peoples Republic of Walmart.:bow::hitler: