Do you shop at Walmart?

[nativetxn]

Not very often but sometimes I do.

 

[StitchMaster]

I despise WalMart and all it stands for!

 

[Pkaroch]

Not if I can avoid it...my ex-bf LOVED Wal-Mart (should have known it would never work) and one day he said 'Come on, I'll take you to the one where the guy got shot.'

I looked at him and said 'And THIS is why I don't shop there.'

 

[OhioTony]

WalMart is one the causes of the state of the world today.

Don't come crying to me when in your little town all of the pharmacies, convenient stores, opticticians, hardware stores , groceries, flower shops, butchers etc..... close because of WM.

You then will be totally at their mercy, both in what is available for purchase, and in where you can be employed.

I like having a variety to chose from. In small towns W M dries them all up. So then the people who used to work for an employer that they chose now have only one choice in a workplace.

I feel sorry for all of the 7 year olds in Paraguay, Turkey ,Argentina etc.. who work for pennies on the hour to support their families manufacturing items for WM to sell to use so cheap.

 

[autumnblue]

The only Wlamart that I have ever been in was filthy and the store was only about a year old. I'd feel like I had steralize anything that I got from there. I don't even look at their flyers so can't tempt myself with "good deals"

 

[welovedisneyx4]

Don't come crying to me when in your little town all of the pharmacies, convenient stores, opticticians, hardware stores , groceries, flower shops, butchers etc..... close because of WM.

Well if all these local stores would lower their prices, maybe I would shop there. I am not going to the local hardware store and pay $20.00 for a tool I can get for $5.00 at WM, sorry it just isn't going to happen! And if the special cat food I need (cat has kidney problems and we have to buy name brand food) is $5.00 cheaper at WM than at Kroger's (not even Mom & Pop store), then I will buy it at WM.

 

[Princess Nancy]

Oh How I hate Walmart. I never shopped there until we moved to a small town in the south. Walmart is where I shop for groceries now. I tried HArris Teeter and Piggly Wiggly, but UGH they are pricey!

I'd also rather shop at the Ace in town, they are so friendly, but last time we paid $3 for a special lightbulb we needed then I saw it at Lowe's for $1.30. Sorry, I don't have that kind of money to blow!

 

[toto2]

Uggg, I wish people would stop *****ing about Walmart. If you don't like the store, don't shop there but please stop boring the rest of us to tears constantly preaching about it.

I LOVE walmart. I shop there all the time. Never had a problem there.

Ignorance is bliss !

It is not a question of preaching , but a question of making consious choices. If, after knowing facts , you still feel like shopping somewhere , just do it , but at least you will know the impact of your choices.

We do vote mostly on facts when we elect our governements , and we read and inform ourselfs about what these people do with our vote ( and the money we pay in taxes) I think we can "vote "with our wallet as well , and to know what the corporation do with the money we give them when shop there.

Sometimes , doing this asked of us to make difficult choices !

 

[OhioTony]

Well if all these local stores would lower their prices, maybe I would shop there. I am not going to the local hardware store and pay $20.00 for a tool I can get for $5.00 at WM, sorry it just isn't going to happen! And if the special cat food I need (cat has kidney problems and we have to buy name brand food) is $5.00 cheaper at WM than at Kroger's (not even Mom & Pop store), then I will buy it at WM.

I agree that their prices can be tempting. Do you work at saving money on the same or similar items at places that arent destroying the world ( I am not using that term lightly)? I may be able to get a screwdriver at WM for $7 and it may cost $10 at Sears but if I use my Sears card and they give me 20% off I am not really paying that much more and I amsupporting a better company ( my husband works for them ) Milk may be $1.99 at WM but I may have a coupon for my regular grocer thatwill equal or at least come very close.

Is it convenient to shop around, clip coupons, look for bargains....Not really. But it is my choice that I will not contribute to the decline of the world. It's worth it to me , maybe it isn't to you.

That's a big problem that our society faces today. We trade convenience for what is right in the long run.

Here's a quote : We did not inherit the Earth from our ancestors-We are borrowing it from our children.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

We don't use charge cards, (except for emergencies and airfare to DW! ) but yes if I find something cheaper somewhere else, I will buy it there. I always check out all the ads in Sunday's paper.

I think one big thing beside the cost for us is location. The WM is so much closer than the mall or Target or K-Mart and while Kroger is closer to us, I can't pick up the kids some clothes or other items there.

I don't really feel like I am contributing to the decline of our society by shopping at WM, but that's just my opinion.

 

[jonestavern]

It is not a question of preaching , but a question of making consious choices. If, after knowing facts , you still feel like shopping somewhere , just do it , but at least you will know the impact of your choices.
We do vote mostly on facts when we elect our governements , and we read and inform ourselfs about what these people do with our vote ( and the money we pay in taxes) I think we can "vote "with our wallet as well , and to know what the corporation do with the money we give them when shop there.
Sometimes, doing this asked of us to make difficult choices !

For me, now that I know better I will do better!I have made the decision to pay more--but often find cheaper/better quality items & better looking groceries-especially the produce-at locals or other chains. I like the Farmer's Markets when in season.
Yes, clothing is dirt cheap, but I do wonder what child is "eating dirt" just so I can stuff my closets. I do not[/I] fault those just trying to keep body & soul together to put clothes on their kids backs, they must do what is best for their families & nothing less. Heaven only knows it is hard enough to get by, without some financially better off person preaching how to spend yr hard-earned money! As for me, we make a little more so we are lucky to be able to put our $$$ where our ideals are. We will invest it in products made in this country, or countries more interested in human rights, & spread the wealth along locally. No, I don't approve of locals price gouging, any more than I approve of WM underpricing, driving locals out, then slowly upping their prices.
I do think WM has the long term strategy in mind & that their track record for disregarding our cultural heritage, flaunting of this country's labor laws & disregard for foreign workers is shameful & shocking, but also we have designed that morass for ourselves. For myself, as I am fortunate enough to be able to, forgo the 'convenience' & occassional cheaper prices & try to stop that greedy giant from swallowing up historical sites left in trust & meant to be honored & enjoyed by future generations

Jean

 

[PaulaSue]

I shop there all the time and just got the girls a really cute bedroom set (bed linens, wall paper, lamp, etc. with ladybugs on it.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

I have plenty of money to buy things elsewhere, but I am not going to waste money just to avoid spending it at WM. I am sorry for those people who in other countries getting shafted by WM, but that isn't going to keep me from shopping there.

Luckily I am ready to leave work now so I won't be checking this anymore tonight. I will just continue w/ my shopping at WM (and feeling fine about it) and wherever else I deam to shop w/out having to hear about how bad WM is and you all can shop where you want.

Let the debate continue...

 

[Mimi Q]

Yes, I live in a small town and there is no Kmart or Target.

 

[F1Julie]

I refuse to shop at Wal Mart. I don't like their politics and the few times I have been in one, it always stinks in there. I'm a Target girl.

 

[xCourxCorex]

I love WalMart.

 

[totalia]

lol who shops in a store based on their politics? Your buying cleaning supplies and cheap clothing, not your first born child.

*rolls eyes*

 

[momof3disneyholics]

It's close to my house, and I like shopping there.

 

[toto2]

lol who shops in a store based on their politics? Your buying cleaning supplies and cheap clothing, not your first born child.

*rolls eyes*

Will I dare say it ? Yess: maybe noT your first born , but somebody else's first born will be hurt !( in another country , so maybe it doesnot count(Well , that sounded dramatic !)

Maybe if more would shop based on politics ( essepecialy when it comes to human rights) there would be a little less problems.


I will go on a limb maybe , but the American governement forbids you to buy anything from Cuba. This is politicaly based . Do you agree with it ?

You do know that Christians and Catholics are persecuted in China.

You do know that

"Wal-Mart Corp., which is getting millions of dollars in state incentives to create jobs in Florida, has more employees and family members enrolled in Medicaid than any company in the state.

The giant retailer, which has 91,000 full-time and part-time employees in Florida, has about 12,300 workers or dependents eligible for Medicaid, the growing health care program for the poor and the elderly."

And

"Wal-Mart said it pays its store workers an average of $9.36 an hour in Florida, adding that it offers competitively priced health care to full-time workers after six months and to part-time workers after two years.

A study last year by the University of California at Berkeley - disputed by Wal-Mart - concluded that California taxpayers spend $32-million a year providing health care to Wal-Mart workers and $54-million a year in other assistance such as free school lunches and food stamps."


And

A new report [PDF] released from Good Jobs First this week shows that Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has received more than $1 billion in economic development subsidies from states for its stores and distribution centers. The subsidies have come as many states are forced by White House tax cuts and reductions in federal grants to make tough budget decisions. A report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows states are cutting subsidies for publicly funded health insurance, child care, federal employment, both higher and lower education, and programs aimed at public safety and people with disabilities -- all this while ponying up taxpayer dollars to subsidize a retailer that took in more than $200 billion in revenue and netted nearly $9 billion in profits last year, even as it paid workers near-poverty wages, drove out local businesses and violated environmental regulations.

A key justification for corporate subsidies is the idea that a large project will expand overall business in an area; Wal-Mart executives tout their stores as a positive economic force in the community. But the Good Jobs First report argues that, unlike factories which add jobs and export products outside the region, big chain retailers like Wal-Mart "do little more than take revenues away from existing merchants and may put them out of business and leave their workers unemployed. It's quite possible that a new Wal-Mart will destroy as many (or more) jobs than it creates." And "since many Wal-Mart [jobs] are lower-paying and part-time, they will do less to stimulate the economy." Philip Mattera, research director of Good Jobs First, says Wal-Mart's "negative effect on small businesses in the communities where it locates and its contribution to urban sprawl and traffic raise serious questions about the value of giving it sizable financial incentives to expand." "


And

"A new USAction report highlights Wal-Mart as a leading advocate for new legislation "designed to kill the use of class action lawsuits, which have resulted in decisions that...provide refunds to consumers and others injured by corporate wrongdoing." The legislation would move class action lawsuits out of state courts, where they have been historically more likely to be successful, and into "defendant-friendly federal courts." The reason Wal-Mart is so excited about the legislation? According to legal analysts, "Wal-Mart is sued more often than any American entity except the U.S. government." The report points out courts in four states have recently certified class action lawsuits involving over 330,000 workers. "By contrast, three federal courts have declined to certify class actions against Wal-Mart for unpaid worker hours." The company's effort to stop workers from challenging their abuses has at least one high-profile backer: Vice President Dick Cheney. In a visit to Wal-Mart's headquarters last month, he trumpeted "litigation reform" as the way to cure America's economic ills."


The level of comfort we enjoy as North American is because of what is happenning in other parts of the word, and it would be nice if they could affort at least part of what we enjoy.

 

[Rex Rules]

I absolutely, positively NEVER, EVER shop at Walmart and I am proud of it.

Sure you are getting low prices, but at what cost to companies and workers all over America? Have you seen the documentary on PBS? Walmart is NOT a good thing.