Is Wal Mart's Convenience Worth the Controversy?

[Cyrus]

Let’s have a PF gathering at a local wal-mart/kmart and have a good ole firebombing. Moonbear, bring the bottles, ill bring the vodka to fill them, trib bring the rags, and franz bring the lighter. We'll have a Molotov of a time. Burn baby burn!

Better yet, let's get mini bikes and circle the idiots in the parking lot trying go walk into the store. Hitting them with paddles.

I say we get all the crap thrown about the store and pile it up into a heap and burn it.

Who wants to be lookout for the cops?

 

[moose]

We don't have self checkouts at wal mart :(

I still remember when some lady asked me, if it costs $10 dollars for 10, how much is it for one...

 

[Evo]

There is a new Walmart about 5 miles from my house. The neighborhood fought it for two years claiming it would destroy the area. Walmart won, it's small and modern and lushly landscaped and sells sushi. At least they did during Christmas.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

In the town near us, WalMart came in and basically created an artificial work force by employing min wage workers who were mostly on unemployment, and who had to take any job available. Next, they displaced the competing businesses in town, such as both hardware stores, which then had to close, which puts the job market back to where it was, but now, instead of a skilled work force, we have min wage workers whose product knowledge ends with the aisle on which the product is found.

I guess that part of what's happening here are two things. Aside from the issue of product quality, about which most consumers are too ignorant to know the difference [which is a function of advertising costs, hence product cost], the value added, say when you can talk with someone who is knowlegible about plumbing when the toilet fails, is not given value unless it's needed. So, the ninety percent of the time that I only need paint or some screws, Walmart is fine and as a consumer I tend to go there. But the ten percent of the time that I would like some assistance [or quality tools], is not enough to sustain the old stores and their more expensive store concept, so even though no one wants to see them go, the hardware, clothing, automotive, paint, appliance stores etc, all eventually close due to a lack of business.

The sad part is that people might make different choices if they knew more about the products they purchase, but for most folks this lesson is only learned about the third time that they are standing in the return line at Wal Mart while holding a defective product. Also, over time, and once they had run the competition out of business, Wal Mart started bringing on better products that come with higher prices.

For me, as a consumer I avoided Wal Mart until the other stores were gone. Now I have little choice where to shop unless I want to drive thirty miles for sandpaper and screws. So in my estimation [based on what I've seen here], part of Wal Mart's success depends on ignorance and poverty, and not just a savvy marketing concept or cheap imports.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

btw, I think in the end Wal Mart could be good as it gives workers the chance unite, say, as union workers; strength in numbers.

Edit: Although as part of the dumbing down of America, I keep waiting to see "Wal Mart Greeter 101" offered at the local JC.

 

[motai]

The only other time I felt "relaxed" while grocery shopping was when I was in a store in the evening when they were working on some sort of electrical problem, so were turning off half the lights at a time. I preferred the dimmer lighting since it was already evening, and wished they turned off one bank of lights all the time. When the full lights came back on, I realized just how overly-bright and harsh the lighting normally is.

I would suppose that slightly dimmer and more natural types of lighting (i.e. sunlight-esque) would appeal to customers more than rows upon rows upon rows of fluorescent. Its even worse outside with the huge sets of lights on the parking lot. A Wal-Mart and Lowes opened up near my parent's house, and I can't see the night sky anymore . So much for inspiring the potential youths in my town who want to become astronomers .

 

[Smurf]

before everyone starts yelling at me, I'm not racist. Don't you see the comparison? comedy by exaggeration.

Don't worry trib, I got it right away.

 

[franznietzsche]

Let’s have a PF gathering at a local wal-mart/kmart and have a good ole firebombing. Moonbear, bring the bottles, ill bring the vodka to fill them, trib bring the rags, and franz bring the lighter. We'll have a Molotov of a time. Burn baby burn!

Better yet, let's get mini bikes and circle the idiots in the parking lot trying go walk into the store. Hitting them with paddles.

I say we get all the crap thrown about the store and pile it up into a heap and burn it.

Who wants to be lookout for the cops?

Nix that, i'll bring the vodka, rum, whiskey, gin, tequila, triple sec, ooh i even got some aftershock still. You bring the lighter.

 

[Cyrus]

Gota save some of that to drink by the fire. Don't use up all the good stuff!

 

[franznietzsche]

Gota save some of that to drink by the fire. Don't use up all the good stuff!

Don't worry, we'll only throw the smirnoff. Its only good for paint thinning and burning anyway. The Grey Goose, and the Chopin is for the drinking.

 

[The_Professional]

My point was that judging someone's worth based on their registered voting affiliation is shallow and vapid. Apparently such an assessment of you is correct.

you didnt need to explain it. whatever "it" is.

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

but now, instead of a skilled work force, we have min wage workers whose product knowledge ends with the aisle on which the product is found.

I'm waiting for the day that the big stores get a clue and start treating their employees right. If they invested more in their employees they would have better workers and make more money.
I worked at an art supply store once. All of the workers started at $2 above minimum wage with a full time work schedule. The manager also made sure that there were at least five employees working on any given shift, usually more. Because of this there was almost always someone available to help a customer with their questions and give them more attention than just pointing them towards a shelf. All the employees then also had plenty of time to keep their assigned "department"(really just an ailse or two) clean, organized, and fully stocked. We were also able to keep a pretty good mind for what was or was not instock and had the time to read and learn about the products in our departments.
What really blew me away were the number of people that would get jobs there and after one or two days would get intimidated and not show up any more. It was one of the easiest jobs I ever had. Half the time I was hanging out and talking with the other employees. The dress code was incredibly lax. One guy even had a mohawk and facial piercings.

 

[Moonbear]

I'm waiting for the day that the big stores get a clue and start treating their employees right. If they invested more in their employees they would have better workers and make more money.
I worked at an art supply store once. All of the workers started at $2 above minimum wage with a full time work schedule. The manager also made sure that there were at least five employees working on any given shift, usually more. Because of this there was almost always someone available to help a customer with their questions and give them more attention than just pointing them towards a shelf. All the employees then also had plenty of time to keep their assigned "department"(really just an ailse or two) clean, organized, and fully stocked. We were also able to keep a pretty good mind for what was or was not instock and had the time to read and learn about the products in our departments.
What really blew me away were the number of people that would get jobs there and after one or two days would get intimidated and not show up any more. It was one of the easiest jobs I ever had. Half the time I was hanging out and talking with the other employees. The dress code was incredibly lax. One guy even had a mohawk and facial piercings.

I'm not sure just raising wages alone would be enough. A large store like that just needs so many employees that I think they lose the ability to be picky and still keep the store fully staffed. It's not like a small shop near a college where you can staff it on mostly part-time help by hiring college students to rotate day and evening shifts (whichever days they're off from classes), and high school students to work the afternoons, still keeping those students eager to earn some extra money content with their jobs. You fill in the gaps with a full-time store manager and just a few other full-time employees who have supervisory roles (thus earn their higher salary). Places like WalMart (and any other big box store) are hiring anyone they can get their hands on, and worse, they're getting all those people who expect to make a career out of what should be a minimum wage job. I really don't understand the point of paying someone to say hello to people as they walk in the door, other than they probably hired this person and then realized there isn't a thing they can manage to do right, so tossed them out to wave to people as they come in the door. I find them a hindrance, because there's a line to grab a friggin' shopping cart with them around! Also, if you start paying these people higher salaries, they'll NEVER LEAVE for the store to hire more competent employees. Once the store is filled with people who do the minimum amount of work to stay employed, if you raise salaries, any new employee coming in who sees that nobody else does anything for that $2/hour more isn't going to be very motivated to work any harder than anyone else.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I had to run down to Wally World to get some plumbing supplies. The entire plumbing section was about five feet of shelf space!

We lost the hardware stores for this?

I hate Wal Mart.

Oh yes, I was directed by the Wal Mart greeter to "Home Disappointment", thirty miles away. This reminds me of the chant that the Wal Mart Salem workers were instructed to use while preparing for the store opening. This made all the local papers: "Stack em high, sell em low, watch the downtown businesses go". I find this mentality extremely offensive. And at least a few people at Home Depot actually know something.

 

[Evo]

I had to run down to Wally World to get some plumbing supplies. The entire plumbing section was about five feet of shelf space!

We lost the hardware stores for this?

I hate Wal Mart.

Oh yes, I was directed by the Wal Mart greeter to "Home Disappointment", thirty miles away. This reminds me of the chant that the Wal Mart Salem workers were instructed to use while preparing for the store opening. This made all the local papers: "Stack em high, sell em low, watch the downtown businesses go". I find this mentality extremely offensive. And at least a few people at Home Depot actually know something.

Walmart has a smattering of everything, not a lot of anything. That's what it's known for. I can buy a shotgun, a quart of milk, some donuts and a VCR. What more do you need at 3 am when you're drunk?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Walmart has a smattering of everything, not a lot of anything. That's what it's known for. I can buy a shotgun, a quart of milk, some donuts and a VCR. What more do you need at 3 am when you're drunk?

I'll have to get drunk and buy a gun, milk, donuts, and a VCR, at 3 AM, and let you know.

I'm thinking Three Musketeers Bar...

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

I'm thinking Three Musketeers Bar...

I was thinking more booze.

 

[CosminaPrisma]

Just how can you hate Walmart, I buy everything there. ::hides::

 

[Integral]

I don't do Wal Mart!

Sheesh, Ivan, If you want access to more shopping you will have to live somewhere closer to it!

I mean, even if you were to drive the extra 10mi to get to the "not really a" metropolitan area I live in, you could avoid WM. Unfortunately, Costco and Home Depot, both about a mile from my home, are not open 24hr. I did not know what WM is (see the first line) sure hope that I do not need something in the middle of the night and remember WM. I might be tempted. But then I am not sure that it would be safe to drive to L... late at night, I here the rednecks in that area can be pretty rough!

 

[Ivan Seeking]

So, the suggestion is that I have to move because of WalMart? Now I really am ticked off!

At least they haven't run the feed and farm store out of business. I don't know what would do without good ole Glen.

...and it's over twenty miles... Heck, it's ten miles to the big oak tree.

 

[Moonbear]

At least they haven't run the feed and farm store out of business. I don't know what would do without good ole Glen.

That's about the only store they aren't going to be taking over any time soon. Something tells me they don't carry enough grass seed in stock for OR farms.

...and it's over twenty miles... Heck, it's ten miles to the big oak tree.

You're not supposed to start counting until you're off your own property!

 

[Ouabache]

Wasn't Wallyworld ... I mean Walmart begun by a down-home young fellow Sam Walton who grew up on a farm with small town values.. I can't hate a store with those kind of roots.

Back home in Indiana .. I would say http://www.target.com/gp/homepage.html/601-9429796-6087360 is just as competitive...
Discount stores really aren't all that new, as a kid I remember going to mill outlet stores (big warehouses) that beat the prices of the stores with the fancy front window displays (even Sears), hands down..

 

[Moonbear]

Back home in Indiana .. I would say http://www.target.com/gp/homepage.html/601-9429796-6087360 is just as competitive...
Discount stores really aren't all that new, as a kid I remember going to mill outlet stores (big warehouses) that beat the prices of the stores with the fancy front window displays (even Sears), hands down..

I've never seen a Target drive out small businesses, mostly because they have their own little niche market. It is actually a "cornerstone" store in one of the new shopping malls in our town, with lots of new stores coming in around it. Even with a bedding and clothing department in Target, there's a Bed Bath and Beyond that just opened next to it, and the two stores sell completely different styles of bedding, and some other clothing store right across from it...again different styles, though I'm still trying to figure out what that other store is all about...I think it must be meant to appeal to teens mostly. The whole shopping mall is like that, you have Target surrounded by specialty type stores, and they complement each other rather than competing each other out of business.

Outlet stores don't send others out of business because they sell things like product surpluses, last-year's styles, damaged or imperfect goods, and everyone knows this is what they are about. You still go to a regular store when you want quality, just go to the outlet for cheap, or to complete a set of something that's been discontinued. Outlets are also more hit-or-miss. You can't count on anything being in stock, they just have whatever they have that day, so if you are looking for a specific item, you're not going to go there. Instead, you'll go to an outlet because you just feel like shopping and want to see if they have anything you can use. It's a whole different approach.

 

[The_Professional]

i try to avoid shopping at wal-mart but some dvd's are just too good a deal to pass up..