I don't hate wal-mart

[jmjj215]

Re: I don't hate wal-mart

Hey Jacquelyn

Wal-mart is notorious for putting local area business out within a year with their low prices. They are talking about bringin one over here and the local businesses are ready to picket!

Customers put the local businesses out of business by not shopping there any more. If a town got together and boycotted wal-mart, I don't think they'd stay long. (Of course then you'd have a nasty building left vacant, which they're notorious for doing).

[jmjj215]

Re: I don't hate wal-mart

Walmart does raise the prices after the small businesses go under, but not alot. Walmart moved into the town I grew up in and after all the small businesses went out, they did raise their prices. Not alot, but they did raise them.

How long were they in your town before you noticed the price increase?

[mom-from-missouri]

Re: I don't hate wal-mart

our walmart went supercenter and put in a shoe repair shop. they put out the local shoe repair we had for over 20 years. then, 3 months after he closed his doors, walmart did away with theirs. then, they put a snip and clip in the walmart store-we already had a snip and clip in town, and they outbid the lady who had the current one--put her out of business--then, after the 2 year contract with them ended, they put in a different beauty salon. same thing with the drycleaners and a blockbuster outlet. then, they promised to carry our schools school uniforms in stock year around. so, we switched to the simply basic (walmart) brand of uniforms since they were cheaper. now the manager decides our school is too small to suppport the floor space needed for the uniform racks, and he has discoutinued them-so for next year we have to find a new uniform company again...

[jmjj215]

Re: I don't hate wal-mart

our walmart went supercenter and put in a shoe repair shop. they put out the local shoe repair we had for over 20 years. then, 3 months after he closed his doors, walmart did away with theirs. then, they put a snip and clip in the walmart store-we already had a snip and clip in town, and they outbid the lady who had the current one--put her out of business--then, after the 2 year contract with them ended, they put in a different beauty salon. same thing with the drycleaners and a blockbuster outlet. then, they promised to carry our schools school uniforms in stock year around. so, we switched to the simply basic (walmart) brand of uniforms since they were cheaper. now the manager decides our school is too small to suppport the floor space needed for the uniform racks, and he has discoutinued them-so for next year we have to find a new uniform company again...

As said earlier in the post - it's the customers that chose the lower price for the shoe repair at Wal-mart than with the 20-year shop. Same story with the dry cleaners, barber, blockbuster, etc.

The fact that Walmart then walks away from it after enticing consumers to their business (only to drive one out) is deplorable. Why did they invest in it in the first place?

[jmjj215]

Re: I don't hate wal-mart

On a positive note: Wal-mart was quite adept in dealing with Hurricane Katrina. Their efforts should be lauded for that.

[jodi]

Re: I don't hate wal-mart

I would like to see mom and pop shops stick around, but (I will admit it, although I am not proud sometimes) I shop at Wal-Mart ALL the time for the convenience only - I don't see a huge price savings over some of our grocery stores, but there is no where else I can buy groceries, diapers, clothes, toys, books, etc. all in one place. When you are toting around a toddler and an infant, it is really important to not have to make 20 stops. But I also hate the crowds and the poor service. When I am by myself and I have time, I am more likely to visit smaller stores.

[jmjj215]

Re: I don't hate wal-mart

I think my wife would totally agree with you jodi.

[cicy33]

Re: I don't hate wal-mart

I think that one of the reasons that walmart does away with the smaller in store shops is that there is not enough business. The smaller shops can do with the lower business level cuz of course they have low overhead. If wal mart was smart ... hmmm... then they would investigate the wisdom of looking at these smaller shops business before deciding they want it. But bottom line is that walmart does not close stores. People do. I personally do try to keep some things local. but for the most part I also shop at walmart. the variety is nice. and I am gone from home from 7 to 5 and most mom and pop stores close at 4:00 around here. There is no way I can give them my business. However, on a side note my local pharmacy is awesome! He will get up in the middle of the night if a parent needs a medicine. and he has stayed open for me personally when I was running late. and once, my dog ate my husband blood pressure pills (the dog is fine!) and my pharmacist gave me a weeks worth of pills until I could get him to the doctor. Is CVS going to do that?

[Bruce Wayne]

Re: I don't hate wal-mart

Maybe Wal-Mart didn't think those industries paid well enough? After all if lots of people bought those services then they'd be crazy not to stick around.

Another interesting question is why no one wanted to setup those industries again after Wal-Mart walked out on them? If there are lots of people wanting those services it'd be a gold mine wouldn't it?

[jmjj215]

Re: I don't hate wal-mart

Another interesting question is why no one wanted to setup those industries again after Wal-Mart walked out on them? If there are lots of people wanting those services it'd be a gold mine wouldn't it?

Movement of capital is pretty slow probably. I'm sure eventually those gaps will be filled.

[VJW]

Re: I don't hate wal-mart

Everyone has left out the other side of the coin, that Wal*Mart drives down wages and health care benefits, as well as burdening the states budgets with higher food stamp, state medical care, and other social support for low-wage workers, which of course means the shifting of the burden from Wal*Mart to the taxpayers.

#

[cicy33]

Re: I don't hate wal-mart

I totally disagree with you. Just because walmart pays min wage does not mean they are driving down wages. If that is true then you should also say that it is true about McDonalds, Dairy Queen, KMart, Target, and most everywhere that pays min wage. There are alot of employers that pay min wage and do not offer benefits. It is not just wal mart. They are not the only employer in the country. Yes, they are one of the biggest but lots of people make min wage that don't work there too. And the further problem is that people that own house and rent them out charge a lot of money that people have a problem paying. I mean do you really need $600 for a 2 - 3 bedroom house? We have a 3 bedroom that we rent out for $425. We aren't getting rich and after this month we will finally turn a profit. But at least our renters can afford it. It is everything combined that puts people on public aid. Not just one employer. And no, I don't work for walmart. I did however used to be on public aid and I never have worked at walmart.

[Dingoluv4eva]

Re: I don't hate wal-mart

I think the issues is WHO gets the big money.

IF Walmart comes in and wipes out 20 Mom and Pop shopps.

thats 20 Influential families in the town, that aren't business owners anymore, and arent making the big money.. THEY ARE MAD.
they're maybe local accountants and lawyers get mad also.

The money that those 20 families and the lucky ones to be close to them., suddenly is going out of TOWN..
its all flying down to Arkansas and filling the pockets of the Sam Walton bunch and the lucky ones around them.

As far as the average person.. those 20 mom and pop shopps prolly paid pretty much minimum wage to their 200 employees or whatever..

those 200 prolly all work for that one walmart anyways.

Town has become more of a working town now tho. versus before when it had rich business owners that could sociallly organize events etc..

now its all reliant on Walmart and them doing great thing, like JMJ pointed out with Katrina.

[Firefly]

Re: I don't hate wal-mart

I just don't like Wal-Mart. Can't place why. My husband doesn't like it either. He says it is cheap as in poor quality. I would rather spend more at a Mom and Pop store and get good quality then cheap quality items at a lower cost. Maybe that is just the small town person in me. I don't know.

[Bruce Wayne]

Re: I don't hate wal-mart

Everyone has left out the other side of the coin, that Wal*Mart drives down wages and health care benefits, as well as burdening the states budgets with higher food stamp, state medical care, and other social support for low-wage workers, which of course means the shifting of the burden from Wal*Mart to the taxpayers.

#

Do you know the relative cost/benefit of low food prices vs low wages/healthcare etc.? Does society see a net benefit or a net loss?