TO SHOP OR NOT SHOP…? THAT’S HIS QUESTION…
Blogger Golbguru at Money, Matter, and More Musings asks the question: what are your reasons to shop (or not shop) at Wal-Mart? What reasons do you cite when you encourage or discourage your friends/family to use Wal-Mart?
His own reasons?
Some things are just outright affordable at Wal-Mart and if we buy them from other retail stores, it’s going cost us a significant amount of extra money.
The Wal-Mart store we general use is really clean — most people find it hard to believe, but that is true — so we don’t have any *cleanliness* barriers that stop us from going there. I think the cleanliness of a store (any store, not just Wal-Mart) depends on it’s manager and it’s staff and probably the guys in our Wal-Mart are good.
There is an awesome variety of available choices, so we don’t feel restricted when we shop.
It’s easily accessible (not too far from where we live), and it’s open 24 hours.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, Wal-Mart has already cause significant job loss in America.
Between 2001 and 2006, this growing deficit eliminated 1.8 million U.S. jobs (Scott 2007). The world’s biggest retailer, U.S.-based Wal-Mart was responsible for $27 billion in U.S. imports from China in 2006 and 11% of the growth of the total U.S. trade deficit with China between 2001 and 2006. Wal-Mart’s trade deficit with China alone eliminated nearly 200,000 U.S. jobs in this period.
Specifically jobs that pay an actual living wage- whereas WM is not only cutting wages for it’s employess, but capping wages (no more raises after a certain amount of dollars per hour, no matter how long you’ve worked there) and doing away with full time status (they are cutting hours on their full time employees, effectively taking away their opportunity for the very meager benefits that Wal-Mart offers).
I used to work for WM and can attest to the fact that they treat their employees like crap. Many of these folks worked for companies that WM eventually forced to shut down, and they lost their good paying jobs and were forced to take jobs stocking shelves. These a very specific reasons that I will not shop there.
For me it’s not about where the merchandise comes from, specifically (though forcing companies to move overseas to be able to stay in business is something that WM is very good at) but about how the store management treats their employees, especially their long time employees. I cannot in good conscience spend my money at an establishment that shoves their most loyal, long time employees out the door so that they can hire new staff at an entry level wage. I strongly believe that company loyalty should be rewarded by management and WM’s only consideration is the bottom line. That hurts my community and my country.
About this point:
What millions of people have fortunes in WM stock? Please cite your evidence for this. I know that WM offers stock options to employees (to keep their numbers up) but those people are most definitely not making “fortunes”. WM does not pay the minuscule dividend directly to the employee, but reinvests in more of it’s own stock. Not only that, but employees may think they get a vote at the annual shareholders meeting (laughable)but their votes are summarily discarded for issues benefiting WM.
Absolutely. And Lowe’s too (owned by the Walton family). I suggest BJ’s Wholesale Club for those that like bulk items. In my area BJ’s is directly across the street from Sam’s. And the Home Depot has started hiring more experts at higher wages, so they are actually helping their communities.
I will say, though, that it’s very difficult in Northeast Ohio to drive a hundred miles and not see a dozen or so WM. In Canton, OH alone there are 6 within a ten mile radius. But I can attest to the fact that mom-and-pop shops in my corner of Ohio are dwindling at enormous rates. And with the recent Supreme Court ruling I’m sure that discounters such as Value City and Big Lots are going to suffer because of deals between manufacturers and Wal-Mart.
Have no worries, though. When the small shops and discounters in your particular area fall to WM’s obscene competitive practices, then you’ll see a rise in prices and a sudden lack of employees staffing your local WM (leading to unhappy employees, a dirty store, and unstocked shelves). Count on it.
Perhaps you should visit the WM employee forum at Walmart Blows to see how WM treats it’s employees.
here
Shalom Jenny,
First, thankyou for stopping in, for reading and, most importantly, for taking the time to write a commment.
I appreciate you cross posting your comment from Golbguru’s blog.
B’shalom,
Jeff
[...] TO SHOP OR NOT SHOP…? THAT’S HIS QUESTION… Blogger Golbguru at Money, Matter, and More Musings asks the question: what are your reasons to shop (or not shop) at Wal-Mart? What reasons do you cite when you encourage or discourage your friends/family to use Wal-Mart? Keep reading… [...]
For what it’s worth, Lowe’s is NOT owned by the Walton Family. I responded to Jennyjinx’s post in the original thread, in which I was active enough to get thanks from Golb via email. (He’s at least thinking about changing his store!!) My comments, with citations are at http://tinyurl.com/3yly6a
Shalom Rebekah,
First, thank you for stopping in, for reading and, most importantly, for taking the time to write a comment. It’s all about the conversation.
I haven’t spoken to him directly and I admit that the following is shallow and unjustly cruel, but i think that Golb originally posed his question anticipating being able to demonstrate the lameness of the commenters.
That he may be considering his position based on reasoned arguments gives me a very good feeling.
B’shalom,
Jeff