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I do not hate Wal-Mart.I am actually quite annoyed with the whole "Wal-Mart sucks" bandwagon.
It seems to me that a lot of people enjoy hating on Wal-Mart, but yet can't really produce any factual reasons why this hatred is deserved (copying and pasting doesn't count). For some reason, hating Wal-Mart seems to make people feel good about themselves.
The reasons often given (low pay, worker explotiation, small business destruction etc) are unfounded or misunderstood. Maybe it's because Wal-Mart is the largest employer in the U.S. that they get the short end of the stick, but some common sense needs to come into play at some point.
First of all, Wal-Mart does not force small businesses out of commission. PEOPLE decide where they want to shop. That's the beauty of a capitalist economy that is based upon competition. Why should Wal-Mart be punished for basically perfecting the retail game? They are insanely successful because they are good at what they do. They would not have 125 million customers a week if they weren't doing something right. It is not a virus; it's a demonstration of capitalism done right. The good prevail, the lesser fail.
In addition to that, the presence of Wal-Mart stores do not hurt local economies. The average Wal-Mart shopper saves $2000 per year by shopping there, and thus, has more money to spend elsewhere in the community. The savings provided to the typical family is profound, especially in difficult economic times. Also, the amount of new jobs a Wal-Mart can bring to a small town is huge.
One of the greatest things about Wal-Mart, in my opinion, is that they employ low-skilled and elderly workers who otherwise would have an extremely difficult time finding employment at the same pay scale. Wal-Mart does not underpay their workers. The US federal minimum wage is $5.15 an hour. Wal-Mart pays their workers a national average of $10.51 an hour. MORE THAN DOUBLE!
The problem with stats like "The average worker makes 18,000 a year..." is that it consists of both part-time and full-time workers.
Wal-Mart gets so much negative press, but the good things are hardly covered. For example, after Hurricane Katrina, Wal-Mart donated $20 million in cash, 1500 truckloads of merchandise, food for 100,000 meals and a promise of a new job for every one of its flood victimized workers.
Also, I think it is incredible that Wal-Mart offers high-demand prescriptions for only $4 a month. So many elderly and economically disadvantaged people benefit from this service.
All of this being said, I am not naive, and I don't think Wal-Mart is without faults. They have made mistakes, both corporately and on lower levels. However, I think the benefits far out way the negative.
I highly recommend watching this clip (warning...it has some f-bombs toward the end):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AloHq0ih4mw
Source(s):
http://www.sho.com/site/video/brightcove/series/title.do?bcpid=1305032885&a...
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Unless you like low stock on the shelves (due to poor management of their computer assisted ordering). Or maybe you like to fight crowds of people who seem to check their manners at the door. Maybe it is the long lines at the checkout by a checker who would rather be anywhere but at work at that moment. Perhaps it is the zombie like clerks at the customer service desk who seem oblivious to the mounting line of people as they wander around doing who knows what that brings you back.
If all that is not enough to keep you coming back just take a look at the downtown area of smaller towns with a Wal-Mart. Notice the lack of specialty shops that were there 10 years ago. Thank the one stop shopping and Chinese goods at low prices for driving the Mom and Pops out of business on Main St.
How about their hiring practices. Illegal, no problem sign right up for our profit sharing because our wages won't allow you to make a living.
All of these are good reasons to love that little store that started in Bentonville, Arkansas and has spread faster than the swine flu through small town America eating everything in it's path.
WOW THAT FELT GOOD! And I didn't even notice the title or watch the video. But it is a virus.
Source(s):
My demented brain
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1. Unfair Labor Policies -
Not only have there been nationwide news stories about extreme situations involving workers getting locked in the store for overtime, but I have first-hand anecdotes. At one of our local stores for instance, (and I understand this is company policy), workers cannot use paid sick days until they've already taken an unpaid day the day before. So you have to be off two consecutive days sick before you can tap into your paid days.
2. Censoring -
I am highly against censoring, and they practice an egregious form of it. Never buy music, or you might find it full of BLEEPs. You pay full price, and get music with "inappropriate" words bleeped out...whatever Wal-Mart deems to be inappropriate (I didn't know it was up to Sam Walton and his heirs!). Now of course, if you want to buy a shotgun, head over to aisle four. Just don't be a-cussin'!
3. Corporate Blight -
The usual argument...they drive Mom and Pop out of town with their ugly, big, blaring big-box store that generates hundreds of crap low-paying jobs. Saving 15 cents on toilet paper and 10 cents on pizza rolls isn't worth the pox on my soul.
4. Personal Vendetta -
I shopped there long ago, and back then they freshly instituted some ridiculous rules about only using credit cards as long as they aren't associate with banks. Stupid rule that has since been repealed I believe. But the important memory is of the cashier crumpling up the receipt and throwing it at my chest, and the manager shrugging her shoulders and saying there was nothing she could do. Big box customer service.
I won't shop there ever again. I don't knowingly accept gifts or goods purchased at Wal-Mart (I return for cash and donate to a charity).
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human beings:this planet - Walmart : America.
Walmart projects a psuedo image of creating jobs here - low paid, no good benefits. and it does the same in China, but with a different effect.
Almost all the discount store chains follow the same pattern, but WMT tops.
I have bought a few items from Walmart, but I can count the number of times. I have not bought anything this year, except some plants for the garden by my wife. Sometimes it becomes it is unavoidable due to proximity, availability.
Additional info
http://winningargument.blogspot.com/2004/06/wal-mart-is-bad-for-america.html
Though it's dated 2004, it's still true.
"1. Wal-Mart destroys more jobs than it creates. A new Wal-Mart destroys jobs by putting local merchants out of business. The jobs Wal-Mart creates are fewer, lower-paying and mostly part-time. (Good Jobs First)
2. Wal-Mart burdens public health care programs. Most jobs at Wal-Mart have little or no health benefits. Wal-Mart encourages its workers to seek public assistance for their health care. In Georgia, 10,000 children of Wal-Mart employees were enrolled in the public health insurance program. (NOW with Bill Moyers, AFL-CIO)
3. Wal-Mart exploits workers. The average hourly worker makes just $18,000 dollars a year. Meanwhile, in 2002, the corporation raked in $6.6 billion in profits. Wal-Mart has known for years that many of its stores violate child labor laws and state regulations requiring work breaks - but has done little, if anything, to stop it. (Mother Jones, New York Times)
4. Wal-Mart degrades the environment. The federal government charged Wal-Mart with violating the Clean Water Act in 17 locations across the country. Run-off from Wal-Mart construction sites polluted drinking water, streams and lakes. To settle the charges Wal-Mart agreed to pay a $1 million dollar fine. (EPA) "
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Wal-Mart is my go to store for the everyday essentials. I even organize group Wal-Mart trips with some of my friends so we can ride together and share the experience.
I know that is kind of strange but we enjoy it. One of the Wal-Marts in my area even has a restaurant in it where we can get snacks and cheeseburgers, we call them Wally burgers.
Goodtimes.
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Answered Question
M$3
June 24, 2009 02:18 AM
What do you hate about Wal-Mart?
Wal-Mart is controversial for many reasons. List reasons why you hate Wal-Mart. If you don't hate Wal-Mart explain why you love it, however I will add the difficulty of you not being able to cite "low prices."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojLQ2t6N1EU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl6hIrleMIw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNbGQix91Fw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojLQ2t6N1EU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl6hIrleMIw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNbGQix91Fw
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Best Answer Chosen by Asker
| June 24, 2009 03:49 AM |
It seems to me that a lot of people enjoy hating on Wal-Mart, but yet can't really produce any factual reasons why this hatred is deserved (copying and pasting doesn't count). For some reason, hating Wal-Mart seems to make people feel good about themselves.
The reasons often given (low pay, worker explotiation, small business destruction etc) are unfounded or misunderstood. Maybe it's because Wal-Mart is the largest employer in the U.S. that they get the short end of the stick, but some common sense needs to come into play at some point.
First of all, Wal-Mart does not force small businesses out of commission. PEOPLE decide where they want to shop. That's the beauty of a capitalist economy that is based upon competition. Why should Wal-Mart be punished for basically perfecting the retail game? They are insanely successful because they are good at what they do. They would not have 125 million customers a week if they weren't doing something right. It is not a virus; it's a demonstration of capitalism done right. The good prevail, the lesser fail.
In addition to that, the presence of Wal-Mart stores do not hurt local economies. The average Wal-Mart shopper saves $2000 per year by shopping there, and thus, has more money to spend elsewhere in the community. The savings provided to the typical family is profound, especially in difficult economic times. Also, the amount of new jobs a Wal-Mart can bring to a small town is huge.
One of the greatest things about Wal-Mart, in my opinion, is that they employ low-skilled and elderly workers who otherwise would have an extremely difficult time finding employment at the same pay scale. Wal-Mart does not underpay their workers. The US federal minimum wage is $5.15 an hour. Wal-Mart pays their workers a national average of $10.51 an hour. MORE THAN DOUBLE!
The problem with stats like "The average worker makes 18,000 a year..." is that it consists of both part-time and full-time workers.
Wal-Mart gets so much negative press, but the good things are hardly covered. For example, after Hurricane Katrina, Wal-Mart donated $20 million in cash, 1500 truckloads of merchandise, food for 100,000 meals and a promise of a new job for every one of its flood victimized workers.
Also, I think it is incredible that Wal-Mart offers high-demand prescriptions for only $4 a month. So many elderly and economically disadvantaged people benefit from this service.
All of this being said, I am not naive, and I don't think Wal-Mart is without faults. They have made mistakes, both corporately and on lower levels. However, I think the benefits far out way the negative.
I highly recommend watching this clip (warning...it has some f-bombs toward the end):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AloHq0ih4mw
Source(s):
http://www.sho.com/site/video/brightcove/series/title.do?bcpid=1305032885&a...
| Asker's Rating: |
• I respect the viewpoints presented by my magician friends [[Penn and Teller]], they are true libertarians.
Free Market is evolution, personally I just think the whole wal-mart culture of mass consumption is ugly. I've also watched the [[Story of Stuff]] recently.
Free Market is evolution, personally I just think the whole wal-mart culture of mass consumption is ugly. I've also watched the [[Story of Stuff]] recently.
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Other Answers (5)
June 24, 2009 02:56 AM
Low prices is the ONLY thing to like about Wal-Mart. Unless you like low stock on the shelves (due to poor management of their computer assisted ordering). Or maybe you like to fight crowds of people who seem to check their manners at the door. Maybe it is the long lines at the checkout by a checker who would rather be anywhere but at work at that moment. Perhaps it is the zombie like clerks at the customer service desk who seem oblivious to the mounting line of people as they wander around doing who knows what that brings you back.
If all that is not enough to keep you coming back just take a look at the downtown area of smaller towns with a Wal-Mart. Notice the lack of specialty shops that were there 10 years ago. Thank the one stop shopping and Chinese goods at low prices for driving the Mom and Pops out of business on Main St.
How about their hiring practices. Illegal, no problem sign right up for our profit sharing because our wages won't allow you to make a living.
All of these are good reasons to love that little store that started in Bentonville, Arkansas and has spread faster than the swine flu through small town America eating everything in it's path.
WOW THAT FELT GOOD! And I didn't even notice the title or watch the video. But it is a virus.
Source(s):
My demented brain
Permalink | Report
Reply
June 24, 2009 03:05 AM
How do I hate Wal-Mart, let me count the ways! 1. Unfair Labor Policies -
Not only have there been nationwide news stories about extreme situations involving workers getting locked in the store for overtime, but I have first-hand anecdotes. At one of our local stores for instance, (and I understand this is company policy), workers cannot use paid sick days until they've already taken an unpaid day the day before. So you have to be off two consecutive days sick before you can tap into your paid days.
2. Censoring -
I am highly against censoring, and they practice an egregious form of it. Never buy music, or you might find it full of BLEEPs. You pay full price, and get music with "inappropriate" words bleeped out...whatever Wal-Mart deems to be inappropriate (I didn't know it was up to Sam Walton and his heirs!). Now of course, if you want to buy a shotgun, head over to aisle four. Just don't be a-cussin'!
3. Corporate Blight -
The usual argument...they drive Mom and Pop out of town with their ugly, big, blaring big-box store that generates hundreds of crap low-paying jobs. Saving 15 cents on toilet paper and 10 cents on pizza rolls isn't worth the pox on my soul.
4. Personal Vendetta -
I shopped there long ago, and back then they freshly instituted some ridiculous rules about only using credit cards as long as they aren't associate with banks. Stupid rule that has since been repealed I believe. But the important memory is of the cashier crumpling up the receipt and throwing it at my chest, and the manager shrugging her shoulders and saying there was nothing she could do. Big box customer service.
I won't shop there ever again. I don't knowingly accept gifts or goods purchased at Wal-Mart (I return for cash and donate to a charity).
Permalink | Report
Reply
June 24, 2009 03:07 AM
It's true that it is like plague. human beings:this planet - Walmart : America.
Walmart projects a psuedo image of creating jobs here - low paid, no good benefits. and it does the same in China, but with a different effect.
Almost all the discount store chains follow the same pattern, but WMT tops.
I have bought a few items from Walmart, but I can count the number of times. I have not bought anything this year, except some plants for the garden by my wife. Sometimes it becomes it is unavoidable due to proximity, availability.
Additional info
http://winningargument.blogspot.com/2004/06/wal-mart-is-bad-for-america.html
Though it's dated 2004, it's still true.
"1. Wal-Mart destroys more jobs than it creates. A new Wal-Mart destroys jobs by putting local merchants out of business. The jobs Wal-Mart creates are fewer, lower-paying and mostly part-time. (Good Jobs First)
2. Wal-Mart burdens public health care programs. Most jobs at Wal-Mart have little or no health benefits. Wal-Mart encourages its workers to seek public assistance for their health care. In Georgia, 10,000 children of Wal-Mart employees were enrolled in the public health insurance program. (NOW with Bill Moyers, AFL-CIO)
3. Wal-Mart exploits workers. The average hourly worker makes just $18,000 dollars a year. Meanwhile, in 2002, the corporation raked in $6.6 billion in profits. Wal-Mart has known for years that many of its stores violate child labor laws and state regulations requiring work breaks - but has done little, if anything, to stop it. (Mother Jones, New York Times)
4. Wal-Mart degrades the environment. The federal government charged Wal-Mart with violating the Clean Water Act in 17 locations across the country. Run-off from Wal-Mart construction sites polluted drinking water, streams and lakes. To settle the charges Wal-Mart agreed to pay a $1 million dollar fine. (EPA) "
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June 24, 2009 03:11 AM
I love Wal-Mart. They have almost everything I need at convenient prices. Wal-Mart is my go to store for the everyday essentials. I even organize group Wal-Mart trips with some of my friends so we can ride together and share the experience.
I know that is kind of strange but we enjoy it. One of the Wal-Marts in my area even has a restaurant in it where we can get snacks and cheeseburgers, we call them Wally burgers.
Goodtimes.
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And to the contrary, hating them doesn't make me feel good about myself. And I don't need my "Copy and Paste" skills to rail against them - that comes very naturally from personal disgust and frustration. ;)
Much of the Wal-Mart backlash is based on real objections and first-hand problems. Only a portion of the haters are bandwagon jumpers - so please reconsider lumping all into one big steaming ball of poo. There are some of us that have real personal and moral complaints against them.
By the bandwagon comment, I meant that it seems almost fashionable to hate wal-mart. And as I said in my answer, Wal-Mart has/had its issues and is not perfect. But I feel like they get an unfair percentage of the backlash because of their size and success. No corporation of that size could exist without some missteps along the way.
However, I think it's a little ridiculous to hate an entire company based on a trivial personal matter. Like anyone, I've experienced rude workers and such at Wal-Mart (amongst many other stores), but I'd never let that change my shopping habits.
I really only like Wal-Mart because I'm a redneck from Tennessee, but don't tell anyone!