Anyone Read the "how Walmart is destroying America" book?

[GiesJ]

I'm about 1/2 way thru the book and just wondered if anyone else had seen or read this book. It's quite surprising to say the least.

 

[illflem]

It's no secret that when Wal-Mart comes to town that other businesses and downtowns fail. When I lived in Washington it was on the city ballot of Wenatchee whether to let Wal-Mart in. All of negative effects were aired, much more campaign bucks were spent by the folks opposing Wal-Mart. They were still allowed in by an overwhelming majority.

 

[Joe G.]

Walmart failed to get into Eureka. The property they wanted to build on required a zoneing change which was voted down. They could have moved into the old Wards store but there is not enough parking there. Target will be in that building next year sometime. If we want to shop at Walmart we have to drive 80 miles to Crescent City.

 

[Jeff H]

Of all those discount stores I like wally world the most. All the others don't carry what I'm looking for. They don't have much effect on highly populated areas. But they do hurt small towns. But if anyone has ever shopped in a small town stores they do rape ya pretty good.

We just got a Super wally world. That helped attract other business's also. But we lost K mart. Or Kame Apart. Wich was a definatly screwed up store. Once use to be a great store though.

 

[Skydiver]

Its bad here!

In our county(Lee) of about 100,000 which includes Auburn and Opelika (O-PEL-LIKE-A)pron:Opelika has 2 90% empty shopping centers. But we have a brand new Wal-mart super-duper center. Only good thing is this time they share thier walls with no other stores.

I once did a search on Wal-mart and most of my findings were bad. I encourage my wife not to buy groceries from them.

Tim

 

[GiesJ]

I am still reading the book but after just half I don't think I will give Walmart (it's a Supercenter here) my business. I agree that often times the Mom and Pop stores have a higher price but a little research will reveal that Walmart wants you to believe they have the Lowest prices but with no competition they can set any price. In Laramie for instance, the best bakery in town shut down cause people could buy a pie from walmart for several dollars less and unless it was a special occasion most people went for the better deal. The Bakery couldn't make it on just big ticket items at the holidays and graduation.

I highly suggest anyone read this book:

http://store.ic.org/products/how-walmart-is-destroying.html

it's an eye opener. Even the A&E biography of Sam Walton of Walmart as a win-at-all-costs-dude.



I'm not trying to start some crusade, I just couldn't believe how uninformed I was and am disappointed that I shopped at Walmart.

 

[Todd G]

I think it's funny how big-business works. We would give just about anything to start up a business and get bigger and bigger every year until we had the biggest out there. It's the American Dream thing. Then all of a sudden everyone notices how big you are and the jealosy thing pops its' ugly head. Walton, Gates, and Dell are just a few of the latest examples. Where do you draw the line between being successful and cutting out the competition?

 

[Motorhead]

I avoid Wal Marts! They exploit people in small towns! They don't pay their employees but minimum wages and expect them to be on "THE TEAM!" They have ferociously fought off any organized labor unions. Me and My Family stay away!! Chris

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

The problem I have with walmart is that I have personally witnessed them come into a small town. Purposefully price stuff lower than they normally would to drive the small guys out of business. Then once the competition is gone raise the price to what they'd normally charge. I shopped at walmart when I was a kid - noticed the mom and pop shops go out of business but didn't care. Later I heard about this practice. A walmart then came into the town that I was living in. I compared prices at that store to another walmart that was 20 miles away. Nearly everything was priced cheaper - by a good bit. Then when the mom and pop shops were gone I checked again - the prices then were EXACTLY the same at the two stores. Now I will only buy at walmart if I have no other choice when travelling. When at home neither me or my wife buys anything there. BTW, I haven't read that book - didn't need to, I witnessed it with my own eyes.

 

[GiesJ]

Todd -

Excellent point. Everyone wants to be the best and successful. That's what I want with my professional career too.



However, some of the tactics involved (in my opinion) cross the line of being successful and cross over into an ethical debate. Specifically, look at the lack of Unions for employees and tactics so that most employees are not receiving benefits.



Part of my American dream is not to get to the top by crackin someone else in the back of the knee.



I too admit that this book is just one side of the story. I just happened to think this story was interesting and wondered what other people here thought. Thanks for taking the time to respond and again, you make a great point.

jason

 

[Andy Perreault]

There was a song on the radio a few years ago by country singer Alan Jackson. The name of it was something like "The Little Guy" or "The Little Man". He sang about the big store coming into town and putting the little guy out of business. He didn't mention the name Walmart, but I'm sure that's who he was talking about. Anyone remember that song?

Andy

 

[jwdeeming]

Voting with your wallet works.



When I moved to Longmont CO in 1990, we did nearly all our lumber/hardware business at a locally owned shop called Budget Home Center. When Home Depot announced intentions to come to town a couple years ago, everyone figured the little guy was doomed. But BHC ramped up, moved to a bigger store, and did the best they could to compete. They don't have near the square footage, variety, etc. as HD but they're still alive, and it amazes me every time I go there. Whenever I go to BHC, I always recognize lots of "old timers" that seem determined to keep them in business. Nothing against HD, it's just cool to see the underdog staying in the fight.



They get my first money, whenever possible. But by no means have I boycotted HD - they fill a need too. I am in favor of letting competition run it's course. My hat's off to the little guy for adapting and succeeding!

 

[BFC]

Did a search on walmart.com and for some reason they don't carry that book! Now where is a small town boy suppose to get it if they don't sell it at wally world! Local book store went out of business... ... ... ...



Glenn:-laf #ad

 

[jerryrigg]

A little extra insider info...



This may not be true of all Wal-marts but it is for some. .



My sister-in-law is in the steel business, their company did the contracts for a couple wal-marts... They were very slow to pay their contractors, from my understanding in one case legal action had been started just to get payed for services rendered, in another case a contractor had to lay off several employees until wal-mart paid him just to stay above water... . she now will drive 30+ miles to go to Target or somewhere else. . anything but Wallyworld... .



down is San Diego/Chula Vista K-Mart was working with the city to rezone some land for a new store. . but the city wanted additional parking there due to the extreme business these stores do just miles from the border. . while this was going on Walmart bought the surrounding land thus K-Mart could not provide the parking required by the city... there is now a Wal-mart being built there instead... 2 blocks from another Wal-mart.

 

[98rammer]

my aunt came over from Seattle about 2 months ago. they seem to experience different things, but the wal- mart thing hasn't changed. she works for GE and abosolutely hates wally world. she wont buy anything there. and it's true, i've seen them take over too many small towns with too many small business.



Tom

 

[work2muchplay2little]

I'm pretty sure the book your talking about is written by Bill Quinn. He is a personal friend of mine. He is a guy with a lot of integrity and speaks very plainly. The sequel should be out pretty soon. It's pretty hard to argue with a lot of his points.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

... and everyone of you went to the highest priced place in town to buy your CTD.



I don't shop at Wal-Mart very often, but it's mainly because they are so crowded and I can get in and out a whole lot faster somewhere else.



I live in the Wal-Mart Corporate Headquarters back yard.



The best thing I ever bought of Wal-Mart's is their stock.

 

[GiesJ]

work2much - yes, the book I am reading is written by Mr. Quinn. Let him know this thread is out there. I think he did a great job on the book.



Jumbo jet - you are right, people should shop around. However, it appears that the Walmart pattern is to have great prices until there is no competition (and ways of beating the competition would surprise you) and then they set their own prices. If you have a chance, read the book.

 

[RichB59]

Anti American!!

Walmart and the likes of them are anti American. What made this country great was indivdualism, thats everything Wally world is against. We all should try to barter and avoid the large corps. They have ruined our live style and values. I think the American way of life is being stolen away by big business. Our gov. is bought and paid for by large special interest groups comprised of companys like Walmart ect. What the hell happened???? :--) :--)



Rich B

 

[Power Wagon]

Dang... there used to be a farrier in every town, and now there isn't.



Must be a conspiracy.



Used to be a blacksmith...



And now there isn't.



Must be a conspiracy.



I never fail to grasp how it is, that once people reach the age of about 15 or 20, they suddenly decide that the world should not change around them.



But it does.



Mom and Pop stores selling clothes or groceries or being a variety store, well, it's just not a viable business model anymore.



There are STILL a ton of Mom and Pop stores, they just sell different things and provide different services than they used to. I have never ceased hearing about how WalMart put all the mom and pop stores out of business. Ok. They do put some out of business, in some instances.



When WalMart was coming to town, one of the local hardware places that had a good reputation for having a wide variety of stuff was considered by many to be "at risk". So, they switched franchises, from the one they were with to the one with the largest product selection. They changed what they carried, and improved thier selections on a number of things. Thier business is going great guns, and WalMart hurt them not a bit. And, now they have an even bigger selection, and they now do thier best to sell you stuff out of thier catalogs (they have an absolutely amazing selection of stuff).



So, Mom and Pop stores hiring people at minimum wage, part-time with no benefits is OK. When WalMart does it, it's a hideous sin? WalMart cannot create a monopoly. They can't do it. Even if they planted a big gray store every few miles around the country, it wouldn't happen. I hear people moan about the mom and pop store closing. But I never hear them complain that the stuff they buy costs too little. You know, when I was a kid, you should have read the arguments in the paper about this "killer" called "K-Mart" that was coming to town to kill off all the "good" businesses. I actually read a letter not that long ago in the paper, complaining the WalMart was going to kill off K-Mart.



Countless times throughout the country's history, someone will start up and compete with someone else in the same place. They'll undercut them and when the competition gives up or goes under, they enjoy their margins until someone ELSE comes along and forces them to be competitive again. It's called FREEDOM and CAPITALISM. And the nicest guys don't always win.



However much you may want to gripe about it, it's the best system ever invented for bringing YOU the most for your efforts. There's far worse things than WalMart moving into town...