Last Wally Mart question....

[Carlsummers]

I too work for the fed. gov. , so I guess you can bash me too... though I am far from being called a liberal... I am neither defending Wal-Mart, nor crusifying them... just an obervation... . We live in a country based upon capitalism... capitalism itself says "start small, do good business, grow, grow grow"... . We as Americans, seem to love the little guy, but when the little guy (Wal-mart and Microsoft come to mind), does EXACTLY what capitalism dictates, and become a giant in the business world, then we no longer like them, in fact, we seem to hate them... . 'course, nobody ever said Americans are extremely intellegent..... just my personal thoughts, and yes, I am a an American, coming from a family tree of farmers (tobacco, primarily), starting in 1645 when my 7th GGF came here from England... .

 

[DJennings]

Here is a fact for you.



The average small business owner pumps $48 of every $100 he makes back into the local economy.



The local Walmart puts less than $12 of every $100 back into the local economy.



Those jobs that are "created" are being filled by owners and employees of small local businesses that are being driven out of business. Look at the average income of most small town residents before and after a Walmart has moved in. There is a trend there. Once a Walmart has moved in and devoured the local businesses, the average income drops low enough that they can only afford to shop in one place... Walmart. Wouldn't you rather spend your money locally knowing that you are helping your neighbors support their families...



That is a vicious cycle that can be stopped. Say NO to Walmart! Support your local businesses and franchises.



Capitalism gives us choices. In a lot of small towns capitalism is almost extinct, as Walmart has become the only choice for many of the goods we need.



I see this first hand every day visiting or driving through towns in Iowa and Nebraska.

 

[TFucili]

I too work for the fed. gov. , so I guess you can bash me too... though I am far from being called a liberal... I am neither defending Wal-Mart, nor crusifying them... just an obervation... . We live in a country based upon capitalism... capitalism itself says "start small, do good business, grow, grow grow"... . We as Americans, seem to love the little guy, but when the little guy (Wal-mart and Microsoft come to mind), does EXACTLY what capitalism dictates, and become a giant in the business world, then we no longer like them, in fact, we seem to hate them... . 'course, nobody ever said Americans are extremely intellegent..... just my personal thoughts, and yes, I am a an American, coming from a family tree of farmers (tobacco, primarily), starting in 1645 when my 7th GGF came here from England... .

I tend to think capitalism is hard work leading to prosperity. Category killer stores whose growth precludes the existence of anyone else(relatively speaking)are an aberration, and are NOT, IMHO, an example of capitalism. These are capitalism run amok, the 'black plague' of entrepaneurship. In the long term any fool can see this is a dangerous trend. Their low price mantra is like crack-cocaine to the lowest common denominator. Shoot up at your own peril, oh blind ones.

 

[ropinfool2]

The way I look at things if I have X dollars to spend for the week on necessities for the family, I am going to go where I can get more for that X dollars. If that means Walmart, Kmart, Target, etc... that's where I'll go. I guess I'm fortunate enough to make a decent wage doing something everyone needs (power industry) but there are times when money is really tight in my household. I would never shop in a Macy's or Bloomingdales, can't afford to even walk into those stores. I can buy my wranglers at Wmart for under $20. IMHO. John

 

[JHardwick]

I too work for the fed. gov. , so I guess you can bash me too...

not unless you publicize the "I work for the government so I don't have to worry about my job. " attitude

 

[DJennings]

Ropinfool2,



I'm not trying to start anything, but comparing Macy's to Walmart is like comparing a Timex to a Rolex. What I am trying to say is... Take some time and find a store you can buy those Wrangler Jeans or it's equivalent that is either locally owned or franchised. I'll bet you won't pay that much more if you pay more at all.



I have worked for and around small businesses in the midwest all my life. Small Business owners are not selling their product for more because they are greedy. They are trying to make an honest living selling at real profit margins to support families in YOUR community. Walmart offers none of the service that SB's do, and the only reason anybody shops there is price. I would defer to my previous post about the vicious cycle that occurs when a Walmart moves into a community.



The latest thing happening now? Supercenters. They build a supercenter on a new plot and leave the old building unoccupied. It's happening all over as we speak. There is nothing uglier than a big pole shed with a 5 acre parking lot with weeds all over that no one else can afford to occupy.

 

[JohnnyH]

Why dosent this thread get moved somewhere else. It serves no purpose here.

 

[jsimpson]

I never knew Bentonville Arkansas was in China. I learn something every day here!

 

[jsimpson]

WalMart is very successful at running companies out of the US. I lost $500,000 a year because WalMart would no longer buy from RCA, and RCA closed their last remaining US plant. From now on all RCA products will be made in Mexico, Poland or China.



WlaMart switched to Samsung or some**** that was already being produced in China!

Samsung is a Korean company. I don't mind the political arguments, but i'd love to see some intelligent commentary rather than blindly yelling "chinese" every time Wally Mart is brought up. I know a LOT of senior citizens who work at Wally Mart just to get medical benefits because the good American companies and unions they retired from had inadequate or no medical retirement benefits.

 

[Dieselnut59]

The way I look at things if I have X dollars to spend for the week on necessities for the family, I am going to go where I can get more for that X dollars. If that means Walmart, Kmart, Target, etc... that's where I'll go. I guess I'm fortunate enough to make a decent wage doing something everyone needs (power industry) but there are times when money is really tight in my household. I would never shop in a Macy's or Bloomingdales, can't afford to even walk into those stores. I can buy my wranglers at Wmart for under $20. IMHO. John

Believe that if you want, but look at the COUNTRY OF ORIGIN on those Wrangler jeans and I PROMISE you the ones in walfart are the cheap import version. Many of the surviving US manufacturing companies have been forced to offer a cheap, imported version of their product for the discount stores. They still have the USA version that they sell in the premium stores. I am fortunate enough to live near an area that still has "specialty" stores, which offer a choice of cheap imports or premium quality USA made goods. Money can get tight for me too, but I believe my money is much better spent supporting US workers, getting a higher quality product, and getting it from a place which knows about the product and keeps their revenue local. You can buy a pair of $20 jeans made from imported fabric, sewn with outsourced labor, or you can buy a $25-$30 pair of jeans made in USA of USA componets and labor. The USA made product is nearly always of higher quality, therefore will last longer when subjected to the same conditions, which saves money in the long run over the throw-away import junk. If you support American workers, you support your own country. If we don't support them, who will? Sure won't be the chinese or mexicans who hate us anyway!

 

[jsimpson]

Believe that if you want, but look at the COUNTRY OF ORIGIN on those Wrangler jeans and I PROMISE you the ones in walfart are the cheap import version. Many of the surviving US manufacturing companies have been forced to offer a cheap, imported version of their product for the discount stores. They still have the USA version that they sell in the premium stores. I am fortunate enough to live near an area that still has "specialty" stores, which offer a choice of cheap imports or premium quality USA made goods. Money can get tight for me too, but I believe my money is much better spent supporting US workers, getting a higher quality product, and getting it from a place which knows about the product and keeps their revenue local. You can buy a pair of $20 jeans made from imported fabric, sewn with outsourced labor, or you can buy a $25-$30 pair of jeans made in USA of USA componets and labor. The USA made product is nearly always of higher quality, therefore will last longer when subjected to the same conditions, which saves money in the long run over the throw-away import junk. If you support American workers, you support your own country. If we don't support them, who will? Sure won't be the chinese or mexicans who hate us anyway!

and that is why I buy WalMart's made-b-Champion, a USA comapany's. oil filters; that, and the fact that they are rated by everyone who has tested filters as excellent filters at a bargain price. Remember, Fram made excellent filters before they were bought out ny Allied-Signal, another American company. American economics and world economics are a lot more complicated than "buy US". My Tundra is made in the USA and its engine is made in Alabama. My Dodge is made in Mexico. The fat cats in Tokyo make money when I buy a Tundra, but my purchase supports thousands of American jobs. The fat cats in Germany make money when I buy a Dodge, but my purchase supports thousands of Mexican jobs. Buy American? Give me a break! My Gold Wing (made in America) has more American parts than my Harley!!! Buy American is a loud cry of frustration, but it is not a legitimate mantra.

 

[JHardwick]

The latest thing happening now? Supercenters. They build a supercenter on a new plot and leave the old building unoccupied. It's happening all over as we speak. There is nothing uglier than a big pole shed with a 5 acre parking lot with weeds all over that no one else can afford to occupy.

This is happening in the town my shop was in. Small town, no mall, just a strip. Leaving the old building empty for a supercenter that will probably driver Kroger out (Big Bear is already gone) ... ... ... ... . and building the supercenter right next to the old RCA plant Talk about irony, lol.

 

[JHardwick]

Believe that if you want, but look at the COUNTRY OF ORIGIN on those Wrangler jeans and I PROMISE you the ones in walfart are the cheap import version. Many of the surviving US manufacturing companies have been forced to offer a cheap, imported version of their product for the discount stores. They still have the USA version that they sell in the premium stores. I am fortunate enough to live near an area that still has "specialty" stores, which offer a choice of cheap imports or premium quality USA made goods. Money can get tight for me too, but I believe my money is much better spent supporting US workers, getting a higher quality product, and getting it from a place which knows about the product and keeps their revenue local. You can buy a pair of $20 jeans made from imported fabric, sewn with outsourced labor, or you can buy a $25-$30 pair of jeans made in USA of USA componets and labor. The USA made product is nearly always of higher quality, therefore will last longer when subjected to the same conditions, which saves money in the long run over the throw-away import junk. If you support American workers, you support your own country. If we don't support them, who will? Sure won't be the chinese or mexicans who hate us anyway!

This is soo true. I've always worn Levi's and learned that the only place to buy at a decent price is Penneys or Sears ... ... ... ... all the cheaper places sell jeans that weigh less because they are thinner and have less material in them.



We're not going to solve this problem here, but the trade balance is way out of wack. There is no way that this country can survive on services alone.

 

[DBrickel]

I work for the government so I don't have to worry about my job.



If we go to a strictly consuming society you'll still have a job anyway, you're in the business of selling service.

YEAH --- working for micky D's

 

[diesel DOG]

They could offer it for one cent and I wouldnt buy it from wally world.

:-laf never did or will set foot in a Walmart = goodbye jobs off to China. I'll do with less, pay more, and work harder to keep jobs HERE. I won't be buying a Mexican Dodge either.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Living next door to Bentonville, and seeing all the Chinese Made goods in the Wal-Mart stores, I cringe too. But, go to your local auto parts store, Lowes, Home Depot, etc. and look for the Made in China label. Wal-Mart is not the only high volume store buying Made in China to peddle to Americans!

 

[Donn]

yep wallmart has alot to do with TDR

 

[JHardwick]

yep wallmart has alot to do with TDR

and your point is? ... ... ... ... ... ...

 

[DPKetchum]

Wallmart and TDR? I knew there was more to it.

 

[Carlsummers]

I tend to think capitalism is hard work leading to prosperity. Category killer stores whose growth precludes the existence of anyone else(relatively speaking)are an aberration, and are NOT, IMHO, an example of capitalism. These are capitalism run amok, the 'black plague' of entrepaneurship. In the long term any fool can see this is a dangerous trend. Their low price mantra is like crack-cocaine to the lowest common denominator. Shoot up at your own peril, oh blind ones.

Basically, if you read my statement, you and I did not disagree. I never said it was not a dangerous trend. I mearly made a comentary on how we, as Americans, view the "powerful"... . we love them small and hate them when they are sucessful... . One of the most despised men in America is Bill Gates... . frankly, in his case, I admire him, because he did NOT listen to the likes of IBM, and went ahead with his vision of a pc in every home... (IBM is still kicking themselves over that bit of stupidity).