Walmart

[Sasheena]

Opinions about Walmart are probably twice as rampant as the actual store...

I don't have a VERY strong opinion, but some do, so I'm going to open the floor... hope you don't Mind Lucille.

Walmart has a huge distribution center nearby and do donate lots of STUFF to the high school, not to mention employing a lot of my students' parents.

About 15 to 20 miles down the freeway is the nearest WAlmart. They're building a super walmart about ten or twelve miles down the road that is due to open some time this year. and two more exits closer apparantly they were going to put in another one!

Of course they went about things in a sneaky manner. Vestar the people in charge of walmart, apparantly put forth a planned shopping center, including a number of shops, petsmart, other stuff. but NOT including a Walmart. Apparantly after they got their spiffy little shopping center approved by the town council, they came back and said: "We're going to put in a super walmart in that already approved shopping center" and the implication was that the entire shopping center wouldn't go through if the city council allowed them to completely modify the approved plans.

The council said: "Oh, I don't think so" and it's a huge controversy in these parts that the town stood up to the Mighty Walmart and refused to bow to their strong-arm tactics. The local letters to the editor are somewhat funny... one person writes: "I don't drive, so we NEED a walmart closer than the one going in two miles away".... followed up by "All this talk about traffic patterns is ridiculous". I find it funny that someone who doesn't even drive is dismissive of traffic patterns as a well-founded reason not to have the WalMart.

As far as myself, I can't ever quite FACE going to the Walmart that is nearest us. TOO MANY people.! Regardless of all the other stuff that people say against them, I just have no desire to wade through acres of cars to get to the front door, swim through schools of bargain hunting people, and all to save a few pennies here and there.

Anyway... I'm declaring open season on Walmart.... bash (or defend) away.

Oh and if this should be in general BS instead of the Welcome Club, please feel free to move it.

 

[Jim O]

You should move to Vermont. Last I heard Walmart had been unable to penetrate the Green Mountain State.

 

[Lucille]

Great thread idea, thank you Sasheena!!!
Walmart has, IMHO, good points and bad. Their good point is that they are flat cheap and to people that need to watch their money. that is a good thing.

Their bad points, in my opinion, they are invasive, reaching into neighborhoods that perhaps would do better with family businesses.

I do not like some of their labor policies. I was talking to my checker today and she said that she was lucky this week and got to work 40 hours. Apparently the managenet often pulls some of the employee hours so that they cannot depend on a full work week. I asked if they had a union there, and she said 'Oh, no, Walmart doesn't approve of unions'...

I think they are very powerful, and have managing large stores and dealing with neighborhoods down to a science; my hat goes off to any neighborhood that resists their encroachment.

I think my life is more than busy right now; but in the past I have been a union steward. Even in a right to work state like Texas, unions can do good things for those employees who have little bargaining power; I have helped many union members in Texas.
If I get a little time, Walmart may get unionized....

 

[PaulSage]

As far as myself, I can't ever quite FACE going to the Walmart that is nearest us. TOO MANY people.! Regardless of all the other stuff that people say against them, I just have no desire to wade through acres of cars to get to the front door, swim through schools of bargain hunting people, and all to save a few pennies here and there.

That's pretty much EXACTLY how I feel about Wal-Mart. Most of the time though, I just refer to them as the root of all evil.

Honestly though, I'm not a big fan of crowds or histeria, and that's what the local one is. Crowds and mass histeria. Not all of the Wal-Marts are that crazy though. The one in my hometown (a supercenter) frequently looks abandoned just because there aren't many people at all in there. That one I can tolerate with only low doses of medication. I know a lot of people appreciate it (obviously) and it's very helpful to budget conscious shoppers. But if I need groceries, I go to the grocery store. If I need hardware, I go to Menard's. If I need tires, I go to Farm&Fleet. If I needed to unleash the devil within, then I'd go to Wal-Mart.

 

[kiote9]

Walmart is good for people like me who need things for the kids and can't afford department store prices.

I do NOT go into any malls. To me the front door to the mall is the entrance to hell. Too expensive, far too many people, too much duplicity.

Michigan has a store called Meijer. They have 75% of what a person might need; food, clothing, housewares, toys, crafts, music, electronics...you get the idea. Meijer is more crowded than Walmart and far more expensive. They also have less of a selection.

Walmart superstores have cheap things, but also inexpensive quality items. You have to wade through the items to find what you want, and sometimes they have NOTHING you want. I normally have specific items in mind when going there. ALL cleaning products and most electrical household items are purchased there.

As far as the crowds...all you need to do is find out when they are the least busy and go then. I only go in the evening if my best friend HAS to go there because shopping is apparently therapeutic. (I only go then because the martini bar is next door and we go there after for drinks and dinner.)

The trend in employment is to hire only part-timers so the company doesn't have to provide any benefits. I understand it, just don't agree with it. I work 30 hours a week at my job. That is considered full-time. Everyone hired in the last six months was hired as a part-timer. Even the USPS is part-time preferred. I know people who are scheduled for a whopping 10 hours a week. Republican government, you know (oh go ahead and hang me for that statement ), the goal being to eliminate the middle class. At least the people HAVE a job, even if it is only part-time. It isn't like Michigan has a functional welfare system or decent unemployment anymore.

Aren't I just a joy tonight?

Hello, my name is Shelly, and I shop at Walmart......

 

[Lucille]

Republican government, you know (oh go ahead and hang me for that statement ), the goal being to eliminate the middle class.

YOU GO GIRL!!!