Wal-Mart's everyday high costs

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: RobCur
Why pay more at stores like whole food, publix, kroger etc. when you can pay much less at wal-mart?
Always low prices... nuff said.

prices aren't any lower than my local supermarket, and i have to drive by at least 3 before i get to a wally world

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: Corn
So basically Oakland is starting to resemble Soviet Russia. If you can't compete, outlaw the competition. Nice.

What a crock. If the people of Oakland prefer more locally-owned businesses, if they prefer to preserve business diversity and quality, who are you to tell them they cannot? You sound like Soviet Russia. Oakland sounds like democracy.

 

[DealMonkey]

Originally posted by: Bowfinger

Originally posted by: Corn
So basically Oakland is starting to resemble Soviet Russia. If you can't compete, outlaw the competition. Nice.

What a crock. If the people of Oakland prefer more locally-owned businesses, if they prefer to preserve business diversity and quality, who are you to tell them they cannot? You sound like Soviet Russia. Oakland sounds like democracy.

Yeah Corn! Stick it in yer ear

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: shinerburke
I'm glad to see that anti-capitalism is alive and well in this thread.

Of the people. By the people. For the people. Any of that ring a bell?

America is supposed to be about people. NOT business ... people. American capitalism was never intended to be an end in and of itself. Capitalism was meant to be a means of ensuring opportunity for all. It's called the American Dream.

Sadly, this has become perverted over the years by the unmitigated greed of generations of robber barons -- and the deluded peasants who think they can become barons too if only those damn Democrats stop expecting businesses to behave responsibly. Every time another Wal-Mart opens, it kills the Dream for dozens -- maybe hundreds -- of Americans.

In fairness to Wal-mart, they are as much a symptom of the problem as they are a cause. Wal-Marts wouldn't thrive if so many Americans weren't so short-sighted. They don't realize or don't care that the cheap imported crap they love saves a couple bucks today but costs good jobs tomorrow. Wal-Mart panders to their ignorance and apathy.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: LunarRay

Originally posted by: CADkindaGUY

Originally posted by: LunarRay
I understand the Walmart issue is the contractors hired by Walmart hired the illegals but, walmart knew they were illegals and conspired to reduce the costs based on the fact that they knew the workers were illegals... this makes Walmart in deeper than if they hired the illegals directly...

I agree Walmart should be taken to task, but I thought "Illegals" were just "undocumented workers"

CkG

They are and they need being assimilated if they are here. My point is in the legal issue of Walmart. Conspiracy to violate the Immigration laws... the illegals are just trying to feed their families.. I don't have too great an issue there but, do with the exploitive employer who makes $ off their efforts in the furthering his own bank account. Walmart conspired to this effort and that is a big no no. If there are legals who are looking for work and the illegal is hired in their stead... I'm against that. Normally, the illegal works in the agri business.. but, I see they've expanded their field of expertise..

Ah, but isn't granting them priviledges of a citizen for political gains - exploitation?

Yes, Walmart needs to get hammered on this, but I hope people take this issue seriously and don't just look at Walmart - but at the whole Illegal immigrant problem.

We now return this thread to it's Walmart bashing and flaming, already in progress.

CkG

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: DealMonkey

Originally posted by: Bowfinger

Originally posted by: Corn
So basically Oakland is starting to resemble Soviet Russia. If you can't compete, outlaw the competition. Nice.

What a crock. If the people of Oakland prefer more locally-owned businesses, if they prefer to preserve business diversity and quality, who are you to tell them they cannot? You sound like Soviet Russia. Oakland sounds like democracy.

Yeah Corn! Stick it in yer ear

Ah, shucks. Don't tassle Corn. He'll think you're stalking him.

 

[Jmman]

The people of Oakland didn't vote against Walmart, the City Council did. Subtle but important difference. Anyway, last time I checked, California was in a crappy economic condition. Legislation like this is not going to help.....

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: Jmman
The people of Oakland didn't vote against Walmart, the City Council did. Subtle but important difference. Anyway, last time I checked, California was in a crappy economic condition. Legislation like this is not going to help.....

Sure, but if the people of Oakland disapprove, they can vote the Council out. One has to assume the Council knows this and believes they have reasonable public support.

 

[DealMonkey]

Originally posted by: Bowfinger

Originally posted by: Jmman
The people of Oakland didn't vote against Walmart, the City Council did. Subtle but important difference. Anyway, last time I checked, California was in a crappy economic condition. Legislation like this is not going to help.....

Sure, but if the people of Oakland disapprove, they can vote the Council out. One has to assume the Council knows this and believes they have reasonable public support.

Exactly - I'm sure the City Council has popular support from the people of Oakland. They probably don't want any crappy Wal-Marts selling crappy crap from crappy China. Blah.

Don't forget the Oakland is right next door to Berkeley. Also, don't forget who the mayor of Oaktown happens to be. He's MB, but not that MB. More like the OG MB.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Bowfinger

Originally posted by: Jmman
The people of Oakland didn't vote against Walmart, the City Council did. Subtle but important difference. Anyway, last time I checked, California was in a crappy economic condition. Legislation like this is not going to help.....

Sure, but if the people of Oakland disapprove, they can vote the Council out. One has to assume the Council knows this and believes they have reasonable public support.

What ever happend to free enterpise. This seems very illegal. They are a merchant like anyone else and should be allowed to compete. Everyone knows I hate walmarts, union-busters etc but it's still a free country... Or at least used to be.

In my former town, San Luis Obispo, they did the same crap with both Walmart and Costco so they opened in Santa Maria and Paso Robles repectivly. So peopel use more Gas since it's 40 miles eitherway away. But they still go.

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: Zebo
What ever happend to free enterpise. This seems very illegal. They are a merchant like anyone else and should be allowed to compete. Everyone knows I hate walmarts, union-busters etc but it's still a free country... Or at least used to be.

All I can do is repeat myself:

Of the people. By the people. For the people. Any of that ring a bell?

America is supposed to be about people. NOT business ... people. American capitalism was never intended to be an end in and of itself. Capitalism was meant to be a means of ensuring opportunity for all. It's called the American Dream.

Sadly, this has become perverted over the years by the unmitigated greed of generations of robber barons -- and the deluded peasants who think they can become barons too if only those damn Democrats stop expecting businesses to behave responsibly. Every time another Wal-Mart opens, it kills the Dream for dozens -- maybe hundreds -- of Americans.

In fairness to Wal-mart, they are as much a symptom of the problem as they are a cause. Wal-Marts wouldn't thrive if so many Americans weren't so short-sighted. They don't realize or don't care that the cheap imported crap they love saves a couple bucks today but costs good jobs tomorrow. Wal-Mart panders to their ignorance and apathy.

Free enterprise is good, but it must be balanced against the greater good of the people.

 

[Jmman]

There does have to be a balance, that is true. History has shown us that monopolistic entities do not serve the good of the people or the country. The problem with California is that there are so many restrictions and regulations placed upon businesses, the pendulum has shifted way too far in the other direction. Businesses have decided that it is better to move somewhere else because of these regulations. And guess what, that is what they are doing in droves. If the people of California do not pull their heads out of the sand, it is going to be even more disastrous than it already is. If you have any doubts about whether liberal economic policy really works, just take a look at California......

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Bowfinger

Originally posted by: Zebo
What ever happend to free enterpise. This seems very illegal. They are a merchant like anyone else and should be allowed to compete. Everyone knows I hate walmarts, union-busters etc but it's still a free country... Or at least used to be.

All I can do is repeat myself:

Of the people. By the people. For the people. Any of that ring a bell?

America is supposed to be about people. NOT business ... people. American capitalism was never intended to be an end in and of itself. Capitalism was meant to be a means of ensuring opportunity for all. It's called the American Dream.

Sadly, this has become perverted over the years by the unmitigated greed of generations of robber barons -- and the deluded peasants who think they can become barons too if only those damn Democrats stop expecting businesses to behave responsibly. Every time another Wal-Mart opens, it kills the Dream for dozens -- maybe hundreds -- of Americans.

In fairness to Wal-mart, they are as much a symptom of the problem as they are a cause. Wal-Marts wouldn't thrive if so many Americans weren't so short-sighted. They don't realize or don't care that the cheap imported crap they love saves a couple bucks today but costs good jobs tomorrow. Wal-Mart panders to their ignorance and apathy.

Free enterprise is good, but it must be balanced against the greater good of the people.

.... the trees were blocking my veiw of the forest..


and I again missed one of your intelligent posts

The question I guess is are they a monopoly now? I'm sure in small towns one could make that argument...or at least thier buying power gives them monopolistic powers...

 

[Corsairpro]

I like wal-mart, they're staff is generally friendly and I usually find what I need cheaper at walmart than elsewhere. I'm all for free market, and walmart is just one large experiment in economies of scale... just don't know when they'll hit diseconomies of scale.

 

[DealMonkey]

Originally posted by: Zebo

Originally posted by: Bowfinger

Originally posted by: Jmman
The people of Oakland didn't vote against Walmart, the City Council did. Subtle but important difference. Anyway, last time I checked, California was in a crappy economic condition. Legislation like this is not going to help.....

Sure, but if the people of Oakland disapprove, they can vote the Council out. One has to assume the Council knows this and believes they have reasonable public support.

What ever happend to free enterpise. This seems very illegal. They are a merchant like anyone else and should be allowed to compete. Everyone knows I hate walmarts, union-busters etc but it's still a free country... Or at least used to be.

In my former town, San Luis Obispo, they did the same crap with both Walmart and Costco so they opened in Santa Maria and Paso Robles repectivly. So peopel use more Gas since it's 40 miles eitherway away. But they still go.

If everyone in town gets together and says they don't want a WalMart within City limits - who are you to stop them? In a conflict like this, I will take the side of the people any day of the week. Now, if only more municipalities would consider restrictions like these instead of pandering to whatever corp waives the most sales tax revenue in front of their little piggy noses.

 

[jpeyton]

I just got two 5 gallon jugs of MOBIL1 from Wally's for $18.xx each.

I'll buy from them as long as they have the lowest prices.

If their practices are really as bad as written, they'll get bitten in the ass eventually. That's how things work.

 

[Medicated858]

Originally posted by: Corn
This "article" is a load of crap:

Wal-Mart likes to call its sales clerks "associates," but "serfs" would be more like it. The company paid its salespeople an average $8.23 an hour in 2001. At that wage, a full-time worker made only $13,861 a year.

Lesse for a moment: 8.23 * 40 hours * 52 weeks = $17,118, not $13,861.

Can I trust an article where creative multiplication is used to misrepresent its most basic premise. I dunno, but my sensibilities lead me to state that it is probably laced with a semblence of fact but spiced with bullshit.

And for the life of me, I'm curious how many "salespeople" Walmart really employs. Most of their workforce is stock/clerk/cashiers--hardly what I would call "salespeople".

How much does that mom and pop shop pay stock boys, clerks, and cashiers?

I also find it interesting how Walmart is being blamed for simply offering a service that, apparently, the public has a high demand for? If there were no demand, would Walmart even exist? Ah hah!!! I've got it! It's the stupid, uninformed, and ignorant masses who are simply shooting themselves in the foot!!!!

Looks like another elitist snob pointing out how stupid the poor are. Perhaps a benevolent liberal government should step in and make the proper decisions for these imbeciles. Ban Walmart, ban imported goods, hell, just go ahead and ban corporate entities. We should all live on minimum sustinance at communal farms (Moonie loves this idea).

Holidays and the majority of people do not work full time every week of the year.

 

[Medicated858]

Originally posted by: Jmman
I see the hatred towards Walmart as being very similar to the hatred towards Microsoft. People love to hate the big guys........

No.... people hate huge corporations that perform immoral actions in order to become the leader in their industry.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: DealMonkey

Originally posted by: Zebo

Originally posted by: Bowfinger

Originally posted by: Jmman
The people of Oakland didn't vote against Walmart, the City Council did. Subtle but important difference. Anyway, last time I checked, California was in a crappy economic condition. Legislation like this is not going to help.....

Sure, but if the people of Oakland disapprove, they can vote the Council out. One has to assume the Council knows this and believes they have reasonable public support.

What ever happend to free enterpise. This seems very illegal. They are a merchant like anyone else and should be allowed to compete. Everyone knows I hate walmarts, union-busters etc but it's still a free country... Or at least used to be.

In my former town, San Luis Obispo, they did the same crap with both Walmart and Costco so they opened in Santa Maria and Paso Robles repectivly. So peopel use more Gas since it's 40 miles eitherway away. But they still go.

If everyone in town gets together and says they don't want a WalMart within City limits - who are you to stop them? In a conflict like this, I will take the side of the people any day of the week. Now, if only more municipalities would consider restrictions like these instead of pandering to whatever corp waives the most sales tax revenue in front of their little piggy noses.

True folks. In a Democracy there is supposed to be balance driven by the "Will of the Poeple". You get any Entitity running roughshod over the people you no longer have a Democracy.

Look at the Thread Property seizure in Alabaster Alabama. The local Government there is taking the private land of families that have had the land for generations and giving the land to Wal-Mart under the pretense of Eminent Domain. I am sure that case is what the Oakland Government has seen and does not want to see happen there. They are at least sending a message to the Emperors at Wal-Mart that they will not roll over for them. Is that what you people in here so supportive of Kingdoms want? For Companies to trash and roll over the citizenry?

 

[alkemyst]

Regardless of what anyone says they sell a lot of stuff and have a direct influence on magazines, CD's and DVD's (1 in 4 being sold at a walmart)....of there books they only carry a minimal selection but approach medium sized bookstores in volume.

The founder had a dream opposite of Ford, he believed you lower wages and costs you can sell a cheaper product and get the same 'living standard'. He believed that no one worked full time (actually he believed in not paying benefits)...

Even the packing boxed are reused...if a store manager sends back the 'boxes' he gets 25-75cents each...if he doesn't he is billed that.

My dad hated WalMart until he found out their fishing selection....not as good as a 'Pro Shop', but it's closer and open late and more importantly extremely early when you find out your boat is ready but you forgot something or something died in the night (like a battery ).

My wife loves coupon clipping and checking the deals. On each corner where we live we have all the big stores so nothing is out of our way. The average grocery day usually has us stopping by two stores. Sometimes it's Super WalMart...they have the bagels she likes at .33 cents each and usually 2Liter Cokes for under $1 each (last time it was .77 cents), they have my beer cheap too most of the time, but don't seem to advertise that.

There was an interesting article in Playboy this month about them....one of the most interesting statistics:
"Wal-Mart serves an average of 18,798,454 customers per day" This is 6.5% of the total population of the USA....slightly less than the state of New York, every day.

Last friday after Thanksgiving 2002, they sold $1.4 billion in total sales.

This year they expect an increase in revenue of $25 billion. Maybe that doesn't sound like much, but that's more than double the total revenue of Nike, ToysRUs, and Gillette.

Their total revenue is $246 Billion (2002), again maybe doesn't sound like alot...but that is more than IBM, AOL Time Warner, HP, Dell and Microsoft COMBINED!!!!

 

[Corn]

What a crock. If the people of Oakland prefer more locally-owned businesses, if they prefer to preserve business diversity and quality, who are you to tell them they cannot? You sound like Soviet Russia. Oakland sounds like democracy.

Now that's a crock. If the people of Oakland prefer more locally-owned businesses, who could possibly stop them from patronizing those types of businesses? I'm for freedom of choice, Oakland is not. You tell me, which more resembles Soviet Russia?

 

[Corn]

What ever happend to free enterpise. This seems very illegal. They are a merchant like anyone else and should be allowed to compete. Everyone knows I hate walmarts, union-busters etc but it's still a free country... Or at least used to be.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's "illegal". My personal opinion is that a city and it's citizens have a right in the say of the makeup of their city, ie; zoning, maintaining the character of the city, etc. My problem is that this is Oakland we are talking about here, not Sausalito. I'm sure there are several commercial sites where a Costco or Wallyworld would not find itself out of place with the character of the surrounding areas.

 

[Corn]

If everyone in town gets together and says they don't want a WalMart within City limits - who are you to stop them? In a conflict like this, I will take the side of the people any day of the week.

Please provide me with a link to substantiate this claim? Did the people have a vote in this matter, or was it decided for them?

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Corn

What a crock. If the people of Oakland prefer more locally-owned businesses, if they prefer to preserve business diversity and quality, who are you to tell them they cannot? You sound like Soviet Russia. Oakland sounds like democracy.

Now that's a crock. If the people of Oakland prefer more locally-owned businesses, who could possibly stop them from patronizing those types of businesses? I'm for freedom of choice, Oakland is not. You tell me, which more resembles Soviet Russia?

The Elcted Officials of Oakland are acting in the best interest of their Constituents who they represent. Among those they represent are the Small Shop Owners who they are protecting by not letting Wally World Open Shop their. Sounds about as American as you cam get to me.

 

[rufruf44]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Corn

What a crock. If the people of Oakland prefer more locally-owned businesses, if they prefer to preserve business diversity and quality, who are you to tell them they cannot? You sound like Soviet Russia. Oakland sounds like democracy.

Now that's a crock. If the people of Oakland prefer more locally-owned businesses, who could possibly stop them from patronizing those types of businesses? I'm for freedom of choice, Oakland is not. You tell me, which more resembles Soviet Russia?

The Elcted Officials of Oakland are acting in the best interest of their Constituents who they represent. Among those they represent are the Small Shop Owners who they are protecting by not letting Wally World Open Shop their. Sounds about as American as you cam get to me.

And for that they're obstructing the rest of the resident's right for access to a cheaper price (Walmart). I dunno, its not the first time the elected officials do something thats not in the best interest of the community.