Wal-Mart (for or against?)

[BassCat73]

I recently watched an episode of 20/20. They did a piece on greed and focussed on Wal-Mart's place in this topic. Surprisingly, the report was unbiased, if not leaning towards Wal-Mart being a good thing for Americans. They explained that the people who shop at Wal-mart are able to save a lot of money each month. This is especially good for low-income families. They stated that Wal-Mart provides many jobs for people, who might not otherwise be able to get decent job. Honestly, I cannot remember the rest of the positive things they said, but it all sounded pretty good.<br /><br />Now, from what I know the protesters are against Wal-Mart because of the small business man and low wages and poor insurance (I think), but I'm not sure what else.<br /><br />So, what's your opinion of Wal-Mart? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Or a little of both?

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: Wal-Mart (for or against?)

if you own a business or are part of a corporation, the name of the game is making money. Thats every business. They are doing that and doing a great job of it. I would do the same if the opportunity presented itself.<br /><br />I myself like to shop with the "lil guy" when I can unless i'm in a hurry. Its too easy to pop into walmart when you can get everything in one place. Prices, convieniance is the name of the game. I like it

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Wal-Mart (for or against?)

I love Walmart. If they wanted to tear down the school 1 block from me and put in a Walmart I'd donate $100 to get them started. Cheap stuff, huge selection, local jobs. What's not to like? So what if they put other businesses out of business...that's capitalism! If the smaller businesses can't compete than they should go out of business!<br /><br />Around here my only choices for department stores are Fred Meyer, K-mart, and Target. All of them are WAY more expensive and have half the selection.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Wal-Mart (for or against?)

I think the "big stink" about WalMart is that they are typically admonished for having low wages. My take on that is there are many other businesses both large and small that offer the same or nearly the same wages and benefits so thats a moot point. Besides, I doubt any of the WalMart employees were "forced" to work there and BassCat is right on -- many of the folks working there may very well have trouble getting work elsewhere which means they would be on welfare and you and I would be supporting them. Lots of retirees also work there. Some for the extra money and others just for the opportunity to meet people and be active.

 

[JB]

Re: Wal-Mart (for or against?)

Why does one need to be "for" or "against" Wal Mart? Wal Mart is a fact of life in a capitalist free market. Any intervention, either way, would be improper.<br /><br />For we "po folk" it is a boon. For the old folks who can't get any other job who greet you at the door it is a boon.<br /><br />For the "Mom and Pop" small business it may seem like a greedy monster, but perhaps it is a challenge: Can superior service and small town community loyalties compete successfully? In some places and for some small businesses the answer is yes. Unless they provide the service and earn the loyalties the answer is no.<br /><br />In my youth, Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Ward were vendors to the poor. Wal Mart is the 21st Century replacement for the mail order catalogue.

 

[BassCat73]

Re: Wal-Mart (for or against?)

Yep, Sears was vilified for the same reason back in the day. A better way for me to state it is whether you accept Wal-Mart or are one who rejects it. I shop there to save money and save gas by not running from store to store. I feel for the small business that go under because of a Wal-Mart, but it seems that's the risk you take when opening any business. You either have to change and find a way to stay open or you have close. <br /><br />I'm curious on why people are against Wal-Mart in such an aggressive manner, picketing and such.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Wal-Mart (for or against?)

I shop there to save money and save gas by not running from store to store.

I usually ended up running wal-mart to wal-mart, because the stock was out of one or two particular items that I needed... Never failed... Simple things, like motor oil and lightbulbs....<br /><br />I find the old saying to be true....<br /> If Sears don't have it, then you don't need it. <br />like motor oil, and lightbulbs...

 

[magster65]

Re: Wal-Mart (for or against?)

I'm for it... except for one thing... I always seem to end up with more stuff in my cart than what I went there for. There's too many 'goodies' in that store!

 

[QC]

Re: Wal-Mart (for or against?)

I saw the piece too. I think it was very fair and the idea that somehow Walmart is evil is ridiculous. Nobody likes to see popular, small businesses struggle, but the fact is that purchasing power matters and ALL of us take advantage of that from time to time, no matter how convinced we are that the local businesses matter.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Wal-Mart (for or against?)

I wonder how close Walmart is to reaching the critical mass that a retailer needs to break through whatever barriers stopped others like Sears, Kmart, JCPenney, and become the only retailer in America. Or to reaching the maximum size that a retailer can be without imploding.<br /><br />Business models that work in 'growth' mode usually don't work when growth stops...so they have to either keep growing or fail. <br /><br />It's like watching your mother-in-law drive over a cliff...in your brand-new BMW...I am solidly for and against WalMart. And I am unanimous in that!

 

[QC]

Re: Wal-Mart (for or against?)

Inciteful post jtex even with the mother-in-law comments . . . <br /><br />

Originally posted by jtexas:<br /> Business models that work in 'growth' mode usually don't work when growth stops...so they have to either keep growing or fail.

It's just obvious to me that growth cannot be sustained indefinitely. Our previous CEO was an emerging Jack Welch/GE star, smart guy, quickest mind I have ever worked with and a decent leader. I asked him that very question, "how can a business grow faster than inflation forever?" He just kinda stared, I have to admit he chuckled too as if to acknowledge the point, but it was obvious to me that this concept was never discussed and/or quietly dismissed at GE, he also had an MBA from Wharton Business School . . . How is it that these models aren't constantly transitioning toward something sustainable and balanced? Again, it just seems so obvious that it has to.<br /><br />I understand the executive pay issues, and don't want things like that regulated. I guess the hope is that the cases of Enron etc. result in a more cautious approach.

 

[deputydawg]

Re: Wal-Mart (for or against?)

Even though I try hard to do my shopping in my local hometown, it saves me money to travel the 50 miles to wal mart. That is what it is all about for me, saving money to feed my family.<br /><br />An old saying in the business world, if you can't be competative, don't compete. It is not up to me to feed the local store owner. I have to look out for my own. <br /><br />I am not for or against, just for saving for my family.

 

[Braxton]

Re: Wal-Mart (for or against?)

just to give you an idea why i go to walmart. a berkley portable line spooling station is $23.99 @ bass pro shop, same item @ walmart $19.96 for the same exact item. anyways just my two cents worth. Brax

 

[one more cast]

Re: Wal-Mart (for or against?)

Most of the small business owners that I know keep it all in the family. And when they need stuff they don't shop at other small shops because they can get it cheaper somewhere else.Most of the time they don't even pay tax on their personal purchases. When they do hire outside the family the pay is usually minimum or close to it with no benefits. They cry about walmarts because they no longer can price gouge. I think walmart helps keep these people a little more honest by forcing them to keep their prices down.

 

[tommays]

Re: Wal-Mart (for or against?)

the against is all about what if anything a big company makeing a lot of money from an area should do to take care of its workers<br /><br />the BIG complaint amoung others is that they dont provide health care that there workers can afford so the tax paying public ends up paying it<br /><br />in effect subsidizing wallmart <br /><br />i dont no if its right or wrong but the question is what does a company given the bennift of incorpation owe back to the public <br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[KaGee]

Re: Wal-Mart (for or against?)

'i dont no if its right or wrong but the question is what does a company given the bennift of incorpation owe back to the public"<br /><br />The answer is: No corporation "OWES" any payback to the community other than it's taxes. <br /><br />Do the "WALMART" threads come close to catching up to the "OIL" threads yet?

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Wal-Mart (for or against?)

Wal-mart pros: One stop shopping, and NAME BRAND products at prices that are hard to beat. <br /><br />Wal-mart cons: In this part of the country Wal-Mart is referred to as the Wally-World Social Club, way, way to many customers clogging the isles passing time. Most off brand merchandise is junk, and NOT worth the savings IMO. <br /><br />

by<br />tommays

"i dont no if its right or wrong but the question is what does a company given the bennift of incorpation owe back to the public"

Great point, On top of responsibility to it employees, customers, and share holders, what civic responsibility should a quality corp. hold.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Wal-Mart (for or against?)

This is a little off the topic, but I saw an article some time back, in the business section of a magazine in the doctors office. <br /><br />The article said that Wal-Mart has been watching demographics and has observed that it's shoppers are getting older (I know I am). <br /><br />In an effort to please these shoppers, any new plans for Wal-Mart construction will consider this. <br /><br />They said that many new Wal-Marts will be smaller than the super stores along with smaller parking lots. <br /><br />The thought being that older customers don't like walking miles and miles to get to the store, or while they're shopping, and in some cases are not able. They (the shoppers)will instead opt for stores that are smaller and more convenient. Interesting.

 

[eeboater]

Re: Wal-Mart (for or against?)

Walmart... Microsoft... Its all the same story.<br /><br />When you are at the top of the mountain, everyone is looking to topple you. Anything can be twisted with a negative spin. <br /><br />Personally, I'm Pro-WalMart. <br /><br />Sean

 

[jtexas]

Re: Wal-Mart (for or against?)

Civic responsibility of a public corporation?<br /><br />The managers of any business have one and only one duty: to maximize the value of the firm to its owners. Everything else flows from that - maintain a qualified, motivated workforce means treat your employees well (at least, treat 'em well enough), and maintaining the goodwill of your customers means taking on some civic responsibility. If you have as much visibility as WalMart, continued growth and long-term success require good "corporate citizenship".<br /><br />It's a huge company, their employees are a cross-section of the communities where they live, so you're bound to find bad in with the good.<br /><br />And they're bound to have some policies that we don't like, or disagree with, or some that are just plain wrong. But in the end they'll either do the right thing by their shareholders, or go into decline.<br /><br />I do hope that they don't put all other retailers out of business...it'd be a shame if you couldn't find a hardware store where you could walk in with your broken part from [fill in the blank] and find an old guy who'll say "yep, you need a [whatever], they're right over here, but you need to replace the gasket while you're at it..." yada yada yada.