Walmart a major problem (so my husband says)

[ghemminger]

Exactly how did Walmart force American companies to move overseas?

When you say "force", that implies some form of coercion. It seems to me that the American companies were unable to compete with overseas suppliers, and so those companies voluntarily moved overseas.




Millions of Americans benefit from the lower prices that Walmart charges. American consumers have benefited tremendously.

So when you say that Walmart has cost the "American people" and that you won't support them, what you really mean is that you support and prefer the under-productive, over-priced retailers and manufacturers, that people shouldn't be rewarded for providing a superior product for a lower price, and that it's OK to penalize the majority when the economics of a few are damaged in the path of progress. Right?

There is a good documentary on Walmart you should watch it - Walmart is for the most part capatalistic in theory - but as a whole they can DRAIN a local economy by producing a monopoly and their workers are encouraged seek gov't assistance - This is a double whammy on f#$%ing up the local economy

 

[WV Freedom Fighter]

Exactly how did Walmart force American companies to move overseas?

When you say "force", that implies some form of coercion. It seems to me that the American companies were unable to compete with overseas suppliers, and so those companies voluntarily moved overseas.

Yeah, voluntarily move to China, or go out of busniess. Not much of a choice there.

Ok, maybe I shouldn't have said "forced", how about persuaded.

Millions of Americans benefit from the lower prices that Walmart charges. American consumers have benefited tremendously.

So when you say that Walmart has cost the "American people" and that you won't support them, what you really mean is that you support and prefer the under-productive, over-priced retailers and manufacturers, that people shouldn't be rewarded for providing a superior product for a lower price, and that it's OK to penalize the majority when the economics of a few are damaged in the path of progress. Right?

It has cost the American people alot of jobs. People not in the Manufacturing business don't mind because it doesn't directly affect them.

I don't think China provides a "superior" product, we can make anything they can make, and probably better, here in the U.S.A. but not for "slave labor" wages, so we can't compete. I would be willing to pay a little more for a quality product made in USA. Knowing it will help provide an American worker a job, which in turn improves the economy. It's a win win situtuation, when we buy american we support America.

I will always buy "Made in the USA" whenever I can. Although it is getting tougher in this day and age.

 

[AceNZ]

Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3836296181471292925

This will open your eyes to the danger and pure evilness of Walmart.

I prefer Penn & Teller's Bullshit episode about Walmart:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vioWgolslm0

 

[Banana]

What about predatory pricing?

I understand that Wal-Mart has a tendency to go after a big lot on a town's outskirt, build a new store, then underprice their inventory to a point that the new store loses money but get several new customers, thus killing off the mom & pop business. When it has established itself as sole superstore, the prices returns to regular levels and store starts to make some profit but the town's economy is basically destroyed and in end, Wal-Mart closes the store and leaves.

Then there's the problem of hidden costs. Walmart is able to charge low price because it cut corners. For example, its Human Resources staff are trained to help their employee apply for government medical coverage and other public assistance, thus absolving of any obligation to support their workers with the revenues. Therefore, Wal-mart actually costs a lot when considering the tax revenues as whole. Now, to be fair, it's the system that's problem, and Wal-Mart is just a symptom. Killing it off wouldn't fix the system and another business will simply do the same, but I wanted to point this out because I strongly Wal-Mart would be in this position of dominance if they didn't have all those convenient public doles to latch onto.

 

[Time for Change]

Walmart is responsible for the beginning of the upswing of the Chinese economy.
Other companies followed their path
Cheap labor for substandard products sold at midrange prices...designed to break.

We are so crippled by our own currency that we have 2 working individuals in every household and MUST look for reduced prices.
We support the problem because we HAVE no choice.
The economics of survival...do what you gotta do.

 

[liberteebell]

Wal-mart and other big box stores use eminent domain to get property to build their stores. Of course, local officials, seeing nothing but $$$$$$, willingly comply and gleefully take Other People's Property for Wal-Mart.




http://money.cnn.com/2005/06/23/news/fortune500/retail_eminentdomain/

 

[DrCap]

For all the bashing of Walmart, it's really our governments' fault at all levels which enable and assist walmart. Giving special treatment to a larger company, which you would not give to a smaller company is one part- walmart finding a way around unions, which generally have been way over protected by our government is another part- so US manufacturers cannot compete as easily, and walmart has been better able to keep employment costs down. In the end, walmart should do what it can to turn a profit, you can't blame them for accepting a handout if it's being given- It's really the fact that we don't keep a 'level playing field' with competition which is the problem, ultimately as citizens it's our own fault if we don't like the special treatment our representatives give walmart.

 

[liberteebell]

For all the bashing of Walmart, it's really our governments' fault at all levels which enable and assist walmart. Giving special treatment to a larger company, which you would not give to a smaller company is one part- walmart finding a way around unions, which generally have been way over protected by our government is another part- so US manufacturers cannot compete as easily, and walmart has been better able to keep employment costs down. In the end, walmart should do what it can to turn a profit, you can't blame them for accepting a handout if it's being given- It's really the fact that we don't keep a 'level playing field' with competition which is the problem, ultimately as citizens it's our own fault if we don't like the special treatment our representatives give walmart.

Heh, I think the government is to blame for just about everything that is wrong with this country. Every time I analyze an issue or problem, it seems to boil down to government intervention in some way that managed to muck things up.

 

[Truth Warrior]

Everybody hates Wal-Mart, except it's customers.

 

[FreeTraveler]

Heh, I think the government is to blame for just about everything that is wrong with this country. Every time I analyze an issue or problem, it seems to boil down to government intervention in some way that managed to muck things up.

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding!!!!

We Have A WINNER!

 

[AceNZ]

It will be interesting to see what happens to Walmart as China allows its currency to float over the next few years. That could mean an increase in price of 2 to 4x for goods made in China, on top of inflation. I bet Walmart gets blamed and bashed for that, too: "they're ripping us off", "those greedy bastards", etc.

 

[DrCap]

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding!!!!

We Have A WINNER!

lol

 

[DAFTEK]

I'm broke between hating walmart and loving it. To be honest we buy most food products from them because it's always 10% to 20% cheaper then other grocery stores. The products are American, and i do try to stay away from china products. I don't buy everything there, fruits and veggies i get from other grocery stores, electronics other places. WalMart has no customer service, my store is filthy all the time, overcrowded and cramped with stuff that makes navigating it a pain in the ass....

We tried to hate walmart and find other stores to match the cereal, the bread, the cola and could not fin it. Big Grocery stores, what to do?


WalMart has its place but i do feel sorry for the small business owners

 

[Truth Warrior]

"Nobody goes there anymore because it's always so crowded." -- Yogi Berra

 

[ladyliberty]

I dislike Walmart because Number One - you will NEVER find any American made products in their stores. I dislike Wal Mart because Number Two - the products that they do sell were constructed using SLAVE LABOR from China! I dislike Walmart because Number Three - the Clintons are on their Board of Directors.

www.walmartsucks.com

 

[WilliamC]

As far as I can tell WalMart is playing by the rules that the Government has set up for businesses to operate under. Insofar as that is true I can't blame them for being capitalistic and making a profit.

Now if the Government sets the rules unfairly...

 

[ladyliberty]

Wal Mart practices Capitalism that is reliant on Communism!!!

William is probably a Wal Mart Manager or something.

 

[Truth Warrior]

Well some folks must like Wal-Mart. The Sam Walton heirs consistently all rank pretty high on the annual Forbes richest people list.

 

[misa]

I suppose we're in a vicious cycle. We 'love' walmart because of the prices, we love the prices because we have little to spend, we have little to spend because the economy is bad, the economy is bad because the government intervenes and enforce stupid policies.

Until we fix what is the real cause, there is little need to point fingers. We all act in our best interest. Consumers in theirs, businesses in theirs also. But someone one had to mess up the natural order of things by enforcing all these 'good' measures that actually cause harm. Blegh.

 

[WilliamC]

Wal Mart practices Capitalism that is reliant on Communism!!!

William is probably a Wal Mart Manager or something.

You made a funny

No Ms. Ladyliberty, I don't work for WalMart.

However, if WalMart is not doing anything illegal trying to blame them, and not the Government that makes the rules, is missing the point.

If WalMart were to change it's policies tomorrow, then a competitor using the same business model would come along and undercut them just as WalMart has done to so many other stores.

As far as I can tell fighting WalMart is only fighting the symptoms, not the cause.

Bad law is the root of bad corporations, since corporations are legal fictions created by governments.