Before your next shopping trip...

[azrubyman]

Something to think about.

http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/

http://walmartwatch.com/about

http://www.walmartmovie.com/

http://www.walmartmovie.com/help.php

The Middle Class
http://www.harvardmagazine.com/on-line/010682.html

http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/general/2003-09-14-middle-cover_x.htm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34235-2004Sep19.html

[jbjarko]

Good stuff. Wal-mart is doing nothing but ruining our country IMO. All it is is a monopoly, destroying small-businesses and entrepreneurial thought which is the basis of our country.

[06GrnRubi]

I have been trying, for years, to get my wife to stop shopping at WalMart. About six month's ago she tried to return something without a receipt, and whatever happened to her caused her to stop. She is now an EX-WalMart shopper. It took a while, but she has finally come over to the side of what's right.

[Sautin]

I shop primarily at a different store but once in awhile I will go into Wal-Mart, I do it because I have to give them props for saying "Merry Christmas" during the Christmas Season.

[mingoglia]

I shop primarily at a different store but once in awhile I will go into Wal-Mart, I do it because I have to give them props for saying "Merry Christmas" during the Christmas Season.


They didn't last year. It seems most of the retailers have changed their tune this year and are back on the xmas bandwagon (except Best Buy from what I've heard). Last year was bad.

[John_P]

Something to think about.

The Middle Class
http://www.harvardmagazine.com/on-line/010682.html

http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/general/2003-09-14-middle-cover_x.htm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34235-2004Sep19.html

Any minute now someone will pop in and suggest that people just need to "work harder" and make the most out of their "opportunities". Or that minimum wage earners need to "get off their butts" and actually pursue some "skills" so they can get a better job. Or even better yet, they will suggest that minimum wage earners, if any older than teenagers, have some inherent character flaw called "laziness" that prevents them from living out the American dream. :rolleyes:

Great post. Sobering articles. :D

[mingoglia]

Any minute now someone will pop in and suggest that people just need to "work harder" and make the most out of their "opportunities". Or that minimum wage earners need to "get off their butts" and actually pursue some "skills" so they can get a better job. Or even better yet, they will suggest that minimum wage earners, if any older than teenagers, have some inherent character flaw called "laziness" that prevents them from living out the American dream. :rolleyes:

Great post. Sobering articles. :D

Sounds like you hit the nail right on the head John.... good work.

[k7mto]

But when they stock a certain toy, folks seem to forget all about what an evil empire they allegedly are :rolleyes:

I'm not for or against WM, so please take this as simply an objective opinion and not an argument in either the pro or con sense...

I'm all for the mom and pop stores, but I also believe in the freedom to grow one's business as they can. WM likely started out as a mom & pop store (Don's from TX, he might know) and grew themselves into a conglomerate.
Granted, there are ethical issues companies like this need to deal with, but I can't fault them for trying to grow/expand as is the goal of all businesses. They sure do employ alot of folks who otherwise might be collecting welfare and living off of our taxes instead of paying their own. On the other hand, folks they put out of business end up having to move, retire or become employees themselves somewhere.

Thanks for posting the links. I'll spend more time reading them later when I'm not working.

[jbjarko]

Matt,

You make a good point. It's a very fine line. At what time do you QUIT growing in order to not put out established businesses, yet, they hire so many people, regardless of whether or not they are legal. I for one am not a fan of some of their policies, and in turn don't generally shop there at all, but they do employ a huge work force and have obviously expanded and made some smart decisions on the way, so one can't fault them for that.

[SavageSun4x4]

I went to all the sites referenced and came away with nothing other than some crap about a family in Chesapeake, Va can not make ends meet on $70 a year and they can no pay their credit card bill. Suggest they get rid of their credit card.

On Wal Mart: I support Wal Mart, am a fan of Wal Mart and even shop there.

Wal Mart must be a good place to work since they have the lowest employee turn over of any company in the retail sector.

Wal Mart must be a good place to work or thousands of folks would not apply for the few openings they have. Seems I remember a while back when a Wal Mart opened in Mesa or Tempe and they had over 7000 applications with folks lined up down the street for those lousy jobs.

Recently, a Wal Mart opened and they had over 25k applications for 300+ jobs.

Wal Mart is not a monopoly:
mo·nop·o·ly n
1. a situation in which one company controls an industry or is the only provider of a product or service
2. a company with a commercial monopoly
3. a product or service whose supply is controlled by only one company
4. a legal right to the exclusive control of an industry or service, as granted by a government
5. an exclusive right to have or do something

Encarta® World English Dictionary © 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

Does Wal Mart force the "mom & pop's" to close? Yes and no. Yes the ones that fail to compete and establish a niche market for themselves. In fact many m&p's thrive when close to a Wal Mart, those that don't where ripping you off to begin with due to the lack of any competition.

Most m&p's have little or no work force, few if any selections to pick from. Its either buy what they got, pay what they want or see you later bye.

Go to work for a m&p see if you get any sick time, vacation time or ever make any more than min wage.

Check your history: m&p was the basis for establishing a min wage to begin with, health care and the one rule that the m&p folks FOUGHT tooth and nail. In general is says that benefits afforded to management must also be offered to all employees.

I remember as a kid applying at a local grocery store for a sack boy position. Pay was .25 cents an hour and the list was a mile long. I will never forget the owner telling me that I could move up to the top of the list by taking less than .25 cents an hour, say maybe .15 or .10 cents an hour.

What I suggest is "people just need to "work harder" and make the most out of their "opportunities". Or that minimum wage earners need to "get off their butts" and actually pursue some "skills" so they can get a better job. Or even better yet, they will suggest that minimum wage earners, if any older than teenagers, have some inherent character flaw called "laziness" that prevents them from living out the American dream."

So before you start believing all the crap that is being put out there, look at where its coming from or better still..."follow the money" and see where the trail leads, but don't be surprised.

Of note: Sears & Roebuck went thru the same thing as Wal Mart long time ago. Sear just put out of business those who failed to adjust and most of all were just plain GREEDY.

More folks are employed today as a direct result of Wal Mart than Wal Mart has "supposedly" put out of business.

[John_P]

Wal Mart must be a good place to work since they have the lowest employee turn over of any company in the retail sector.

Wal Mart must be a good place to work or thousands of folks would not apply for the few openings they have. Seems I remember a while back when a Wal Mart opened in Mesa or Tempe and they had over 7000 applications with folks lined up down the street for those lousy jobs.

Recently, a Wal Mart opened and they had over 25k applications for 300+ jobs.

I remember as a kid applying at a local grocery store for a sack boy position. Pay was .25 cents an hour and the list was a mile long. I will never forget the owner telling me that I could move up to the top of the list by taking less than .25 cents an hour, say maybe .15 or .10 cents an hour.

Wow...I took away something entirely different. Although it may be one thing to squeeze out competitors, in the spirit of the free market ideal, it is quite another to take advantage of low wage workers.

So just as that small M&P was trying to unjustly screw you in regard to wages, Wal-Mart appears to do so in other ways, i.e in terms of hours worked, healthcare, etc.

"Landlords, like all other men, love to reap where they never sowed"
-Care to guess?


What I suggest is "people just need to "work harder" and make the most out of their "opportunities". Or that minimum wage earners need to "get off their butts" and actually pursue some "skills" so they can get a better job. Or even better yet, they will suggest that minimum wage earners, if any older than teenagers, have some inherent character flaw called "laziness" that prevents them from living out the American dream."

Your so un-original, Don. ;)

[SavageSun4x4]

Explain this:
* Wal Mart must be a good place to work since they have the lowest employee turn over of any company in the retail sector.

* Wal Mart must be a good place to work or thousands of folks would not apply for the few openings they have.

* BENTONVILLE, Ark. ? Nov. 27, 2006 ? Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., (NYSE: WMT) announced that beginning on Tuesday, November 28, 2006, it is launching its $4 generic prescription program in 11 additional states, making the program available in all of its U.S. pharmacies.

* At Wal-Mart, we?re proud to offer our associates competitive pay and a host of benefits as well, including contributions to health and dental plans, 401(K)/profit-sharing plans, and bonuses and other incentives. We value the
service our associates provide and we work hard to ensure their compensation reflects it.
ü In FY 2006, Wal-Mart is projected to spend roughly $4.7 billion on associate benefits. For perspective,
Wal-Mart?s net income for FY 2005 was $10.3 billion.
ü In recent years, Wal-Mart has contributed four percent of an associate?s eligible salary to our combined
401(k) / profit-sharing program.
ü Our hourly associates, just like our management and executive associates, receive bonuses and other
incentives for helping the company achieve its goals.
ü Benefits spending at Wal-Mart has grown 15% per year over the last three years, increasing from 1.5% to
1.9% of sales between FY 2002 and FY 2005.
ü Health care spending alone has grown 19% per year during the same period.
ü Any associate ? whether full or part-time ? can become eligible for health benefits with Wal-Mart, and all
children of Wal-Mart associates become eligible for coverage as soon as their parents do.
ü We offer as many as 18 health plan options, which cost as little as $11 per month in some areas. We are
currently working to make this plan available to half our markets by the end of 2006.
ü Anywhere in the country, eligible associates have access to health coverage for $23 per month, and
prescription drugs for some common conditions are available for as little as a $3 co-pay.
ü After one year, there?s no lifetime maximum on any of our plans?protecting employees and their families
from catastrophic loss. Wal-Mart is one of few retailers to offer this benefit.
ü Wal-Mart also offers Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), which provide yet another option for families to
gain access to health insurance and save for future health care needs. Wal-Mart matches associates?
contributions to their HSAs dollar-for-dollar up to certain amounts, and associates own the accounts.
ü We are among the largest private-sector providers of health insurance in the nation with more than 1
million people ? and growing ? on our plans.
ü To date, more than three-quarters of our associates have health coverage ? either through one of our
plans, a spouse?s plan or a retiree program like Medicare.
ü Additionally, preventive dental coverage with no deductible is available to individuals for as little as $6.52
per month, to associates and their children or spouses for $13.58 per month, and to families for $20.64 per
month.

Follow the money and see where it leads you...the unions are desperate to get Wal Mart employees under they thumb so as the Union leaders can rob thousands of employees of their money.

Don
Member: AFL-CIO, IAM [reluctantly]

[azrubyman]

Wal-Mart has created many more jobs than they have eliminated in the U.S.
Unfortunately they have probabaly created those jobs with grossly underpaid and exploited foreign workers.

*Women who make pants in El Salvador earn 15 cents for each pair; Wal-Mart sells these pants for $16.95 in its U.S. stores. Also, contractors in El Salvador force workers to take pregnancy tests.

*According to Brandeis University Professor Ellen I. Rosen, women in Central America who make clothes for Wal-Mart live in shacks lacking running water or plumbing while women in China live nine to twelve to a room in government-provided dormitories. Some of Wal-Mart's workers in the U.S. spend their nights in trucks of motel rooms without cooking facilities.

*The Maine Department of Labor ordered Wal-Mart to pay the largest fine in state history for violating child labor laws. The Department of Labor discovered 1,436 child labor law infractions at twenty Wal-Mart chains.

*The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has filed suit against the New Castle, Pennsylvania Wal-Mart for unfair labor practices. It alleges that Wal-Mart illegally discouraged workers of the Tire and Lube Express department from joining a union.

*The NLRB also filed a suit against the Jacksonville, Texas Wal-Mart for unfair labor practices. It alleges that Wal-Mart threatened meat cutters, interrogated them regarding their union sympathies, and fired those who are pro-union. The United Food and Commercial Workers Union has filed a complaint with the NLRB alleging that two workers were fired because of their union organizing activities.

*Following a vote in favor of union representation by the butchers in Jacksonville, Texas, Wal-Mart announced that meat cutting would end at 180 stores.

*Here is another good site...especially for those concerned with food free of pesticides, chemicals, pertoleum by-products and other poisons.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/btc/wal-mart4.cfm

Here is some more good information...
http://www.cresp.cornell.edu/projects/walmart_wage_campaign.php

Ken

[RokNRich]

Explain this:
* Wal Mart must be a good place to work since they have the lowest employee turn over of any company in the retail sector.





I love how you just "make up" facts. :rolleyes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wal-Mart_employee_and_labor_relations

As with many US retailers, Wal-Mart experiences a high rate of employee turnover (approximately 50% of employees leave every year, according to the company). Although they average nearly double the federal minimum wage, wages at Wal-Mart are about 20% less than at other retail stores. Founder Sam Walton once argued that his company should be exempt from the minimum wage.


Wal Mart is evil and I rarely shop there. Do the research.


Costco is a good alternative:

http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/news/20050706-lre.html

By compensating its workers well, Costco also enjoys rates of turnover far below industry norms. Costco’s rate of turnover is one-third the industry average of 65% as estimated by the National Retail Foundation. Wal-Mart reports a turnover rate of about 50%.

Costco v. Wal-Mart: How They Stack Up

Global Workforce
Wal-Mart: 1.6 million associates
Costco: 113,000 employees

U.S. Workforce
Wal-Mart: 1.2 million
Costco: 83,600

U.S. Union Members
Wal-Mart: 0
Costco: 15,000

U.S. Stores
Wal-Mart: 3,600
Costco: 336

Net Profits (2004)
Wal-Mart: $10.5 billion
Costco: $882 million

CEO Salary + Bonus (2004)
Wal-Mart: $5.3 million
Costco: $350,000

Average Pay
Wal-Mart: $9.68/hour
Costco: $16/hour

Health Plan Costs
Wal-Mart: Associates pay 34% of premiums + deductible ($350-$1,000)
Costco: Comprehensive; employees pay 5-8% of premiums

Employees Covered By Company Health Insurance
Wal-Mart: 48%
Costco: 82%

Employee Turnover (estimate)
Wal-Mart: 50%
Costco: 24%

[shannonmac]

Costco actually has the lowest employee turnover in the retail sector.
They also pay a decent wage...
I honestly admire the man who runs Costco...

[SavageSun4x4]

600,000: The number of new employees Wal-Mart hires each year. The company's turnover rate is 44 percent -- close to the retail industry average.


$9.98: The average full-time hourly wage for a Wal-Mart employee. The average full-time hourly wage in metro areas (defined as areas with a population of 50,000 or more) is $10.38. In some urban areas it is higher: $11.03 in Chicago, $11.08 in San Francisco, and $11.20 in Austin.
Source: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/secrets/stats.html

The retail sector has an average 50 turn over rate, Wal Mart has 44% which leads the majors in the retail industry.

Efforts to compare COSTCO with Wal Mart only show me that the article you pulled up off Goggle was at best the first one you stumbled upon or at worst you got sucked into the writers rant on Wal Mart. But for those who wish to read: "Costco's Dilemma: Is Treating Employees Well Unacceptable for a Publicly-Traded Corporation?" at: http://reclaimdemocracy.org/articles_2004/costco_employee_benefits_walmart.html

The author stumbles in trying to compare COSTCO and Wal Mart, even the websites eidtor questions some of the claims "Editor's note: we're unsure of the source for this claim, but we question its accuracy". The website, Reclaim Democracy.org, "Restoring Citizens Authority Over Corporations" is just another in a string of those who attack, everything. Much like some of the radicals troll on this board that attempt to foist themselves off as flag waving citizens because they drive a Jeep.

Being a regular COSTCO shopper and an occasional Wal Mart purchaser I can not find many similarities between the two. Albeit I am sure that in the twisted mind of a few they can...for them no lie too great for them to spew, nor, no fact twisted too far to meet their own personal agenda.

:rolleyes: :D

[RokNRich]

First this:

Explain this:
* Wal Mart must be a good place to work since they have the lowest employee turn over of any company in the retail sector.



Then this:


600,000: The number of new employees Wal-Mart hires each year. The company's turnover rate is 44 percent -- close to the retail industry average.




That's sounds like an old fashioned flip flop to me, and a union member to boot :eek: , sure you aren't a DIM ?



Albeit I am sure that in the twisted mind of a few they can...for them no lie too great for them to spew, nor, no fact twisted too far to meet their own personal agenda.

Hello pot, it's the kettle calling.

[Allen]

I'll get in on this! I work for WalMart, and as in all large companies it has it's problems. But it's not nearly as bad as some portray it! My schedule is clear and precice! I get payed a little less than I could working for some warehouse stores, but the job is 300 yards from my house.... and no warehouse store is nearby!

I have great health insurance, sick leave, stock options, a year end bonus and advancement opertunities, plus I get 10% employee discount on everything in the store.

I cant see a good reason to get a union in here. They cant promiss me anything except a bill for dues! No promiss of a raise - no better benifets - no better job security!

Also....WalMart IS a mom and pop store! Started out with 1 store in Arkansas.

The biggest instigators of the union push IS the union!

They see that 1.6 million x $24-$36 a month!

Thats $38.4-$57.6 million dollars a month for them!

[RokNRich]

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/secrets/stats.html[/url]




Good link. Frontline is a pretty good show actually, thanks. The links I posted earlier were just the first ones that came up on google. And to think some people are urging the gov't to cut funding for it (PBS):rolleyes:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/secrets/lobby.html
Before the late 1990s, Wal-Mart tended to stay out of politics. In 2004, it was one of the nation's biggest corporate contributors. Here's a look at Wal-Mart's relatively recent arrival in the nation's capital, and whom they're giving to.

I'll fill in the blanks here, 2004 cycle:
Total to Democratic House Candidates: $279,500
Total to Republican House Candidates: $1,099,000

Total to Democratic Senate Candidates: $88,000
Total to Republican Senate Candidates: $200,000


In six years, the company has grown from having no lobbying presence in Washington to employing six external lobbying firms (in addition to its internal operation), and becoming one of the top 20 PAC contributors to federal candidates in the 2004 election cycle. Donations to federal candidates have grown from $135,750 in 1998, to $1,606,000, as of Nov. 2, 2004.

Cool, more selling of our government to the highest bidder.

More reading, Pulitzer prize winning series by the LA Times:
http://www.pulitzer.org/year/2004/national-reporting/works/

[SavageSun4x4]

I'll get in on this! I work for WalMart, and as in all large companies it has it's problems. But it's not nearly as bad as some portray it! My schedule is clear and precice! I get payed a little less than I could working for some warehouse stores, but the job is 300 yards from my house.... and no warehouse store is nearby!

I have great health insurance, sick leave, stock options, a year end bonus and advancement opertunities, plus I get 10% employee discount on everything in the store.

I cant see a good reason to get a union in here. They cant promiss me anything except a bill for dues! No promiss of a raise - no better benifets - no better job security!

Also....WalMart IS a mom and pop store! Started out with 1 store in Arkansas.

The biggest instigators of the union push IS the union!

They see that 1.6 million x $24-$36 a month!

Thats $38.4-$57.6 million dollars a month for them!
As I have been saying...follow the money and it all leads back to the Union and its efforts to rob the little guy of his money. You bet, just do the math on 1.6 million folks x $24-$36 PER MONTH in income.

When I was in the union, AFL-CIO I learned real quick. I worked with one of the Union stews and he suggested I join. I told him I didn't even know what a AFL-CIO was and just wasn't much into joining things.

There were two of us that had hired in on the same day we ended up working in the same shop. We both got a union talk one day at lunch and he was quite vocal about not joining, very vocal.

The next day the Union stew told me to go out in the parking lot and check the other guys car. He and I always parked next to each other. Both of us driving some hi-po Chevy rigs. When we got off work, we both headed out and my friend had a flat tire on the drivers rear. Mine wasn't flat but his had been slashed. He fixed it cussing up a storm.

Next day the Union stew told me to check his car again. We get off work, head out and today its two slashed tires on the drivers side.

Didn't have to tell me a third time, I joined the union. So did my friend.

The advantage to unions is not what they do for you, but what they do not do too you.

[John_P]

Unions are only as good as the members want it to be.

[NVRSTUKXJ]

http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8603&stc=1&d=1165602800

[RokNRich]

First off, the union issue isn't the only reason why Wal Mart suks. :rolleyes:

8607



Secondly, do the math:

http://www.ufcw.org/press_room/fact_sheets_and_backgrounder/walmart/wages.cfm

Wal-Mart pays an average hourly wage of $8.23 an hour, according to independent expert statistical analysis, which falls below basic living wage standards and even below poverty lines.
Wal-Mart claims an hourly wage of $9.68 an hour is its national average, though that still equals poverty levels for workers. Since “full time” at Wal-Mart is 34 hours a week according to company policy, full-time workers make a mere $17,114.24 a year—below the federal poverty level for a family of four.
The most common Wal-Mart jobs earn less.
A sales associate--the most common job classification--earns on average $8.23 per hour ($13,861 annually)
A cashier—the second most common job—earns about $7.92 per hour ($11,948 annually)
Sales associates and cashiers combined account for more than a third of all Wal-Mart jobs.

Grocery workers are paid an average of $10.61/hour based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
The Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) reported in 2002 that United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Union-represented workers in the supermarket industry earned 31% more than their non-union counterparts. Women have a 33% advantage with UFCW representation.
IWPR research showed that UFCW-represented supermarket workers are two-and-a half times as likely to have pension coverage than non-union workers and twice as likely to have health insurance coverage than retail food workers without union representation.

Let's see:
8.23 X 40= $329.20 and no union dues
10.61 X 40 = $424.40 - 36 (allans high figure for union dues) = 388.40

Difference of $59.20 a week (after union dues) X 52 = $3,078 a year. That's serious jeep mod fundage. Plus better health care etc. (My wife worked for Frys (union) before baby, FREE HMO plan, it cost my $80 every two weeks to add her to my plan.)

8605


I'd like to thank my non-union job for giving me the time to work on this post :D

[AZXJ]

Blah blah blah, my stocks just went up.. :D

[azrubyman]

Blah blah blah, my stocks just went up.. :D

Is that Walmart stock?
Ken

[mingoglia]

I'm surprised to hear that 70% of Walmart's inventory is from China. I'm really trying to think back at something I've bought from Walmart that was NOT from China.