The Anti Walmart commercials

[HeatherB]

Just wondering how many people shop for most of their items at Walmart. I have actually "grown up" going to Walmart. I remember when my mom was alive we used to go there ALL the time. I actually hated going to the mall to shop and was never really into brand name clothes. I liked the clothes at Walmart and Kmart just as well (sometimes better even).

Now, they have this commercial on that talks about Walmart being bad for the US because they import tons of stuff from China. The other day when I was there (a weekly thing since DH cashes his check there) I noticed that every toy, sock, clothes item I picked up stated *made in China*. I started wondering if it was always this way or if they just over the last few years started importing everything. I've actually never paid attention to it before the commercials came out.

Maybe because I am now "older" and can actually see the affects of outsourcing and feeling like this country is slowly falling apart I have a more watchful and curious eye. Honestly, I'm still learning and trying to understand all the political talk of "free trade" and the like and trying to actually make sense of what it all means.

I don't know.... I love the Walmart prices due to having a low income.... but somehow I almost felt like a traitor placing those $1.96 fuzzy socks into my cart. I felt like I was part of the problem, ya know??

It got me wondering about all the other stores. How much does Target Import and from where?? Old Navy? Stores like JCPenny and Fashion Bug??

Anyone else effected by the commercials??

[MomIcantFindmy]

I am not crazy about "Wally World" to begin with. In my perfect world I would not go there. I hate the crowds, the smell, and I am not too fond of their corporate policies either. That said, I shop at Walmart because it is the cheapest place for me to go for certian things. I am on a tight budget and I have to go where it is cheapest, not where I'm going to "feel good" about my purchases. Walmart here had a picket line the other day. I didn't get a chance to read the signs, but I wondered. I didn't cross.

[yoyoma51]

The way I see it is this:

1. Most competitors to Wal*Mart also sell stuff that is made in China (most of it, anyway).

2. Wal*Mart is usually the most price competitive as they have the largest purchasing power.

3. Here in Wisconsin, the average Wal*Mart employee makes over $10/hour. That is more than most of their competitors pay.

4. We have 4 "Super Centers" within about 5 miles. There most definitely is a difference in them based on cleanliness, people, etc. depending on what neighborhood they are in. The prices, however are the same.

Bottom line...I'll save the $ and go to Wal*Mart. I've compared prices to local Target stores, and Wal*Mart is usually a better value.

[robivi3]

We have several Walmarts locally. I like Target. The Walmarts used to be clean but "changes" in the neighborhood in the last five years have made them very dirty and cluttered. The Target at University and Commercial BLVD in Tamarac is far more pleasant, CLEAN and better run. Sawgrass WalMart has become as dirty as the Kmart (gone) once was. VERY unpleasant. Target at Sawgrass, to crowded but VERY clean and organized.

Sorry, don't do WalMart no more. Don't like them either. WalMart here, as I understand it pays 8.00 an hour. You can't live on that. I don't understand and hope and PRAY I never have to, how people are making it. I don't see how some families are surviving.

[JollyGG]

I am conflicted about the Wal-Mart outsourcing issue as well.
I appreciate the good prices and it is essential in today’s market to save every cent possible. However, I am also aware that Wal-Mart’s demands that suppliers supply products at lower and lower prices has led to a lot of outsourcing. But I'm not sure that that wouldn't have happened even without outsourcing. It seems like every year new countries open up that provide various expertise and cheaper labor. Would we have gone there anyway? I think probably. Additionally, while outsourcing has resulted in job loss, what was the quality of those jobs? Often (not always) they are low skilled, low paying jobs.
While other jobs that can never be outsourced or automated desperately search for employees (such as nursing).
I guess that I feel outsourcing problem needs to be address by retraining our workforce more so than by forcing companies to stay in the states.

[chpxiii]

I agree with Jolly GG regarding outsourcing. With technology as well, there is much that is being outsourced, not just manufacturing of products.

WalMart is the one that started it all - re: goods from China. Their business practices are "supposed" to be what's best for the consumer, however that is not the case. Because of this, competitors have been FORCED to purchase cheap crap from China in order to simply stay in business.

I hate WalMart. I don't shop there if I don't have to.

I realize that we all need to save "every penny" but bear in mind that for every penny you save, *DOLLARS* are being exported out of the local ecomony. They have literally taken *down* businesses and local businesses that been around *for years* - supporting the local ecomony.

There is a movie I've been wanting to see, "WalMart: The High cost of Low Price." http://www.walmartmovie.com/ I need to see that.

There is a cycle effect that most people don't *get.* A lot of manufacturing jobs have been exported simply because it is just far too expensive to pay workers locally to produce products. China in no way has the labor laws we have here in the States so it's easy for them to produce cheap goods and very expensive here. Of course, when people's manufacturing jobs go away they need to save, they hear that WalMart is cheap, so they shop there. Thereby enforcing they lose their jobs or ensure they don't get their jobs back.

So really, why are we surprised with the number of unsafe toys that are recently being recalled? Do you really think that Chinese manufacturers give a shit about your children? Uhm. No. They want the almighty American dollar, and executives at Matel and other toy companies only worry about whether there's another recall and what the bottom line for their investors is.

Read this site: http://www.nlcnet.org/index.php I was sickened and horrified when I found it.

Now, all of that being said... I have a boyfriend who doesn't care about this. He doesn't make that much money and is in the mindset of, "Well, I need to save every penny." So he'll shop at WalMart. Sometimes we get our groceries there.

I have a choice, do I cause strife in our relationship and insist on not going? Or do I pick my battles and keep peace in my family? I choose the latter. And he knows how I feel about WalMart.

There are occasions where when we need groceries I'll volunteer to pick some up after work - and then I go to a grocery store and not WalMart. However, due to WalMart's influence, even the local grocery store has cheap goods. They have to. In order to stay in business. (No, that's not passive aggressive on my part. :P )

At anyrate, I HATE WalMart - but I'll shop there when my boyfriend does and we're doing a "together" trip. Slowly, though, he talks about going grocery shopping at other stores so that he is compromising and comes more my way - especially regarding WalMart.

I will NOT let WalMart break up my relationship with him. He is far too important to me. So that's how I sleep at night when I've shopped at WalMart.

[chpxiii]

BTW, it's not just China, but other countries as well where workers are being abused.

[PaKettle]

Thanks for the info, chpxiii.
It is a complex issue whether to shop there or not.
Luckily the closest one to me is too far for my liking, so it's not an issue for me as to whether to shop there or not.

When you are on a tight budget, it is difficult to make the moral choice to shop somewhere else, where you will likely pay more.

But certainly Walmart is not good for the U.S. economy, no outsourcing is in my opinion.

On the other hand, it's the way things are going and there is little we can do to stop it. Because even if you boycott it, even if a lot of people boycott it, I doubt there would be enough people boycotting it to make a difference and so they will remain in business. I'm pessimistic that we can really effect major change in our government at this point, regarding the issue of outsourcing (and many other important issues as well). The corporations are just too entrenched in it and they aren't going to give it up unless the government makes them, and the government is bought and sold by the corporations... so you see my point...

So, I would choose not to shop at Walmart if I could afford not to. But if I needed something and Walmart had the best price and I could barely afford to buy it elsewhere, I'd probably buy it at Walmart.

I agree with Jolly GG regarding outsourcing. With technology as well, there is much that is being outsourced, not just manufacturing of products.

WalMart is the one that started it all - re: goods from China. Their business practices are "supposed" to be what's best for the consumer, however that is not the case. Because of this, competitors have been FORCED to purchase cheap crap from China in order to simply stay in business.

I hate WalMart. I don't shop there if I don't have to.

I realize that we all need to save "every penny" but bear in mind that for every penny you save, *DOLLARS* are being exported out of the local ecomony. They have literally taken *down* businesses and local businesses that been around *for years* - supporting the local ecomony.

There is a movie I've been wanting to see, "WalMart: The High cost of Low Price." http://www.walmartmovie.com/ I need to see that.

There is a cycle effect that most people don't *get.* A lot of manufacturing jobs have been exported simply because it is just far too expensive to pay workers locally to produce products. China in no way has the labor laws we have here in the States so it's easy for them to produce cheap goods and very expensive here. Of course, when people's manufacturing jobs go away they need to save, they hear that WalMart is cheap, so they shop there. Thereby enforcing they lose their jobs or ensure they don't get their jobs back.

So really, why are we surprised with the number of unsafe toys that are recently being recalled? Do you really think that Chinese manufacturers give a shit about your children? Uhm. No. They want the almighty American dollar, and executives at Matel and other toy companies only worry about whether there's another recall and what the bottom line for their investors is.

Read this site: http://www.nlcnet.org/index.php I was sickened and horrified when I found it.

Now, all of that being said... I have a boyfriend who doesn't care about this. He doesn't make that much money and is in the mindset of, "Well, I need to save every penny." So he'll shop at WalMart. Sometimes we get our groceries there.

I have a choice, do I cause strife in our relationship and insist on not going? Or do I pick my battles and keep peace in my family? I choose the latter. And he knows how I feel about WalMart.

There are occasions where when we need groceries I'll volunteer to pick some up after work - and then I go to a grocery store and not WalMart. However, due to WalMart's influence, even the local grocery store has cheap goods. They have to. In order to stay in business. (No, that's not passive aggressive on my part. :P )

At anyrate, I HATE WalMart - but I'll shop there when my boyfriend does and we're doing a "together" trip. Slowly, though, he talks about going grocery shopping at other stores so that he is compromising and comes more my way - especially regarding WalMart.

I will NOT let WalMart break up my relationship with him. He is far too important to me. So that's how I sleep at night when I've shopped at WalMart.

[charmedmom]

I have to say they have been good to me but I know there are stores out there that are AWFUL!! I think on the outsourcing that is happening in every industry not just retail stuff. My DH works for auto industry making pumps and alot of jobs where sent to Mexico and you know how much you pay for that stuff. There is not alot of options for shopping in our little town unless you want to pay double at Buylows or drive 45 mins to another town. I have been with the company for 11 years and am paid decent for our small town (Just could not manage it!!)

[robivi3]

My big issue with local Walmarts is limited security, Target at University keeps a STATE TROOPER onsite and visible. Walamart is a person with no power, no authority in a little cart. The other issue is dirty, unkept stores here. If it was nicer and pleasant and had the big aisles I think it would be more to my liking. The manufacture and such issues do bother me, yes but pricing is unfoortunately an issue. I have a Walgreens right here but like my CVS a couple of miles away, just preference.

[SinkingFast]

I am 6 months Wal-Mart free.

Haven't shopped there. Haven't set foot in the place. No Wal-Mart anywhere.

Don't go to SAM's any more either.

Wal-Mart says they'll price match any competitor on the same item. If it's an advertisement, you show the ad. If a store down the street is running a special, you're supposed to be able to tell the cashier where and how much.

Our local CVS, a mile down the road from Wal-Mart always sells Dean's Milk, 2%, for $2.99/gallon. Sometimes, CVS even drops the price to $2.79. But unless I happen to go to CVS, I won't know when the milk is at the reduced price. So I always would tell the Wal-Mart cashiers $2.99/gallon.

The cashiers either would not price match or they'd tell me I'd have to take Great Value milk for the price. Some of the cashiers were even nasty acting like I was physically taking money out of their pockets.

After 3 go arounds with upper level management at the store, getting their "We're sorry. We'll address this issue during the Cashiers Meeting." run around. Even calling Wal-Mart corporate at their 800 number and still not seeing an improvement, I quit shopping there.

I've learned alternate ways to shop to make up for the extra I have to spend on some items.

Mondays, I go to one bread store. Monday is half off for "Seniors" day. Anyone aged 50 and over. I get the high end loaves of "organic" wheat bread that sell for $3.25/loaf at Wally World for $0.49 each on Mondays.

I found another bread store where I buy buns and other breads for a fraction of the price I was paying.

I shop at Aldi's a lot. Been shopping at the Dollar Store a lot lately too. I also hit the sales at locally owned grocery stores too.

When I do buy something I know I could get cheaper at Wal-Mart, I figure I've saved the difference elsewhere. Without putting my money into a mega monopoly pocket.

[nazstar]

I HATE Walmart. Growing up, we didn't have them in the city and when I moved here, I was all over it. But it quickly went downhill - whether that it the fault of Walmart or the neighborhood - I can't tell. Three times in one month, I brought home my groceries to find that something was opened and I don't mean like an accident. Someone opened the box, ate half of it and put it back on the shelf. Gross. They also can't keep the damn place stocked. There are always pallets stacked in the middle of the store, making it near impossible to navigate the aisles. Returning something is an exercise in patience. The parking lot is full of undesirables - meaning there are cars FULL of people in their late teens - early 20s just hanging out like it's a meeting place. Radios are blasting, there is trash on the ground, beer bottles, etc. They have to have security and the police patrol, but it's still a nightmare.

As for their corporate policies, I'm not too keen on them. I actually did a case study on Walmart for my economics class in college. Because of their size, they put enormous pressure on companies to give the lowest price. The companies, in turn, have to find ways to manufacture cheaper - so they go overseas. While I'm not blaming Walmart for all of the flight to across the border, they are certainly contributing to the situation. Also, Walmart does not like unions, they have denied overtime pay to employees and I personally know several former Walmart employees that were supposed to be full time with benefits only to find out they were scheduled for 2-5 hours BELOW the minimum requirement to qualify for benefits. I don't think it's a coincidence that these people were constantly short changed JUST ENOUGH hours to have that happen.

[nazstar]

Oh, and Walmart is not always cheaper for me. I find that my baby's formula is $6.49 at Walmart for a bottle. I can buy it by the case at BJs Warehouse for $5/bottle. Target sells them for $6.19 a bottle and even Walgreens has it for $6.19. Some of the stuff is a bit cheaper, but I wasn't really saving all that much plus they just didn't have alot of the brands I liked.

[lrprn]

Can't have it both ways, folks. We can't have cheaper goods to buy (and not just at WalMart) and expect that employers who make those goods can still pay folks here in the states US wages that are ten times higher than what is paid to make those same goods in China, Vietnam, Phillipines....you name the third world place.

Since our government decided some time ago that profits for the big employers were most important, that's how the decisions are made. Bye bye US jobs. But we can buy cheap stuff on credit which artificially props up our economy. A devil's bargain to be sure.

[chpxiii]

Oh, and Walmart is not always cheaper for me. I find that my baby's formula is $6.49 at Walmart for a bottle. I can buy it by the case at BJs Warehouse for $5/bottle. Target sells them for $6.19 a bottle and even Walgreens has it for $6.19. Some of the stuff is a bit cheaper, but I wasn't really saving all that much plus they just didn't have alot of the brands I liked.

nazstar, I had heard of a study done that compared WalMart prices to other stores, such as Target and local grocery stores.

While *end cap* items show cheap prices, that's for the cheap "teaser" goods. When you actually go *down the actual aisle,* those other goods, and better brands, aren't any cheaper than Target or a grocery store.

I wish I knew where that study was, I'd link it here.