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RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices - 4/8/2007 12:54:55 PM

TheHeretic

Posts: 19100
Joined: 3/25/2007
From: California, USA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

I have read they censor the type of books they will carry too, I cannot even imagine shopping for music or books there. Give me Amazon any day!

      I won't buy music there because I don't want the edited version.

   Please explain what buying from Amazon does to support those local Mom&Pops you are so concerned for.



_____________________________

If you lose one sense, your other senses are enhanced.
That's why people with no sense of humor have such an inflated sense of self-importance.

(in reply to juliaoceania)

Post #: 121

RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices - 4/8/2007 1:03:15 PM

thompsonx

Posts: 23322
Joined: 10/1/2006
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quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

Yes, because the awful, awful, capitalist system allowed his business to fail...

I suspect you and a toothache are a bad combination and I don't want Mod11 on my who's viewing me list. Have a nice day.

Rich:
I thought having Mod 11 on ones "whose viewing me list" was a good thing...
Do you mean that she is not just "checking me out"

and here I thought she was sweet on me.
That sound you just heard was Mod 11 spraying coffee through her nose onto her monitor.
thompson

< Message edited by thompsonx -- 4/8/2007 1:06:01 PM >

(in reply to TheHeretic)

Post #: 122

RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices - 4/8/2007 1:10:21 PM

juliaoceania

Posts: 21383
Joined: 4/19/2006
From: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

quote:

ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

I have read they censor the type of books they will carry too, I cannot even imagine shopping for music or books there. Give me Amazon any day!

I won't buy music there because I don't want the edited version.

Please explain what buying from Amazon does to support those local Mom&Pops you are so concerned for.

You can buy from mom and pops on Amazon....

_____________________________

Once you label me, you negate me ~ Soren Kierkegaard

Reality has a well known Liberal Bias ~ Stephen Colbert

Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people. Eleanor Roosevelt

(in reply to TheHeretic)

Post #: 123

RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices - 4/8/2007 2:12:06 PM

UtopianRanger

Posts: 3251
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quote:

BTW please do not confuse neoliberalization of the economy with liberal politics... it is more of a neoconservative agenda than a liberal one... neo-cons and neo-libs are really the same thing.

I think you're asking way too much here... I really do

- R

_____________________________

"If you are going to win any battle, you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do... the body is never tired if the mind is not tired."

-General George S. Patton

(in reply to juliaoceania)

Post #: 124

RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices - 4/8/2007 3:43:36 PM

juliaoceania

Posts: 21383
Joined: 4/19/2006
From: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
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quote:

ORIGINAL: UtopianRanger

quote:

BTW please do not confuse neoliberalization of the economy with liberal politics... it is more of a neoconservative agenda than a liberal one... neo-cons and neo-libs are really the same thing.

I think you're asking way too much here... I really do

- R

Well it maybe a lot, but I truly thought some of them were up to the challenge.

_____________________________

Once you label me, you negate me ~ Soren Kierkegaard

Reality has a well known Liberal Bias ~ Stephen Colbert

Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people. Eleanor Roosevelt

(in reply to UtopianRanger)

Post #: 125

RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices - 4/8/2007 4:30:08 PM

SusanofO

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I normally agree w/you on almost everything, juliaoceania, but I am kind of with Ex-Steel, Merc & a few others on this. While I find myself wishing the Wal-Mart stores I've seen were more attractive, and I could do without their flourescent lighting, their existence is something I think is simply Capitalism in action.

As a past Business major in college, I have to say I think Sam Walton was really a genius. He found what people liked, and then figured out how to buy it and market it for the lowest imaginable price possible. It is no secret to me why people love to shop at Wal-Mart, even if they think that possibly some poor Chinese factory worker who supplies the goods is suffering for it, somewhere.

My father has made a little part-time retirement hobby, out of shopping at all of the dollar stores, and really low-priced retailers in town, (including Wal-Mart) even though he doesn't need really to save much money doing it at this point in his life.

He spent some years of his life scrimping and saving, so his daughters could do things like go to college, and take his family on nice Summer vacations, and now for some reason, he still gets the biggest thrill out of going to a store that will sell him something for 90% off a retail department store price. He did this kind of thing as a way of life, when I was growing up, even though my mother sometimes seemed to object (don't ask me why she did, I have no real clue.)

He comes to my house sometimes to show off, and sort of brag about his purchases at these places, and he gets such a kick out of it, I find it hard to be-grudge him his little thrill. Sometimes, he's tipped me off to a sale some place that has saved me some money, too. Who can't use more money in their pocket?

I donate more than an average amount of my income to charity. I don't feel guilty because I shop at Wal-Mart sometimes. If somebody could gaurantee me that some action I'd take was gauranteed to stop things like Chinese child labor, I'd do it, but I really think that their government would find some other way to screw with its citizens, because it has been Communistic for so long now.

China is slowly showing some little teensy signs of possibly becoming more capitalistic, but my guess is it will take decades change in a big, noticeable way, that ends some of the abuses you speak of. I am not trying to sound passive, just realistic.

I think the existence of Wal-Mart is kind of a Catch-22 for many people. But I don't think Wal-Mart is going to go bye-bye. I think it's here to stay, as a franchise anyway.

- Susan

< Message edited by SusanofO -- 4/8/2007 5:19:49 PM >

_____________________________

"Hope is the thing with feathers,
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all". - Emily Dickinson

(in reply to juliaoceania)

Post #: 126

RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices - 4/8/2007 4:38:11 PM

juliaoceania

Posts: 21383
Joined: 4/19/2006
From: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Status: offline

My point is not to demonize walmart shoppers. My point was to create awareness. If it is ok with you and you do not see anything good about making different choices, well that is how you feel. You were not someone that I reached with the video. I have already gotten an email from one person that showed me posting the link to the movie was a very good thing because they were going to quit shopping there, and another few that emailed me privately that did not post on this thread that quit shopping at walmart a while back. I wonder if the attacks on me were the reason these people felt they should not post here about how they feel about walmart. If so, that is kinda sad, that the ugliness pointed at me on this thread would keep them from wanting to contribute their views.

_____________________________

Once you label me, you negate me ~ Soren Kierkegaard

Reality has a well known Liberal Bias ~ Stephen Colbert

Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people. Eleanor Roosevelt

(in reply to SusanofO)

Post #: 127

RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices - 4/8/2007 4:49:11 PM

TheHeretic

Posts: 19100
Joined: 3/25/2007
From: California, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: juliaoceania
I wonder if the attacks on me were the reason these people felt they should not post here about how they feel about walmart. If so, that is kinda sad, that the ugliness pointed at me on this thread would keep them from wanting to contribute their views.

Now that's another thing we have in common, Julia. I find e-mails from people who thank me for defending a more conservative point of view. It isn't like they'll be attacked as uncaring, unfeeling, monsters who just "don't understand how it feels to (insert tragic life experience here)."

_____________________________

If you lose one sense, your other senses are enhanced.
That's why people with no sense of humor have such an inflated sense of self-importance.

(in reply to juliaoceania)

Post #: 128

RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices - 4/8/2007 4:50:08 PM

SusanofO

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Joined: 12/19/2005
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juliaoceania: I am not personally attacking you, hon! Please don't feel that way. I am sorry if I hurt your feelings, I'd never,ever do that on purpose. I would not. I need to review that video. It may have things in it I need to consider more. I will do that (I will). I was a Business major, and my perspective can sometimes get skewed on stuff like this, for that reason.

I just think regulation in any extreme way, really can screw with the notions of free-enterprise. Usually if abuses get really extreme, these businesses get dragged into court, and if the financial or public relations price they pay is too high for them to live with, they stop screwing around, doing whatever abusive thing(s) they were doing. Usually (of course there are exceptions.) But - Wal-Mart is very, very visible (and from any mal-practice standpoint, that is not in their favor, IMO).

I think if that is what Wal-Mart is doing, they will learn that lesson the hard way as well. But from what I've read, they seem to have some astute folks on their board of directors, that are trying to keep pace with providing low prices, while at the same time maintian some common sense, even if more than once, they may have stepped over a line.

It is such a thriving business, I have no doubt they are smart enough to learn from mistakes. Just wait and see. It might take a few years, but if you follow the news head-lines, and then compare it with what they are doing some find objectionable, I bet the incidents of those incidents will drastically decrease.

I am glad you posted the thread. Education and consumer awareness is never a bad idea, IMO.

- Susan

< Message edited by SusanofO -- 4/8/2007 5:20:39 PM >

_____________________________

"Hope is the thing with feathers,
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all". - Emily Dickinson

(in reply to juliaoceania)

Post #: 129

RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices - 4/8/2007 4:55:07 PM

juliaoceania

Posts: 21383
Joined: 4/19/2006
From: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Status: offline

I know that you were not insulting me susan, I never meant to infer you were, I was just telling you that if you had read the thread you would see that this had occurred on here... It is beginning to feel like I burned the American flag because I find walmart a distasteful thing... I had no idea people were that attached to their local walmarts.

_____________________________

Once you label me, you negate me ~ Soren Kierkegaard

Reality has a well known Liberal Bias ~ Stephen Colbert

Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people. Eleanor Roosevelt

(in reply to SusanofO)

Post #: 130

RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices - 4/8/2007 4:56:28 PM

Sinergy

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Joined: 4/26/2004
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lorgrom

Get together and form your own version of what they do. Then you can set the standards that you feel things should be, and if you are correct. You will eventualy force Wal-mart to raise thier standards or they will go out of business.

This would be Costco's business model. Pay a living wage with benefits. Walmart had to start up Sam's Club to stay competitive. But Sam's Club, while many of the things they sell are slightly cheaper, are also of a dramatically lower quality.

The real issue, Logrom, is that your tax dollars are being used to subsidize Walmart's business practices. So it does affect you, even if you choose to think otherwise.

Sinergy

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(in reply to Lorgrom)

Post #: 131

RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices - 4/8/2007 5:04:24 PM

SusanofO

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juliaioceania: I'm not that attached to Wal-Mart. My dad is though. It is kind of a weird cultural phenomenon, IMO. I Summer vacation at a place called Lake Okoboji (a huge lake in Iowa). It is a very small town, and they recently put up a Wal-Mart store there. You wouldn't believe how crowded the place is, considering the size of that town, and that it is a vacation spot. It's just something I find a little odd.

Personally, I'd rather water-ski, etc. on vacation. There's plenty of other stuff to do in that town. I am not that much into shopping as a hobby, either, I guess. Apparently some folks are. On my Summer vacation, why would I want to do things I can do at home? I don't get it. How boring.

- Susan

< Message edited by SusanofO -- 4/8/2007 5:08:41 PM >

_____________________________

"Hope is the thing with feathers,
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all". - Emily Dickinson

(in reply to Sinergy)

Post #: 132

RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices - 4/8/2007 5:08:31 PM

juliaoceania

Posts: 21383
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From: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Status: offline

My mom shops there also, so does my sister. My sister likes walmart, my mom feels pressured to shop there being on a fixed income. My mom does shop elsewhere when she can though. I do understand that some people feel they have to shop there, but I would bet that many of us could do better if we put a little thought into it and found a little motivation to do so.

But hey, I boycott a lot of things that I do not post about on here.

_____________________________

Once you label me, you negate me ~ Soren Kierkegaard

Reality has a well known Liberal Bias ~ Stephen Colbert

Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people. Eleanor Roosevelt

(in reply to SusanofO)

Post #: 133

RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices - 4/8/2007 5:09:50 PM

FelinePersuasion

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I love Wl-Mart shop there a bunch.

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(in reply to juliaoceania)

Post #: 134

RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices - 4/8/2007 5:13:18 PM

SusanofO

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I shop on the Internet, which makes me a money dumbo, in some ways (I don't care that much about that, though). I pay way too much for shipping, probably, but it is sometimes worth it to me - at times of the year especially, when stores are guaranteed to be crowded. I just can't deal with the crowds. I hate it. I am not sure I am unusual. I find the pace, and the atmosphere, much more relaxed in the privacy of my own home.

I will sometime frequent charming, boutiquey-type places on a vacation, or even in town, but it is mostly window-shopping, out of curiosity. At my stage in life, there isn't much I even buy anymore, outside of groceries, and gifts (or books).

I am not much of a clothes horse, and if I do buy them, it really is usually on the Internet (people sometimes can't believe I do this. But, I am almost a perfect size 8, and if something doesn't fit, I can return it, and I do).

- Susan

< Message edited by SusanofO -- 4/8/2007 5:21:35 PM >

_____________________________

"Hope is the thing with feathers,
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all". - Emily Dickinson

(in reply to juliaoceania)

Post #: 135

RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices - 4/8/2007 5:13:53 PM

ExSteelAgain

Posts: 1803
Joined: 7/2/2006
From: Georgia
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: farglebargle

T.S. & F.U.

Ummm, back at ya.

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(in reply to farglebargle)

Post #: 136

RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices - 4/8/2007 5:17:48 PM

snappykappy

Posts: 616
Joined: 3/5/2005
Status: offline

i buy from myself and being that i can't give my email addy

also read the book househol gold which explains that walmart is planning on opening up a store a day for the next ten years

they are now getting into cars and bunches of stuff incredible

just think if u had ur own walmart

(in reply to TheHeretic)

Post #: 137

RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices - 4/8/2007 5:19:28 PM

GoddessDustyGold

Posts: 2822
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From: Arizona
Status: offline

In answer to your long ago question regarding Walmart's support of Socialized Medicine...
I could find that to be perfectly logical. This is a major corporation who makes no bones about the fact that they may not offer health benefits to many of their employees. What better way to kill that objection than by supporting socialized medicine. If that would happen, they would no longer have to deal with that particular accusation, since the government would be taking care of this bit of business.
I do have a question...
Who is "Walmart"...Are you referring to management? The employees? The stockholders? I am just wondering about your take on the mouth of Walmart. I am assuming I know to what you are referring, but I just want to be sure.
Yes, Julia...I do expect a solution that can then be debated. However in view of this post, quoted below, I see that you would feel it is unecessary.

quote:

ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

I would like to add, I am not for executing anyone, I do not want to dictate where people shop, I just am here spreading information to people that might want to read it and have a problem with walmart's business practices. If the people attacking me do not have a problem with the reality that is walmart and want to shop there, this thread is not for them. But to attack me personally over my presentation of facts they have not refuted because these facts make them feel bad on some level is rather much.

This does distress Me, Julia. Perhaps you should have put a large disclaimer on your OP?. Something to the effect that you are only disseminating important information that is in line with your point of view, and that you do not sanction any discussion on this, unless it comes from those who completely support your feelings on this? This thread is then only for those who would like to view the movie who already have a problem with Walmart?
Frankly, Julia, I have not seen any personal attacks, except for a bit of name calling which was out of line. I am not any more in favor of that sort of emotionalism, but I have to say, I have seen you do it yourself in a different manner, on other threads. Not name calling , per se...but a pretty barbed and snarky comment that was hurtful on a personal level.
People have put many of your personal complaints, and the areas you have cited, into another persepctive, and you have ignored them all. It is as if you cannot open your mind to see where your perspective verges on the hysterical, rather than supporting a rational discussion.
Please don't take this as a personal attack. It is not. It is only meant to try to show you that continuing to come from a dismissive or "I will just ignore you" attitude does not accomplish much.

< Message edited by GoddessDustyGold -- 4/8/2007 5:20:17 PM >

_____________________________

Dusty
They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety
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Don't blame Me ~ I didn't vote for either of them
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(in reply to juliaoceania)

Post #: 138

RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices - 4/8/2007 5:30:46 PM

ExSteelAgain

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From: Georgia
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Yeah, I know it is an emotional issue, folks. I try to keep things on the subject and point out a few things. Here is something we haven’t brought up yet, our global economy. The U.S. is in debt to the tune of billions of dollars to China now. If they decide to pull the plug, we go belly up.

Why do they keep loaning us money? They want us to buy their products. They finance the sale of manufactured products to us to keep their factories going. When we stop buying Chinese products, they will call their loans in and we go bust in a way that has never happened. This country needs to stop living on credit and balance our budget. The average household in China and India, poor countries by our living standards, has less debt that American households. Something is amiss.

Totally off subject, but to show I try to look at both sides of the issue, what happens to the empty buildings when they move out? They become big box slums. Some cities demand that a new Wal-mart have an exit plan where they will remodel the building for smaller enterprises if they leave. Makes sense to me.

< Message edited by ExSteelAgain -- 4/8/2007 5:33:20 PM >

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You can paint a cinder block bright pastel pink, but it's still a cinder block. (By Me.)

(in reply to snappykappy)

Post #: 139

RE: Walmart - High Cost of Low Prices - 4/8/2007 5:32:05 PM

juliaoceania

Posts: 21383
Joined: 4/19/2006
From: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
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Thanks for your view.

No I did not post this for all of you to debate it with me, no where in the OP was there an invitation to do so...

_____________________________

Once you label me, you negate me ~ Soren Kierkegaard

Reality has a well known Liberal Bias ~ Stephen Colbert

Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people. Eleanor Roosevelt

(in reply to GoddessDustyGold)

Post #: 140

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