Interesting. I thought Walmart would be the green solution and is opposed by non-Republicans. One stop shopping greatly reduces trips made by consumers and shipping in bulk usually reduces pollution per product. I have nothing against and nothing for Walmart. They are providing what consumers want...low prices. I would want consumers to care that stuff is American made, but believe that people should have free choice to buy whatever products they want. On a side note, I wish products sold in the US were forced to be made with the same worker requirements as products made in the US. I am a free trade guy, but don't have a problem with most labor laws. Free trade gets messed up bad by other countries having different laws. I don't have a solution, but I see this as more a problem with jobs going over sees than Walmart. I shop infrequently at Walmart and my general impression has always been low quality at lower prices. I predominately do my shopping at Fry's and Circuit City for discretionary funds and do not see them in a better or worse light than Walmart. HEB is my grocer and I see them as I see Walmart. On Mom and Pop stores, restaurants, coffee shops, and bars are perfect for them because the product is unique. For items manufactored in bulk, I am definitely not going to a mom and pop and pay two dollars more for extra service. Go ahead, don't shop at Walmart. This is not sarcastic. I believe people should shop where they want. I personally don't shop at Dilliards because it seems they design their stores so it is difficult to get to what you want to buy. Just don't block Starbucks (corporate coffee or not, I like it), Fry's, and Circuit City.
Joe Joe - well said. Low prices and 1 stop shopping (who wants to drive all over town to get stuff) is what makes supercenters desirable. And in remote areas, where these thrive, most items they sell are non-existant locally - gotta go to Chanute for that... That said, I also do not frequent Wal-mart because like you said, low prices usually means low quality. Even their Michelins are some funky tread design.
Amusing that so many basketball fans hate Wal-Mart. Is it a reflection of America's collective syche against Goliath? I was driving around the southern part of the country for 9 days during the Thanksgiving week. After several hours of lone driving in the countryside, I would yell at my steeling wheel "I am back to the civilization" whenever I saw a Wal-Mart or a Home Depot. I guess they symbolize the American way of life in this Internet era. But if you think shopping at Wal-Mart is not cool, like many of my co-workers believe, I can't blame you. But, IMHO, that you get what you have paid is still an Ameircan mentra.
Malwart: Made in America!* * actual products produced in Taiwan, products distributed & sold in America
I do not shop at Walmart. I realize that their prices can be somewhat cheaper, but I do not like the big box look, the fact that the Walmart in Vancouver, BC is identical to one in San Diego CA, the rows of polyester clothes, and, besides, those 'greeters' give me the creeps. That's my choice, and i've deliberately made a decision to shop (or not shop) based on a lot more than price. I also avoid Amazon (which lost kazillions while undercutting local bookstores -- in any other industry that would have been called preditary pricing), and will choose a locally owned restaurant over a chain most of the time. There are a whole bunch of companies on the bnb boycott list -- my little way of sticking it to the big boys. Not that they particularly care. Choosing your 'suppliers' based on who they are and what they offer to your community often means recognizing that you may pay a bit more. In my view, it's worth it -- as long as the premium isn't too great. I don't, however, begrudge Walmarts business model, nor do I see their suppliers as victims. It seems that Walmart demands service and results from its suppliers. They are free not to supply Walmart if they do not like the terms. Also, Walmart pays promptly, which is not 'standard practice' of the industry based on my experience. They set the standards high, but abide by those standards themselves. If you, as a customer, demand the lowest possible price, you should accept that the supplier will take all steps to incur the lowest possible production costs. Walmart must, of course, abide by all anti-trust regulations. If they use their buying power to forbid suppliers from selling to other retailers, then that's a totally different story. I'm inherently suspicious of the mega-corps, but that's just me. From what i've read, Walmart may be ruthless, and demanding, but that's the tradeoff for access to their huge market. It's pretty simple, really, if you liked the old 'mom and pop' stores, then shop there.
