Walmart critics launch ad campaign

[Name]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=568&ncid=568&e=15&u=/nm/20050420/bs_nm/retail_walmart_dc

CHICAGO (Reuters) - An organization opposed to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. took out a full-page newspaper advertisement on Wednesday that accuses the world's biggest retailer of costing U.S. taxpayers some $1.6 billion a year.

The advertisement in The New York Times says Wal-Mart's low pay and benefits forced tens of thousands of employees to seek government aid in the form of Medicaid, food stamps and housing assistance

thought this was interesting, wonder how much effect they will have on the company though.

[scaeagles]

Americans are interested in the lower prices Walmart offers. I personally do not shop there, though not for any social reason - I just think Walmart stores are, for the most part, scummy, and we can do almost as well at Target. I don't think it's gonna matter a bit as long as Walmart charges less for same or similar products.

[Name]

I don't shop there for a number of reasons, the top reason being: I feel like white trash just walking into the store. Other reasons include: I don't agree with their business model, they are the one job I have held in my life that I got fired from(I still shake my head at the thought that I got fired by wal-mart......ME, FIRED, FROM WAL-MART, cracks me up at times(not that I hold grudges or anything))........But the main reason I don't shop there, was the first reason I listed, I just feel icky walking in the store....

[Prudence]

You know how sometimes you walk into a place and suddenly, for no concrete reason you can point to, feel without a doubt that this is Not A Good Place and We Need To Leave Right Now?

That was me, at the Renton WalMart. Haven't been in one since.

[Betty]

I used to go to WalMart all the time and would buy all our shampoo, detergents, socks and underpants etc from them.

After one too many times of them blocking the aisles with crap, (I particularly liked the large yellow and black sign in one department that said not to stack things in the area that was stacked nearly the bottom of the sign) the chattering employees that were too busy talking about who was f-ing who in the store to help me, the freaking long lines on a Tuesday morning with only 2 lanes open and 5 "managers" standing there watching... even after asking them to open another line they "couldn't".

I go to Target now. Rarely have to wait in line - in fact they are usually at the end of the check stand and asking if I'm ready to purchase as I approach that area. The store are clean and stocked and get this - the employees aren't blocking the aisles chatting with each other.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

I hate WalMart.

I have to shop there, about once a week, because we (my company) buy grooming items for our residents - kids sent to us from probation. We have to give the items to the kids for free, and they have to be name brands. We are a poorly funded non-profit, so we have to shop at the cheapest places.

Friggin' WalMart. It's not my pocket money, but I still don't like going there. Even being there makes me feel blechy.

[Name]

Since your a non-profit(your company), why not try sticking it to wal-mart, and see if they will foot half the bill each time you(your company) shop there.....they do tout to being community minded after all.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

There are a wide array of reasons I choose not to shop at Wal-Mart if at all possible. Many of them are articulated here (http://www.anti-walmart.com/badwalmart/index.html). Badly treated employees, sexual harassment and discrimination, bad business for communities, generally dishonest and deceptive marketing and behavior, and to top all of that, generally higher prices!

There are times when I have to shop at Wal-Mart. These are times when I am with my parents, and they choose to. My mother has been very ill and mobility impaired for seven years, and she can usually only manage to make it to one store. This is the store that is available. I am never pleased to be there, and I don't usually buy anything myself, but in that case, I do go.

[Not Afraid]

I have never been to WalMart and, at this point, that is becoming a personal badge of honor. I have never had the desire to go, I don't need another "cheap store", their stuff seems tacky, and their commercials are irritating.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Since your a non-profit(your company), why not try sticking it to wal-mart, and see if they will foot half the bill each time you(your company) shop there.....they do tout to being community minded after all.

We've certainly had no luck with getting discounts. They don't even discount our bulk orders. I may send an appeal letter to their headquarters. Maybe they'll at least give us a donation around the holidays.

[Mousey Girl]

I, maybe, shop at Walmart 1-2 times a year. They carry certain things that Target does not. When I do go all I will get is the 3-4 items I needed and then I leave. They are planning 3 Super Walmarts here. The grocery stores are really opposing them, along with the labor unions. I can say, with confidence, that I will not be setting foot in any of them. There is really no need for them, we already have 3 Walmarts in town.

[innerSpaceman]

I have never in my life set foot in a Walmart, and I intend to keep it that way.

That's pretty easy for me to do, since I've never so much as seen one ... and there isn't one within 30 square miles of me.

[Kevy Baby]

CHICAGO (Reuters) - An organization opposed to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. took out a full-page newspaper advertisement on Wednesday that accuses the world's biggest retailer of costing U.S. taxpayers some $1.6 billion a year.I would love to see their rationalization on this one. While I by not means support Wal Mart, claims like this do an injustice to the fight. If they are using the government aid issue, they base their assumption that every single Wal Mart employee IS on government assistance and it is solely Wal Mart's fault.

If it were up to me, we would never shop at Wal Mart. Unfortunately, GusGus keeps going there depite my repeated requests that she not. *sigh* Maybe I need to step up my campaign with her...

[BarTopDancer]

If it were up to me, we would never shop at Wal Mart. Unfortunately, GusGus keeps going there depite my repeated requests that she not. *sigh* Maybe I need to step up my campaign with her...

Or maybe you should move across the street from a Target... :evil: :p

[MickeyD]

I would love to see their rationalization on this one. While I by not means support Wal Mart, claims like this do an injustice to the fight. If they are using the government aid issue, they base their assumption that every single Wal Mart employee IS on government assistance and it is solely Wal Mart's fault.


According to http://www.responsibleshopper.org:
In May, 2004, Good Jobs First showed that Wal-Mart has received more than $1 billion in economic development subsidies from states for its stores. The subsidies have come as many states are forced by White House tax cuts and reductions in federal grants to make tough budget decisions. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows states are cutting subsidies for publicly funded health insurance, child care, federal employment, both higher and lower education, and programs aimed at public safety and people with disabilities. Taxpayer dollars continue to subsidize Wal-Mart, who took in more than $200 billion in revenue and netted nearly $9 billion in profits last year, while paying worker near-poverty wages, and violating environmental regulations Source: The Progress Report, May 28, 2004 I have no idea...but this could be what they are referring to.

[Prudence]

I would love to see their rationalization on this one. While I by not means support Wal Mart, claims like this do an injustice to the fight. If they are using the government aid issue, they base their assumption that every single Wal Mart employee IS on government assistance and it is solely Wal Mart's fault.

We had a minor kerfluffle up here with WalMart. The argument was that WalMart restricted the number of employees eligible for benefits by mostly hiring part time employees. (And not because no one wanted to work full time.) This allowed WalMart to offer its customers lower prices than competitors, who provide benefits to a larger percentage of their employees. The hidden costs come from taxpayers, who support the state's Basic Health insurance program (not to mention Medicaid) for people who don't have employer-provided health insurance and can't afford private coverage.

[€uroMeinke]

A Coworker once tried to take me to a Walmart. Fortunately, she has a a peculiar fear of zombies and the greeter that day was particularly zombie like - a few choice borrowed lines from Night of the Living Dead and we blew out of that parking lot.

I have yet to set foot in one.

[Baileykat]

When I lived in Texas...Walmart was just where you shopped! We lived in a small town...and the Walmart we had was great! Clean, always organized...unless you went at 2am...then the stockers were rampant! Walmart was usually the first place I went for everything...grocery staples, laundry stuff, bath stuff, diapers when the kids were little...everything except produce and meat. Where I lived, you just couldn't beat their prices! Period!

BUT BUT BUT....now here in Tucson...the Walmarts SUCKETH BIGTIME!!! Arghh!

Crowded, dirty, crabbyass people checking you out....the last time I went I had quite a few coupons...the clerk SIGHED LOUDLY when she saw them....the proceeded to go back thru my bags to actually verify that I had bought everything I had a coupon for! So that did it for me!

Target is my choice now!

[Name]

Back in the old days of Wally World, back when they were working hard to sell "Made in the USA" stuff, they were all clean, well organized, good places.(that was about 12 years ago) It seems to me that corporate greed has gotten the best of the company and has lowered their standards massively. Now they are on my list as the next low standard alternative to Big Lots! I refuse to shop at either. Actually, I think I would shop at Big Lots! before I stepped foot into another Wal-Mart.

[wendybeth]

You know how sometimes you walk into a place and suddenly, for no concrete reason you can point to, feel without a doubt that this is Not A Good Place and We Need To Leave Right Now?

That was me, at the Renton WalMart. Haven't been in one since.

I read this, and thought of Steven King-lol.

I agree that Wal Mart is icky, evil and all that, but if we are going to go after employers for such a thing then we'd best start going after the Feds, because most enlisted soldier's families qualify for public assistance.

[Prudence]

I read this, and thought of Steven King-lol.

I agree that Wal Mart is icky, evil and all that, but if we are going to go after employers for such a thing then we'd best start going after the Feds, because most enlisted soldier's families qualify for public assistance.

My husband did 4.5 years in the Marines. Believe me, I'm with you on that one. The medical care alone was appalling. The things I had to pay to have fixed once we were together....

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Actually, I think I would shop at Big Lots! before I stepped foot into another Wal-Mart.This is literally true for me. I do like Big Lots because it's mostly items that couldnt' be sold at other stores and are discounted because of it. Plus, they don't sell everything under the goddamned sun like Walmart does. There's something about food being sold 5 feet from motor oil 5 feet from clothing 5 feet from electric mixers that bugs me. What a pile.

I lived near one for 2 years and went there all of twice. Bleh.