Is Wal-Mart Destroying America? Facts About Wal-Mart That Will Absolutely Shock You

By Michael, on July 4th, 2012

America absolutely loves Wal-Mart. 100 million customers visit Wal-Mart every single week in this country. But is Wal-Mart good for America? That is a question that most people never stop and ask. Most of us love shopping in big, clean stores that are packed with super cheap merchandise, but the truth is that Wal-Mart is destroying America in a lot of ways. As you will see below, Wal-Mart has destroyed tens of thousands of small businesses and countless manufacturing jobs over the past couple of decades. Wal-Mart has become a gigantic retail behemoth that sells five times more stuff than any other retailer in the United States. Unfortunately, a large percentage of all the stuff sold at Wal-Mart is made overseas. What that is costing the U.S. economy in terms of lost jobs and lost revenue is incalculable. But Wal-Mart is a perfect example of where our economic system is headed. Our economy is becoming completely and totally dominated by highly centralized monolithic predator corporations that ruthlessly crush all competition and that will stoop to just about anything in order to cut costs. In the future, will we all be working for gigantic communal entities that funnel all of the wealth and economic rewards to a very tiny elite? That sounds very much like how communist China works, and red-blooded Americans should want no part of that. America is supposed to be about free enterprise and competition and working together to build up this country, and Wal-Mart is destroying all of that.

The following are 20 facts about Wal-Mart that will absolutely shock you....

#1 The average U.S. family now spends more than $4000 a year at Wal-Mart.

#2 In 2010, Wal-Mart had revenues of 421 billion dollars. That amount was greater than the GDP of 170 different countries including Norway, Venezuela and the United Arab Emirates.

#3 If Wal-Mart was a nation, it would have the 23rd largest GDP in the world.

#4 Wal-Mart now sells more groceries than anyone else in America does. In the United States today, one out of every four grocery dollars is spent at Wal-Mart.

#5 Amazingly, 100 million customers shop at Wal-Mart every single week.

#6 Wal-Mart has opened more than 1,100 "supercenters" since 2005 alone.

#7 Today, Wal-Mart has more than 2 million employees.

#8 If Wal-Mart was an army, it would be the second largest military on the planet behind China.

#9 Wal-Mart is the largest employer in 25 different U.S. states.

#10 According to the Economic Policy Institute, trade between Wal-Mart and China resulted in the loss of 133,000 manufacturing jobs in the United States between 2001 and 2006.

#11 The CEO of Wal-Mart makes more in a single hour than a full-time Wal-Mart associate makes in an entire year.

#12 Tens of thousands of Wal-Mart employees and their children are enrolled in Medicaid and are dependent on the government for healthcare.

#13 Between 2001 and 2007, the value of products that Wal-Mart imported from China grew from $9 billion to $27 billion.

#14 Amazingly, 96 percent of all Americans now live within 20 miles of a Wal-Mart.

#15 The number of "independent retailers" in the United States declined by 60,000 between 1992 and 2007.

#16 According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Wal-Mart spent 7.8 million dollars on political lobbying during 2011. That number does not even include campaign contributions.

#17 Today, Wal-Mart has five times the sales of the second largest U.S. retailer (Costco).

#18 The combined net worth of six members of the Walton family is roughly equal to the combined net worth of the poorest 30 percent of all Americans.

All over the country, independent retailers are going out of business because they cannot compete with Wal-Mart and their super cheap Chinese products. Often communities will give Wal-Mart huge tax breaks just to move in to their areas. But what many communities don't take into account is that the introduction of a Wal-Mart is often absolutely devastating to small businesses....

A study of small and rural towns in Iowa showed lost sales for local businesses ranging from -17.2% in small towns to -61.4% in rural areas, amounting to a total dollar loss of $2.46 BILLION over a 13-year period.

When we buy stuff made by people working for slave labor wages in China, we destroy good paying American jobs and we make America poorer. This is a point that I have tried to make over and over.

Wal-Mart often tells one thing to the public and then does another thing in private. Sadly, the truth is that Wal-Mart does not care about U.S. manufacturing jobs. Wal-Mart just wants to get products as cheaply as they possibly can, and most of the time that means getting them from China.

Just check out this first-hand testimony from an 81-year-old retired apparel manufacturer....

I was president of the Southwestern Apparel Manufacturers Association. There was a meeting sometime between 1985 and 1990. Walmart had contacted our organization and asked if they could meet with us at our beautiful Apparel Mart we had here in Dallas, which has now been razed, because all the independent merchants don’t exist that used to come to it. Two people from Walmart came down and they said they were going to be sourcing goods from overseas and we would have to meet those prices for consumer products and to get ready for it—we are going to be sourcing the world. Walmart was the only company that came out and said this.

It was sort of shocking: I was selling them some merchandise at the time. On the back of their trucks it was saying “Bring it Back to America!” They had the big “keep it in America” program going at that time on the big signs in the stores. Meanwhile when I reminded the buyer of that, she told me, “that is just for domestic consumption, we’re going to buy at the cheapest we can anywhere on earth.”

As I have written about previously, the United States has lost more than 56,000 manufacturing facilities since 2001.

We are losing millions of good jobs that cannot be replaced. If you can believe it, the United States has actually lost an average of about 50,000 manufacturing jobs a month since China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001.

Last year, the U.S. trade deficit with China was the biggest trade deficit that one nation has had with another nation in the history of the world, and Wal-Mart played a huge role in that.

In fact, Wal-Mart has actually been forcing some U.S. manufacturers to pack up and move overseas. The following is from a recent article by Amy Traub....

Walmart’s market power is so immense that the even the largest suppliers must comply with its demands for lower and lower prices because they cannot afford to have their goods taken off its shelves. Companies that used to manufacture products in the United States, from Levi’s jeans to lock maker Master Lock, were pressured to shut their U.S. factories and moved manufacturing abroad to meet Walmart’s demand for low prices.

Unfortunately, the vast wealth that Wal-Mart is sucking out of our communities is not put back into our communities. The profits are funneled out to Wal-Mart executives and shareholders. We may enjoy the low prices, but very little of the money that we give to Wal-Mart gets recycled in our local areas.

In the old days, you could actually support a family selling electronics or running a general store. But you can't support a family working at Wal-Mart. The vast majority of the jobs that Wal-Mart creates are very low paying. Large numbers of Wal-Mart employees are actually on welfare, and this is part of the reason why we have seen such an explosion in the number of the working poor in America.

At this point, more than 40 percent of all jobs in America are low wage jobs and the middle class is rapidly disappearing.

If we do not support American jobs and American manufacturers they will continue to go away and the welfare rolls in this country will continue to explode.

There is not going to be any prosperity in this country without jobs. Unfortunately, most Americans simply do not understand how good jobs are being systematically destroyed in America every single day.

The path that America is headed on today is only going to end in complete and total disaster. We are being transformed from a wealthy nation into a poor nation. In the end, we will be dominated by a very tiny elite and everyone else will either be among the working poor or will be totally dependent on the government.

Our system is supposed to be about open, honest competition. But that is not what Wal-Mart is about. Wal-Mart is about crushing small businesses and manufacturers here in America and getting us all to buy their super cheap Chinese-made goods.

So what do all of you think about Wal-Mart? Please feel free to post a comment with your thoughts below....

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nick6222

The issue is where there is a demand walmart will fill it at the lowest cost to consumers.a the solution is if we dont buy there crap they go out of buisness.
For the shoppers at walmart remember the industty your in will soon outsource your job also and then you cant complain about it. Because you support it happening to others.
Roger Anderson

Mr. Snyder, you obviously hate Capitalism, Free Enterprise, profit and freedom itself. Since you obviously hate America so much, I suggest you try Cuba or North Korea, they would be more to your liking.

By the tone of your article, I suspect you also hate GOD and anything in our society that is still decent of which there are very few things.

It time for you to face the facts about what is left of our once beloved Country. We have a marxist-anarchist-atheist president who is rushing the Country over a cliff in an attempt to truly cause a total economic collapse and you are slamming Wal-Mart for being the best run and most successful company in the world? I suggest you stick to exposing the president for the evil, pathetic, maniacal puppet he is.

Why should any company in America hire America workers? Unions have destroyed our work force. For example, public service employees and the SEIU union members are making 40% to 100% more than non-union workers for the exact same job and they are far less skilled and far less productive. The unions are still very capable of murdering any competing union leaders and burning down competing non-union companies.

Why would anyone get involved in a business where their employees are FORCED to be members of a union? Instead of the $68 a hour with benefits that SEIU members make on average, I would rather pay 95 cents an hour to an employee in a foreign country who never misses a day of work for fear of starving.

I would spend a great deal of time and money on inspection and quality control, since there is always the possibility of substandard goods, but I also would be selling those products for far less than American made products.

Face it Mr Snyder, American manufacturing is DEAD; we are now a service and internet society. It is really stupid for an American company to manufacture anything in this Country. Wal-Mart has got it right and you have got it wrong. We need to look to other areas besides manufacturing to create jobs.
- Michael
  
  Roger:
  
  I am afraid that you have no idea how wrong you are.
  
  And if you would take a look at things objectively you would see that I deeply love “Capitalism, Free Enterprise, profit and freedom itself”.
  
  Michael
- A.S.
  
  Roger, you think is it ethical then for the CEO to make close to 28 million per year. Why not take a self-imposed pay cut to around 100k per year and give the rest to the employees. Why not give 100% health care to all employees? Because the ceo, managers, stockholders, etc, are evil.
- TrollKilla
  
  One thing I noticed after returning to the US after being away for 15 years is how much it IS becoming like China. The middle class have all but dissapeared. There is a hatred of anyone on Gov. assistance, although the majority have worked hard all their lives and have lost jobs due to the economy. Our booming prison system is the only successful manufacturer in the nation. And everyone wears the same clothes, like in North Korea, because Walmart only stocks so many different kinds of clothing. I found that kinda funny. I actually went in one out of curiosity. I was dissapointed to note that it wasnt like “People of Walmart.” website, but a pretty unsatisfying shoppng experience, with lots of cheap garbage and plastice looking vegetables.
Just Bob

This argument about ‘outsourcing’ and Wal-Mart is an old argument that is almost 20 years old at this point. As soon as NAFTA passed in ’94 and China was admitted to the WTO in ’99, this is the direction the US was headed in and it increasingly meant a move away from a manufacturing base increasingly towards a service-based economy. Organized labor lost and lost big time in the US. Private labor union membership is below 8% of the overall U.S. private workforce and at their lowest figures in over a century. Private unions have ceased to be a relevant political force or campaign contributor for the Democrats. Public sector employees unions are and we are about to begin a process where they get broken and reduced too. Already happened in Wisconsin and it is going to come to other states too with heavy public union membership.

It is also funny to see some of the dopey commentators on here recycle some much of the generic neoliberal garbage that has some out of the University of Chicago Economics dept. too. Reality is that that after the Cold War ended in ’91 with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the post WW2 social contract between capital and labor that had held since the New Deal largely became irrelevant. ‘Free trade’ (which is such a bogus and ridiculous term because it never has really existed between nation/kingdoms/nation-states) was pushed and pushed hard especially after the Berlin Wall came down in ’89.

It meant moving production to the places where the overall costs of production were the cheapest, labor either couldn’t organize or faced incredibly difficult barriers, and there were few/no regulations especially in regards to environmental conditions. Its pure capitalism. As the manager of a corporation, you primary goal is to increase overall revenues and margins.

The joke though is going to end up being on American CEOs and companies though because unlike their American counterparts Chinese politicians have enacted policies and put in regulations in place that have a heavy emphasis on a ‘Chinese first’ policy that looks to improve China over the intermediate/long-term. Already the US Chamber of Commerce is crying foul about numerous issues with China including IP protection, pace at which markets are opening, pegging of the yuan, etc. Irony is that it is these same companies that wanted Chinese admission into the WTO fasttracked in the first place without adequate provisions in many cases. Chinese politicians have largely told the US companies and politicians to pound sand and have enacted a ‘tic for tac’ policy on US imports whenever US politicians enact a policy/tariff that hurts Chinese producers.

Companies like Wal-Mart could ultimately care less about their US workers and the communities in which they live. I have no doubt that if the technology existed where Wal-Mart could largely restock their stores without humans they would. Wal-Mart stock has been a dog for nearly a decade now and their CEO & board realize that the US is an important market for them given its sheer size but that if they are really going to grow their success depends on international growth rates and penetration.

Despise Wal-Mart and everything they stand for including their emphasis on creating an American consumer culture that values low prices and convenience above everything else. Anathema to everything I grew up to and was raised on including both set of my grandparents who survived the Depression by doing everything but that. If I want quality furniture, I will contract with the local Amish in Lancaster County to build it to spec and take care of it so I have it for the next 30-40 years. I will raise a number of my own food and buy as much as I can locally from wholesale local producers including chicken and pork. Ditto tools. They carry sheer garbage. I will either find an American or German manufacturer, pay a price premium of probably at least 50%, and take care of that tool so that it last me nearly my entire life. I still have a number of tools from my grandfather that are now going on 80 years.

Stop watching TV and wasting your leisure time and learn how to do thing for yourself. Learn where to buy things locally as much as possible and be willing to pay a bit of a higher price for things, buy less of it, & learn to take care of the things you buy so they last a much longer time.
Working Poor

Face it. Especially with the economy today people are going to shop where they can afford to shop, me included. Myself and my family are living on the edge of economic disaster and may be moving in with elder inlaws in the next few months. Simply put, Walmart is cheaper on almost everything. As far as things cheaply made…I’ve got living room furniture (a tv table and an end table) that are mission style, bought at Walmart. They are super sturdy and were very reasonably priced. I love them. I’ve bought more expensive things that lasted no time at all.
- WalmartProud
  
  Working Poor, you are right. And those buyers in the furniture department are working hard to get the best quality and a fair price from the suppliers so that you can have something you are proud to have in your home – while still being able to afford it.
  - TrollKilla
    
    Are you joking? Man, if you wanna troll, at least choose a more neutral name. “Jeff Jones” or something. Wallmart Proud??? Who, except for the Waltons, is “proud” of Walmart?
Doug Danzeisen

Eye opening article- Walmart is now no longer the lowest cost seller on many things, check it out and compare. The comments were most eye opening, thanks to all of you who shared your experiences.
Douglas McIntosh

We have to change the way we do business. We have to grow as people. We have to start manufacturing again in a big way. Don’t blame Walmart blame ourselves.
- Alexa
  
  Well, YEAH, that is the obvious goal, but you don’t see that Wal-Mart is sweeping away the opportunity to keep up local manufacturing? Isn’t that the whole point?
Andrew Bulles

Here in Simi Valley, CA… our local government is giddy with the prospects of having a NEW Walmart Express… apparently this new concept specializes in grocery items and soft goods. Seems to me, we will see one of the RALPH’s or Albertson’s close in the 12 months after the Walmart openings… WE HAVE TWO Targets and a Walmart already. When the NEW Supertarget opened the Ralph’s store about a mile away immediately announced that it would close… Now, we got another empty space to fill.
- Alexa
  
  Case in point! Repulsive.
Annie Dobson

I worked at Walmart supercenter for two years. Started out as a cashier and was forced into a job in the deli so my sister in law could be given a customer service managers position over the cashiers. I wasnt aske to move I was told I either had to move or get laid off. They pay the bare minimum wage you can get insurance but it takes a lot of your income. They cut hours all the time when I quit I was working 16.5 hours a week at 9 an hour try living on that. It cost more in gas to drive there. They show no appreciatation for their employees and treat them like scab labor.
Kevin

The town I live in now wishes that they had considered more closely how many times a week our PD would be responding to shoplifting complaints at the Walmart.
John

Rember Ross’ “giant sucking sound” re: NAFTA? He was so right back then in ’92. Oh well, we humans were never very good at delayed gratification or reason.

We fed and clothed the world after the carnage of world wars when the manufacturing bases of other nations were reduced to rubble. Treasure poured from across the globe into the US and that built the ‘burbs, the greatest waste of resources in all of recorded history. Today cheap labor from the orient has emptied that cupboard of excess by the very thing our fathers fought for during that war…the death of socialism and the preservation of capitalism. Remember, wars are always about economic systems and never what’s right or wrong.

In conclusion I find the title of this website peculiar, “collapse.”

To me it’s reaching the equilibrium that’s been out of whack when we tried to live by credit and currency inflation. But hey if you are in denial don’t despair, maybe with the 50% of GDP we spend in bullets we can keep alive the fantasy that US workers deserve 20Xs what the rest of the world makes for doing the same job. But it means a hell of a lot more air strikes, a lot more killing of brown people. But something tells me most of you are alright with that, aren’t you? I mean after all, you see the new 60 inch screens at Sam’s yet?
http://www.TrumpetCallofGodonline.com Toma Joel

Thus says The Lord: Who are all these before Me?! What people is this who have despised Me, these who walk proudly, hating Me and My Word?!…

Ignorant and sinful people!…

You have become as false gods in My eyes!… Detestable idols!

Each one of you, from the least to the greatest, have turned from Me,
To worship your idols and corrupted images!…

YOU WORSHIP YOURSELVES!

Yes, you uphold every false image and detestable doctrine, with which you spit in My face! You flee all accountability, and rest comfortably in your sin, bearing a multitude of bitter fruit in unrighteousness… LAWLESS PEOPLE!… You have despised Me and My Law! Therefore, around your necks shall it be strewn, and you shall bear its weight!… Every jot and every tittle!… Says The Mighty One, The God of Jacob!

HERE I AM!… The God of ALL!…

The God of recompense and judgment!

My peoples, hear the Word of The Living God!… All peoples of the earth, hear the voice of your maker: You have all entered in!… The Day is here, and you have entered in!… THE DAY OF THE LORD!

Therefore, bow down heavily…

Fall on your faces, and wail loudly!… CRY OUT!…

Die to yourselves, and grab hold of The Holy One of Israel,
And pray that you are counted worthy to escape!

I lie not!… YOU HAVE ENTERED IN!

Lo, did I not say to you that your knowledge was useless, and all your thoughts and imaginings were in vain?… For I am The Lord, and I do according to the counsel of My own will.
For the scholars cry, “FALSE!”, and the Christians plot in vain against My messengers… And the people of Israel walk proudly, exalting themselves by their own knowledge, though they remain ignorant, for the Truth is still hidden from their eyes.
My own sheep stumble! The whole world falls down and is broken!… When, O peoples, will you cast yourselves down? When will you be humbled? When will you forsake your knowledge and be free?!… I AM THE LORD! EVEN I AM HE! There is no knowledge apart from Me, and there can be no understanding, save it was given you by Mashiach… HE is your Master!

Have you not felt these pangs, O earth?!
Have you not recoiled in pain, O heavens?!
Has not fear grabbed hold of you, O mighty nations?!…

BLIND AND HARD PEOPLES, REPENT!

I am calling all peoples to repent and to turn! My face is turned against you! My shoulders are set! My hand is stretched forward!… WOE! WOE! WOE! TO THOSE WHO DWELL UPON THE EARTH! The fire is kindled!… All flesh shall burn!
I shall strike the animals, and they shall rage against you! I shall strike the waters, and they shall rise up against you! From bitterness to the raging of the seas, the waters shall oppress you!… Death shall increase quickly!
I shall strike the mountains, and they shall speak and bring forth a great noise! They shall consume you and bury your cities! I shall strike the heavens, and it shall rain down fire and flooding rain, with a great multitude of hail!
Lo, even the detestable birds who dwell there shall descend upon you, and torment you seven days! I shall strike the core of the earth, and it shall be shaken! And all manner of plagues shall ascend upon you from beneath!…

For I am The Lord who reigns!…

He who laid the foundations!…

He who formed it and causes to be!…

Behold, I am also He, who shall bring forth a swift end!

For the whole earth is but a footstool beneath My feet!… A rock in My hand, made of limestone!… Easily broken!
A great war has broken forth! The battle is waged! Yet The Lord’s hand is not at all weakened… Behold, My strength is increased, and My wrath overflows My cup!… I AM COMING DOWN!
I shall rob, and I shall pillage, and I shall surely take My spoil! I shall oppress the oppressors and conquer the land! I shall kill the generals, and slaughter the captains, and tear all mighty men to pieces!… FOR STRONG IS THE LORD!

http://www.TrumpetCallofGodonline.com – Hear the WORD of the LORD!
- WalmartProud
  
  What’s your point?
David Britten

Walmart is a perfect example of how the currently dominant laissez faire capitalism will eventually fail. Like any eco-system, any entity that becomes too successful is destined for ruin or extinction. Should Walmart and other massive organisations significantly dominate the US economy, and pay subsistence wages to its employees, they must eventually exhaust the customer base that uses these organisations. The 1% of the population that absorbs 90% of the nation’s wealth simply cannot spend enough, and do not pay sufficient tax, to sustain an economy that is forced to give financial support to increasing numbers of poor in order to prevent violent social unrest. The only way the situation can be sustained is to borrow from banks and, eventually, that source will dry up, as is currently happening. Government response is to print fiat money (which doesn’t really exist) which is, in effect, debt. It won’t be long before the entire edifice will collapse unless something is done to change the nature of capitalism to be more ethical and socially responsible, but while big business controls government, this will never happen.
A.S.

People of Walmart: start planning a walkout day. All of you around the U.S. at the same time, walkout and go home. They can’t reprimand or even fire all of you. They will have way too much paperwork and lose billions.
Kelly

Buy from local Farmers markets and do your part in changing the world if you really give a crap. “Be the change you wish to see in the world”, If you aren’t willing to make a difference, stop complaining.
- Alexa
  
  Did somebody say they weren’t willing to make a difference? I totally agree with you. Read Adbusters, read Ishmael and Story of B, and we’ll be getting somewhere further as well.
Claudia

Some facts this story left out is if you read the ingredients of nearly every food item on Wal-Mart shelves, soy is in there. I stopped shopping at Wal-Mart to eat healthy raw veggies and fruit from local farmers who do not use pesticides. Meat in stores are full of antibiotics and growth hormones which contribute to unhealthy sick families. Which in turn raises your health care bills. So by buying cheap mostly processed food and meat full of junk, you are spending more money for doctors and prescriptions. And don’t even get me started about feeding your children/families at MacDonalds. Wal-Mart won’t even consider hiring anyone who is not on government aid because they get kick-backs from the government for hiring them. (Not the people needing temporary assistance fault.) Wal-Mart has become one of the enemies from within. Wake up America! Also MacDonalds is not your friend either. They control how beef is fed, raised and butchered to keep cost down too. Wonder why you and your family is sickly? Well people, we are what we eat.
Martha

Do you know what it means to have your own shop like our ancestors did? No? and you never will be free to to have your own store, or know what it is like to to be your own person. Guess what? pretty soon Walmart will be America’s grocer. Hardware. Hairdresser. Optometrist et al. You will buy what they sell, period. Do you really really want this?
- WalmartProud
  
  Martha, no need to fear. That might happen in a Socialist or Communistic society, but in a Capitalist Democracy like we get to live in, as soon as someone recognizes a need, BOOM, a new product or service is created. So as long as we support Capitalism and a free Democracy, you will always have a choice. In what you buy, where you live, what phone company you choose to go with, and even who you marry.
  - Alexa
    
    WalmartProud:
    
    I suggest reading some material that isn’t in mainstream circulation. Adbusters magazine is a great place to start. Then try Daniel Quinn’s novel, ISHMAEL. If you learn a thing or two, maybe you’ll change your mind.
    - optimist
      
      Agreed
kdstrite

I was saying to anyone who would listen 10 years ago that I won’t shop at Wal Mart if the are holding the last bag of Ol’ Roy and the last folding lawn chair left on this planet….I think it’s time to return to that mantra…..:)
Bluedog

We recently experienced severe storms in our area which caused massive power outages. Hundreds of people lost all the food in their fridge. Wal Mart raised their prices. Enough said
WalmartProud

This whole article with almost every response is what is wrong with America. The sense of entitlement that everyone has anymore is what is causing the decline in this country. The entitlement to gain at everyone’s expense but their own. And to blame Walmart? Come on. If any of you understood what causes capitalism to work is that if you provide a product that people want, they will buy it. If you don’t, they won’t and they’ll go elsewhere. That’s how one store became two, and two became one thousand. Etc etc. People like/need/want the products and prices that Walmart carries. It’s the customers that are voting with their pocketbook. And all of the fans of Dollar General and Target? Shhhh, big secret, did you know that they buy from the same suppliers as Walmart? Oh, and Best Buy? Yep, same suppliers. But did you know that Best Buy is selling the same IPod that Walmart sells for $50 more? Want to hate Best Buy for that? Nope, how about you “vote” by not buying one there. Best Buy will get the hint and either lower their prices, delete the item or decide that they don’t need to be competitive with that item because they are making their profit in some other category. Walmart isn’t forcing anyone to come in their doors. They are trying to offer fair products at a fair price to every person. All of the people who complain about less expensive, foreign-made products? OK, so Big Talker, would you still be willing to buy that IPod if it was $350 instead of $120? How about that T-shirt that Walmart sells at $8.00 – which is exactly the same product the Gap sells for $35 – but Gap takes more margin. Why is no one complaining about that? And you’re the same person who buys the $8.00 t-shirt from Walmart because maybe it’s all you can afford. No shame there, not everyone is making 6-digits. But why crucify the company that is trying to help out the people who don’t make a ton of money? Why complain when they try to keep prices as low as possible (maybe by eliminating that awesome People Greeter at the front door) so that they don’t have to pass on price increases to the customers. The people they care about. The buyers at Walmart all try to get the best deal for YOU, the American (and internatinal) public. Instead of hating on others, work on improving yourself, get more education, try to get promoted in your current job, try to get a better job, whatever. Turn your energy to the positive and try to make things better. Bet you wouldn’t like it if Obama didn’t continue the Bush tax cuts on the “98%” right? How about if you have to pay double for toothpaste, food, and bed pillows? Willing to do that? Didn’t think so. Go jump on a better soapbox.
- Alexa
  
  Yes, I am completely willing to pay double for toothpaste, food and bed pillows. And I do. I shop at my local natural foods store and I have an organic shredded latex pillow. I am anti-consumerism. You’re right, CONSUMERISM is the devil, but it had no choice than to stem from CAPITALISM, no? Read Adbusters magazine and get an idea of what’s really going on in the world. Thank you.
http://www.dontmesswithmama.com Tracey Black

Ugh! I can’t stand Wal-Mart. I’d rather spend more money to shop elsewhere for better quality and as much as possible US-made products.
Common Sense

WE are all to blame for what WalMart is getting away with. We have become greedy, materialistic hoarders. We have also let unions go from fighting for safe working conditions and medical care to wanting hourly rates that is ridiculous. We need to stop consuming so much. We also need to make companies like WalMart and their “American” counter parts who manufacture in other countries pay tariffs for the foreign made products that they bring into this country.Other countries certainly tax us when we send things into their markets. Then we need to balance out the trade between us and China. No country should be allowed to import that many goods into this country without us selling the same to them. Problem is that there are too many pockets being filling by these people. If it does come to being ruin by a few elite I only have one thing to say to that: remember what happened to the elite in France.
Cathy

That Wal-Mart manager must have hade a really bad store, I worked for wal mart for over ten years and I know that our store manager 10 years ago made over 125,000 a year plus bonuses. I hate it for that family though. Sad situation.
Chuck

I have a hard time believing that one in three Americans goes to Walmart once a week or that one in six would go twice a week. Where are some of these numbers coming?
- Lita
  
  I have agoraphobia and even I know those statistics aren’t far off, if not spot on.
  The portrait of the average american is one of abhorrent ignorance and consumerism.
- http://cajunmamadiary.blogspot.com Charlie Leger
  
  I think it depends a lot on where you live. I live close to a Wal-Mart store, and I know neighbors and friends who go there quite often (probably every other day)just to pick up “a couple things,” and usually come back with a few bags full. This stat probably a national average, between the people who live right next to a Wal-Mart and go every other day, and the people who live a few hours away and only go every other month.
- Steve Barnett
  
  I can easily believe that. I mean people might need some dish soap, laundry detergent, plastic plates and cups, bleach and wash clothes. Why not go to Dollar General and get in and get out? You might drive 10 miles to Wal-Mart and only need a few things, but the store is so big you will spend 4 times as much time and buy more things than you need. You can buy everything cheaper on-line. You can buy a quality shirt for $14 on line when at Wal-Mart cheap junk is $12. A fiberglass hammer at Wal-Mart is $15 on line is $4 at Harbor Freight. Foser Grant sunglasses $15, but Dollar General $3. Don’t think Wal-Mart is so cheap. So give your business to the smaller people and don’t worry if you spend a couple more dollars. YOu might save time and money by not going to the huge stores.
BFH

If the nation would just not go to Walmart for ONE week they would then listen to us and bring jobs back to America. Just one single week would work. Most would probably do it but how do you get the word out on an national scale? Our dollars do have the ability to get our voice heard!!!
- Steve Barnett
  
  I got a lot better idea. If people would just not go to football, baseball, basketball, Lacross, soocer, Monster Trucks, WWF wrestling, Nascar and hockey for a week we could find cures for all the diseases they keep saying they need just a few more dollars for and probably balance the budget. Americans spend 10 billion a week going to sports venues.
  - Athena
    
    Well, it’s not a BETTER idea, but it’s another GREAT idea. I bet if word got out about boycotting walmart and there was a leader of the organization, that leader would die of “mysterious causes”.
- ken
  
  It simply comes down to what you stand for as a human being. Any person knowing that slaves make most of Walmarts merchandise and still shop there, well they kinda asking for what comes next….what comes around goes around
Steve Barnett

The people of this country should just shut up and just buy the junk and move along. We complain about being groped at the airport, but we keep on flying. We complain about a store selling junk, but there are many others we can shop. What about online. If you need clothes for a different season just order them in advance. Compare the prices. They can have one warehouse sending out goods. You think Wal-Mart can be that cheap with tens of thousands of brick and mortar stores with thousands of trucks and all those employees? No way. They are not cheaper than going to the farmer and buying the food. Look at Harbor Freigh and all those stores on line. Let the UPS truck bring it to you.
If in 10 years there is only Wal-Mart nobody else could even start up. You better spend some money in these stores like Sears.
I used to do the same stupid shite with gas. Instead of giving my business to the local yocals I tried to buy gas the cheapest.
Steve Barnett

What is the disease called where someone has to go to Wal-Mart on Saturday and buy all their junk there? Drive 10 extra miles and then waste time with all the people going to Wal-Mart, but you saved $10 on a weedwhacker.
- Morty Meekel
  
  What? Put the pipe down dummy.
The_L

I have lived within half a mile of a Wal-Mart for about a year now. It could not possibly be more conveniently located.

I can count on my fingers the number of times I have actually been to that Wal-Mart. I only go there when I want something that none of my usual shopping places carry, which isn’t often.

I spend maybe $100/year at Wal-Mart, and I consider even that to be too much money.
Fred

This is the most ridiculous post I have ever seen. I you don’t like WalMart then don’t go. The stats you used are kind of confusing. You are talking about shutting down a company that employs 2 million people in order to bring back 133,000 manufacturing jobs.
The only reason that any of their employees are on welfare is because of their own poor choices. They didn’t get hired at Walmart and then go into poverty. Most likely they were there before and Walmart was their only option for a job.
Sam Walton is NOT an evil man. He is the perfect example of the AMERICAN DREAM!! He started out as a small business owner just like everyone else. He worked his ass off and was able to grow Walmart into a great business. If everyone would just realize that hard work can get you there too than you’d have a different mind set.
Who cares where Walmart gets their stock from. If you are crying about foreign goods, take a look at your entertainment center. I can guarantee you that one of your electronics in your living room is mad in Asia somewhere. Sony, Toshiba, LG, Vizio, all made in Asia. I can only name one group of people who can truthfully say they are living without anything made or purchased from oversee’s. THE AMISH.
Get a life and get out there and kill something and drag it home. Stop crying about someone else’s success.
- Smokey
  
  My daughter and her husband have both worked for a time at Wal-Mart– before they both found better jobs. Many of the people they worked with were receiving some sort of aid because their salaries were so low. They were badly treated as employees, but because of the unemployment situation in this area, they went along because there was someone else just waiting to fill their shoes.
  
  The sad part about it is that many poor people (and that includes the “working poor,” which used to be called the Middle Class) cannot afford to shop elsewhere. It is a vicious circle, and I am considering writing a piece about just how vicious it is and perhaps propose a wa
  y out of it…
  - http://twitter.com/terrymichiel TerryNichielClark
    
    all.they.have.are.rude.africians.working.there!
- Lola
  
  Um I never saw a recommendation for “shutting it down” rather changing the way they operate where in addition to the two million retail jobs, we keep the hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs that the company has in China, basically they are suggesting that the manufacturing be done here, but because the business end of Walmart wants to make a huge profit they use cheap labor in other countries rather than employing and paying for labor in the U.S.
  
  And you can’t justify a negative with another negative, so saying that all the electronics we use are also manufactured in other countries doesn’t do much for your argument.
- jenifer divine
  
  fact: Walmart HAS destroyed many thousands of American small businesses (if you don’t believe me, just drive down any Small Town, USA Main Street) and 100′s of thousands of jobs; they are extremely predatory- but America gets just what its greedy, complacent, obese behinds deserve- cheap crap & barely minimum-wage jobs at the expense of good jobs, manufacturing base, etc, etc etc… but its not MY problem- i have moved away from America, and NEWS FLASH: all those decent- paying jobs & small businesses you’ve lost thanks to WalMart & others selling cheap outsourced junk are NOT coming back- WalMart is a BIG part of the problem, as well as ruthless venture capitalists such as Bain Capital, et al,,, your argument about “home entertainment products” is disingenuous (look up the word- if you even own a dictionary, Fred) and specious (again, look it up) the REAL unemployment rate in the USA(including those who have run out of unemployment insurance, and have been dropped from the jobless figures, as well as those “under-employed”) is actually around 20%; i live in a country (Thailand)where we manufacture & produce MUCH more than we import, and our unemployment rate here is less than 3% -you may look it up (but you won’t, i’m quite sure)Walmart & its ilk are an abomination that is destroying you all… and thanks to your endless quest to consume more & more cheap junk & unwholesome foods -you all are on an irreversible downward spiral (no matter who you think you will “vote” for- hahaha)you’ve all made your bed, now you must LIE in it… so sorry…
eve

The HuffPo reports that the six heirs to the Walmart fortune are worth as much as nearly half of all American households.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/17/waltons-net-worth_n_1680642.html
http://SurvivalWeek Heather

I totally agree with Fred’s post on 7/17!!! The only thing that shocked me was that most of the facts listed are great achievements, but instead of being praised, they are vilified. When did mediocrity, or worse – government dependence, become the American standard?? All you lazy, gimme-gimme, chip on your shoulder Socialists need to get off your butts and start taking responsibility for your own lives. I have no problem helping someone who is busting their butt to make ends meet, but I will not willingly support leeches! STOP looking to others & government for entitlements. We all have equal opportunity; however we are not all equal, nor should we be. Different talents = different potentials. Figure out your own skill/knowledge set and use it to achieve your dream. That’s the difference between you and those that have EARNED success. They figured it out. What is stopping you??
- john
  
  i have never understood how people could believe in this type of logic. basically what you are saying is that the only reason that people get stuck working at low paying jobs (like at wal-mart), is because they are simply not trying hard enough.
  
  so if everybody just worked hard enough then nobody would have to work at a place like wal-mart. nobody would have to flip burgers at mcdonalds. nobody would have to clean toilets, etc… is that what you are saying?????
- orange
  
  Hey Heather, you think this only happens to lazy, stupid people? Why not talk to the scientists and other STEM workers that are losing their jobs to foreigners on H1B visas? Or the nurses and doctors that are being replaced by Filipinos and Indians? I guess those people are just lazy and greedy because they want a living wage so they can feed their families and pay off their college debt, right? Everyone should have to suck it up and take the scraps from the tables of the elite? Well honey, you’ll be right there in the mud with the rest of the serfs soon enough, don’t think that you’re somehow special and immune to it, because you aren’t. And I fervently hope that when your time comes, people show you the exact same compassion and concern that you’ve shown to us. You should be ashamed of yourself, you’re disgusting.
  - Athena
    
    Hallelujah, Orange!
- jenifer divine
  
  you are, frankly, an idiot…
  - jenifer divine
    
    i think others have called it like it is- anybody who thinks that Walmart is good & hasn’t destroyed small-town America just hasn’t been paying attention-
http://SurvivalWeek Heather

Another thing, why is it bad that Wal-Mart provides quality products at low prices and jobs for so many people? Did Wal-Mart force anyone to buy those products? Did Wal-Mart force anyone to get a job their?? NO!! Wal-Mart did not force anyone to go on welfare or Medicaid; it put money in their pocket. Wal-Mart did not put anyone out of business, the people who shopped their did, because instead of buying someone else’s less desirable product (for whatever reason), they bought Wal-Mart products!
- http://twitter.com/terrymichiel TerryNichielClark
  
  the.quality.of.people.working.there..all.africians..always.rude.to.you
http://SurvivalWeek Heather

s/b “there”, not “their”
Cart Duffenshorffer

No walmart in my county and nearly an hour drive to the nearest one. I been there a few times and have found I can buy anything Wally’s has cheaper at my neighborhood Family Dollar or Dollar General store. We also got an Ace hardware, Pro Hardware, True Value, 3 auto parts stores, a host of convenience stores, fast food joints, and an outlet mall. I don’t need no Wally’s. I don’t like no Wally’s.
dave nacinovich

First of all let me start out by saying that Wal-Mart SUCKS. I have watched it take my town from a town that had a decent amount of small buisnesses to a town of NOTHING-and now they are going to build a SUPER WAL-MART so that they can take all of the grocery stores, mechanic and tire shops down too. Anyone that shops at that worthless cur of a store should be deported-especially if you are driving anything worth over $500.00-I see people going to my local Wal-Mart in Mercedes Benzs and BMW’s. These people are the greediest and most worthless scum on the face of this planet because they want to make all the bucks and pay nothing for anything that they have to buy. Give it some time and we ALL are going to be employees of this rotten institution and most of the people of this country have nobody to blame but themselves for letting them get away with it for so long. In closing-every now and then look for that Made In The U.S.A. tag and dont be afraid to spend a little more at a store that is not Wal-Mart. It just might help you out some day when you are forced to look for a job at the only employer left in this country-oh and by the way-they usually offer NO benefits of ANY kind.
Dave Nacinovich
Franklin, NJ
- Breezy
  
  Wal-mart has started getting more
  American based products but who knows what goes on behind closed
  doors. I agree with you fully. I am one of those nicer looking
  shoppers that mindlessly shops at the devils monitor and pit-stop. I
  do not make bit $$$ in fact I am lucky to be with a loving family…
  We stick together in times like these. Now on to my point. Wal-mart
  is one of the many ways to watch, cattle, control, and listen in on
  many of the people that think they are hidden. Gotta keep track on
  the masses some how. Just like facebook. Wal-mart is the feeding
  troff of whats going to become the worlds biggest global communist
  joining together. Get ready to ask nicely and kiss the 1,000$ shoes
  of the new world order. Money now runs the minds and souls of en
  lighted minds and noble souls. It corrupted leaders into God-wannabe
  kings. They care nothing more then to acquire their fancy at the
  moment. Theres nothing we can do but keep our bibles close and pray
  we can not let them break us!!!!
Sam Neal

Wal-Mart isn’t neccesarily the problem. Buy American first is the answer. That includes our goverment as well. When we take the patriotic stance and do that many of our country’s economic problems would be solved.
- http://www.facebook.com/bdholtzman Barbara D Holtzman
  
  Ridiculous minimum wage is also a problem. Adjusted for inflation, it should be $13.50, more in big cities. That two people working full time can’t support a family of four should say something.
Austin

Walmart has its plus and minuses, however the proliferation of them in the last 15 years or so has caused many independent and small chains to go out of business…yes, that can be considered progress. However, the wages of these big-box stores are so low they are not what can be considered a “living wage”—also, most of the jobs offered by Wal-mart, etc, are very low to no skill types of jobs, with little to no opportunity for advancement. Thirty or 40 years ago one could own or run a small general store, or some other kind of shop and make enough money to live modestly but independently. Even working in such a store required multiple skills such as light book-keeping, inventory, etc. which in Wal-mart, etc is not the case as “clerks” are shown how to just operate the cash register, mop the floor, push carriages and little else…there is little opportunity to learn new skills in these places.

Also, walmarts, etc. will open a store within just miles of another and then cut down the workforce to a bare-bones crew so one will stand in line longer, just so the company saves a little money on a few $7 and hour workers. We pay higher taxes to fund welfare programs to many of these workers and their children…for small and rural towns the effects can be especially noticeable and detrimental to a small economy.
Even when farms are abundant nearby, Walmarts often truck in produce from elsewhere. Little is given back to the communities. Then there are all of those abandoned stores, just sitting there rusting away after a new location is opened 5 miles up the road.
orange

I’m not close to a Wal-Mart but even when I’m in town I rarely shop there. When I do, I ONLY buy American products. They do sell them, you just have to look and you have to be willing to put back items that you might really want. The last time I shopped there was probably two months ago, and I bought 5 things, all made in the USA. I usually do my shopping at Dollar General and I rarely buy anything foreign-made there either (I usually buy my cleaning supplies, some food, etc).

When I go to the grocery store I don’t buy foreign items if American is available, there are some exceptions like bananas which are not grown in the US. Most of my produce I buy at a local stand. The owner knows exactly where her produce comes from, most local and I enjoy supporting a small business. I often get a good deal because I’m a regular customer.

I don’t usually buy clothes new, but if I do I go online and search for “Made in the USA” items and buy American. Sometimes you can find US-made items in places like Ross, I got a pair of US-made pants there not too long ago. You just have to be willing to put items back if they aren’t made here. I’m a much more conscientious consumer now, and I save a lot of money because it’s not always easy to find US-made items. I can afford them because I save so much money by not buying stuff I want (but don’t need) constantly. I have less crap cluttering my house and the things I do have I take better care of. I estimate that 90% of the things I buy are made in the US, so it can be done, you just have to be smart about it! I also fix things instead of just throwing them away, and I buy a lot of stuff used (thrift and consignment stores are usually American-owned and Goodwill, etc help needy Americans). Oh, and both my cars are American, as well.

I love my country and I will do whatever I can to support American manufacturing. A few years ago I drove from my small Gulf Coast town to VA and I saw all the factories closed and boarded up. The only new construction I saw were hospitals, often in really rural areas with nothing…except for a fancy new hospital, and maybe a Wal-Mart. It was heartbreaking and made me realize that we are in deep, DEEP trouble if we don’t wake up and do something. I can’t do a lot but I certainly can be a conscientious consumer and I implore everyone to do the same. If you don’t the only people you’re hurting are yourselves and your fellow citizens. We need to work together and put America first, I’m sick of people going overseas to do missionary work when we have needy and poor right here in our own backyards! Go to Appalachia, come down to the Gulf Coast, heck, go ANYWHERE and help your own before you try and help the world!

Sorry for the super long post but buying American is my “thing”, the thing that I can’t shut up about because it means so much to me. God bless America!
- http://twitter.com/terrymichiel TerryNichielClark
  
  i.dont.shop.there.cause.africians.work.there..NASTY!
  - Educated One
    
    racist
Leslie

Hey Micheal,
We love the article, and we are using it for our Economics course. However, we are hoping that you would be willing to provide us with your Full name so that we can properly cite the reference in APA6 format. Thank you.
- Michael
  
  Leslie:
  
  My full name is “Michael Snyder”
  
  Michael
gunjan

indian government just announced 51% fdi for wall mart i dont know wheather it will be good for india or not but one thing is sure that there will be lots of employement generation in the country although some political parties opposing it.
johnny

Please buy everything from walmart, it will help the conservatives who run it give more money to Romney.
- http://twitter.com/terrymichiel TerryNichielClark
  
  why.are.all.minorities.racist..cant.you.go.to.church?
BigB

Americans are hypnotized and they don’t even know it :/
- el grande4
  
  ty
pavan

yeah, even indian government also announced the fdi’s with flexible policies into indian market. it may create lots of jobs for indian citizen…, but over a period of time india also going to be effected and SMEs would be closed as like as USA.Govt should be keen in implementing the polities for the sake of indians
http://becklar@msn.com Larry Beck

WELL FOLKS, HOW DO YOU LIKE WALMART NOW?????
AS I UNDERSTAND, THE WALMART CORPORATE MANAGEMENT IS
BACKING THE ROMMNEY/TOY BOY RYAN CAMPAIGN WITH LOTS OF MONEY
& THEY ARE GOING TO GET JOBS FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO WORK
FOR WALMART WHO CAN’T AFFORD TO WORK ANYWHERE ELSE>

“WAKE UP AMERICA & SEE WHAT WALMART IS DOING TO YOUR COUNTRY.>>
Robin C,

‘Having read most of the comments on this post, I did not see one which fundamentally addressed the basic reason why predatory retailers like Wal-Mart succeed in reducing their competition in this country.

In 19th century America, as the country was coming out of the setback of the Civil War, it nonetheless grew its economy in leaps and bounds by building its industries and employing American labor.

At that time, the US government assisted in helping America achieve and maintain a high standard of living for American workers by following the philosophy of what Abraham Lincoln did. Instead of importing steel rails for American railroads from Britain, Lincoln said it would make more sense to build them in the United States, and impose a tariff on all imported goods to keep the distinction that with tariffs maintained at water’s edge, no foreign company or American company off-shoring its labor abroad could make a better return on investment, because the import tariffs would protect American industries at home, and the healthy remuneration of American workers.

If America ever wishes to get back on its feet economically, it will have to repudiate American companies located abroad and their foreign-made goods — by slapping a tariff on their imports into this country. Think about it: — No American company has an obligation to be patriotic. Only the US government can maintain the markets in this country by upholding a higher standard of living than in most third-world countries where their labor is paid peanuts by comparison.

Again, only the US government can impose the necessary tariffs to bring prosperity back to this country. ‘Don’t want to talk about import tariffs on foreign-made goods for the American market? Then wait for the United States to economically collapse, aided and abetted by foreign-labor loving American owners as Wal-Mart epitomizes, who are about as patriotic to America as any foreign head of state — how about like North Korea? This is why protection of the country’s national interest lies with the US government, but not with private-sector commercial organizations, whose only need is to concern themselves with their bottom lines.

If the US government turns a blind eye towards foreign cheap labor and offers no protection of the American people who would only occupy domestic jobs, by having import tariffs on foreign-made goods — then the country will progressively lose all of its manufacturing base, as has been happening to America over three decades now.

The current situation of desperation during the economic depression we’ve arrived at is emblematic of benign neglect by the US Congress, which has obviously been taken over by fascism with large corporate bribes of payola.

Thus Congress has wholesale abandoned any semblance of faithfulness to former American principles of sovereignty and its once high standard of living, as was prior enjoyed as compared to the rest of the world. Kiss America goodbye; it’s over and done. You can stick a fork in it. :/
Alexa

Pick up a copy of Adbusters magazine and read ISHMAEL to help save the world.
http://twitter.com/terrymichiel TerryNichielClark

only.africians.work.there..they.chew.gum.with.there.mouth.open.and.there.hair.eztensions.fall.out.they.are.rude.pushey.people..I.wont.shop.there.anymore!
http://www.facebook.com/anupam.biswas.735 Anupam Biswas

recently our indian goverment approved 51% fdi in retail,,i was very happy earlier as because sumthing new is comin,,,now after reading this article i am a bit concerned
Court ordered poverty

Good for china… God bless china all the clothes I wear come from china&my shoes… God bless china…death 2america when America dies maybe I will have a chance at life..because this America is trying2kill meCOURT ORDERED POVERTY4me..child supportiskillingme.. My kid is 31years old &i owe more now than ever b4..god curse this pice ofS..T America Death 2AMERICA so we can live…..907-769 1345..
leanier carter

I do not shop at Walmart for that same reason, I saw this coming a long time ago, I am a union carpenter since 1969 and we know that when non-union contractors come into an area with low wage workers it makes it worse off for all union members and their long and hard fought wage standards, this is what Wal-mart is doing on a Global scale. They are devouring the American middle class and enslaving workers of the World.
ken

They succeed through perpetuation of an uninterrupted cycle of poverty. The poor in China produce goods as slaves and recieve nothing but what is necessary to keep themselves healthy enough to continue working as slaves this happens because of the absense of the civil laws in China. Walmart pays its employees what the laws of our country says it must and people except this wage because due outsourcing American jobs to China they take what work is left and that my friends is retail because our manufacturing jobs are gone. Manufacturing is the heart of our economy and we cant survive without a heart. CEO s take thier immense salaries while our children starve, it is legalized slavery as our dollar become less valueable each month what relevance will our minimum wage have when the value of american currency is spiralling slowly down ward each year. My advice, learn Chinese and get ready for an America Chinese merger as our leaders are sure to make slaves of us all as Constitution is erased one line at a time.
D.W.

The last time I went into a Walmart was in 2009, for some Christmas decorations and batteries. I remember going in once in 2008 for Christmas decorations, and once in 2007. Even in that department, they are going downhill.
Once upon a time, I used to shop there frequently. However, once I got a computer in 2006, I phased that out since I could access better things online. I got clothing at a high-quality place. They also sell camping gear, furniture, and other items I used to get at Walmart. Yes, the prices are higher. However, the quality is so much better that, in the end, the prices per year of use is actually lower. And things work so much better.
I have found online places for so many other products, too. Everything from light bulbs (I now buy LED’s) to batteries (including rechargeable batteries and chargers), Christmas decorations, water filters, cookware, and virtually everything else, now comes either from these sources or another grocery store. Generally, the prices are higher front-end. However, by buying premium LED flashlights online at higher prices, I save money on replacing batteries plus the aggravation of having the light flicker as the battery starts to run down. Better chargers and batteries means that, instead of a panic trip to Walmart for a windstorm, I slap in high-self-discharge batteries in the chargers (with low self-discharge batteries already charged). If we get a blackout, the high self-discharge batteries are first to be used, then the low-self discharge. Try that with Walmart crap.
This has nothing to do with keeping jobs in America. It has everything to do with that I am tired of having things last a month or less only to break. I would rather pay double or triple, once, for a durable product than pay a lower price 5 or more times plus waste time replacing it. It is about value–to me, top quality at full price is a solid value, where crap at a discount is a lousy value.
As for buying the “food(??)” at Walmart, most of it is poison. Between the high fructose corn syrup drinks and the monosodium glutamate and/or aspartame in their “food(??)”, I would rather shop elsewhere. I shop at a high-rated supermarket that is slightly higher in price but sharply higher in quality. Again, I believe top quality at full price is the better value.
fact

i have started to buy from local farmers markets and trust me the quality is much better
fact

this article has been quiet informative,
TANIA

When I was 19, fresh out of school, I had an interview at Walmart for a job. I am proud to say that Walmart is the only interview I have ever walked out of. It was my second interview as well. They asked me if I believe that these days everyone does pot. I did not see how it related to the job. I said, that if people do, it was non of my business and then I thanked them and said this job doesn’t look like it would be for me. They probably thought I did pot. Truth is, at that point, I had never tried pot until a few years later. It didn’t matter, they asked my political views as well. Things I thought was too personal and doesn’t relate to scanning items or cleaning. All they needed to know was I polite and am I physically fit, and I was, then I could do the job. Either way, best thing ever, that I walked out of an interview.
David P from Houston

I shop at walmart ONLY as a last resort. Other than that I do not step foot into the traitorous place. Yes I called the Corp. traitors considering what they are doing to this country.
David P from Houston

I am actually sending this link to all my facebook friend and printed some to hand out.
hope

stop wal-mart and the U.S.A will come back
http://www.facebook.com/people/Teresa-Long-Blevins/100002776088757 Teresa Long Blevins

I decided years ago that if they could “roll back” their prices for a while, they could have sold them for the lower price all along. I quit shopping there then. I will continue to refuse to shop there. My husband kept shopping there for a while, but even he, now, sees what I was saying was true. We’d rather support our neighbors.
http://www.facebook.com/richard.wilson.7334 Richard Wilson

how can a company so bad be so popular? simple price people don’t care about how or where things come as long as the price is right.
Mark

The first statement is a tad misleading. America does not absolutely love Walmart. Many people shop there but I see & hear of more & more that don’t. Walmart is not always 100% at fault for driving small businesses under. Some of that has to do with customer loyalty. A new Walmart supercenter went up about 5 years ago in my former town in Ohio and it has not hurt the local Meijer’s or the home grown grocery stores one bit. The local stores gave me excellent personal customer service & without the long lines & I gladly pay a few dollars more–anytime!

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