Do you shop at Wal-Mart? Why?

[UdoKier]

Poll question: Do you shop at Wal-Mart? Why?

Do you shop at Wal-Mart? Why?

[Seldona]

1. We buy local, or from small businesses as much as possible.

However unless I want to travel 40 miles there are some things that we just cannot get anywhere else.

I do refuse to buy any groceries from them, and anything else localy available.

Uhg, I do so hate going there though.

There is a greeter they hired that owned a men's clothing store in town for 30 some odd years.

Now that is gone, and he is religated to welcoming people into the place that put him out of business.

I hate it, but cannot always travel to the next town over to get what we need all the time.

[Gay Ranger]

39. I am more or less forced to...

I own a Quick Lube business and the prices for oil filters there are cheaper than what a supplier sells them to me wholesale. I have to drive 70 miles to it so I do my grocery shopping there also.

[Buck_Fush]

2. Wally drove out all the competition, they are the only store in my town

and to avoid them I have to go without, shop online or drive 104 miles roundtrip to the next nearest town. I sure hate the insidious Wallyworld and never set foot in there except in an emergency wherein I might need something desparately and not be able to drive through the snow or wait while it gets shipped off line. We need some antitrust laws against these bastards! We used to have a KMart and a lot of mom&pop stores in my town, but, Wally closed them all out by undercutting their prices, but only until they were gone.

[hollowdweller]

3. 3 times 2 x to buy my wife .44 mag ammo for hunting 1x to buy a l

litter box at 11pm because I ran over my other one that was outside on the way to a concert because there was no other place open. Same reason I went there for the ammo.

[StrongbadTehAwesome]

73. hollowdweller is making me wonder

who needs ammo late at night? ;)

[bobbyboucher]

102. .44 Mag ammo for hunting? Your wife hunts with a .44 Mag?

Last I checked, there aren't any 44 Mag rifles, so I must deduce your wife is hunting with a big ass pistol? What does she shoot with it?

Or is that whole post a big dose of sarcasm?

[Retired AF Dem]

123. Marlin makes a .44 mag lever action

Ruger makes a .44 mag rifle, there are a few others out there.

http://www.highbeam.com/library/doc0.asp?docid=1G1:107488566&refid=ink_puballmags&skeyword=&teaser=

http://www.henryrepeating.com/bigboy.cfm

http://www.gun-tests.com/performance/may97cowboy.html

Next time look harder. :)

[bryant69]

4. I go there like once a quarter

because they have the brand of taquitos that I like--but that's about it.

So when i get hungry for Taquitos I go to Walmart. But otherwise I rarely do. I do go to Sams Club on occasion, is that the same thing?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[noamnety]

125. Yes, Sam's Club is Wal-Mart

It's even on the side of their trucks.




CostCo is the blue progressive labor-friendly alternative.

[Bridget Burke]

5. No. Because it's a dump.

I'd like to say I avoid it because of labor & economical issues. But I walked through the doors of a WalMart before I had the background & left immediately because it was so depressingly ugly.

Houston has plenty of local shops, there's online shopping & I'll hit Target occasionally.

[BiggJawn]

6. To piss-off Limosine Liberals.

"YOU shouldn't shop at Wal-Mart, you should shop at COSTCO!"

"But the closest COSTCO is 75 miles away."

"So? I don't see a problem..."

Who's worst, somebody like me who's "bought into the myth of Wally-World's low prices", or someone who's bought the bullshit about SUV's being "safer in a crash"?

FWIW, I buy the bulk of my weekly provisions at Meijer's. I'm sure somebody out here will fill my ear about THEIR sins...

[UdoKier]

7. Never heard of Meijer's

but my situation is the opposite. I don't really know where the nearest Wal-Mart is. Must be at least 20 miles, as I'm sure there isn't one within the beautiful city of San Francisco (one of the rare cities where very many "limo libs" actually live - I thought they were a myth before I lived here! But I love all libs, be they limo, Geo Metro, or even Ford Explorer.

Anyway, we have a Costco, but I still balk at the membership fee, and it's on the other side of town, so I go to the Smart and Final which is 5 blocks away...

[Radical Activist]

8. Do you enjoy pissing off union workers too?

or is that just an added side bonus?

[BiggJawn]

15. That'a laugh...

Lot of Union people around here shop at Wally World, too. they're probably more upset when they see a Volvo than when they see a Wal-mart.

[Logansquare]

50. Too bad, because Volvo wants to open an assembly plant in the US

and Walmart is actively encouraging their suppliers to move US manufacturing operations to China.

[barb162]

18. do you have to get your bill corrected just about every time you are ther

there should be a thread just on Meijers re overcharging games, the way they make it hard to return items, etc.

[BiggJawn]

24. It's not just US????

Oh, hell YES, they have to "fix" it! They seem to gouge my girlfriend more than me, but she buys more produce than me, and that seems to be where they hit you hardest.

Just last week, the scanner rung a $4 pot roast up at almost $10.

They triple-hit my account on the debit card once. took over 10 days for the money to re-appear in my account, and from the blank looks I got when I asked about getting the interst they made off of my money back, you'd thought I was at Radio Shack...

Just goes to show, they're ALL a bunch of fucking crooks, doesn't matter HOW much they give to the Democrats....

[barb162]

26. I'm glad you responded. I have to go to the so-called customer

service section almost every time I go there as they screw up the bill. Every time I walk out of there I swear I am never going back, but then they'll have a super sale on something I need and I go there. When my favorite grocery store makes a mistake on price, they often give the item to you free and they do it right at the checkout counter. At Meijer, they overcharge on so many things; it's like they purposely never input the sale numbers in their computer. And to get your proper refund, you have to then wait at a second line at customer service which often has a gigantic line and I bet a lot of people just walk out rather than wait in line. Also doing a return at Meijer is like Chinese water torture. One time I returned a gift and I swear the guy looked over every square inch with his nose about 2" away from the item. They look for ways to not accept returns. There's a lot of other things too and I am again talking to myself to NEVER go there again no matter what they have on great sale prices.

[BiggJawn]

53. Yeah, it's a royal pain to shop there, but....

...it's either them or the "Evil Empire" from Arkansas, or Marsh, where they "Value YOU" (at those prices, I certainly HOPE so!) so what's a mutha to do?

[noamnety]

126. Meijers is red

They donate to the Food Marketing Institute PAC, which gives 87% to republicans, and far more to BushCo than the dems.

Your choice to shop there, but it's good to at least know who you are supporting with your dollars.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. I try not to, but a family of 4 on $25,000 only has so many

options money-wise.

I think as penance I should start leaving leaflets about the benefits of unionizing around the store.

----------------------------------------------------------
Save our country one town, county, and state at a time!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm#why

[UdoKier]

10. Not to be pious, but...

I make $27,000 a year and live in San Francisco, support a wife who makes almost nothing and 2 kids, pay $1100/mo in rent, and I never ever go to Wal-Mart. And even if I did, it wouldn't make enough difference to put me in the black. Their prices aren't lower, with the exception of the loss leader items.

Anyway, do what you have to do, I seriously can't be too critical, since the Smart & Final I shop at is probably not much better than Wal-Mart, and I occasionally go to Home Despot, which I hate as much as I hate Wal-Mart.

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. Hubby's big thing, even more than Small*Wart, is Sam's club

Wish we had a Costco here in our part of Maine, but no such luck.

----------------------------------------------------------
Save our country one town, county, and state at a time!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm#why

[barb162]

19. a relative of mine is a big Sam's buyer. SO she paid 1.50/ lb for

turkey there like it was a great deal when the regular grocers were selling them at least a buck cheaper a pound.

[fortyfeetunder]

124. Try costco.com mail order

They are very helpful and customer service is good too. I don't think you be near a store to join the mail order.

[osaMABUSh]

113. Right, Home Depot sucks too - gave a boatload to *'s inagural

Plus Home Depot is kind of dumpy and the selection isn't nearly as good as Lowe's plus the prices are the same.

[newportdadde]

12. My wife does.

Not all of her shopping but some. She also frequents Kohls, Target. They are building a new Walmart supercenter nearby woohooo.. :puke: ... and I think she will shop there more so she doesn't have to get the baby out of the car but one time.

[PowerToThePeople]

13. Other

Besides about 2 or 3 times a year I don't need to go to any store like that. Buy clothes a few times a year, downtown shops usually. Get cleaning supplies/etc. from my local grocier with food. So, no Wall-mart at all, maybe target/Shopko once per year...

[Arianrhod]

14. I wouldn't say I "frequent" any of those places.

But if my choice is between Target and Wal-Mart, I'll go to Target.

I prefer small stores, preferably family owned.

[catmandu57]

16. Because we're poor

and there's many times we have more month than money left, because ther isn't a viable alternative near here. Kansas City is an hour down the dangerous interstate where people will run you over if you're not doing eighty, and the cost of the gas to go there is prohibitive.

We shop for our groceries at a small local owned store and when possible use who ever has a store left open in town. there is a small flower shop where i buy flowers for my wife when I can, and they will extend credit to us also, so we use them when we can.

there is a Target opening this spring next to the wally world supercenter, when it's open i won't darken the doors of mal-wart again if I can help it.

My grandfather who survived the great depression always said "Poor people have poor ways" we're poor so we go where we can make the money last.

[pstokely]

117. make weekly or monthly shopping trips to the nearest costco

nt

[Pawel K]

17. I shop there all the time

I really don't understand this Wal Mart hate some of you have. I shop there regularly; where else will you get a DVD player for $30?


-------------------
I go there because I am a right-wing thug and love to enrich the Walton family & the GOP while impoverishing workers and destroying communities.
-------------------

Wow, what an objective poll. Yes, I'm a right-wing thug :rolleyes:.

[barb162]

20. for starters, they treat and pay their workers like shit, they drive out

competition, etc.

[One_of_8]

21. Why I won't shop at Wal-Mart

I'll answer your question, as far as why I despise WalMart.

1. They come into a community, and with their low prices, often drive small business owners right out of business.

2. Their products are so cheap because they are made in countries where people are paid poverty level wages. You are getting that $30 DVD player off the back of someone else's sweat and labor that they were paid slave labor wages for. And that's not something I can live with on my conscience.

3. Their own employees are paid on the lower end of the income scale, and many of their employees do not qualify or cannot afford to buy into the health insurance program offered by Wal-Mart. Thus, those selfsame people will usually have to access the local emergency room for the medical needs, overburdening an already overburdened system.

4. They discriminate against women.

That's enough for me - I refuse to shop there.

[Pawel K]

25. that's fine but I don't see it that way

Let me say this, if you don't want to shop there that is fine; I could careless. I simply don't like when idiots call you a right wing thug if you do choose to shop there.

1. They come into a community, and with their low prices, often drive small business owners right out of business.
Honestly I don't know how it is in small communities. But in Albuquerque NM (population of around 450,000) we have Wal-Marts everywhere. However, we also have a bunch of other stores everywhere else.

The problem with small locally owned stores is that they are set up to fail because of department stores overall, not just wal mart. Let's face it, if you want to buy some tomatoes and some ham shopping at a Smith's grocery department store is a lot easier than shopping at a fresh market store and then make another trip to a deli. However, if you do chose to go to the fresh market and the deli you will usually get a much higher quality product. This is where competition comes in and small business can still compete. Blaming Wal Mart for everything is just making it the scape goat.


2. Their products are so cheap because they are made in countries where people are paid poverty level wages. You are getting that $30 DVD player off the back of someone else's sweat and labor that they were paid slave labor wages for. And that's not something I can live with on my conscience.

This is true for almost every product we use. That computer you are currently using is probably made out of foreign cheap labor parts. Does that mean we shouldn't be using computers of watching TV? I do have a problem with cheap labor overseas but Wal Mart is hardly the cause of it.

3. Their own employees are paid on the lower end of the income scale, and many of their employees do not qualify or cannot afford to buy into the health insurance program offered by Wal-Mart. Thus, those selfsame people will usually have to access the local emergency room for the medical needs, overburdening an already overburdened system.

So are many others in many other types of jobs. This is the effect of minimum wage labor. Again, not the fault of wal mart. I work at a company that doesn't have a union nor a lot of benefits. Sure, I would like it if they offered this but they don't so I have to deal with it. If I like I can go out and find another job that offers these things.

4. They discriminate against women.

I honestly don't know much about this but from what I heard you might be right. They should be punished for this if there is actual evidance they did this. I haven't seen this evidance but don't deny it exists and an investigation should take place.

[Ms. Clio]

45. Wal-Mart currently faces a class-action lawsuit for sex-discrimination

SAN FRANCISCO - A federal judge on Tuesday approved class-action status for a sex-discrimination lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. that has become the largest private civil rights case in U.S. history.

It could represent as many as 1.6 million current and former female employees of the retailing giant.

The suit alleges Wal-Mart created a system that frequently pays its female workers less than their male counterparts for comparable jobs and bypasses women for key promotions.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5269131/

[bobbyboucher]

103. How extraordinarily typical.

"I don't know" this and "I don't know" that. What a sorry reply. Sounds like you could use a wake up call. Do a little research and open up your eyes. Walmart IS the poster boy for big multi-nationals out of control.

[Retired AF Dem]

128. Here in Huntsville

There are three Walmarts and one Sams on the same road. And everything inbetween is other thriving stores. If three Walmarts on a five mile streach of road cant put everyone at least on that road out of business than walmart just isnt as powerful as people think.

[amazona]

22. I go there often

There is no competitor that is anywhere near as cheap in my area. There is not a Costco in my entire state.

Buying local means putting $$$ directly into the pockets of rich creeps who are almost 100 percent GOP, which is a necessity to be in business in this parish.

At least with WalMart I am saving money. Real money. The difference in price is absolutely insane if you make a price book and compare. Our WalMart will accept anyone's ad to match price! Go to Customer Service and ask about it. I don't see how you can beat that.

People who buy local need to wake up. Maybe you live in some California county where local small businesspeople are in the Democratic Party and if so great. In my area this is not the reality. Supporting small business is shooting yourself in the foot up close and personal. Get the names of the owners of your favorite small business. Look up to see which parties they contribute to -- this information must be reported if it's more than $250. A lot of you are going to be shocked.

Don't look down on WalMart shoppers. We are real people too.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[Sir Jeffrey]

23. I avoid Wal Mart as much as possible...

BUt there are some times you just have to go to Wal Mart when you live in a small town (maybe once every few months).

I did my senior thesis on sweatshops and corporate irresponsibility. Most of the paper was on Wal Mart and Nike. Afer looking at how evil the corporate executives are (earning more money in one year than the average sweatshop worker in Honduras would make working for 10,000 years) I was sickened.

Also, I would recommend reading Ortega's book on Sam Walton if you want to understand the threat Wal Mart poses to the working class.

[movie_girl99]

27. I shop there because i cant afford not to

we have tried others: Kroger, Albertsons and Tom Thumb but our grocery bill is about $15-20.00 more per week and we just cant do that.

[demwing]

28. I shop at Walmart because

I CAN get things there for less, but more importantly, Walmart customer service rocks. If it breaks, if it doesn't work, if it doesn't fit, if its the wrong color, fabric, temperature, or if I'm just in a bad mood, Walmart will refund my money or exchange the item, even if I dont have a receipt, and they'll thank me in the process.

Yes, I know a bit about their darkside, and I'll send my business to local companies where I can.

I always go to a local pharmacist, a local bike shop, and a local grocer (except for a few specialty items I can't get locally).

So, that makes me a horrible person. I hate KMart, and there is only one Target within 50 miles and I only ride a bike or use public transportation. Walmart is an evil with which I will deal until I have a better choice.

BTW - I think your poll choices are demeaning.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

31. I've seen some Walmarts with great customer service.

The one in my area of Orlando has the shittiest customer service I've ever seen. If I had more money, I'd shop some place else, not because I hate all Walmarts, but this one in particular is awful.

They have signs up that say "All registers open 10am to 10pm Saturday and Sunday". I have been shopping there quite often at those times, and never have I seen all registers open. You're lucky if half are open. The customer service got even worse after they installed those damn self checkout lanes. Apparently, a lot of people have never had to work as a cashiers/baggers. It really shows when they check out they're own groceries. It's so irritating to wait in line 30 minutes to just check out your own groceries. That's how it is around here. They don't have enough people working there. Almost everyone in the area shops there, though. I live right next to the rich part of town, so the other stores like Publix, Target, Albertson's are generally very over priced. I have noticed that Walmart's everyday prices are much lower than even sale prices at some of these stores too.

I must be a horrible person as well. I agree that the poll choices are demeaning.

[myopinion]

29. never and here is why

http://www.1worldcommunication.org/Walmart.htm
When you purchase a shirt in Walmart, do you ever imagine young women in Bangladesh forced to work from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., seven days a week, paid just 9 cents to 20 cents an hour, who are denied health care and maternity leave; screamed at to work faster; with monitored bathroom visits; and who will be fired for daring to complain or ask for their rights?

[China_cat]

33. And have to kick back

1/3 to 1/2 of what they make to the boss who got them the job.

I hate WalMart. And have absolutely no choice but to shop there for a couple of items. (In 3 months 2 more new supercenters will open bringing the total to -8- within a 15 mile radius).

With 2 insulin dependent diabetics in the house, I can't afford $28-$32 box for syringes when we use a minimum of 4 a day. I can get them at WalMart for $12. (They also carry a cheaper insulin, but we've had horrible results with it so we get the more expensive at the pharmacy and try to save what we can on the syringes)

But I don't go there without wearing my union t-shirt.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

30. It's not a falsehood that Walmart is less expensive

than their local competitors, at least where I live.

I love your biased poll.

[UdoKier]

34. Their loss leaders are cheaper.

Many of their prices are actually higher, and numerous studies have documented it.

There was a great piece about it on Frontline just a few weeks ago.

[demwing]

36. Can you provide any links?

that support these assertions?

[Logansquare]

48. Read the Frontline interview with former Walmart executive

John Lehman. He knows how the company operates and how they draw in customers with deals:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/interviews/lehman.html

[demwing]

60. OK. Not a great example.

Because what I consistently shop for at Walmart includes things like household goods, personal items like deodorant and shampoo, everyday clothes like sweats, tshirts, underwear, etc.., toys, office supplies, and specialty foods.

For what I buy, there is no place in my area that comes close to the low prices I find at Walmart. Do I believe Walmart has the lowest p
If I were to buy a TV, or a lawnmower, etc.... I'll shop around. Big ticket items have greater variances in prices, and WalMart is NOT always the cheapest. Furthermore, I MIGHT be able to beat Walmart prices on everyday items by driving all over town and spending all day at it, but there is no guarantee I'll save money. In fact, the few cents I might save will be balanced by time lost and travel costs.

For everyday shopping, Walmart has the price to beat.

Do I like Walmart? As a corporate entity? Nope, they suck. As a place to save a buck? I like them just fine.

[Logansquare]

64. Well, we get the country and world we deserve

And that is simply a reflection of the transformation of Americans from citizens to consumers. Most Americans (and I am not singling you out, here) clearly would rather save on household goods, which is an immediate personal reward, than allow a living wage for other people.
For example, Americans want cheap toys, and that means US companies (like the venerable Ohio Art, makers of the Etch-a-Sketch), pack up and move operations to China. Wal Mart controls so much of the market share that Ohio Art simply could not continue to employ our fellow Americans as workers. And that's just one example. I want cheap stuff--no, I HAVE THE RIGHT to have large amounts of cheap stuff!
James Sinegal, CEO of Costco, said in an interview that he saw no point in even working in retail if he couldn't pay people a living wage. He's not the darling of Wall Street, though--analysts act like he's a raving Socialist for paying his checkout staff enough to support a family on. If we support the Wal-Marts of this world instead of the Costcos--or even better, the local stores--we inherit the wind, you can count on it.

[Blue Wally]

77. If Costco treats their employees so well..........

why are the employees at my local Costco so unkempt, surly, and inefficient?? At least the Walmart wageslaves are pleasant and accomodating. Maybe it is just the local stores for me (working on a sample size of one Costco and two Walmarts). My wife makes me go to Costco where we buy things that are cheaper than Walmart plus most of our meat (NEVER EVER buy meat at Walmart).

[Logansquare]

86. I have no idea. Perhaps they have sufficient nutrition

to be surly. So, if the workers are very nice to you but have to use foodstamps to feed their kids, that's ok? Just trying to steer this discussion back to why Wal-Mart as an institution is or isn't good for America. BTW, the workers at my local Costco are very nice.

[Tanuki]

132. Nice folks at Costco

I have shopped at Costco in two different states, and I have not encountered any surly employees. First time was in New York this spring while visiting a friend who had a Costco membership; I had a flat tire on a Sunday, local service stations were closed, and Costco patched it for only four dollars, including labor! And they were friendly and efficient. I joined myself after I heard an interview with the CEO on the radio and was impressed by his values. I can't compare Costco and Walmart employees' friendliness, as I have refused to shop at Walmart ever since I started reading about their abysmal practices, and I spread the word to everyone I know. To me, they represent quite a few things that have gone wrong in our economy and national sense of responsibility. I have to drive considerably out of my way to patronize Costco, and there is a Walmart only a couple of miles away, but I want to help prove that nice guys and their companies can succeed.

[sendero]

83. I agree...

... that not *everything* at walMart is a good deal.

Damn near EVERY retail store operates on the same concept. Good prices on some stuff and not on others.

Go to a grocery store and buy a 6' extension cord, you'll pay triple what it is worth.

However, for groceries here in Dallas, there is NO COMPARISON. Walmart is consistently 15-30% lower on just about everything. I recently had a friend tell me otherwise, so I went back to Albertsons, and Tom Thumb, and verified that nothing has changed.

I won't buy meat at WalMart, their meat is horrid. But a bottle of Newman's Own salad dressing costs 2.67 at WM, and 3.49 everywhere else.

I don't like the policies of walmart towards their workers either. I'd happily pay 5% more so that their employees get benefits. OTOH, my sister works at a WM distribution center and she loves her job. Go figure????

Walmart is clearly chafing from the criticism they are getting, look at those PR ads. Maybe someone there will get a clue and spend the money on their people rather than PR.

[HeatherG.]

32. Not Alot of Options

If I need to buy a toy for my nephews I will order through catologs alot. But, if a birthday or holiday is coming up fast and I don't have alot of time, and don't have alot of money to pay for express shipping I have to go to Wal-Mart or K-Mart. The toy store in the mall went out of business.

[z-man]

35. I try to avoid it but sometimes I can't help

it if other stores don't carry what I'm looking for.

[OneTwentyoNine]

37. I've been Wal Mart free for a little over a year....

Dumping their ass might be as hard as stopping smoking but I went cold turkey about a year ago. My daughter works at the new Target,started in at $2.00 per hour more than the serfs at Walmart.

I find most everything at Target,the rest at other places. Screw Wally World,ain't never going back.

[Zhade]

38. Where's the "FUCK NO, only those who like worker abuse shop there" option?

NT!

[demwing]

69. Right next to the "Fuck Everyone Who Doesn't Think Like Me" option.

I'm surprised you didn't see it...

[Zhade]

74. So Wal-Mart's abuse of workers isn't a fact?

Their exploitation around the world is just in my head?

I don't need people to think like me - just to recognize reality when it's staring them in the face. Not an unreasonable request, I imagine.

[demwing]

82. No, saying "only those who like worker abuse shop there" isn't a fact.

There are quite a few people on this board who have admitted to shopping at Walmart.

Are you saying we all like worker abuse?

If you are, then thats a problem.

[Zhade]

89. Nah, I hadn't read any of the responses when I posted.

I automatically assumed that liberals, progressives, and good DUers in general wouldn't give their patronage to a rapacious multinational corporation that kills communities, exploits workers at home and abroad, and does its best business with a human rights-abusing country like China.

I'll concede that not everyone who shops there does it for the thrill of fucking over workers worldwide - it's just my mistake thinking that the only people willing to overlook Wal-Mart's abuses are Republicans. Apparently, it's okay to overlook the abuses if you can get cheap (both in cost and quality) goods.

Of course, I drove to work, so I'm a big fat hypocrite. But I submit that I at least am able to recognize the harm of my actions. Some fail to recognize the truth about Wal-Mart, which is unfortunate.

[Ms. Clio]

40. I boycott Wal-Mart because of their reprehensible labor policies

Also shopping at Target is a much nicer experience--Wal-Mart stores are always dark and dingy.

[ernstbass]

41. Only buy dog food at Walmart

because I have 6 large dogs (all rescued from shelters) and I honestly couldn't afford to feed them if I had to shop at the grocery store.

[Frangible]

42. Location!

I shop at a Wal-Mart all the time, because it's a 3 minute drive from my house. No other stores come close.

Oh, and despite what people tell you, Walmart pays their employees better than the competition and has more US made products. It still sucks, but if there was no Walmart, don't fool yourself, Target, Kmart, Shopko etc aren't better.

[St. Jarvitude]

67. And your evidence is...

where again? Inside the little black hat you're pulling rabbits out of?

[LostinVA]

81. Why We Should All Shop at Wal-Mart

My father has been in the textile business, and he says pretty much 99% of all their clothes are made out of the country... even the hemisphere. And, they've been doing that forevere... and lying about it. Remember they "Made in America" signs??? Even though their product WASN'T??? they were made to take the signs down.

And, they are known for paying their employees very little, and keeping them JUST under working so they can get benefits, but hey! They couldn't afford those benefits anyway, so who cares! They are known racists, sexists, and homophobes, who routinely break all labor and EEOC rules. they have more legit lawsuits against them then any other major company. They are union busters. They are liars who COST towns money.

They treat their vendors like crap, and have helped speed the way in driving manufacturing jobs out of the US.

They give almost no money to charity, but a hell of alot of money to Repubs. Target and KMart are a bit better, and Costco even more so. And local companies even more.

I'm sure I forgot something, but it's early....

btw -- I never set foot in one, or a Sam's Club. My household income is about $49,000, I live in an expensive town and pay $1005 for rent. They'll never see a penny of mine. They suck, and are, in my opinion, the real terrorists in this country.

[superconnected]

43. I've been there twice - once 2 years ago, once a week ago

same reason each time.

I was looking for a very inexpensive digital camera - the most I could get for my money 2 years ago. I looked around and ended up buying a samsung 2.1 megapixel for $120 at wallmart. It was the best I could get for my money, in my area. I loved the camera. It broke 4 weeks ago.

I looked at several stores since I didn't want to make a trip to another city to go to that walmart again. Finally I decided I didn't want to pay over $200 for a camera and went back to walmart looking for the same samsung again. They didn't have it. I ended up with a 3.2 megapixel olympus that I am very happy with. It was $145.00.

It was the cheapest I could find. It took all my money to buy it. I had to wait till a few days ago to finally afford a memory card for it that I bought at a grocery store a block from my home.

I've been to walmart 2x in my life now and don't see myself going back unless I need an inexpensive camera.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

44. Wal-Mart recently acquired the Amigo grocery store chain in

Puerto Rico. Which was locally owned. The produce quality has gone way down and the prices up. Go figure.

[samtob]

46. I do occasionally for a couple of reasons

#1, laundry soap, storage bins, and food for the feral colony I feed are cheaper by far. Now, I don't buy a lot of storage bins, so we are really talking about the soap and the food for the kitties. They are not my cats, I feed them out of sympathy and compassion, therefore, I do not feel much guilt for price shopping on the food.

#2, Walmart has helped a lot of the women from the shelter that I volunteer at. Many of these women have never really worked, and some did not graduate high school. They have hired them, taken the chance, given them benefits, and many of them are still employed there and are moving up the ladder. When you come from a less than loving environment, have no self esteem to speak of, scared to death to try and make it on your own, support your children...a decent job can do you a world of good. Especially if there is an opportunity to move up in the organization.

#3 Walmart supplies jobs to a couple of individuals no one else would even interview. Granted, they are the greeters, which may seem lowly to many, but, they appreciate the fact that they are able to be employed, that someone gave them the opportunity. Due to their disabilities, no one else would give them a shot....no one. One man is in a wheel chair, on oxygen, nearly blind, speech impaired. He gives every person a smile and a warm inviting "hello" as he pushes a cart their way. Let's face it, Nordstroms, Dillards, Sears, etc, would never put this man at their front door, or at the check out, or anywhere else within sight of the public for that matter.

[Ms. Clio]

52. According to a class-action lawsuit

Women who work at Wal-Mart have only very limited opportunities to "move up."

SAN FRANCISCO - A federal judge on Tuesday approved class-action status for a sex-discrimination lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. that has become the largest private civil rights case in U.S. history.

It could represent as many as 1.6 million current and former female employees of the retailing giant.

The suit alleges Wal-Mart created a system that frequently pays its female workers less than their male counterparts for comparable jobs and bypasses women for key promotions.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5269131 /

And what "benefits" are these employees given? As far as I know, most Wal-Mart employees are classified as "part-time" and thus do not qualify for benefits.

[samtob]

54. I cannot address every single walmart

in the country....only the ones that I have experience with.

With thousands upon thousands of employees, they are bound to piss some of them off.

I believe a regional manager (her actual title is different that that), one of the most powerful women in the US Walmart operation started in the pet dept part time 20 years ago. Now she is flying on company jets and overseeing 500 stores. Sounds like there are two sides of the coin here.

What benefits? Health insurance , with dental and vision options, stock options, retirement account options.

There sure are a lot of employees of Walmart that are not involved in the class action law suit, that actually like working there. Like I said, with that many employees, you are going to piss some people off.

I know I have never worked in a job where everyone was happy with what they made, what they did, how they were treated etc. Someone always has somthing to complain about, and the boss is always making all the money.

[Ms. Clio]

55. This the largest class action lawsuit in U.S. history

That sounds like one hell of a lot of pissed-off employees to me.

I could post numerous links to well-documented cases of Wal-Mart's abuse of its employees, and the suits pending therefrom.

You didn't answer my question--what percentage of Wal-Mart employees actually receive those benefits? Which employees--I would lay money it's mostly supervisors and managers. The only "benefits" most Wal-Mart employees receive are government food stamps--and they are given information about these benefits by Wal-Mart upon hiring.

One woman's success story means absolutely nothing in the big scheme of things--see Condoleeza Rice.

Yeah--it's just all those disgruntled employees pissed off because they don't appreciate their magnificent opportunity to work for a good god-fearing monopolistic behemoth.

[samtob]

90. I am aware

of the lawsuit, I have read quite a few articles on it.

Looking back at your previous topic, I do not see where you asked me the question you state I "didn't answer".

Look, I am not here defending Walmart. I am not an employee or a stock holder. As I stated, I shop there on occasion, for three items. I do not have company personnel data.

All I can tell you, which you cannot deny is the good they have done for people I know.

As far as the benefits these women receive, as long as they worked 34 hours a week, they received the full time benefits. And yes, the women with children still qualified for some assistance when they first started working. (wage, 7.50 per hour) So?

My point is, they got a chance at a job when they had no skils. This gave them a whole boat load of confidence that they could make a life without going back to their abuser. The ones that never get that opportunity or take the initiative usually do go back. How is that a negative to you?

On edit, grammar

[Ms. Clio]

95. Why do you assume that no one else would hire these people?

You are saying Target, K-Mart, or a convenience store wouldn't give them the same opportunity? You are going to have to provide more evidence of your claims than mere anecdotes.

They may have qualified for full-time benefits, but very few of them can afford to pay the premiums or the deductibles on 7.50 per hour, 34 hours per work.

"Huge employee premium payments and big deductibles keep participation in Wal-Mart's health plan to 38% of employees. That's 6 out of every 10 employees--more than 425,000 Wal-Mart employees, most of them women, who have no company provided health coverage. Nationally, more than 60% of workers are covered by company paid health plans. There's more: Wal-Mart workers pay insurance premiums that cover close to half of Wal-Mart's health plan expenses. The national average shows that employee premiums cover just over 25% of health plan expenses incurred by companies nationwide. The Real Story is that Wal-Mart freely acknowledges shifting its health care costs to taxpayers and responsible employers. A company spokesperson said, " who choose not to participate in usually get their health-care benefits from a spouse or the state or federal government." Wal-Mart is the biggest beneficiary of its health plan because the company shifts $1 billion in health care costs to the government and responsible employers."

http://www.walmartwatch.com/info/myths.cfm?subsection_id=103

As for government assistance, we are not just talking about these few women and their children, we are talking about a pervasive pattern.

Wal-Mart foes detail costs to community
Public subsidizes workers, study says

"Miller released a 22-page report by the Democratic staff of his House committee detailing how nonunionized Wal-Mart, the largest employer in both the United States and Mexico, allegedly imposes financial burdens on local governments. A certain percentage of its workers must turn to subsidized medical care, free school lunches, housing subsidies and other taxpayer- supported welfare services, Miller said.

A typical Wal-Mart store with 200 employees would cost taxpayers $420,750 per year, according to the report. Its employees were paid an average of $8.23 an hour in 2001, compared with $10.35 for a supermarket worker, the report said.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/02/17/BAGLL5224G1.DTL

[samtob]

98. Well......

Yes, I am saying they could not get jobs at Target or 7 Eleven. Some interviewed for fast food starting at $5.75 per hour, but passed for the higher paying job at Walmart.

These women are from desperate situations. Many of them have been in trouble with the law in one way or another resulting from their lifestyle with abuser.

As for the disabled greeters, how many stores have you seen giving these people a chance? Target? KMart? Nordstroms? Sears? Bless them if they do where you are, I have never seen it.

Ok, now to the class action suit. Six women....six current and former employees. Out of 720,000 current female employees (not counting the former employees with no complaint) six plaintiffs do not represent the opinion of the workforce.

60% of the employees are women. Over 40% of the managerial positions are filled by women.

74% of the 1.2 million employees work full time, average of $9.68 per hour (hourly associate average only, not including managers) According to Walmart data, this is a much higher percentage than 20-40% of other retail stores. (that I will have to verify)

86% of the employees have health insurance. 56% through Walmart the rest through other health coverage. (spouse, military, and yes, medicaid unfortunately)

The premiums are far from "huge" $155.00 for families, regardless of the size. $70.00 for single employees. These are monthly figures. Honestly, I wish I had access to health insurance that cheap. I have a $1,000 Deductible, and pay over $300.00 per month for my family and that is on a group plan.

http://www.walmartfacts.com/doyouknow/default.aspx#a127



Like I said, I am not a huge supporter of Walmart, but I am not going to condemn them when I have seen them do much good when others would not.

Did you know that they purchase goods from 68,000 US suppliers, supporting 3.5 million US jobs? I didn't.

Knowing a bit more about the company is not going to get me to spend more money there, I am a creature of habit and enjoy the stores I frequent.

Peace...not looking for a battle with you Ms. Clio. Call me a sucker or a softy or whatever you wish, but these women I speak of are all special to me, to see them succeed in life by getting a chance is priceless.

[Ms. Clio]

121. Unfortunately, your own logic does you in

You say of the class action suit that it's just "six women." And that is not correct--so far it's more than 100 women.

But if we are talking about numbers, you are trying to extrapolate from a small number of women that you know personally that you claim could not get work anywhere else but Wal-Mart, so I don't think that helps your argument at all.

One major difference, too, is that I can go to this website, http://www.walmartvswomen.com/, and read documents based on sworn affidavits--actual evidence from people with names. While I do not wish to pick a fight with you either, I must respectfully point out that you have absolutely no evidence to support your own claim but anecdotes, which are meaningless out of context, anyway--who are these women, where do they live, etc.?

As for the website you pointed me to--IT'S WAL-MART'S CORPORATE WEBSITE. Are you seriously trying to use that to counter the charges made by Wal-Mart's opponents???

Please see this thread for an insider's perspective of what it's like to work there.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2951993

[ecstatic]

63. I've noticed that too!

It seems as if all the walmart greeters are disabled in some way or another.

[pdxmom]

47. Can't shop at Wal-Mart

We don't have one around. They've been held off around here. The closest one that I know of is about 1/2 hour from me. Target and just about any other store you can think of is less than 5 minutes away. Haven't set foot in a Wal-Mart in almost 10 years.

[Phentex]

65. My answer is similar. I probably wouldn't shop there but...

there isn't one near me anyway.

[AngryAmish]

49. Cheapest golf balls

[cags]

51. I go there because they are the only ones that carry the cat

food that my asthmatic cat can tolerate. And believe me I've tried many other brands. I have no problem paying more to shop somewhere else, but its the only food that helps keep her asthma at bay.

[samtob]

91. Asthma?

Poor thing. I have to admit, I have never heard of a cat having asthma, is there medication for feline asthma? Any special treatments like humidifiers or vaporizers?

Going off topic here..

I have a cat with feline Crohns. His medication will eventually ruin his liver if the disease does not kill him first. I have made the vet promise to tell me when he is truly suffering / damaged by either. Then I will let him go. Makes me ill just thinking about that. :cry:

[American Tragedy]

107. I have Crohn's disease, of the human variety.

Not much fun at all.

[okieinpain]

56. oh, I don't have a problem with walmart. I shop there often, you're

right they are not that cheap, on brand name stuff they are about the same as the local stores. I wish we had a costco, I would drop walmart all together, but until then yes they will get some of my hard earned money.

[coolhandlulu]

57. Proudly boycotting Walmart since the first of the year...

I made it my resolution to not to shop at Walmart this year. And it's been hard! But I've been exposed to too much info on DU and elsewhere that made me feel like crap for shopping there. So I originally made my decision for political reasons. Now I'm also seeing that it is a lazy way to shop and kinda misleading. I was under the impression that Walmart was cheaper than their competitors. In a way that is true. But since I'm becoming more of an educated consumer, I'm saving much more money and not buying as many impulse items. Yes, I have to scour the Sunday ads and clip coupons, but I've saved so much money just since the first of the year. And I resist the urge to buy a lot of crap that I don't need. I'm still debating whether or not to buy a Costco membership. It's just me and my furbaby and I'm not sure that it would be a prudent choice.

[theHandpuppet]

78. Coupon clipping is underrated

I save a good percentage of my weekly grocery bill by investing in the Sunday paper and clipping the coupons. It's more than enough to offset WalMart's prices (and their fresh food sucks anyway). You're also right about the impulse buying -- I have a neighbor who does all her shopping at Wally World, and even if she only goes for groceries she ends up bringing home a load of junk she doesn't need. NOT shopping at WalMart can change a person's buying habits for the better!

Back in my youth going to the store was a trip made once a month. That meant no impulse buying -- lists were composed, coupons clipped, choices made. There was no "going to the store" every couple of days, wasting gas and time, and no consumerism driven by impulse and convenience. I wonder how many folks who buy at Wally World waste as much in gas and time going there every few days than they supposedly save, not to mention loading up their carts with high-priced snacks, convenience foods and impulse buys. I'd rather spend my time supplementing our pantry with homegrown fresh veggies and fruit from my garden. I shop for clothing only a couple times a year when there are major sales and am not too proud to say I buy from Goodwill's and at yard sales.

As far as CostCo goes yes, I supplement our pantry with some bulk items from CostCo. If you have the pantry space for it I'd recommend that kind of buying, anyway. This also allows me to donate a certain portion of my groceries to the local food pantry while saving money -- and I am happy to know that the employees at CostCo are being treated decently!

[donheld]

58. I haven't been to a Wal-mart in years

I got an education about it mainly from Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickel & Dimed

[mitchum]

59. I have never spent a penny with those bloodsuckers

[jhain]

61. WM makes me ill- literally

tried 2 or 3 x to shop in them ( when traveling and could find nothing else) but I come out SICK. Violent headaches, etc.

The cleaners? The lights? The FREAKIN LOUD PA systems?

Maybe just the vibes...

[demwing]

70. My wife has the same problem

she can't stay in the store for extended periods of time. She gets headaches and nausea.

weird... I thought it was her. Now I'm wondering if Walmart uses substandard ventilation?

thats just weird

[Undercover Owl]

71. I get ill --- figuratively

More like mentally ill. Wal Mart is the most depressing store I know. I don't want any of their crap! I don't want to see all those schlumpy, doughy-fleshed shoppers with their unwashed children.

[ecstatic]

62. walmart takes the pain out of bathroom decorating

Sorry---most corporations in this country are corrupt anyway. There's no getting around it.

[pinto]

66. No, I find their manipulation of catastrophic illness ads unacceptable.n/t

[Squatch]

68. Convenience.

and selection.

[DCwebmaster]

72. Nope

No walmarts as far as I know in New York City. Only big box stores here are Home Depots. May be one or two on Long Island but thats to far for the subway or the hassle of driving through city traffic.

[Karenca]

119. New Yorker too. No Walmart's here.

I think there's alot of WM's on Long Island.
I love shopping in NYC.

[IronLionZion]

75. monopoly in my town n/t

[IronLionZion]

76. I've owned stock in WankerMart for at least 10 years

and it's been kicking ass. you must really hate me now :P

Calm down, I invest mostly in responsible companies that create American jobs regardless of politics.

as I said before, they are the only store in town for most items.

[Zynx]

99. WMT hasn't done anything return-wise for six years.

Target has been a much better performer in that time.

[Solly Mack]

79. Wal-Mart in Germany. Been there once. I was curious

Nothing like a Wal-Mart that I've ever seen in America. Oh, they have the cheap goods too.....but they also have euro 600 combination coffee makers/grinder/espresso machines....a beer/wine section and I mean a HUGE beer/wine section...major appliances -fridges/freezers/washer/dryers

the store was very big and I didn't see all of it.

I was more interested in the Bauhaus. (Home Depot type store)

[shesemsmom]

80. I would Love to shop elsewhere

but the next place to shop id 50 miles away. I try to buy other things other places where I can, but Wally World pretty much all there is here

[LostinVA]

84. A Decent Corporation TO Shop At

IKEA. No, it's not American, and some of their stuff is made in China, although most of what I've ever bought has been made in EU countries. According to a study done on major retailers, IKEA has the lowest employee turnover in the industry, Wal-Mart the highest. I managed a big-box bookstore for five years, and that says alot about worker satisfaction.

Plus, the meatballs are pretty good.

http://concentrationofwealth.blogspot.com/2004/07/treating-employees-like-human-beings.html

[lizzieforkerry]

87. I love IKEA, but man, you have to beg borrow and steal to get a catalog!

[LostinVA]

94. I Have One!

I live about two hours away from one, so they'll mail me one....

[cubram]

131. Meatballs at IKEA?

wtf?

[MsTryska]

85. i went there once back in the day

because i was umm..under the influence, and it was 3am. that was fun, and i spent a lot of money, but that was long before i was paying attention to what it does. nice place to tweak tho.


in any case, i haven't set foot in there since the hawaiian dead body thing. and refuse to let any of my money go to them.

[Jennie125]

88. There are better ones

Some of you mentioned that you don't think Target is much better than Walmart. I think it is obvious that it is. It is an illusion that Target has higher prices than Walmart and is only in "rich" areas. Most Targets I know you would hardly label being in rich areas. As far as overall prices I think you would be suprised. Target has had the lowest prices on toys during holidays and school supplies in the fall for I don't even know how many years. I am always suprised to see grocery items priced much cheaper than my nearest grocery store. Shop at a Super Target sometime, you will see.

The aesthetics of Target are much much better. Better lighting, ventilation, sparse use of the PA system, cleaner, etc. all make for a much better shopping experience hands down. For that reason alone I will shop there.

Target has received numerous awards for the amount of money and recognition they give to charity and giving. No other retailer even comes close. I like that.

There is just so much that is wrong about Walmart. I refuse to go there. My sister hates it too but only goes there (like once every 3-4 months) for one specific health and beauty item that Target doesn't carry. I honestly don't know of anyone who shops regularly at Walmart. Yuck.

[durablend]

109. Has anyone seen a messy Target?

I don't mean just a few things misarranged, I mean parts of the store looking like a bomb hit. I can't make a good comparison as every Target I've been to (PA/MD/DE) is under 10 years old (no "old" stores to compare to), but I've NEVER seen one that looks like a dump. Definitely CAN'T say the same for Smiley Mart.

[MISSDem]

92. I do not shop at Wal Mart. Besides hating the concept

of the store, I also want to enjoy my shopping experience and cannot do so at that store. It is ugly and disorganized and cheap. I don't care if they are giving away something that I need I do not go there. I'll knowingly spend more at another store to avoid Wal mart.

[New Earth]

93. i shop at walmart

because i am broke as hell and there is no other place around here as cheap. they also seem to be the only store that carries my size. i dont usually by food there, just clothes and household items - i usually buy my food at Aldi's.

[bunkerbuster1]

96. Very cheap beef loin.

My dear wife makes an occasional trip to Sam's Club to stock up on a few things. After the election I started giving her an especially hard time about it. "I'll start going to Costco when our membership card expires," she tells me.

That's a few months off. I don't see why we can't just write off the rest of the Sam's club membership. Then again

1) DW does most of the shopping, being that she's a SAHM so perhaps I should just STFU and count my blessings that she's still my DW.

2) The Costco is much farther away than the Sam's club

3) You can buy a beef tenderloin, whole, for $8.88/pound.

To be honest, I'm such a cheap bastard that item #3 is the most compelling argument for me. But I really do wish that we'd stop enriching that organization, an organization that I've hated back when I was (yes, full disclosure here) rooting for Sam Walton's brain tumor to provide an especially painful death.

[bobbyboucher]

105. I'm sure that beef is

packed with growth hormones and anibiotics too. Keep in mind that Wally's is all about getting their shit cheap. Selling cheap ass lawn chairs is one thing, but cheap ass beef? That you gotta be wary of.

[skippythwndrdog]

97. I go because I can't buy ammo cheaper anywhere else.

Their price on nine millimeter practice ammo is the best I've ever seen. God Bless Winchester One Hundred Round Value Packs...I buy ten at a time. Always buy ammo in lots of 1000 or more, and you'll rarely run out.

[Kber]

100. Once

Bought lawn chairs. Got so much grief from family that we returned them and bought chairs at the local hardware store.

Major pain in the Ass all around.

On another front, my Step Mom worked for Wallmart for 10 years. She is currently sueing them for sex discrimination. I'm not a lawer, but worked for 10+ years in HR and have worked closely with Employment Law experts - she's got a good case and I'm pulling for her.

[theboss]

101. I prefer Target and K-Mart in that order

But I've definitely gone to Wal-Mart on occasion if something I need is advertised on sale. In college and law school, all my furnishings came from the discount department stores. I thought Wal-Mart had better stuff than K-Mart then. There was no Target near me then.

[bobbyboucher]

104. Walmarts are huge rat mazes.

You get in an aisle and you cannot see anywhere, you wander around like a rat trying to find some cheap processed cheese.

[GregW]

106. I go there be cause I can

For someone else to TELL ME where I CAN OR CANNOT shop smells a lot like FASCISM to me.

[ekhunter]

108. i go to wally world at least once a week

they just built a super walmart about ten minutes from our house. my son loves going since he gets a free cookie from the bakery. i'll continue to shop their just because of the convenience.

[Nikia]

110. Convient-approximately 200m from my house

We can walk there when we have just a few things to pick up. We get our prescriptions there. We buy soda, snacks, milk, laundry detergent, dog food, OTC drugs, toiletries, and hardware items if we need them. We rarely buy less urgent items there.
I think that the reason that most people go to Walmart and stores like them is convience. When I was little, a Mejeir store opened up in our area and I thought that it was the coolest thing to buy almost anything that one needed in one location. That is key. Many people are busy, lazy, or don't like to deal with the whole shopping ordeal very often. They go to one place like Walmart and buy everything that they need. Other places might have better selection and quality of individual items. Some items might be cheaper elsewhere. At Walmart though, you can save time and money for doing just one shopping trip.

[paulie5]

111. I hate the place.

Been there once. Didn't buy anything and didn't like the store. Who needs them? Not me.


P5

[osaMABUSh]

112. Got a Costco and Walmart side by side I spend 50:1 at CostCo

Buy as much as I can at Costco - just spent $400+ on a nice set of Michelin tires, for example. Of course, you can't get tires at a regular Walmart. I purposely avoid Walmart but the only stuff I buy at Walmart is the piddly shit that costs under $5.00

Now our Walmart has people streaming out of there left and right like they were given the shit away. But Costco always has a steady stream too. If you compare the average customer total at Walmart vs Costco it's probably like $25 at Walmart vs $150 at Costco.

Interesting story: my 10 year old son wanted to raise money for the local Humane Society (great kid) so we got permission to stand in front of Walmart for four hours one Sunday. So I checked out what most of the people we're buying: oil, windshield wiper fluid, dog food, snack foods, cigarettes, etc. mostly 'Nascar/redneck' crap that was under $20. Rarely was there a big ticket item.

Walmart does move a lot crap!

[faithfulcitizen]

115. That's why I like Walmart- flame away...

but they have always supported charities, local community activities, and hiring people with disabilities. I cannnot say the same for almost every other "mart". Besides all of these retailers are ultra rich, and doesn't that usually make them all repub's anyway?

[lostnfound]

129. Actually Costco supports Dems, and pays employees well, and

their chairman takes only 5 x average worker income instead of 10 or 20x. And they have better benefits for their workers.

They truly are different. They got "yelled at" by the Wall Street Journal for caring about their employees more than their stock holders. Their stock performs well, but Wall Street Journal said that it would do even better if they would stop treating their employees so well.

[mandyky]

114. I chose the cheaper option

because for the most part I get mostly groceries, and here the Walmart charges the price of any sales specials elsewhere. I don't have a car and have to cab it to get groceries, so just in case WalMart has other stuff I might need like Valentines cards, etc.

I don't like shopping there because of their labor policies, but I am poor. I only have a $200 a month grocery budget, so I do the best I can.

[Betty]

116. Costco

I love it there

[JanMichael]

118. No, because: it's a wage depressing, sprawl inducing, union busting...

...public service encouraging, benefit killing, piece of SHIT!

That's why.

[leanin_green]

120. Used to work for the local distribution center. . .

Loaded trucks for 10 months. God what a repressive outfit. The health insurance sucks, and I paid $250 a month for my wife and I. Finally found a job with the state that only paid me $1,000 less a year with better insurance and benefits.

[Chicago Democrat]

122. What is bad about Target???

Please educate me?

[noamnety]

127. Target Corp

Target Corp 26% to dems, 73% to republicans

I was already boycotting Walmart, and after the election I changed all my shopping habits. I'm shopping blue/local now. I have the occasional lapse in emergencies (needing a single item before company shows up), but I'm blue enough I picked the first option in the poll.

My weakness is that I buy clothes at Salvation Army. I try to rationalize that because it's recycling, but it's a moral dilemma for me.

The research doesn't support the idea that I'd save money at Walmart (unless it is through their subsidization of a line of products to drive a competitor out of business). http://ideamouth.com/politics/walmartflyer.pdf is a concise flier (can be cut into 3 pieces) on why Walmart is bad. Feel free to distribute.

Even if I did save some money there, so what? I could save some money if I got myself some slaves to raise crops on my land, too, if it came down to it. And since they are using sweatshops, that IS what it comes down to, in effect.

I prefer to save money in other ways - making my own bread, cooking from scratch instead of using convenience foods, chosing to plant fruit trees instead of typical landscaping trees, growing my own veggies, buying recycled clothes, borrowing movies from the library instead of blockbusters. One used shirt instead of a new one makes up for a month of buying organic fair labor foods.

[u4ic]

130. I only set foot in a Wal Mart once

way back in 1998 or so; they'd only been in my city for a couple of years. Never been back, but interestingly enough, the only purchase I made, a pair of sandals, are not only the most comfortable I have, they're still in good condition!

I have no intentions of ever going back, and since I live in a large city, there are plenty of other options for me.