Walmart - All locations, Nationwide Review

May I point out that that is only a small, localized amount of information you are basing your opinion of a worldwide company on.

But I also agree with you and that is the "pretty" side of target. The employees are generally more friendly and more professional. Yet Target does participate in the same business practices that Wal-Mart does. Perhaps the reason why we don't hear about them as much as Wal-Mart is because Wal-Mart has received so much flak from so many directions that to most people, Target is the best alternative.

Let's take for instance that one of the critiques concerning Wal-Mart is that is does not allow for employees to unionize within their store. Well, neither does Target. That is something to consider when looking at Targets employee benefits compared to Target. The starting wages at Target vs. Wal-Mart are very close to the same. Both Target and Wal-Mart receive many of their goods from sweatshop-style sources. On the outside, Target looks like chocolate, but bite a little deep...

The final question is a hard one though. Where else can we shop!?!? Both Target and Wal-Mart (Wal-Mart especially) are pros at pushing out the small specialty stores. It's extremely hard finding somewhere else to shop that is the exact opposite of Wal-Mart.

I think it is humorous that you have done all this research but you also shop at Target. Do a little research there and you will find many of the same practices. Let's say Wal-Mart is like poop. Well, Target is poop with a chocolate outer covering. It looks good on the outside but once you really get into it, it's just as bad.

To "JustTheFacts": According to the movie I saw about W-M, the fact is that they won't let their employees get PAID for working full-time hours but since they refuse to hire enough people, their employees actually have to work not only full-time hours for nothing but also long overtime hours for nothing at all. If they want to keep their so-called jobs, there isn't a thng they can do about it. A lot of Wal-Mart employees are paid so badly that they are on Public Aid and don't even have health benefits. The really bad part is that the Walton family is so outrageously rich that they could probably single-handedly rescue the economic problems which they helped to create by unethical practices. I guess I better shut up now or someone is going to knock me off this soapbox of mine!

Way to go! After watching a movie called: "Wal-mart, the High Cost of Saving", I probably won't go there again either except for riding shotgun with a shopping buddy who is willing to buy there.

I remember when Wal-Mart bragged that everything they sold was made in the U.S. I'm with you on coupons, well-made goods, and, for me, the name of the game is comparison shopping. I have trouble remembering people's names, but I almost never forget a sale or a price. (Thank goodness!)

I don't know how you can say they have cheap goods when they sale the same products that you buy in any other store.

I have avoided WalMart shopping for years. I shall continue to do so. Its the Made in China, and the poor treatment of their workers that keeps me away.

I haven't watched the Frontline episode...YET, but I certainly will. The first things that came to my mind when reading your review were some of the other unmentioned insidious practices they have. I know they buy up land in local communities (and sometimes even leave the land unused), acquire grants under the auspices of "improving property values" or creating jobs, they often put nearby smaller businesses out of business, and they have one of the WORST track records as far as truckers are concerned; more than the usual fees, less compensation for gas millage, and I believe they also have to unload their own or something like that.

One of the ways that they screw their employees is by almost never allowing anybody to work full time hours, thereby refusing them the ability to qualify for benefits; instead they just hire more people to cover all the necessary hours. Although, last I checked, Target was guilty of this as well.

One of the best ways to combat the damage that companies like Wal-Mart cause to our economy and job market, is to buy locally produced as well as Fair Trade products. Buying locally obviously supports the surrounding community, which usually helps money to stay there too. Buying Fair Trade not only improves the conditions that people abroad work in, but it also ensures that we can better maintain the conditions that we have come to expect here too. The more we buy products that are not made under the same conditions we all have a right to here, the less likely our products will be viable in the highly competitive world wide market - thus eliminating jobs here.

Wal-Mart really does destroy America, in numerous ways. Many of the ways they hurt America, most aren't even aware of either. The ripple effect is astounding!

You are so right. It is just as easy to clip the coupons and bargain hunt at other retailers than to deal with the service received when going to Wal-Mart. I to used to be a big Wal-Mart shopper.

Though they preach low prices it is not all that low when comparing to others.

Right on!!!!! You hit it exactly right! While others may employ the same style of retail model after a fashion, none of the others go to the Wal-Mart extremes and abuses. The lack of health care forcing the costs on to the public, the abuse of injured employees and punitive actions post incident, the thug-like NLRA violations. Parasites! You get it.....I wish others would awaken as well. Kudos for your article!

Sj

Afraid I gave in to checking out the new one built just moments from my house. Many of your points are correct, but this one was clean, everyone was working and for ONCE I could enjoy my quick trip in. But normally avoid it, I just don't care for the BIG stores and crowds as well as the many excellent points you made.

I can count on one hand how many times I've been to Wal-Mart and they were all unpleasant.

I don't shop at Walmart either. My husband had a very persuasive argument against it, and I don't miss it at all. ;-)

I don't shop Wal-Mart either. The location by me is filthy and cluttered, and they have stopped carrying many of the products that I use. I would rather pay a little more and shop elsewhere. Kudo's on your review!

I don't think the argument that Wal-Mart destroys America is at *ALL* overstated. If anything, it's very restrained. I don't shop Wal-Mart either.