floridayankee
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Post by floridayankee on Mar 9, 2011 9:43:50 GMT -5
Walmart gets ALL their merchandise from China and beats the heads in of their suppliers too. Let's see...Chile, Australia, South Africa, France, Italy, Germany, US (several states)...$12.6 million in sales last year and not one single Chinese product. C'mon tough...can't you find enough real issues to complain about without having to make up stuff?
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floridayankee
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Post by floridayankee on Mar 9, 2011 9:46:22 GMT -5
The codes do require fire exits (probably, by now, in all states), floridayankee. In this case, however, there was no method of egress for those in the building. I don't recall the details, and don't care to Google for it at this time; however, WalMart was fined a huge amount because their people had no way out of a building in which they were working. I have no doubt it has happened at one or several locations, but to make a generalized statement that implies that all walmarts had all employees locked in with no escape is flat our ridiculous at best.
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ugonow
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Post by ugonow on Mar 9, 2011 10:09:35 GMT -5
I think Walmarts offer good job oportunities.Having said that,I am thankful I don't work at Walmart or one of its merchandise vendors.
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mmhmm
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Post by mmhmm on Mar 9, 2011 10:09:36 GMT -5
I don't believe anybody has made the claim that all WalMarts had all employees locked in with no escape, floridayankee. If that has been said, please refer me to the post in which it was said.
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mmhmm
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Post by mmhmm on Mar 9, 2011 10:10:53 GMT -5
No, WalMart does not purchase all the items they sell from China. I have no idea where you got that notion, toughtimes.
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AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP
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Post by AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP on Mar 9, 2011 10:19:34 GMT -5
Wal-Mart is probably the most effective anti-poverty program on earth. too bad they don't feel the same generosity where their employees are concerned. Generosity is not something that I, as a consumer, am concerned with. Nobody ***has*** to work at Wal-Mart, yet among major retailers they seem to attract people at the market rate-- which is the price at which a willing buyer-- Wal-Mart, and a willing seller (of labor- an employee) agree to do business.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Mar 9, 2011 10:23:03 GMT -5
too bad they don't feel the same generosity where their employees are concerned. Generosity is not something that I, as a consumer, am concerned with. Nobody ***has*** to work at Wal-Mart, yet among major retailers they seem to attract people at the market rate-- which is the price at which a willing buyer-- Wal-Mart, and a willing seller (of labor- an employee) agree to do business. It just seems wrong, though, that a large percentage of the employees of the US's largest employer qualify welfare programs like the EITC and Medicaid, so in effect, the government is subsidizing Walmart.
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mmhmm
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Post by mmhmm on Mar 9, 2011 10:33:05 GMT -5
While, as a consumer, you might not be concerned with generosity, paul, I (and others I know) am. A company that treats its employees as fodder to be thrown at the customer in the interest of profit alone is not one with which I wish to do business. I'd much prefer to do business with a company that is known to treat their employees with dignity and respect. To each his/her own.
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floridayankee
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Post by floridayankee on Mar 9, 2011 10:33:09 GMT -5
I don't believe anybody has made the claim that all WalMarts had all employees locked in with no escape, floridayankee. If that has been said, please refer me to the post in which it was said. Note I said "implied". Tough had said "Walmart was infamous for locking workers in stores with no means of escape in the event of fire". IMHO, if they are "infamous" for this practice then, it would tend to imply that most, if not all of the WM's did this. Now, if I had said that Wal Mart is infamous for selling cheap Chinese products, would that not imply that most, if not all WM's sold cheap Chinese products of some sort or another? Just an FYI, if I shop at WM, it's for food (although I did replace the worn-out battery in the car I just sold with a cheap WM battery). Bash WM all you want, just be truthful about it. There are enough real issues to whine about without having to make shizit up.
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mmhmm
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Post by mmhmm on Mar 9, 2011 10:36:07 GMT -5
I would imagine tough meant they were infamous for the case filed, and won against them, floridayankee. Most people have, indeed, heard about the case, so that would make WalMart a bit infamous, I suppose. I didn't think toughtimes meant all WalMarts, but I can see how someone might have read it that way.
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AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP
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Post by AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP on Mar 9, 2011 10:36:25 GMT -5
I always hear about how horrible the working conditions at Wal-Mart are, but every time I go there are lots of people working there. They all appear to be healthy, reasonably happy, and well-groomed. The doors are working when I walk out, so I've no reason to assume they couldn't follow me out if it's that horrible. I've never had one of them slip me a note begging for help, nor had an employee desperatly clinging to my leg begging me to take them with me.
On the locked door story- there's always three sides to every story- one side, the other side, and the truth.
My first reaction is that Wal-Mart is under assault by unions that are highly organized, and routinely recruit malcontents from within who are coached to file complaints about violations of obscure laws.
My second reaction is that in every large organization, you're going to have rouge managers and employees who violate common sense, company policy, and occasionally the law. It happens.
But the truth is probably somewhere in between. No doubt a manager had the employee's safety in mind in locking the doors. The manager(s) who did this may have violated the fire code, but...having tended bar and served-- people do stupid things-- employees walk out late at night alone and expose themselves, their fellow employees, and the business to the risk of theft, robbery, and even murder.
If you're from Chicago- and especially if you've ever worked in a restaurant here- you are familiar with the infamous Brown's Chicken murders. The store was robbed when an employee opened a door and let the robber in who then killed all the employees and stuffed their bodies in the freezer. Employees can't open the door-- problem solved.
We were routinely in a similar situation at Outback, though we could always walk out a fire exit which would set off the alarm that summoned the fire department. So, if there was a legitimate reason to leave-- you could. If you were just carelessly letting someone in; walking out by yourself; leaving without being checked out, or just stepping out for a smoke-- all violations of policy, you couldn't.
Between the three scenarios, I'll take mine. I know I'm right, and you all probably do, too. It's OK, you don't have to admit it here, but you know there was a sensible reason to do what they did. They got nailed on what is essentially a technicality, and the requirement now that lets employees walk out any door, any time they want-- likely puts the employees at greater risk than they ever were prior to the decision.
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mmhmm
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Post by mmhmm on Mar 9, 2011 10:38:13 GMT -5
According to the findings of the court in which the case was tried, paul, you're dead wrong. Then again, that's nothing new.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Mar 9, 2011 10:41:10 GMT -5
"I always hear about how horrible the working conditions at Wal-Mart are, but every time I go there are lots of people working there. They all appear to be healthy, reasonably happy, and well-groomed"
LOL! What Walmart are you shopping at?!
I mean, I shop there because I don't really have much of a choice, but I think there are collectively about 150 teeth among the 100 employees. But I guess that negates the need for dental insuarance.........
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Post by Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ on Mar 9, 2011 10:44:01 GMT -5
I mean, I shop there because I don't really have much of a choice, but I think there are collectively about 150 teeth among the 100 employees. But I guess that negates the need for dental insuarance.........
I occasionally go to the Walmart near me, which draws a lot of shoppers from Jersey City and Newark. None of what you say is remotely accurate.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Mar 9, 2011 10:48:04 GMT -5
I mean, I shop there because I don't really have much of a choice, but I think there are collectively about 150 teeth among the 100 employees. But I guess that negates the need for dental insuarance......... I occasionally go to the Walmart near me, which draws a lot of shoppers from Jersey City and Newark. None of what you say is remotely accurate. Come visit my Walmart in BFE.
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floridayankee
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Post by floridayankee on Mar 9, 2011 10:48:18 GMT -5
While, as a consumer, you might not be concerned with generosity, paul, I (and others I know) am. There are several ways to look at it. My company takes more the approach that hiring an employee costs money and time so why not just pay current employees a bit more to keep your turnover lower and employee satisfaction and loyalty a bit higher. I've been here nearly 10 years and that's the longest I've ever gone without moving on to bigger and better things. Having said that, some take the opposite approach and figure they can make up the costs of high turnover with lower wages and/or benefits. From a business POV, it really is a (corporate) management style decision. Both have their merits and their shortcomings and there really is no right or wrong way to look at it. And that is really what it boils down to....to each his/her own. Apparently a whole lot of people love WM and a whole lot of people don't.
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floridayankee
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Post by floridayankee on Mar 9, 2011 10:56:02 GMT -5
I mean, I shop there because I don't really have much of a choice, but I think there are collectively about 150 teeth among the 100 employees. But I guess that negates the need for dental insuarance......... Now, now swamp...if you had said customers, I might have agreed with you.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Mar 9, 2011 10:56:39 GMT -5
I mean, I shop there because I don't really have much of a choice, but I think there are collectively about 150 teeth among the 100 employees. But I guess that negates the need for dental insuarance......... Now, now swamp...if you had said customers, I might have agreed with you. Customers too. And I skew the averages because I have a full set of teeth.
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AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP
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Post by AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP on Mar 9, 2011 10:59:59 GMT -5
I grew up in Cook County, and lived in IL most of my life. This fits the description of the Teamsters, or the Police.
I will acknowledge that retail service in IL is outstanding. It's the first thing I miss when I leave. Unless you've lived up in the burbs of Chicago, it's hard to relate to or imagine that there's a place where retail employees are healthy, well-groomed, smiling, friendly, energetic, and more than willing to help. There are exceptions, of course-- but for the most part service up around Chitown is great.
Food is good, too. Miss that, too. In Florida it's fine dining or sh**. You can't just go get a beef, or now that Lent is beginning-- where can I get a really good pepper-n-egg sandwich? Not in Florida, at least not so far...
Though at least the fish is great every day in Florida.
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Post by Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ on Mar 9, 2011 11:00:09 GMT -5
I have been inside numerous Walmarts in New Jersey, and not a single accusation posted by Swamp is remotely accurate.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Mar 9, 2011 11:01:57 GMT -5
"Though at least the fish is great every day in Florida." Which is important during Lent................. However, there was a dive bar/diner place on Anna Maria Island that had fantastic grouper sandwiches and fries. Unfortunately, it closed.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Mar 9, 2011 11:02:53 GMT -5
I have been inside numerous Walmarts in New Jersey, and not a single accusation posted by Swamp is remotely accurate. I don't live in NJ. I didn't say any WM except the one in my hometown meets my description.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2011 11:03:12 GMT -5
I haven't really shopped at Walmart much since we got a target... but i can still remember the time my bill was around 250$ and the cashier made the comment about me spending her weeks paycheck... it made me stop and think for a minute...
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Post by marjar on Mar 9, 2011 11:03:36 GMT -5
The quality of merchandise at Target is better than Wallie's, in general. The stores tend to be cleaner, the is service is better, they are far better about coupons, and in my area the prices are about the same. Target is sometimes less expensive.
I do try to support my local mom and pops and franchises. Ace Hardware is more expensive than the boxes, but they carry things I can't find at the big box stores and the service is excellent. Aside from carrying the odd items, if I need one or two things, I'd rather dash into Ace, find it and be done, in the time it takes to find a parking space and walk into Lowe's.
I've many independent mom and pop type stores that are wonderful places to shop.
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Mar 9, 2011 11:04:31 GMT -5
It just seems wrong, though, that a large percentage of the employees of the US's largest employer qualify welfare programs like the EITC and Medicaid, so in effect, the government is subsidizing Walmart.
This is what I find the most interesting. I though PBP is one of the people who are always saying people should get jobs and support themselves so they don't need government programs but they are OK with Walmart giving jobs that cause the majority of their workers to use said programs? Maybe I'm wrong about PBP's views in particular, but if you are against people being on WIC, EITC, foodstamps, etc. shouldn't you still be against if you are seemingly paying for cheap goods but as a tax payer you are funding those cheap goods by paying for those "entitlement programs" for the majority of their workers?!
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Post by Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ on Mar 9, 2011 11:05:50 GMT -5
I don't live in NJ. I didn't say any WM except the one in my hometown meets my description.
You said Walmart in general. Criticisms of Walmart are always made with a broad brush.
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AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP
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Post by AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP on Mar 9, 2011 11:06:19 GMT -5
Whatever happened to the idea of an entry level job? I personally think that one of the worst things that can happen to a person is getting a low skilled, entry level job, and have it pay a "living wage". I think of the folks who got trapped on the assembly line in Detroit. They get a job assembling the framus for the thingamajig right out of high school making $45K with benefits and they know if they stay there in a few more years it'll be $60K, then $80K or $90K-- and they're supposed to quit, take out student loans, and get a degree in finance so they can go to work for a bank making $35K to start?
Of course the long term result of that plan is that Detroit is a crime-ridden ghost town, and a whole lot of unskilled workers have no place to go. But in the short term, you can't blame them for trying to cling to the false hope offered by the union dream.
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jkapp
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Post by jkapp on Mar 9, 2011 11:07:46 GMT -5
>>In many small towns and businesses in the US were driven out of business and their higher wages too with workers going to work at Walmart for reduced wages in addition to often reduced hours. <<
I always hear this from anti-Walmart people, but, seriously, what small businesses were paying more than $8/hr for a cashier or $9/hr for someone to stock shelves? I worked for many small businesses in my younger years and they didn't pay anywhere near that. My friend who worked a Walmart made $1/hr more than me, in fact.
And Walmart relies on government programs to pay low wages? Well, so do just about every one of those mom and pop shops. There were no insurance or benefits at those places...
I have no idea where people get the idea that all of these mom and pop shops gave all this great pay and benefits - apparently they believe the fiction that surrounds this issue from people that just hate Walmart but have no knowledge of the companies that were supposedly put out of business by them.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Mar 9, 2011 11:08:07 GMT -5
I don't live in NJ. I didn't say any WM except the one in my hometown meets my description. You said Walmart in general. Criticisms of Walmart are always made with a broad brush. This is what I said: ""I always hear about how horrible the working conditions at Wal-Mart are, but every time I go there are lots of people working there. They all appear to be healthy, reasonably happy, and well-groomed" LOL! What Walmart are you shopping at?! I mean, I shop there because I don't really have much of a choice, but I think there are collectively about 150 teeth among the 100 employees. But I guess that negates the need for dental insuarance......... " I was referring to my specific WM. If you think I mean all WM's in generally, sorry.
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Post by Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ on Mar 9, 2011 11:08:23 GMT -5
I haven't really shopped at Walmart much since we got a target... but i can still remember the time my bill was around 250$ and the cashier made the comment about me spending her weeks paycheck... it made me stop and think for a minute...
That is not odd. That amount is probably net, and she many not work a full 40 hour week. I worked a part time retail gig in the 90s, and around the holiday season I actually put in 40 hour weeks there. During that time a $250-300 per week check was about right. These are no/low skill, temp jobs, filled primarily by high school, college aged kids and adults just looking for something to do.
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