Is Wal-Mart The Devil?

TITLE: Is Wal-Mart The Devil?
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1
CONVERT BREAKS: 1
ALLOW PINGS: 1
PRIMARY CATEGORY: News
CATEGORY: News

DATE: 11/06/2003 05:38:20 PM
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BODY:
Have you ever wondered why everybody talks about Wal-Mart so much? Why The Onion ran a spoof article from a Wal-Mart's perspective? Why the company engenders such strong feelings of love and hate? Well, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6513-2003Nov5.html">this Washington Post article</a> helps to answer those questions. It's an excellent article, and well worth the read.

Honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about Wal-Mart. Part of me despises the job loss Wal-Mart causes, and the way they deliberately eliminate the small business districts in their target areas. Or the fact their workers are kinda exploited by American standards.

But the other half says this is what competition is all about. They are kind of like the Microsoft of the grocery/retail industry. You either respect them, or despise them. I'm curious to know what others think.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Regina
DATE: 11/09/2003 04:00:33 PM
Yes, Wal-mart creates rural ghettos. Yes,Wal-mart takes it upon itself to censor "obscene" material in its music department. But I know of no other outfit that develops my film for $2.99.

$3.99 for doubles?! Come on!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: j____
DATE: 11/07/2003 05:26:56 PM
You make very good points. But allow me to play devil's advocate. In turning a blind eye to the practices of some of their subcontractors, isn't Wal-Mart contributing to and exacerbating the problem of illegal labor? Also, haven't they destroyed any chance for small business owners in their locations to have any prayer of succeeding at running their own retail business - thereby quashing the American Dream for many?

Finally, in spite of rising health care costs, some companies (mine included, if I actually worked for them directly) offer free benefits for full-time employees. Given their size and success, isn't Wal-Mart ultimately lowering the standard of life for the hundreds of thousands who work in the retail biz?

If Wal-Mart's niche is succeeding, shouldn't employees be reaping the benefits of the company's success? In other words, where are all those fabulous profits going? I know, I'm putting the cart before the horse. If they compensated better, their prices would be higher, their profit margins would shrink, and they wouldn't be as successful. It's still a tough question for me, though.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Tara
DATE: 11/07/2003 05:00:11 PM
People are obsessed with Wal-mart because they have gotten retailing down to a science. A model of efficiency, Sam Waskal has developed an empire which passes the savings onto the consumer by buying product in mass quantity and then distributing it effectively. Wal-mart has created jobs all throughout middle America and enabled workers to rise up in a company. Small business owners have benefited from Wal-mart providing low-cost supplies to run their businesses. The average American has learned the value of a commodity and has been able to decrease household expenses. While attempted to present all sides, "The Washington Post" article really just points out problems that America has in general, illegal immigration and rising health care costs. These issues are escalating as a trend throughout the country and are not caused by Wal-mart.
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