Sick of WalMart
- Thread starter edicehouse
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I buy motor oil & filter there,Dickies work pants and their Rustler brand of blue jeans that fit so good,yet cost about $11.00.
But other than that,I try to support the smaller stores when I can,but the price on these items is just so good compared to others.
At our local store,the fastest way to checkout is to take your items back into the outdoor patio/lawn care area,where they have 2 checkstands.Almost never a line there!
Steve
But other than that,I try to support the smaller stores when I can,but the price on these items is just so good compared to others.
At our local store,the fastest way to checkout is to take your items back into the outdoor patio/lawn care area,where they have 2 checkstands.Almost never a line there!
Steve
Cmiles1985
Member
Our local grocery chain is HEB, and they are far better than Walmart. They do tend to overprice non store-brand items, but they also run a lot of coupon deals and the store brand is pretty comparable to name brand. I used to faithfully shop Sam's, but they relocated (closer to the house), and have drastically reduced their in-store selection. HEB pays their employees better, typically has a sufficient number of checkout lines and has far better quality products (in-house cut meats, in-house bakery, seafood market, etc.). I've known people to work for both, and didn't hear negativity of either store. I just find it hard to believe a lot of the media on how employees are treated and underpaid, especially due to my personal beliefs on the subject.
There is a Walmart distribution center here where I live they employ a lot of people at a decent hourly wage. I can't get levi's for 15 bucks any where else. There is no where else to shop in town, we have to go to another town to buy everyday things if Walmart wasn't here . If Walmart didn't employ these people our government ( us) would be giving them more than what they get now. Most stores do work as few people as they can get by with, its profit for them, can you blame them.....
My problem with Walmart and other retail entities of that nature is not that they employ as few people as they can but rather that they employ as many part time employees as they can and keep everyone from having a full work week. I have known of several occasions where they would schedule 7 days of work at 4 hours a day or less. With that schedule you cant make enough money to survive. Your cost to go to work is much higher than workng full days. At miminum wage you may not make enough to make it worthwhile to go to work. I rarely shop at Walmart but will on occasion. As in all my purchasing decisions I compare the quality of the product against the price and my needs. When making a purchase of any kind "price" is only one factor not the only one.
NittanyLion
Member
I worked for Wal-Mart for 13 years. Granted, it was in Logistics at a Distribution Center, but it was Wal-Mart. The pay was very good, the benefits were very good, and we were treated better than anywhere else I have ever worked. Wal-Mart jump started my career as a manager. I learned more working for them than anywhere else or in college.
I also got to work in and with many store associates. What I am reading here just isn't true. Yes, there are isolated cases, but overall, people are happy, treated well, and paid a fair wage.
I also got to work in and with many store associates. What I am reading here just isn't true. Yes, there are isolated cases, but overall, people are happy, treated well, and paid a fair wage.
The problem is this: You can't have your cake and eat it too.
If Walmart employs the same number of workers, makes them all full time, increases their salary & benefits the increase in costs will translate to increased prices.
Increased prices will result in lower sales volume, which will result in fewer employees being needed so jobs will be lost. It will also lead to Walmart buying lower volumes from their suppliers and ripple through the economy affecting jobs and profits elsewhere as well.
Additionally, if Walmart raises prices, every big box retail outlet in town (and most small outlets too) selling competitive products will raise theirs. You can bet Target, Krogers, Costco and all the rest, including the local favorites, are following Walmart pricing. Like it or not, their prices are held in line by Walmart if the price of bread goes up at Walmart it's going to go up everywhere.
So we give up low prices (at all stores) for most items Walmart sells in exchange for Walmart employees getting a better income....we are not going to get both.
Personally I think the competition in retail does more to keep inflation in check than all other things combined and Walmart is a big part of that.
It's fine to wish people at Walmart were getting better pay, but keep in mind that better pay will come at a cost to all of us.
By the way - Target has better profit margins than Walmart. Walmat's net profit for 2013 was 3.65% of sales. Hardly making the stockholders rich at the expense of the employees but still indicating they have a little of room to handle major increases in employee compensation without increasing prices.
If Walmart employs the same number of workers, makes them all full time, increases their salary & benefits the increase in costs will translate to increased prices.
Increased prices will result in lower sales volume, which will result in fewer employees being needed so jobs will be lost. It will also lead to Walmart buying lower volumes from their suppliers and ripple through the economy affecting jobs and profits elsewhere as well.
Additionally, if Walmart raises prices, every big box retail outlet in town (and most small outlets too) selling competitive products will raise theirs. You can bet Target, Krogers, Costco and all the rest, including the local favorites, are following Walmart pricing. Like it or not, their prices are held in line by Walmart if the price of bread goes up at Walmart it's going to go up everywhere.
So we give up low prices (at all stores) for most items Walmart sells in exchange for Walmart employees getting a better income....we are not going to get both.
Personally I think the competition in retail does more to keep inflation in check than all other things combined and Walmart is a big part of that.
It's fine to wish people at Walmart were getting better pay, but keep in mind that better pay will come at a cost to all of us.
By the way - Target has better profit margins than Walmart. Walmat's net profit for 2013 was 3.65% of sales. Hardly making the stockholders rich at the expense of the employees but still indicating they have a little of room to handle major increases in employee compensation without increasing prices.
edstreet
Member
Personally I would prefer to travel 3 times the distance and pay 3 times the cost to buy the same product somewhere else, rather than visit a WallMart store. The corporate policy's, procedures, store layouts and habits etc really brings out the worst in human behavior. Even the business model itself feeds into that problem.
hmmm...I guess I never realized how rich you are Ed:biggrin:Three times the distance (1 mile via road 1/2 mile as the crow flies) would be no problem. But three times the price would be a tad more than I can handle.
I have found that most large big box stores seem to have layout problems. I find some things in all of them i shop at in places that don't make a bit of sense to me. I think it goes with the territory. I don't notice that Walmart is any better or worse than the others.
Since I'm not a share holder I will tell you this - Walmart stock about 30 years ago when I owned it was a better investment than it is now. Their margins were better and ROI for stockholders was too. So I suppose I'd agree that their business model could be better.
I don't know what you mean by "brings out the worst in human behavior" That being said, I've noticed throughout my lifetime that the way people treat each other has (in my opinion) deteriorated. Wherever we are we aren't as nice to each other as we used to be. I think THAT has had more impact on retailers than the retailers have had on it.
The Target where my daughter works pays $2.00 an hour more than Walmart for starting wages. They still have the same problem of not enough work hours to be able to survive. They keep the employees at under 27 hours a week. So no they cant keep the same number of employees. They would have to consolidate the same amount of work hours into less employees. That would mean a better chance at making a living wage for some. Unemployment and having to find new work for the rest. I fully understand the implications of that statement. I have no quarrel with their paid wages as a whole. If you know what the job pays when you took it and how much you will make when you show up for work you have accepted that limitation. If you want a better paying job, work harder, smarter and move on. I have never accepted from either my employees or coworkers the "Im only getting paid so much" mentallity.
One of my best friends wife works for Target In the Management levels and her story is different. Its the hourly retail, stocking, cashiers, etc employees that have to struggle with low hours and having to take more than one job to survive. That means greater costs to make a living.
One of my best friends wife works for Target In the Management levels and her story is different. Its the hourly retail, stocking, cashiers, etc employees that have to struggle with low hours and having to take more than one job to survive. That means greater costs to make a living.
OKLAHOMAN
Member
LeRoy, Maybe here in Oklahoma Walmart's carry a completely different line of men's ware. Never seen Levis or Wrangler, are you sure your in Walmart?
According to their website, they sell both brands.
Checked out the website and your 100% right, wondering if in our area it's only available through their site as the only brand of Jeans carried in the store here is Faded Glory which I think is their brand.
walshjp17
Member
edstreet
Member
Ahhh isn't loopholes just grand?
NittanyLion
Member
And don't forget to give credit to our glorious president for this one. Requiring healthcare paid by the employer at 30 hours per week is the cause.
edstreet
Member
To be perfectly honest these loop holes were far in place long before this new problem came about. If you factored up the total cost of employee, including risk you will clearly see there is significant breaks and the idea is you can have more people working less hours and have drastically reduced risk.
Sadly until there is significant tort reform things will continue to devolve.
While the current healthcare isn't helping matters, going to parttime employees has been happening for quite some time because of other Government Actions. What the business are doing is NOT taking advantage of a loop hole. They are taking action on things which are written into the law intentionally - I look at a loop hole as an unintended break for some companies. That isn't the case here.
But in my opinion the move to mostly part time for regular retailers is related to the law not the free choice of retailers. McDonalds and other fast food places always had that in their business plan, even before the laws were changed.
But in my opinion the move to mostly part time for regular retailers is related to the law not the free choice of retailers. McDonalds and other fast food places always had that in their business plan, even before the laws were changed.
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Faded Glory is one of their own brands...Rustler's is another and they are good jeans comparable to Wrangler and Levis for half the price. Our Store has a very wide selection of both Wranglers (including Wrangler shirts) and Levis as well as the store brands. I have not really found a lower price source for Wranglers.LeRoy, Maybe here in Oklahoma Walmart's carry a completely different line of men's ware. Never seen Levis or Wrangler, are you sure your in Walmart?
According to their website, they sell both brands.
Checked out the website and your 100% right, wondering if in our area it's only available through their site as the only brand of Jeans carried in the store here is Faded Glory which I think is their brand.
Great for that early morning cup of coffee too and their hot breakfast sandwiches are really not bad.
BTW when WaWa opened here in Milford ALL of the gas stations lowered their prices within 2 weeks. Today you can tell what just about every station in town is charging by looking at the WaWa price. My wife goes to Southern States on Thursday because on that day they are the cheapest because it 5 cents off which puts them a couple of cents below WaWa.
Before I retired...
I lived in five different locals in 11 years. Now I'm retired to Alabama. I have found that the service in Walmart differed greatly depending on where I was living. In Iowa, the stores were nice, clean and the employees pleasant. In Arizona, I always felt like I needed a shower after shopping at Walmart. In Michigan, I felt like I was an imposition on the workers just being in the store. Alabama, the stores are nice and the normally the experience is acceptable and most employees are ok.
All in all, I did not find a lot of commonality between Walmart stores in different locals (except the stock).
I lived in five different locals in 11 years. Now I'm retired to Alabama. I have found that the service in Walmart differed greatly depending on where I was living. In Iowa, the stores were nice, clean and the employees pleasant. In Arizona, I always felt like I needed a shower after shopping at Walmart. In Michigan, I felt like I was an imposition on the workers just being in the store. Alabama, the stores are nice and the normally the experience is acceptable and most employees are ok.
All in all, I did not find a lot of commonality between Walmart stores in different locals (except the stock).
Good observation. I can relate to that - I have two Home Depots within 30 miles and the shopping experience is much better at one than at the other. One store is cleaner, better stocked and the employees are much better to deal with than the other.
The same can be said for Lowes - except both stores are about equal in stocking and how clean the store is. At one of them you will be treated better by the employees who will always go out of their way to help you, the other the employees might stay more involved with other things when a customer is looking for help. We shop where the employees treat you better.
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Andrew
assistant moderator
Please keep discussion topics well clear of politics.
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edicehouse
Member
I read the stuff about how they treat their employees and wonder if the complaints are made by the ones that don't do anything anyways
tbroye
Member
There are no WalMarts with in the city of Sacramento, They are in the incorporated area of Sacramento County. The reason is the Unions up until recently supported an ordance that had a square foot limit on these types of stores. The only stores that qualified were the large supermarket chains that were unionized. This cut out any chance of a Walmart super store being built with in the city limits and Walmart would not build a regular or old style Wallyworld. Now for some reason this was recently changed don't know if there are any plans to build a Walmart super store now or not there are a number of them with in easy driving distance of town. We shop there for some things but not groceries or car service or tires. We use a WINCO for food and COSTCO for tires and gas and the dealers for car repairs. I have bought Wrangler Jeans there as they have a good selection of styles and sizes especially for this short, chunky, old fellow. There is a Wally Super store and Wally semi super store close by and there is a difference in shoppers and staff, the Wally Super Store is in lower income area and the other is in a higher income area and I am more comfortable in one than the other. My wife uses Target more than Wally World I don't shop at either very much as I do most of mine online. I just hate to shop period, when I go I know exactly what I want, I find it pay for it head home. My wife doesn't even ask me go any more I refuse to stroll the malls I either stay in the car of find a bench and sit and read something. Most of my clothes I buy at a local Mens Clothing store I have been going to since 1960, I pay more but the clothes last and fit better I even worked .
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Haynie
Member
Where I live there are two choices for food shopping, Wal-mart, and Safeway. Safeway is higher priced for the same quality. Wal-mart has better fruits and veggies, and their chicken and burger is a much better quality.
Clothes shopping is either Wal-mart, tourist wear (t-shirts with local attractions) or a place called Stage. Most of what is in Stage is also in Wal-mart for 3 times the price. If I had a choice I would shop else where but no choice is no choice.
We as a population created the Wal-marts of the world. If they left someone would jump right into their place.
Clothes shopping is either Wal-mart, tourist wear (t-shirts with local attractions) or a place called Stage. Most of what is in Stage is also in Wal-mart for 3 times the price. If I had a choice I would shop else where but no choice is no choice.
We as a population created the Wal-marts of the world. If they left someone would jump right into their place.
Haynie
Member
At the wal-mart here they have a lottery in place for who gets to work the days like black friday, etc... Every employee wants to work those days. No one is forced at all. They get paid very generously for those days.
sschering
Member
I started buying Red wing shoes in 2001 and after 13 years I'm only on my 3rd pair with every day use. Lots of life left in this pair too. I can go for 8 miles walks in them and not get sore feet or a blister. Yes they cost $150 a pair but they last 5-6 years.
In 5 years you'll have gone through 15 pairs of wall mart shoes and spent $210.
As with everything your mileage may vary.. Our local Walmarts are as usual understaffed and the ones on staff are slow as molasses. I've waited in checkout for 30 minutes with only 4 people in line before.
I try to avoid them when possible but there are those times you need something late at night they are the only option.
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Glen Schumann
Member
"like most internet stories, I doubt that there is any truth to be found in this one. "
Maybe so, but who cares, it's FUNNY!
Maybe so, but who cares, it's FUNNY!
I will almost guarantee you won't get 5 or 6 years out of them if you treat them the way I treat mine. Walked several miles in every day, rain or shine walked on trails, pavement, through wet grass, occasionally in the water of a creek and on and on. No shoe that I know of will stand up to 5 or 6 years of that. On the other hand, in my working life I wore slip on dress shoes, I paid a good price for them and even though I retired the last day of 1991, I still have one pair of shoe I wore to work giving me service - 2 years ago I retired another pair that I'd had for 20 years. But, those shoes were worn under entirely different circumstances. The moc's I have on right now which are worn only in the house and outside only when it's dry also cost me $12 and change at Wally World 3 years ago and will probably be replaced in a few more months because I'm getting tired of looking at them and will get a different color.
I buy most of my clothes on line for two reasons...
1. Generally there is a better selection and usually they have my size. Except for the past year and a half I was a big guy and needed to "supersize" my clothes.
2. I don't need to run from store to store to find something that I like that is available in my size
The above applies only to some styles of shirts - everyday run of the mill I get at Walmart or a thrift store. Or occasionally my wife will run into a real bargain at one of the other stores - she has a lot more patience going around to stores just to check prices than I do.
1. Generally there is a better selection and usually they have my size. Except for the past year and a half I was a big guy and needed to "supersize" my clothes.
2. I don't need to run from store to store to find something that I like that is available in my size
The above applies only to some styles of shirts - everyday run of the mill I get at Walmart or a thrift store. Or occasionally my wife will run into a real bargain at one of the other stores - she has a lot more patience going around to stores just to check prices than I do.