If it weren't for Wal-Mart and Sam's Club, there's no way we would be as comfortable as we are. Yes, grocery stores have a few things that Wal-Mart doesn't, and sometimes they've got better prices when things are on sale.
However, for the most part, the prices at grocery stores (unless you get the loyalty card that lets them track your purchases) are much higher than they are at Wal-Mart. And Sam's Club is even better (even though you have to spend $40/year minimum for a membership--but it's well worth it).
I don't even get the whole "But Wal-Mart treats their employees so bad!" Umm...no, they don't. They treat their employees the same as most other retailers do theirs, and far and away better than restaurants do their waitstaff.
Thankfully, someone else has taken down all of the anti-Wal-Mart arguments, in 140-character bursts.
Well done, Mr. Suderman. Well done.
10 minutes ago
I'm anti-union, and Hell will freeze over before I ever join the zombie hordes against Wal-Mart, and it's pretty low-down to bus in the SEIU communists who never worked there
ReplyDeletebut.... ( you knew it was coming ) where's there's smoke there's fire...
I've personally witnessed how low they, Wal-Mart, can go in treating their employees (not me) plus I've been on the receiving end of it myself.
I won't speak to any case other than what I've personally seen or witnessed, but it's enough for me.
So no sympathy from me for Wal-mart. I'll remain neutral where this company is concerned.
I don't necessarily have any sympathy for Wal-Mart--but I do not understand this all-consuming, burning hatred that the people who claim to love the poor feel for a store that actually does more to help them by making necessities affordable.
DeleteI never said Wal-Mart as a business didn't treat employees badly, but they treat their employees better than a lot of restaurants do their employees, and much better than other large corporations. They are not the only ones doing what they're accused of.
And, more often than not, I've heard colleagues bitching about Wal-Mart in the office...then run into them in the parking lot, or in one of the aisles, or in the check-out lanes. Hypocrites. The lot of them. And that's the other thing I don't get.
Well I guess I got hung up on your "Umm...no, they don't." but you're right it does happen everywhere else.
DeleteUnderstandable. Especially if you've been treated badly by Wal-Mart. I had friends that worked there, so I know how they treat people. I've seen worse, though.
DeleteIf I have another option, I'll shop elsewhere. (Though that is in large part due to the giant entitlement mentality of many Wal-Mart customers I've run into).
ReplyDeleteBut the real world is the real world, and sometimes you can't have what you want. They're the only large grocery in my town, and the only one that carries certain things I use.
I watched part of a documentary on the alleged poor treatment of workers in overseas factories who produce stuff for Wal-Mart - no idea how much was accurate and how much was hype, but it did make me long a bit for the days when Wal-Mart promoted itself as a company that bought American and sold American-made goods. Not sure when that changed, maybe it was when the old man died and the kids took over, but it seems like a shame to me.
And there are LOTS of businesses that treat people badly. I've had students tell me horror stories about some local employers. And I once had a student call me in tears because the casino called a "mandatory or you will be fired" meeting during a time when she was supposed to take a final exam from me.
I know it's not really an option for you, but I've noticed that the best time to shop is very early in the morning in the middle of the week (office hours and class would likely interfere with shopping and/or getting things home), or very late at night. Yeah, they're still entitled, but there are a lot fewer people there.
DeleteAs much as I can, I shop at 7 am on Saturdays.... but once in a while I need to do a mid-week run, and I can't get my butt out of the door any earlier than what I need to be to be over at school. But yeah, I feel OK walking out of the store on Saturday morning but kind of stabby a lot of the other times.
DeleteI really wish there were grocery delivery where I live. I'd gladly pay the premium for that. Order online, tell them when you'd be home, meet the guy at the door and get your groceries....
Grocery delivery would be nice...but outside my budget (we have a place in town that does it with a delivery charge on top of already-more-expensive prices).
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