Wal-Mart Opens First Store in Beijing

Louisville, KY, Courier-Journal ^ | 07-11-03 | Bodeen, Christopher, AP

[Theodore R.]

Notice that this world's largest retailer is also one that pays its employees among the lowest wages in the industry.

[mgc1122]

So the Chinese now get to buy some of the junk they've been making? Such an irony ...

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2 posted on 3/6/02 7:30 AM Pacific by grammymoon:

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[verity]

The employees are free to quit!

[ImaGraftedBranch]

Wonder if the chinese customers are saying "What is all this 'Made in USA' krap? Doesn't anything get made here anymore?"

[Norse]

Wal-Mart keeps its prices so low by having costs as low as possible - low wages included. At least they are there to give jobs. Most people who work there are kids, old people, and mothers looking for part time work, anyway. Their managers are surprisingly well paid, though.

[Puppage]

Will they be SHRASHING the prices?

[Norse]

Go to China and you'll find plenty of American made goods. Far more than you'll find in Japan, that's for sure.

[verity]

lol

[Cyber Liberty]

Meanwhile, the neighborhood "activists" have started their protests of the "big box" store....

[beaversmom]

Wal-Mart does have a right to choose what they pay their employees but the wages are pathetically low. A friend worked in the housewares or linens section for a short time--she needed a second job--$5+ an hour was what she was paid. I think they could pay a little more than they do and still make an enormous profit and still keep the prices low.

[cweese]

...are you kidding? at war-mart, everything gets srashed!...

[The Duke]

FUBU REDEUX!

[Joe Hadenuf]

Wonder if the chinese customers are saying "What is all this 'Made in USA' krap? Doesn't anything get made here anymore?"

No, there is a large banner on the front that states, "100 percent made in China".

[SamAdams76]

Notice that this world's largest retailer is also one that pays its employees among the lowest wages in the industry.

Is that so? Are you implying that there are retailers out there that pay their employees high wages? I would love to know who they are.

[Theodore R.]

To my knowledge retail stores all pay low wages, but not all have the huge profits that Wal-Mart does. Of course, W-M may say that its profits are because (in part) the wages are so low. Henry Ford presumably had the opposite philosophy regarding wages. That's what I meant.

[joesnuffy]

If Wal-Mart were a nation, it would be China's eighth-largest export destination.

Just when you thought slavery was dead..........

[lelio]

at war-mart, everything gets srashed!...
Your highly insensitive comment (I love it!) has an odd grain of truth in it: what if they start wanting to throw their muscle around? Where is the US going to go for computer chips and tank parts?

[SamAdams76]

To my knowledge retail stores all pay low wages, but not all have the huge profits that Wal-Mart does.

Well that statement differs quite a bit from your original statement that "Wal-Mart pays among the lowest wages in the industry." Now "all retail stores pay low wages."

I'm not trying to be overly argumentative but I had to respond to your earlier statement in Post 1. Wal-Mart pays wages that are competitive in the industry? Why would they do otherwise? It is unfair to pick on Wal-Mart for paying competitive wages in the industry (which by the way are usually well above minimum wage).

Any smart businessman or corporation would work to keep expenses down. Overpaying for labor is just not business smart. On the other hand, underpaying for labor has its own drawbacks as I earlier pointed out.

As for Henry Ford, if he was around today, he would be crucified by the same people who are bashing big corporations like Wal-Mart and Microsoft today. Henry Ford was no benevolent employer. Did you know that Henry Ford strictly regulated how his employees led their private lives? In fact, he would often visit the homes of his employees to ensure that they were in compliance with what he termed "an unblemished lifestyle".

[Centurion2000]

And of course China will let Wal Mart build a few hundred stores. They then have the perfect opportunity to nationalize them.