Posted on 12/05/2013 9:16:24 AM PST by re_tail20
At the corner of First and H Streets in Northwest Washington, the balloons were all set, hanging stories high in the cold morning air. The inflatable Pepsi and Mountain Dew bottles were twisting in the breeze, and a mini-hoop game was set up. There was even a marching band and Chester the Cheetos Cheetah.
The time had finally come for Washington, D.C. — the last holdout in the lower 48 —to get its first two Walmart stores. In 1996, Vermont was the last state to go Walmart blue. Now it’s Washington’s turn, and four more stores are planned.
Just before 7 a.m., a group of about 30 people huddled in a line along the new mixed-use development along the trendy H street corridor. The line would later swell to close to 200 just before the doors opened at 8. Police were on hand to keep order, not only for the masses waiting for low-priced goods, but in case protestors came. None did.
In Washington, many have fought Walmart’s arrival. Union and liberal activists complained, loudly, over Walmart’s lack of union representation and over the wages its employees make. And, for a few days earlier this year, it appeared the unions and “living wage” advocates scored a major victory with passage of the Large Retailer Accountability Act by the D.C. City Council.
The Washington Post reported that the bill:
would require retailers with corporate sales of $1 billion or more and operating District stores of at least 75,000 square feet to pay their employees a “living wage” — no less than $12.50 an hour in combined wages and benefits. The proposal includes an exception for employers who collectively bargain with their workers. Existing employers would have four years to come into compliance.
That bill was ultimately vetoed by Washington’s embattled mayor...
(Excerpt) Read more at weeklystandard.com ...
If they can hold down the shoplifting to 15% of the merchandise sold they will be lucky.
Why do they write about the District as if it’s a real state?
Good question. Bad writing is my only explanation. It should be the lower 48 states plus the district - which means there’s still one state with no Walmart.
Quote from article:
“The time had finally come for Washington, D.C. — the last holdout in the lower 48 —to get its first two Wal-Mart stores.”
one city of Washington DC -— population — 632,323. Now has Wal-Mart.
33 cities and towns of San Francisco/San Mateo County/Marin County, California ————— population — 1,821,243. And still no Wal-Mart.
I drove a cab in DC in the 80’s. 1st and H was and still is no place to be. Ever.
Huh?
Here’s the ‘Death of small stores map’ http://projects.flowingdata.com/walmart/
“”and over the wages its employees make.””
I agree - add the above to the bad writing.
How about “wages paid by the company?” Wouldn’t everyone know that the employees are the ones making the wages or “earning” the wages?
I utterly despise Walmart, and avoid it unless there’s I absolutely need as soon as possible. I dislike the employees, the customers, and the fact there’s 30 cash registers, but only two are open along with half a dozen self checkouts. The thing which sounded the death knell for any regular shopping incursion was when I was carded while buying a roll of camouflage duct tape prior to a deployment.
The thing which sounded the death knell for any regular shopping incursion was when I was carded while buying a roll of camouflage duct tape prior to a deployment.
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Huh? Are you saying that there is an age restriction on buying duct tape?
Possibly. I think because somewhere in it’s coding was the word camouflage, and it was associated with hunting and evil guns. The self checkout told me to stand by so an associate came and check my ID.
Cool.
However, it is quite indisputable that WM has played an enormous role in making retail more efficient.
While this had had many undesirable effects, it has also had many desirable ones. I saw one study that claimed the reduction in prices created by WM has had a greater effect on reducing poverty than all the government programs in history.
For some obscure reason people sneer at cost reduction, while they would never dream of objecting to an increase in wages.
Yet a 10% reduction in cost of things bought due to WM-driven efficiencies is considerably more beneficial to your bottom line than a 10% increase in salary.
I used to really like Walmart. Lots of stuff made in the USA, decent prices, and they would readily take stuff back if you weren’t satisfied, or there was a problem.
Today not so much. Hard to find stuff made in the USA, prices on stuff is often higher than Country Mart or Dollar General, and there willingness to take stuff back has definitely become onerous.
Recently, I went to Walmart and the cashier’s were complaining about how slow and boring it was that day. Just not very busy ever since the new Country Mart opened. It made no sense to them, because they said - our prices are cheaper.
I just had to speak up at that, and told them that on the majority of the items I purchase they are cheaper. Then they said, but we will match any price so what difference does that make.
I asked them how that would work, if no one went to Country Mart and they went out of business. Wouldn’t we all be stuck with Walmart’s normal pricing which was already more expensive? What dumb looks I got.
Then, I pointed out that it was worth a little more to go to Country Mart anyway, because they always made sure to load your groceries into the cart for you, rather than stand around complaining, or turning to the next customer while the customer who just paid has to fend for themselves.
They didn’t have an answer for that either.
there = their
They’re going to wait until Walmart opens 8 or 9 stores and THEN hit them with a Living Wage.
When Walmart sees how much merchandise is walking out of this one they may not open another.
Strange story since Walmart is the store for hunters and guns and ammo, and is hated for it by the left.
Liberals hate Walmart.
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