Wal-Mart botches their new 'Buy America' ad campaign

NBC Olympics Coverage ^ | 2/24/2014 | MeganC

[MeganC]

Forgive me if someone has posted this already but I searched FR first and found nothing so here goes!

Did anyone see Wal-Mart's new ad during the coverage of the closing ceremonies of the Sochi Olympics last night? Did you just love the images of American factory workers and the inspiring narration about how Wal-Mart is committing to creating jobs in the USA?

And didn't you just love how they reinforced their committment to American jobs with a background track of inspiring music that celebrated the Working Man?

Meaning they used a song called 'Working Man'.

By a band called 'Rush'.

Who are from Canada?

I'm sure Canada appreciates the royalty income their band is generating in a 'Buy American' ad campaign. I'm also not surprised that Wal-Mart didn't even try to find an American band to do their music.

[Sam Gamgee]

I agree. I always find the singling out of Walmart puzzling, as it is not like they were the first to sell Chinese crap.

[Sam Gamgee]

No contest. That guy has no talent whosoever.

[central_va]

Reselling products manufactured in foreign (communists) countries creates no net wealth, except in China. We are doing what most 3rd world countries do importing poverty instead of creating wealth.

Free Traitors will be swinging from the lampposts if/when we are in a hot war with China.

[deport]

At Walmart, we believe in making a difference on the issues our customers and communities care about. We believe we can create more American jobs by supporting more American manufacturing. Jump-starting the manufacturing industry and rebuilding the middle class requires a national effort by companies, industry leaders, lawmakers and others. Together, we can help spark a revitalization of U.S.-based manufacturing. By making production more affordable and feasible in the United States, we can bring our customers more U.S.-made products and manufacturers can create more jobs in America.    

Read the entire statement at this link

[ExCTCitizen]

Wal-Mart is trying to bring jobs back to America. Good for them.

[Mase]

It’s a shame you don’t share the same revulsion for those who are destroying the country from within, making it easier for the communists to overcome us without a fight, as you do for the people who support individual liberty over bigger government. But no one has ever accused big government conservatives of being consistent.

[BfloGuy]

Pretty thin gruel, that criticism. If the song expresses the spirit, then fine.

[Reaganez]

No one can foretell the future with certainty.

But the numbers are lining up.

Wal Mart is so confident in the numbers that it is taking a public pledge to buy $50 Billion MORE in US goods over the next decade.

It is taking a small risk to reap PR benefits by making this pledge before knowing the exact prices over the next decade. But they would have probably purchased those American goods anyway, based on price/value.

[MarkL]

Rush got their "big break" with "Working Man" in Cleavland, and that got them signed to a label. They toured the US relentlessly. Geddy is a HUGE baseball fan and collector. In fact, he donated an incredible collection the the Negro League Museum in Kansas City.

All 3 guys are longtime family men, and other than a scuffle where Alex got into trouble for something involving his son, they've stayed out of the news for as long as I can remember.

They're extremely talented, and "Working Man" is a classic R&R song. What's wrong with Canadians writing and performing a song for this ad? Weren't some of the best Christmas songs written by Jews?

Mark

[MarkL]

The Canadians I know would take deep umbrage at your defacto annexation of their country.

I've met some people in Vancouver, BC, who take umbrage at being called "Canadians." They make a point to tell you that they're "from British Colombia!"

Mark

[cva66snipe]

Walmart has been trying to sell US made goods for years. I remember when they had Made in US signs on tables of American made goods. One of the big problems is that we don't make many things any longer.

Uh Huh and Walmart asked companies to move off shore to obtain that everyday low price. Look up The man who said no to Walmart. It's an article about Snapper Mowers IIRC and Walmart wanting a contract and off shore production.

[dragnet2]

Good for you yankeee...you good chopper...hahaha...you get poonjab doggy yumyum prize...You like. Make yankee proud....

[RetiredNavy]

You have far too much time on your hands.

[MeganC]

You have far too much time on your hands.

I have five children. 'Nuff said.

[logi_cal869]

For the record, perhaps you didn't notice:

PUBLISHED: 09:55 EST, 17 February 2014 | UPDATED: 14:13 EST, 17 February 2014

[logi_cal869]

You're in left field:

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Katie Cody said there have been 'more than 2,000 job commitments' as a result of the effort to buy products from U.S. manufacturing operations. Cody said more than 40 different Wal-Mart departments are 'actively working' with existing or potential suppliers to find opportunities to source products from U.S. manufacturing operations.

Some of those 2,000 commitments include 500 jobs related to the planned production of televisions in Winnsboro, South Carolina and 250 jobs planned to begin in March 2014 at a shoe production plant in Hazelhurst, Georgia.

WalMart have responded to comments that their choice of Rush to accompany the commercial was anti-American. 'We think American music is awesome too! We just think Working Man is a great song that reflects our commitment to help create more jobs for working men and women in U.S. manufacturing and to help get more American working men and women back to work.'

and

“Walmart’s history of deceptive Made in USA marketing claims on its website now spans more than five years and is exacerbated by consumers’ current need/desire to shop online during the global pandemic,” TINA.org writes in its complaint.

On Wednesday, Walmart in a statement sidestepped allegations about its “Made in the USA” claims.

“Through Walmart’s Investing in American Jobs initiative, we’ve committed $250 billion over 10 years toward the purchase of products made, sourced, grown or assembled here in the US. We’ve seen some wonderful success stories based on our pledge and hope to contribute to further expansion of US manufacturing and job growth.”

Walmart’s ‘Made in the USA’ claims under fire again

and

Rush Walmart Working Man commercial reaction and backlash

This is a 2014 campaign and Wally World has come under scrutiny ever since, right through 2021 as cited in the provided NY Post link.

[Salgak]

. . .and if you checked the original post, I posted it in 2014. . . .

[logi_cal869]

...and, again, your comment,

Ahem. The campaign is “Made in America”. Canada is also, if you haven’t consulted a map, in America.

Now, if the campaign was “Made in the USA”, you might have a SMALL point. . .

is in left field.