Miller report hits Wal-Mart 'costs'

Contra Costa Times ^ | 2/17/04 | Thomas Peele

[Modernman]

Wal-Mart seems to annoy both people on the right and the left. I've noticed that there is a good-sized anti-Wal-Mart contingent on FR.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

They should be free to hire whomever they want. What I do not understand is the small towns who offer incentives to bring in a Wal Mart.

[grellis]

I am NO fan of Wal-Mart but I am surprised at how quickly some of the recently printed BS about the company has been swallowed. I worked for Target for years. A few years ago Wal-Mart opened its doors up the road from us. It had absolutely no effect on Target's employees' wages--none. It lowered some of Target's pricing but that's not a bad thing. While it is true that a Wal-Mart employee typically does not meet the company's requisite hours to earn health benefits, employment is a choice. People are free to shop around for employers offering better benefits. That nonsense about being locked in the store and unable to get necesary medical attention when needed is pure bunk as well. I'd love to see the source on that myth. I worked overnights at Target and yes--we locked our doors and set the store alarms every night to protect employees from late-night robberies. There was always at least one employee present with store keys and alarm codes. I'm sure its the same at Wal-Mart.

Having said all this, I should add that I wouldn't shop at Wal-Mart if it were the last retailer standing. Their stores are filthy and their merchandise is crap.

[Modernman]

What I do not understand is the small towns who offer incentives to bring in a Wal Mart.

Jobs and sales taxes are the big draw.

[ErnBatavia]

Their stores are filthy

That's for sure...the first week in March, WalMart's first Supercenter (including grocery) is scheduled to open up right here in La Quinta, California. If the food portion of that store is anywhere near as scuzzy as our existing WalMart, the authorities will shut it down pronto.

[Modernman]

Having said all this, I should add that I wouldn't shop at Wal-Mart if it were the last retailer standing. Their stores are filthy and their merchandise is crap.

Agreed. My favorite big box retailers are Meijers and Target.

[FFIGHTER]

No one is being forced to work at or buy from Wal-Mart.

[grellis]

I've been through two Wal-Marts with grocery stores--one here in Michigan and one down in Georgia. Rancid.

[grellis]

No one is being forced to work at or buy from Wal-Mart.

That's it in a nutshell. I'm all for capitalism. They're not breaking any laws.

[Myrddin]

Their stores are filthy and their merchandise is crap.

The Walmart is Pocatello is very clean and well stocked. I often shop there after midnight because my wife finishes work at that hour. The floors are scrubbed daily. The employees are nearly 100% white, ages 16 to 25 plus a few seniors in the 65+ range as greeters. The young employees are high school kids or students from the local university.

I submit that the condition of your Walmart may be more a function of the quality of the local labor population.

[mel]

Well, their toothpaste is okay, but that is about all I would buy from that place..health and beauty products

[NorCoGOP]

Barbara Carpenter, president of United Food and Commercial Workers local 79 said Wal-Mart's superstores "have had a devastating impact on working men and women. They have a profit-first mentality."

Barbara, here's a quarter to buy a clue.

If you are working for a company whose primary goal isn't "to make money," you won't be working for them for very long.

A company's goal isn't to "pay great wages" or "offer low prices" or even "highest quality" - those are all secondary - because if they aren't looking at making money, then they can't pay great wages, offer low prices, or offer the highest quality.

Get a clue and get out of the union "me-first-to-hell-with-the-company" mentality that will only cost you your job in the long run...

[Modernman]

No one is being forced to work at or buy from Wal-Mart.

I agree. I don't have a strong opinion on them and I generally don't shop there. However, in some small towns, Wal-Mart does a very good job of wiping out local stores.

[Doohickey]

That's fine, George. No jobs for Contra Costa County. I certainly hope you are getting your panties equally in a bunch about public subsidization of illegal immigration.

[traumer]

" Contra Costa County " ?

you meant COSA NOSTRA ....

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Seems to me to be an unequal trade. Give up your small town clothing store, Coast to Coast or Western Auto that are self-sufficient and take in a category destroyer like Wal Mart.

[the_devils_advocate_666]

They're not breaking any laws

But how long will it take for new laws to be created?

[Orange1998]

When you apply at Walmart they will fill out the food stamp apps for you. I don't think it's fair for taxpayers to fund a for-profit corporation employees food stamps needs.

[Modernman]

Give up your small town clothing store, Coast to Coast or Western Auto that are self-sufficient and take in a category destroyer like Wal Mart.

Nobody ever claimed that small town government officials were good at economics.