Posted on 03/30/2004 10:55:58 AM PST by Mike Bates
Costoc? Did you say Costco?
Costco to conservatives: Get lost
That's why I said in the MACRO VIEW.
As long as people patronizing Wal-Mart still have jobs doing something, all is well, but with Wal-Mart pinching their suppliers like they are, thereby forcing other American companies to race for lower labor costs overseas, we have job losses in this country.
Those people without jobs aren't going to be customers for Wal-Mart or anyone else.
I don't think America has a very bright future if all they are going to do is be merchandizers for chineeeeze-made goods like Wal-Mart.
That famed "locking in" incident happened at one particluar location where management supposedly had a problem with merchandise walking out the back door after hours. I agree that this wasn't a good idea, since it took place when there were no supervisors with keys present, which would have become a real disater in case of, say, a medical emergency. But at union meetings, this story gets told and retold as though it were nationwide Wal-Mart policy to shanghai slaves. But then you added:
It muscles into heretofore residential neighborhoods by corrupting local officials and bringing costly lawsuits against individual homeowners and neighborhood association members who deign to appear at public forums and object to granting WarMart zoning variances and permits for building.
Personally, I'm pleased as hell that Wal-Mart has taken the lead in steamrollering those NIMBY yammerheads who have gratuitously held up every privately-funded piece of infrastructure in America, while at the same time giving godlike powers to governments, passing endless busybody regulations that make any significant home improvement project an exercise for lawyers, rather than for masons and carpenters. If we had only had a muscle boy like Wal-Mart on our side about thirty years ago, we might have electric cars powered by the nationwide phalanx of nuclear power plants we need instead of fighting endless wars in the Middle East.
Even if I never bought a single stick of gum at Wal-Mart, having this chain around would be worth it for this reason alone.
That would indeed be silly. My words mean exactly what they say, nothing more.
I know of two honest to goodness, small time, owner operated, bookstores and one owner operated grocery store -- and I shop at all three. These three places are the exception. Most of our "local owned stores" are owner absent, poorly run, and expensive.
I keep money in the local economy by not spending large amounts at price inflated stores where I get little value for my dollar. If you prefer local merchants, go for it. They gave up their share of the market by offering so little. If they want my business they need to offer more than guilt trips.
Wal-Marts profits have nothing to do with my additional preference to keep my money in the LOCAL ECONOMY. Spending at Wal-Mart sends profits out of my town/state/area.
I prefer Local Merchants in every instance. It makes good economic sense to build and sustain the economy where I live. I prefer to see my neighbors profit rather than some CEO living afar.
Tell me about the "intangible social goods" that help the little people - you know, consumers. Do you care about honest working people getting ripped off for your "intangible social goods"? Please. Please tell me about how the working class should subsidize a liberal merchant class. Tell me all about it. Please, be specific.
Wal-Mart supporters tend to evaluate the effect of Wal-Mart only by counting dollars, and ignore the intangible social goods that Wal-Mart destroys.
Wal-Mart supporters tend to evaluate the effect of Wal-Mart only by counting dollars, and ignore the intangible social goods that Wal-Mart destroys.
Tell me about the "intangible social goods" that help the little people - you know, consumers. Do you care about honest working people getting ripped off for your "intangible social goods"? Please. Please tell me about how the working class should subsidize a liberal merchant class. Tell me all about it. Please, be specific.
Wal-Mart supporters tend to evaluate the effect of Wal-Mart only by counting dollars, and ignore the intangible social goods that Wal-Mart destroys.
Wal-Mart supporters tend to evaluate the effect of Wal-Mart only by counting dollars, and ignore the intangible social goods that Wal-Mart destroys.
If they were contracted employees, that was the fault of the company with which WalMart contracted. So I'm missing how WalMart is at fault for that. And I'm missing what was so 'bad' that WalMart did.
Teresa Heinz is talking about liberal newspapers, not "communities". The small shops that overcharge buy ads from local liberal newspapers. If your local newspaper was in any way beholden to the people of the community rather than just to shopkeepers, they would have to broaden their appeal. In other words, they'd have to hire some conservatives.
Teresa Heinz is a multimillionaire and doesn't need to shop price. She wants locals who will kiss up to her -- puff up her ego. Walmart won't treat her any differently than any other customer. She wants you to subsidize her exulted lifestyle by paying more for all your goods. Charming. Or tacky. Your pick.
I would be very surprised if that Wal-Mart store didn't have some "crash bar" emergency exits. While store policy probably prohibits employees from using such exits, I would think it likely that (1) an employee who attempted egress via such an exit would not be physically impeded (at least not by more than 15-30 seconds, if the door has a time-delay crashbar); (2) it may not be possible, in case of an after-hours crash-bar exit, to prevent police dispatch; (3) while egress through a crash-bar emergency exit may under most circumstances be grounds for dismissal, I would not expect any disciplinary action against an employee who used such an exit for a bona fide emergency.
Ohh Randall's! All the prices of a convenience store without the convenience! And I haven't been in an Albertson's in about forever.
How come no mention of HEB?
My, my - how did you come across that old post? No mention of HEB because I was talking about the companies that Wal Mart has taken share from - HEB has also gained share, also at the expense of Randalls and Albertsons.
BTW - love your comment about Randalls. I thought Safeway's buying them would bring those prices down, but I haven't seen it. All it seems to have brought down is the quality of the produce.
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