Good God, are you ever a self important fool. Go to Sears, Bloomingdales, Macy's or any other store a pay more for the same product if you wish, but most people prefer not to waste the money. Walmart didn't bankrupt Levi Strauss, they have been in financial trouble well before they sold any product to Walmart. Blaming Walmart for societal problems is ridiculous. The company creates jobs(if the jobs all sucked, they wouldn't have 1 million employees) they heavily contribute to local charities, they employ the elderly, the handicapped and many first time job holders. I know most Americans must be wrong shopping there according to you, but I don't think anyone is forcing them to shop in their stores. Why don't you compete with them and you just sell Made in America products only, I'm sure people will flock to your store, the only problem will be finding the products to stock your shelves, Walmart didn't create the problem for manufacturers, unions did.
It isn't always the same product, but you seem to want to ingore that point. Levis had to make a new line of clothing to supply pants cheap enough for Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart purchases enough units that manufacturers can run special models or batches just for Wal-Mart with different components. Sometimes, suppliers move their production overseas to make things cheaper. It's not the same. But don't believe me or the other people in this thread who actually like and shop at Wal-Mart who are also saying that quality is dropping. Do whatever you want. I think they are approaching the end of the line on sacrificing quality for cost.
No one is forcing them, that is correct. And nothing I do or say will stop the vast majority from shopping there. It's jsut that I have taken a different approach to life now that I have a home and family. I'm much more keenly aware of how my purchases affect the econmy of my country as well as those of other countries. If you choose to think you live in a vacuum, then go ahead. I simply see that my purchases have an affect, no matter how small, to the nations economy. And I prefer to have my purchases go towards American products if possible. And yes, I do think America would be in much better shape if people shopped the way I do. I get upset with people complaining about jobs going overseas, yet can't fill their cart up fast enough at Walmart.