Wal-Mart spies on workers, critics, consultants, alleges fired technician

haaretz.com ^ | 4-5-2007 | staff writer

[bedolido]

Marcus Kabel, BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Wal-Mart's normally low-profile security efforts were thrust into the limelight Wednesday when a fired technician alleged he had been part of a large surveillance operation that spied on company workers, critics, vendors and consultants. The company defended its security practices.

The world's largest retailer declined to comment on specific allegations made by 19-year veteran Bruce Gabbard to the Wall Street Journal in a report published Wednesday. Wal-Mart reiterated that it had fired Gabbard, 44, and his supervisor last month for violating company policy by recording phone calls and intercepting pager messages.

[donna]

They should try working for a bank.

[Domicile of Doom]

A fall guy?

[Disambiguator]

They should try working for a bank.

Or a Casino.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

Our family hasn't been near a Wal-Mart in two years.

A lot has changed since Sam Walton died.

I now consider Wal-Mart a blight on any area they are located.

[tranzorZ]

If your are in Michigan or Ohio, shop a Meijer. Used to work there. They are unionized (hated being in it) but they are nicer places to be.

[ASA Vet]

Sadly, Fred’s stores are now full of Chinese made crap too.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

I just shop in Wisconsin and Illinois.

Our local Wal-Mart is a dump. A real blight.

Garbage flying around the parking lot. Bums and rabble wandering the parking lot. Damaged cars from loose carts. The employees are poorly informed, lazy and hostile.

Advertised sales result in “vaporware” once you get inside.

The biggest thing I’ve noticed is that I can get better deals for the same stuff at the nearby Menard’s, Home Depot and Lowe’s.

Once a Wal-Mart “matures” in an area the prices go up after they drive other local businesses.

Competition here is tough and the Milwaukee Wal-Mart (again) is a dump and the suburban Wal-Mart closed!

Wal-Mart is not the giant they thought they were. They will do anything now to retain market share.

Buyer beware!

[encm(ss)]

You should try it out. I shopped there recently and bought gasoline, lettuce, tomato, milk, after shave, hair tonic, heck I forget what all. Not one single thing was made outside of the USA. (xcept maybe, the oil for the gasoline.) Everything was cheaper than any other store in this town. I saw lots of middle and lower class people there and no protesters. So all in all I had a pretty good day. Oh yeah. No union worker’s either. Yeah it was a great day.

[encm(ss)]

First you say you haven’t been there in two years. Then you say when you get there everything is vaporware or prices are increased after they drive everyone out. Did you go there or is this just the union man talking out of his hat?

[metesky]

The usual suspects are all over this one.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

I haven’t been there in two years. All my comments related to the reasons I stopped going there.

I haven’t been in a Union in over 25 years.

[Mrs.Nooseman]

That maybe the experience you have had at your local WALMART.
My local WALMART has been there for 15 Years and in the 15 years more businesses have moved in.The prices haven’t gone up much and the store is clean.

You can not judge all WALMART stores by one local store run by a Store manager that evidently doesn’t give a hoot about his store

We have to Super centers here as well and neither is very appealing to me,because of the employees there are not being friendly or helpful,but the smaller one I go to and work for is completely different.
We keep that store clean,well stocked and are helpful.

I make it a point to take every customer to the item they are looking for and even help elderly with their shopping as do my coworkers.

So please do not generalize all WALMART stores based on your bad experience.

[battleax]

Shopped at a Wally World today. It was jampacked with smiling customers. Found everything we wanted, checked out by a friendly employee and thanked for shopping at Walmart.
In our TV viewing area a new store will soon be opening. 2100 applicants applied for 300 job openings.

[kylaka]

The Wal-Mart in our area is 1 year new, is neat, clean and organized. Only gripe is the checkout times. They have about 25 lines, but only 6 or so are open at any given time. Checkout is a 20 minute drag. Assuming time is money, it’s almost not worth the savings. Unfortunately for retailers, I don’t buy big ticket items in my home state anymore due to the oppressive sales tax.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

What part of the country are you in?

Also, I waited 45 minutes in line, with a ton of stuff, at a Sam’s Club. Complained and got a free year’s membership.

Never went back.

Good help is hard to find nowadays I suppose.

[Rapscallion]

Wal-Mart's normally low-profile security efforts were thrust into the limelight Wednesday when a fired technician alleged he had been part of a large surveillance operation that spied on company workers, critics, vendors and consultants.

This has the smell of a blackmailing attempt by an employee.

[Rapscallion]

Wal-Mart's normally low-profile security efforts were thrust into the limelight Wednesday when a fired technician alleged he had been part of a large surveillance operation that spied on company workers, critics, vendors and consultants.

This has the smell of a blackmailing attempt by an employee.

[JayAr36]

“alleges fired technician” need we go further?