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Weird Walmart plumbing problem shutting down stores across America, one in Brandon
WFLA.com ^ | Apr. 14, 2015 | Mark Douglas

Posted on 04/15/2015 12:01:28 PM PDT by FR_addict

BRANDON FL (WFLA) - Walmart customers can't understand what's plaguing the "plumbing problems" of Walmart stores from Brandon to California.

"Must be a major plumbing problem is all I can say," would-be customer Dale White said as security guards turned him away from the Supercenter on Brandon Boulevard in Brandon.

The retail chain announced Monday that five stores are shutting down - one in Brandon, two in Texas, one in Oklahoma and one in California - due to clogging and drainage problems. ...

The shutdown blindsided about 400 Brandon Walmart workers who must now find another store to transfer to or receive 60-days pay for the loss of their jobs.

However, 8 On Your Side has found no paperwork and no work done on the plumbing. According to Hillsborough County, Walmart didn't notify the county's permit department either. No one there has heard a peep from Walmart about any major repairs. ...

(Excerpt) Read more at wfla.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: plumbing; retail; walmart; walmartplumbing; walmartstores
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To: IYAS9YAS
http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/i-team-investigates/i-team-official-says-sudden-wal-mart-closing-was-suspicious

I-Team: Official says sudden Walmart closing was suspicious

BRANDON, Fla. - Walmart stores across the country suddenly closed Monday, supposedly as a result of plumbing problems.

Now a Hillsborough County commissioner who has worked closely with the company for years says he has plenty of questions.

In Midland, Texas, which, until Monday, was home to one of the 10 busiest Walmart stores in the country, City Building Official Steve Thorpe told the I-Team his plumbing inspector was sent away when he visited the closed store and offered to help secure permits.

While the company claimed to have an average of 100 to 150 plumbing issues a year in recent years, a longtime employee of a tax service located in the store told the I-Team she never saw a plumber or an “out of order” restroom in the three years she worked inside the store.

She said she was forced to pack up all the computers and paper files in her kiosk in a matter of hours Monday on what was one of her company’s busiest days of the year.

At the Brandon Walmart Monday night, a five-hour, unadvertised going-out-of-business sale was held after employees were informed the store would be closed for at least six months for plumbing and other renovations.

The store pays more than $243,000 a year in Hillsborough County ad valorem taxes and collects many times that amount in sales tax revenues.

The store appeared to have been fully stocked with perishables when the sudden closure was announced.

Fresh cut flowers were on hand at the Tulsa, Okla., store.

The I-Team has learned no plumbing permits have been pulled in any of the five cities where the stores were suddenly closed for at least six months.

Permits in Midland show 70 plumbing fixtures were just replaced in an eight-week period three years ago.

That store never closed during that renovation.

Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist says Walmart officials didn't even mention plumbing issues when they reached out to him, informing him of the closure which affected more than 400 workers.

He says that, for now, he has to take them at their word that they are closing to improve the store.

“It's really too early to tell whether or not there were mistakes made. There's issues to be held accountable for. But we're gonna watch, we're gonna look, we're gonna listen and we're gonna make the appropriate steps if we see anything that is wrong,” Crist said.

Three city and county officials we spoke to said this week's action was extremely unusual for Walmart, which always notifies officials ahead of time of renovation plans and normally seeks permits weeks in advance.

81 posted on 04/17/2015 7:30:37 AM PDT by FR_addict (Boehner needs to go!)
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Another thread with some 135 comments at this time If
anyone is interested in reading them.

WalMart closings alert!


82 posted on 04/17/2015 7:49:25 AM PDT by deport
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To: FR_addict

You should post this as it’s own thread. It’s got a lot more information regarding local officials’ response to the “plumbing issue” excuse.


83 posted on 04/17/2015 7:58:13 AM PDT by IYAS9YAS (Has anyone seen my tagline? It was here yesterday. I seem to have misplaced it.)
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To: MeshugeMikey
unless somebody bought a whole lotta junk pipe from Red China or something

That is a very good guess. Perhaps they got said construction supplies in return for some sweetheart deal on imports from the ChiComs.

84 posted on 04/17/2015 8:02:13 AM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (Those too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.)
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts

“we fix you up real good”...


85 posted on 04/17/2015 8:19:25 AM PDT by MeshugeMikey ("Never, Never, Never, Give Up," Winston Churchill ><>)
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To: FR_addict

If you were to pick a company to bust US unionism, it would be _____________________.


86 posted on 04/17/2015 9:37:55 AM PDT by polymuser ( Enough is enough)
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To: MeshugeMikey

To do major concrete work to plumbing ... it would necessitate removing all the contents of the store’s merchandise ...requiring closing. HUGE problem.


87 posted on 04/17/2015 9:46:14 AM PDT by geologist ("If you love me, keep my commands" .... John 14 :15)
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To: geologist

Indeed!


88 posted on 04/17/2015 9:51:21 AM PDT by MeshugeMikey ("Never, Never, Never, Give Up," Winston Churchill ><>)
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To: geologist

Some employees believe that the stores were closed because of worker protests for higher pay.

Employees of the Pico Rivera store were among the first to hold Black Friday protests in 2012.

“This is the first store that went on strike,” an employee told CBS Los Angeles. “This is the first store in demanding changes for Walmart.”

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/wal-mart-suddenly-closes-stores-2015-4#ixzz3Xaao63Qe

oh oh


89 posted on 04/17/2015 10:35:53 AM PDT by MeshugeMikey ("Never, Never, Never, Give Up," Winston Churchill ><>)
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To: FR_addict; Osage Orange

The one in Florida isn’t very old. I don’t go there often but its only a couple miles from where I’m at. Its always packed.


90 posted on 04/17/2015 10:46:33 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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bttt


91 posted on 04/18/2015 7:19:18 AM PDT by deport
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To: MeshugeMikey

Currently in the news McDonald’s employees are picketing for $15.00 an hour wages.

These jobs were always meant for the workers not skilled in a profession, but good entry level jobs for youth, or anyone willing to be trained to serve the company. It would result in all help being fired and going to self serve or robots, or order boards at all the tables. Who can/would pay $5.00 or more for a hamburger from McDonalds?


92 posted on 04/18/2015 9:55:34 AM PDT by geologist (1)
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To: geologist

The so called minimum wage was 1.25...when I got my very first job scraping gum off the sidewalk in front of the local Woolworth’s store.

hey....lets make it 100 Bucks even.... and destroy the economy in one fell swoop


93 posted on 04/18/2015 9:59:33 AM PDT by MeshugeMikey ("Never, Never, Never, Give Up," Winston Churchill ><>)
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To: geologist

Who can/would pay $5.00 or more for a hamburger from McDonalds?

***************

Don’t know who would/could pay $5 for a McD burger but they
do have some that are priced over $4.


94 posted on 04/18/2015 10:00:54 AM PDT by deport
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To: MichaelCorleone
This is somehow connected to union thuggery I bet.

Concrete flushed down the toilets?

95 posted on 04/18/2015 10:05:09 AM PDT by St_Thomas_Aquinas ( Isaiah 22:22, Matthew 16:19, Revelation 3:7)
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To: FR_addict

After reading this a few days ago, I emailed a friend of mine, whose wife is in Walmart sr mgmt; here’s her reply:

“Union stuff is stopped this way by Walmart.”


96 posted on 04/20/2015 5:25:46 AM PDT by Carriage Hill ( Some days you're the windshield, and some days you're just the bug.)
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To: MeshugeMikey; All

When in high school, living in Oklahoma, I worked at TG&Y variety store for .50 cents an hour.

The increase in wages from bottom to top has changed dramatically.

We have lived during the best of times in America, and we tend to take whatever the government decides/does, LIGHTLY. Mores the pity.

We are being dumbed down every day ...

Apparently the citizens are not paying attention.

IS IT TOO LATE to right the ship of State?

PRAY. ... Nothing is too hard for God!

“STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES.” Gomer Pile.


97 posted on 04/20/2015 10:44:35 AM PDT by geologist (1)
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To: geologist

Nothing is too hard for God!

His Sovereignty never ends!!


98 posted on 04/20/2015 11:05:18 AM PDT by MeshugeMikey ("Never, Never, Never, Give Up," Winston Churchill ><>)
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