is walmart evil?

[Skyroket]

Perhaps you need a better word than "derisive?" Not sure what your point is. Perhaps you mean buying Wally Mart products is bad for the nation? Clarify please.

Remember, they are not necessarily Wally Mart (brand) products. They are products made by many companies that employ many people.

You want WM to die off and put hundreds of thousands of people out of work?

Yes i stated derisive as bad action to a nation. Have you seen who works at Walmart? No seriously. How many people work at single walmart store? Im sure that number could be scattered around private sector if there were no walmart. And don't forget walmart not only took away grocery store but gathered other services under its roof. Photo, lube shops, pharmaceutical, Optometric, hardware utility and gardening, and if im not mistaken they have medical offices now as well as dental. What else did they take what private sector could have done.

 

[mikedt]

I remember when I was a kid when Wal-mart made a big deal about selling American made products. Then it came out that the majority of their products were actually made in China. They got tons of crap for it. Then no one cared.

It's not only apparel and electronics. There's a lot of food that you eat comes from China as well you know. Often it's cookies and candy products, and other non-perishables. And toiletries as well often comes from China these days.

 

[A.Nonymous]

Yes i stated derisive as bad action to a nation. Have you seen who works at Walmart? No seriously. How many people work at single walmart store? Im sure that number could be scattered around private sector if there were no walmart. And don't forget walmart not only took away grocery store but gathered other services under its roof. Photo, lube shops, pharmaceutical, Optometric, hardware utility and gardening, and if im not mistaken they have medical offices now as well as dental. What else did they take what private sector could have done.

Umm, Wal-mart is a private sector company. Very confused.

 

[Bob Maxey]

Yes i stated derisive as bad action to a nation. Have you seen who works at Walmart? No seriously. How many people work at single walmart store? Im sure that number could be scattered around private sector if there were no walmart. And don't forget walmart not only took away grocery store but gathered other services under its roof. Photo, lube shops, pharmaceutical, Optometric, hardware utility and gardening, and if im not mistaken they have medical offices now as well as dental. What else did they take what private sector could have done.

Why do you think this is wrong? Should you not be able to sell whatever you want to sell in your store? Perhaps those "Mom and Pop" stores should not be allowed to sell pencils because it hurts the stationary store; perhaps a M&P grocery store should not be able to sell anything except groceries.

Wally Mart is a retailer and hats off to them if they can save me some cash on a pair of glasses, a case of canned tuna or a hammer.

As for the workers, I do not know how many employees a typical Wally Mart has. I do know those that work there are perhaps at WM because there are no other jobs available. I knew an older gent that wanted to work there because there were no other options available at the time. He was older and unemployable, so he was looking at WM for a job because he still had value to employers.

It would be interesting to know how many people working at Wally Mart work there because there were no other jobs available. I am sure you believe those people could find jobs outside of Wally Mart, but do you actually know or simply making assumptions?

 

[Bob Maxey]

As ExtremeNerd stated, just because it's a small business doesn't mean it's a good one. There's plenty of small businesses that are far more corrupt and rip customers off more than Walmart does.

Take liquor stores for example. Almost all the small ones are small business "mom and pop" type stores. A majority of small liquor stores markup their prices ridiculously higher than larger liquor chains and Walmart (if you're in a state that allows full liquor sales in grocery stores). You get the same exact product, but WAY more expensive at most small shops. In this case, I would say the small business is the "evil" for ripping people off to get the same exact product.

As others have pointed out, quality is what matters in a lot of items. Walmart is notorious for selling cheap stuff. That's where stores like Whole Foods and farmer's markets come in that sells quality items as a substitute. Many people are willing to pay much more for items of higher quality. But no one is willing to pay more for the same poor quality item for no reason.

I think most of us can tell good quality when we see it. But sometimes, you do not need prime quality products, so Wally Mart is a great place to shop. I often buy plastic cups, sugar and salt at WM because the local stores charge far more.

Here in Utah, the state owns all liquor stores. No real bargains to be found.

My guess is if WM were to close up shop in Utah, prices would rise and those stores complaining about Wally Marts tactics would have all kinds of excuses as to why their prices went up.

 

[EarlyMon]

My guess is if WM were to close up shop in Utah, prices would rise and those stores complaining about Wally Marts tactics would have all kinds of excuses as to why their prices went up.

I have a great response for that -

...do you actually know or simply making assumptions?

Well, you did say you were guessing on that first quote.

You surely seem to like this thread, Bob.

A lot.

 

[Bob Maxey]

You surely seem to like this thread, Bob.

A lot.

I do . . . for several very good reasons.

 

[EarlyMon]

I do . . . for several very good reasons.

Then I'll assume that just answered my previous question until informed otherwise.

 

[EarlyMon]

...The vast majority of U.S. companies are decent and honorable.

...

By the way, be nice to Martha Stewart. Bob loves that gal and soon our relationship will change. Be nice to MS because you have never met her

Martha Stewart Convicted on All Four Counts | Fox News

Martha Stewart was convicted Friday of obstructing justice and lying to the government about a superbly timed stock sale

 

[Skyroket]

Umm, Wal-mart is a private sector company. Very confused.

i refer private sector as for individual private business not as corporate.

 

[EarlyMon]

i refer private sector as for individual private business not as corporate.

Private sector means all business, not the government.

I think I understand your point, but you must understand that using the term that way is like calling a tv a radio.

Private sector is a standard term for its own thing.

 

[Skyroket]

Private sector means all business, not the government.

I think I understand your point, but you must understand that using the term that way is like calling a tv a radio.

Private sector is a standard term for its own thing.

well, is that difficult to understand what are talking here about.

 

[A.Nonymous]

i refer private sector as for individual private business not as corporate.

Not sure what you're saying. Many "mom and pop" shops are technically corporations for legal purposes. Where is the cut off?

 

[zuben el genub]

Martha Stewart Convicted on All Four Counts | Fox News





I may agree with your first quoted statement there, Bob old chap.

I think everyone in America holds Martha in a special esteem reserved for a unique minority.

NO WAY!!! I live the way it pleases me and not what any social type arbiter has to say. Most of her stuff is kitsch anyway.

 

[EarlyMon]

NO WAY!!! I live the way it pleases me and not what any social type arbiter has to say. Most of her stuff is kitsch anyway.

Do you not find that Ms. Stewart is a part of a unique minority?

Do you hold that opinion in your own esteem?

 

[Speed Daemon]

Not sure what you're saying. Many "mom and pop" shops are technically corporations for legal purposes. Where is the cut off?

Are they?

Not according to the Republican Party when it was arguing against allowing Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% expiring. Their numbers counted heavily on every single "small business" being taxed under personal income tax rules, which means they have to be sole proprietorships or partnerships in order to have that tax status.

There can only be one correct answer. Altering the story to make one's side appear better under different circumstances is less than honest, is it not?

Looking at it from a different direction, if a so-called "mom and pop shop" moves from being a sole proprietorship to being a corporation, then maybe that's when it ceases to be a "mom and pop shop". IJS

 

[Speed Daemon]

Competition is good for business AND consumers.

You know, I've heard (or seen) that claim more times than I can count, but I don't once recall hearing or seeing why that is supposedly true. IJS

I have also noticed that it's most often said in support of monopolistic businesses, where the goal is to end all competition. If a Wal-Mart big box store drives every other retailer in a town out of business and becomes a retail monopoly, precisely who or what is that good for?

 

[A.Nonymous]

Are they?

Not according to the Republican Party when it was arguing against allowing Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% expiring. Their numbers counted heavily on every single "small business" being taxed under personal income tax rules, which means they have to be sole proprietorships or partnerships in order to have that tax status.

There can only be one correct answer. Altering the story to make one's side appear better under different circumstances is less than honest, is it not?

Looking at it from a different direction, if a so-called "mom and pop shop" moves from being a sole proprietorship to being a corporation, then maybe that's when it ceases to be a "mom and pop shop". IJS

I've not crossed paths with very many small businesses that were DBAs. Every one I've seen that would traditionally be called a mom and pop (i.e. they've got at least a small store front somewhere) was an LLC, S Corp or some other sort of corporation. I have no doubt there are quite a few people working out of their homes that are simply DBAs. I'm also not a tax expert so I have no idea what the tax effect is of being an LLC vs a DBA. It changes things up for legal liability purposes, but I don't know what effect it has on tax status. Just because one is running a sole proprietorship doesn't mean they can't be a corporation. The company I used to work for employed 11 people (including me). It was a sole proprietorship. It was also a corporation. This is why the "corporations are evil and small businesses are good" argument is so wrong. Most small businesses are corporations as well.

 

[zuben el genub]

There are independents who are "small business"
Look at some repair shops - usually vacuums, etc.
Some sewing machines can only be bought from a local dealer who usually repairs all.
Fabric and niche cookware shops.
Used book stores.
Some beauticians and barbers.
Some special seamstresses - competition clothing for skaters and dancers.

 

[A.Nonymous]

It's also interesting to note that mom and pops are doing the exact same things Wal-mart is doing - trying to sell things at prices below their competitors but that's ok. The only difference is Wal-mart is more successful at it. So it's not the practice that's bad, but the fact that Wal-mart is able to succeed with it apparently.

 

[ExtremeNerd]

Are they?

Not according to the Republican Party when it was arguing against allowing Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% expiring. Their numbers counted heavily on every single "small business" being taxed under personal income tax rules, which means they have to be sole proprietorships or partnerships in order to have that tax status.

There can only be one correct answer. Altering the story to make one's side appear better under different circumstances is less than honest, is it not?

Looking at it from a different direction, if a so-called "mom and pop shop" moves from being a sole proprietorship to being a corporation, then maybe that's when it ceases to be a "mom and pop shop". IJS

Corporation status has nothing to do with the size of a business. It is a classification for tax purposes. It provides limited liability for owners, perpetual life, and an entity distinct from the individual owners. You can have a corporation with one shareholder for all the government cares.

There are different benefits for choosing between a sole proprietor/partnership or corporation, but size is not a factor.

 

[A.Nonymous]

You know, I've heard (or seen) that claim more times than I can count, but I don't once recall hearing or seeing why that is supposedly true. IJS

Well, in theory it is. Let's say you set up a lemonade stand and you sell lemonade for $5 a cup 'cuz you're going to gouge everyone in town. You are the only lemonade stand for miles and it's 110 degrees out there. Furthermore you water the stuff down so you can maximize your profits and, at the end of the day, you're basically selling lemon flavored water. Your customers are not that happy with this arrangement, but where else are they going to go? So you sit there twirling your mustache and thinking about tying a defenseless young lady to some train tracks when suddenly, I move in across the street.

Now, my goal with my lemonade stand is to make money. Charging $5 for lemon water doesn't really work for this scenario as we then have a monopoly with just two businesses instead of one. So, to have competition I have two options. I can either sell lemonade at a lower price than you (thus consumers benefit from the lower prices) or I can sell a higher quality of lemonade (customers benefit from better quality). In either scenario (or any combination of the two) the customers benefit. I have to either decrease my prices or increase my quality in order to lure customers away. I could decrease my prices and my quality or increase my quality and my prices. Either way, consumers benefit.

 

[lunatic59]

Let's say you set up a lemonade stand ... blah blah blah ... when suddenly, I move in across the street.

So, to have FAIR competition I have two options. ...

And there is the core of the question. You could also restrict your neighbors access to lemons or water. You could poison his/her well, spread rumors of child molestation and pay the neighborhood hoodlums to trash his stand.

I think we would all be in agreement that these would be "evil" at least to some extent. The question then becomes is Walmart behaving fairly as a corporate entity? If it's simply buying better because of economies of scale and efficient distribution, then that's pretty benign. If it's to harm their competitors or bankrupt vendors who don't play ball, then it's another story.

 

[LookSir,Droids]

Yes. Yes they are pure evil. And I don't even need to read the article because I've either already read it, or I've read something similar regarding this corporate giant. What's been said in this thread is always what has been said about Walmart. They are just gross. And the people that shop there are usually gross too.

It's unfortunate that a place like Walmart exists, but as long as people continue to shop there, it will only get worse. I hope what some said is true regarding shipping costs affecting where they buy their products, but I fear their strategy of "lowest possible production cost" is only there to offset such rising costs in the future. They plan ahead.

It wouldn't be as bad if they had some morals. Better employee benefits and less greed. It's really all greed. A company that skimps in so many ways to cut corners and make that extra dime CAN be a great thing if they put that money into making their company better. But Walmart just puts it directly into the pockets of it's owners and investors. Greedy greedy bastards.

 

[ExtremeNerd]

Yes. Yes they are pure evil. And I don't even need to read the article because I've either already read it, or I've read something similar regarding this corporate giant. What's been said in this thread is always what has been said about Walmart. They are just gross. And the people that shop there are usually gross too.

It's unfortunate that a place like Walmart exists, but as long as people continue to shop there, it will only get worse. I hope what some said is true regarding shipping costs affecting where they buy their products, but I fear their strategy of "lowest possible production cost" is only there to offset such rising costs in the future. They plan ahead.

It wouldn't be as bad if they had some morals. Better employee benefits and less greed. It's really all greed. A company that skimps in so many ways to cut corners and make that extra dime CAN be a great thing if they put that money into making their company better. But Walmart just puts it directly into the pockets of it's owners and investors. Greedy greedy bastards.

Please use any facts to back up your opinions.

How is any of what you stated any different from any other for profit entity? The reason business exist is FOR profit. Management's only goal is to maximize shareholder wealth (Business 101).

And for the record, want to see greed? Oil, Oil, tech, tech, tech, investment, investment, investment, tech, Wal-Mart.
Rank Company 2012 Profit (millions)
1 Exxon Mobil 41,060.0
2 Chevron 26,895.0
3 Apple 25,922.0
4 Microsoft 23,150.0
5 Ford Motor 20,213.0
6 J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. 18,976.0
7 American International Group 17,798.0
8 Wells Fargo 15,869.0
9 International Business Machines 15,855.0
10 Wal-Mart Stores 15,699.

There are far more "evil" entities out there.
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2012/performers/companies/profits/