Walmart deserves to go out of business!

And I do agree with you but I also think that it's sad that we are put in that position that that would happen if walmart did not exist anymore.
It's like the lesser of two evils...
And wouldn't someone or something else stand in if walmart goes under? Hopefully it would be something better and not more of the same...or...worse.

 

If that is the only job you are able to get and you need to put food on your table........sometimes you need to do what you need to do.

Is it right, of course not but the reality is that in most cases people need the job and take it.

They pay minimum wage so if the issue is that across the board it is too low then it needs to be addressed not with walmart but with the government who sets minimum wage. They also set employment standards so then again if there is discrimination that can be shown it can be dealt with through labour boards.

 

They are extremely profitable so as long as they stay that way there is not one company (retailer) that I can think of that could come close to the capital require to even offer a buy out.

 

But would small businesses come back? Possibly? I'm not sure on that...maybe, maybe not.

 

I doubt that they would. Most would not be able to raise the capital to start up again and the market in general has changed. Most people want one stop shopping for basic needs. There is also the issue of volume purchasing which smaller business can not do and that is one of the few ways that you can control pricing.

 

At the same time a lot of small businesses have shot themselves in the foot. I live near Big Bear, a mountain community famous for its ski slopes. The local businesses price gouge and treat their customers like crap, but they can do that because they're the only game in town.

However recently (last 10yrs or so) some of the chain stores moved in, bringing both lower prices and better customer service. Now suddenly the mom/pop places are, desperate for our business and advertising their "Great Customer Service" and lowering their prices. To me it's too little to late, and many of us welcome the chain stores.

 

Most Wal-Mart employees make double minimum wage. And honestly, the people who take those jobs could be doing a lot worse

 

We have a lot of small business around here, we have some bigger name stores but a lot of the big stores left a long time ago. There used to be a lot of big department stores here (REAL department stores, with many floors of retail space) like Macy's and the like, Best Buy left the city last year, A new Marshall's just opened above a Panera Bread, but the third floor above it (where the best buy was) is still vacant....a lot of empty highrise, well empty buildings (is a six/seven story building a highrise, not sure but anyway) where department stores and even factories used to be (the building I live in used to be a clothing factory....there's actually a shitload of century old sewing needles stuck down in between the cracks in my hardwood floor!)

I'm afraid this country is on the decline.

 

People said the same thing about F.W. Woolworth.

 

Economic times have changed since then and the worth of this company far exceeds the capital most major retailers could raise.

It could happen but it is not probable.

 

People said the same thing in the era of Woolworth.

 

Well, for me it's not too hard to get most of what I want and need from A- the co-op (natural foods and products) from hubby's work and B- farmer's markets, city markets, amish markets- whatever.. local grown items that are often lower in price than walmart anyway and a lot healthier and taste better etc...
and C- there's a local discount store literally 1 block from my house (only one of them exists) that sells things- usually health food items whose expiration dates may be within a few months (non perishables) for greatly discounted prices.. they don't have produce or supplements but that's where the markets and co-ops come in.

For what I can't get at those places, I go to Target now and then (for the same reason some ppl go to walmart.. the prices), but I honestly can usually get everything I need from the other three.

Or direct from the seller online- such as mountain rose herbs. You can buy in bulk- herbs, supplements, tea etc... at very cheap prices and also things are HEALTHY.

In any case, I know I am lucky w the co-op through hubby's work and the prices I can get through that..and I also know I have a bit more time than some ppl to go around to diff markets and stuff. But, regardless, for me it is not hard.

 

True enough and time will tell.

 

And if anyone wants to know why I really hate walmart- I did go in one not too long ago and I looked at their produce and I happened to see asparagus (I love asparagus and was actually considering buying some there) and then I picked it up...and they were charging just as much (almost) as anywhere else and the stalks were... disgusting. Old, dried out. I couldn't believe anyone would even dream of selling something like that. Then I looked at the sweet potatoes...then garlic... more of the same...
Unbelievable in my opinion.

 

yeah Walmart is probably the last place I'd buy any kind of perishable food.

 

Economic times have changed in the past 10 years. China and India have become developed and more prosperous and their labor costs have risen. Walmart no longer has the super-cheap import advantage to capitalize off of like it did in the 90s. Walmart is trying to use technology to its advantage now to stay ahead of the competition.

I think Walmart's road ahead is much tougher than before. They had an easy go of toppling all the rural smaller businesses in the 90s with the cheap imports approach. They are having a more difficult time now in the suburbs and urban areas because there is stiffer competition to deal with than small rural family-run stores, such as Target and the dollar stores which now sometimes have better prices than Walmart. Walmart has a relatively high overhead and needs to keep sales at a high volume to compensate for it.

 

Yea... I thought about calling the health department.

But I wasn't really that concerned. Figured anyone to actually buy that stuff would deserve to eat it.

 

Target... God, I sound like I'm always giving Target props but okay.. I am always giving Target props. Their prices are just as good as walmart and oh yea... their stuff is better. I actually LIKE a lot of their clothes- and toys- and stickers and beauty stuff and etc etc..
and oh yes, the dollar store...
no reason to ever go to walmart price wise.

 

perhaps thats the reason walmart patrons have mutated into some new species.

 

Best. Post. Ever.

I think you figured it out.

:2thumbsup: