...but not so much any more. I was getting sick to my stomach watching Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price (2005)

I already boycotted them for CD sales years ago because they'd sell "edited" albums, but still bought DVDs and everyday household items and prescriptions. I don't know any more... it's damn convenient and the prices are good, but holy crap what an asshole of a company!!

Watch that documentary and you'll probably think twice about it yourself! I didn't even want to watch it thinking it might change my attitude, but I'm glad I did.

I worked for them for a little over two years in a low level management spot. I can tell you from first-hand experience that a LOT of what is in that documentary is true.

My mother worked at Wal-Mart for 15 years after retiring, and she was always was complaining about how 'cheap' they were. And she wasn't referring to their merchandise.

I like Target. I think that they are a terrific store, from their merchandise to the stores' layout. Their workers are always well-trained, it doesn't take me an hour to find one since they seem to have plenty around at all times, and since my nephew works for them as an asset manager, I know that they are good to their employees. They also seem to actually have a good attitude towards their customers (shockingly). Their prices are very good as well.

I have one small WalMart near me, and I rarely go there since Target is closer. However, I do have some friends that live in upstate NY and swear by their Super WalMarts. I think that WalMart has created quite the niche for itself servicing rural areas.

I prefer Target, as well. There's one in College Point, just over the Whitestone Bridge. It's really convenient for me.

Just drove past it on several trips back and forth to JFK. God, I hate that ride.

I hate that they did away with the lay-a-way. But I still like it better than Kmart and Target. I always do my grocery shopping at Super Walmart and I get my Son's meds there.

Walmart is so close to me I could walk there if I wasn't so lazy.

They have, and there's nothing really wrong with that. It's their urban stores that are killing small town commerce.

On one hand, you have to admire them for making it so convenient and cheap for a lot of people. I just hate the way they go about doing it.

I have seen that documentary. But I am still a fan of Walmart. What they do with regards to employee health insurance and stuff is way better than what manufactures do in a majority of developing countries. How do you think the entire manufacturing sector works in Asian countries. Almost any electronic item you buy would have components from taiwan, malaysia, china etc. If you start boycotting products based upon the exploitative labor conditions, you would have none of the gadgets that you are used to.
Regarding the shutting down of local stores, why not?? It is a capitalistic setup - why would I want to pay a higher price for a product just because it is a traditional family owned business? I couldn't care less about that.
Regarding Walmart opening up america to chinese market, yeah, what else would you expect from a free market?

Why can't they do it with some integrity?? What? The blouse that's $15 would be $16? Big whoop. I don't get it. Target has managed to partner with famous designers to provide inexpensive and stylish items for their customers. And who doesn't love their wide aisles? They kick WalMart's ass IMO.

As for Super WalMart, I'm sure it's very convenient to have everything under one roof. Also, if you're in a rural area where there are not many alternatives, they can provide a great service.

Hey, Wal-Mart is now in China. I like it.

I saw this when it first came out on DVD a few years ago and it is an eye-opener. I enjoyed it as well

Wal-Mart is a horrible place to work for or shop at.

I agree Target has better stuff and is a much nicer environment, but I've always seen it's much more expensive.

I haven't seen this documentary but I plan on it as I'm a regular Wal-Mart shopper. Is it possible though that if some film maker wanted to target Target, K-Mart or any comparable store, they could dig up enough dirt to make a documentary? Again, I haven't seen the documentary JG is talking about so I apologize if my question is off line.

Yes it should be possible Blib, although not the same issues.

I like target only for one thing - red color scheme. It is pretty expensive.

Walmart rules!!!

As I said, I don't really shop much at WalMart, so I can't truly compare them, only by their Sunday ads. I find Target's health and beauty department to be far less expensive than CVS', where I previously shopped for those items. I also find them quite reasonable for cleaning products, school supplies, Halloween candy, etc. Perhaps their clothes are more expensive than WalMart's (like I said, I really am not much of a WalMart shopper), but I do find that the quality is quite high.

Wal-Mart likes to hire local contractors and then not pay them, forcing them out of business. A former teacher of mine found a way to get the IRS involved on the same side as a local contractor and beat them that way to get the guy's money.

Target has higher quality and better stores. The prices aren't that much different for most stuff and it is well worth it.

Actually, it's not even an option for me. There are no Wal-Marts in New York City. The closest ones are in White Plains and Eastern Long Island. But Targets are all over the place.

I don't know of this documentary. I have heard that they don't have good health coverage (is that true) and is it the way they treat their employees the issue?

I usually go there once a month at payday and stock up on shampoo, toiletries, coffee, paper items etc. I use to go more when I had my kids at home because for a person on a very tight budget, saving that extra $15/20 a month made a difference. I still go for some items because it is cheaper and I guess I can't break the habit. . Yet, I agree Target is much better, a little nicer but still not quite as cheap prices as Walmart.


TIS

Target definitely has better stuff, and is a little more expensive. It's just farther away from me. But who knows what their deal is, too... lol

Not to bore everyone to tears, but for instance. I buy the large bottle of contact lens wetting solution (ReNu) which, at regular stores is about 10.00. I get it at Walmart for 7 or 8 and there has been times it's been $6.00. Hair color, normally $10./$12...about 8 at Walmart. Not to mention large can of coffee which is between 6 -8 depending on what brand you buy. At the grocery store it's at least $10. OMG, am I really posting my grocery list. How sad is that?



TIS

Oh! Hey, TIS!!

Ha ha ha ha!! Yea I know. I'll post my "to-do" list if you like, to liven things up. LMAO


TIS

Our local "superstore" is an ASDA but they are now owned by these Wal-mart people!!

My wife shops there regularly.

Walmart and Asda are in league for years in UK.

I'm going by there today to get my oil changed. [sarcasm]I'm really looking forward to it[/sarcasm]

Employees of the Wal-Mart Super Store here are extraordinarily courteous. Anytime I ask employees where to find something, they will break off whatever they're doing and walk me right to the item. Here's an experience I like to tell about:

My wife and I were looking for a patio table and chairs. We found a nice set at WM, but we had no way to get it home in our little Civic. We thought of ordering it on their website, but shipping was too expensive. So we kept looking.

We went back to WM and, while looking at the set again, an employee in the garden department (not a supervisor or manager), cheerfully told us that, because one of the six chairs was missing, we could have the table and five chairs for half price. Swell, we said, but we had no way to get it home. She asked where we lived. When we told her we were about 1.5 miles away, she volunteered that her husband, who worked nearby, had a pickup truck, and she and he would deliver the set to us at 5 p.m. And they did--gratis.

I have a friend who's a senior WM officer at their headquarters. I asked the WM employee if it'd be ok for me to write to my friend about her exceptional courtesy and service (didn't want to get her in trouble if she'd stepped on a company rule). She said it'd be ok. I wrote to my friend, and asked to make sure that the WM CEO saw my e-mail.

Sure enough, we were in the store a couple weeks later and ran into the courteous employee. She told me that, at that morning's pre-opening pep meeting, the store manager read an e-mail from the CEO, praising her for her outstanding service to my wife and me. Now, that's what I call excellence.

BTW: Target permitted (or used to permit) company pharmacists not to fill "morning after" pill prescriptions if it offended their beliefs.

Great story, TB! There's some hope yet...

That is a nice story TB. I have not been exactly in your situation, but I have always found the employees, for the most part, to be friendly. On the other hand, my daughter, who goes to the same Walmart as I do on occasion, feels the total opposite. She says she can never get anyone to help her. Go figure. And she's very sweet and friendly herself, not the kind you'd want to shun.


TIS

TB, what you wrote about is an excellent employee, not an excellent store chain.