Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

Cpayne -- Just to clarify, you'd be fine if Wal-Mart bought the E-Cow (plus some, but in that area) lot and put up a Wal-Mart?

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

The intangible effect Walmart has is the one that really bothers me.

Cities and towns lose their culture and feel when a corporate store takes over the local market. The small mom and pop places go out of business, taking away years of tradition from the place.

Its sad IMO to lose that. I love mom and pop places, so for that reason I really dont like Walmart. Thats why I dont feel bad spending the extra buck going to independently owned stores.

I dont buy the whole jobs argument though. Financially speaking they have the right to do whatever they want. Plus their services are convenient for all. As long as there isnt some sort of hike in Walmart prices after small businesses are run out of town. Predatory pricing is effed up.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=hooskins;687867]The intangible effect Walmart has is the one that really bothers me.

Cities and towns lose their culture and feel when a corporate store takes over the local market. The small mom and pop places go out of business, taking away years of tradition from the place.

Its sad IMO to lose that. I love mom and pop places, so for that reason I really dont like Walmart. Thats why I dont feel bad spending the extra buck going to independently owned stores.

I dont buy the whole jobs argument though. Financially speaking they have the right to do whatever they want. Plus their services are convenient for all. As long as there isnt some sort of hike in Walmart prices after small businesses are run out of town. Predatory pricing is effed up.[/quote]

Great post. I feel the exact same way. I hate Walmart on so many levels.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=Daseal;687840]Cpayne -- Just to clarify, you'd be fine if Wal-Mart bought the E-Cow (plus some, but in that area) lot and put up a Wal-Mart?[/quote]

Sure, why not? It's not my land, so I have no say in it.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

You guys are too emotional to cut it in the business world. Fearing change. Getting attached to communities, cultures, mom & pop stores, blah blah blah.

It's business. A lower price fills a big consumer need. Walmart does things a lot more efficiently. That simple.

They can treat their employees like dirt because their employees are cashiers, stockroom workers and greeters, they're easily replaced. You don't exactly need a Harvard degree to get a job at Wal-Mart. They give people jobs, they give people lower prices, and they don't focus on service.

Who the hell needs good customer service when shopping for a T-shirt or a frozen pizza, anyway?

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=Schneed10;687953]You guys are too emotional to cut it in the business world. Fearing change. Getting attached to communities, cultures, mom & pop stores, blah blah blah.

It's business. A lower price fills a big consumer need. Walmart does things a lot more efficiently. That simple.

They can treat their employees like dirt because their employees are cashiers, stockroom workers and greeters, they're easily replaced. You don't exactly need a Harvard degree to get a job at Wal-Mart. They give people jobs, they give people lower prices, and they don't focus on service.

[B]Who the hell needs good customer service when shopping for a T-shirt or a frozen pizza, anyway?[/B][/quote]


Exactly I don't for those items but in other departments it is nice to have a friendly knowledgeable person to help you. Like in camping, electroincis, auto, home improvement, the garden shop, etc...

Maybe I worked in the hotel industry to long but I value good service above a cheap price. Good service/ advise can actually save you money. I love to have someone who is honestly steering me towards a good product that I won't have to replace in a couple years because I went with the weaker product cause I knew no better.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=mredskins;687957]Exactly I don't for those items but in other departments it is nice to have a friendly knowledgeable person to help you. Like in camping, electroincis, auto, home improvement, the garden shop, etc...

Maybe I worked in the hotel industry to long but I value good service above a cheap price. Good service/ advise can actually save you money.[B] I love to have someone who is honestly steering me towards a good product that I won't have to replace in a couple years because I went with the weaker product cause I knew no better.[/B][/quote]

Heck that's what you get here from all your friendly neighborhood WP'ers!

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=CRedskinsRule;687969]Heck that's what you get here from all your friendly neighborhood WP'ers![/quote]

I like Schneed and i generally agree with him, but i feel like if WM treated the workers better they would attract better workers.

But he is right, you dont need people skills or anything to work there. And he's right about the business world too. But in a sense, that is wrong, because many people like myself take pride in tradition and family businesses and the like, are part of our lives.

Case in point, Walmart is selling cars in Texas. True story. My family, as some of you know, have operated a car dealership for close to 30 years. It's gave us everything we have. If Walmart started selling cars here, we would be out of business in no time...

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=SolidSnake84;687973]I like Schneed and i generally agree with him, but i feel like if WM treated the workers better they would attract better workers.

But he is right, you dont need people skills or anything to work there. And he's right about the business world too. But in a sense, that is wrong, because many people like myself take pride in tradition and family businesses and the like, are part of our lives.

[B]Case in point, Walmart is selling cars in Texas. True story. My family, as some of you know, have operated a car dealership for close to 30 years. It's gave us everything we have. If Walmart started selling cars here, we would be out of business in no time..[/B].[/quote]

They have a word for that Carmax.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=mredskins;687980]They have a word for that Carmax.[/quote]

It would be funny if they really are the same company. Thing is, they rip people off just as bad.

Dealerships as a whole are shady, but Carmax straight up robs fools. My friend Evan bought a car out of the valley trader last year, and was stuck with his old one, so feeling that he had nothing to lose, sold it to carmax because he wanted the cash.

It was a 2006 Chevy Silverado pickup. They gave him only 1,200 dollars for it. It had a Kelly Blue Book value of almost 8500 at "Fair" condition....Heck "Poor" was almost 5,000.

Guarantee you they took that same pickup and put it out on the lot for probably 12,000.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=SolidSnake84;688043][B]It would be funny if they really are the same company. Thing is, they rip people off just as bad[/B].

Dealerships as a whole are shady, but Carmax straight up robs fools. My friend Evan bought a car out of the valley trader last year, and was stuck with his old one, so feeling that he had nothing to lose, sold it to carmax because he wanted the cash.

It was a 2006 Chevy Silverado pickup. They gave him only 1,200 dollars for it. It had a Kelly Blue Book value of almost 8500 at "Fair" condition....Heck "Poor" was almost 5,000.

Guarantee you they took that same pickup and put it out on the lot for probably 12,000.[/quote]

that is why I mentioned them.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=SolidSnake84;688043]It would be funny if they really are the same company. Thing is, they rip people off just as bad.

Dealerships as a whole are shady, but Carmax straight up robs fools. My friend Evan bought a car out of the valley trader last year, and was stuck with his old one, so feeling that he had nothing to lose, sold it to carmax because he wanted the cash.

It was a 2006 Chevy Silverado pickup. [B]They gave him only 1,200 dollars for it. It had a Kelly Blue Book value of almost 8500 at "Fair" condition....Heck "Poor" was almost 5,000.[/B]

Guarantee you they took that same pickup and put it out on the lot for probably 12,000.[/quote]

Thats called making an offer and some fool taking it.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=Schneed10;687953]They can treat their employees like dirt because their employees are cashiers, stockroom workers and greeters, they're easily replaced. You don't exactly need a Harvard degree to get a job at Wal-Mart. They give people jobs, they give people lower prices, and they don't focus on service.[/quote]

I suspect they don't treat their employees much worse on the whole than similar type employees get treated in the industry in general.. They just have a lot more employees and are a very easy target.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

Out of control virus:
[yt]ZmUSk231WFE[/yt]

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=saden1;688118]Out of control virus:
[yt]ZmUSk231WFE[/yt][/quote]

Man that's freaking epic. Now it just needs to be set to the 28 days later track "In a heartbeat".

If that map is true, which i suspect it is, then the world will be consumed within 10-15 years.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

I love living in downtown areas, too bad it's so much money.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Went to Walmart during lunch. I really really like that place. Everyone there was super nice too. I even had a short conversation with the cashier about the weather.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]I do have 2 problems with Walmart. [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]1) the parking lot usually sucks, but it is better than having to go to 3 different stores and deal with parking 3 times[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]2) They always use WAY too many bags. I usually try to go through self checkout but this Walmart didnt have one. I got some frozen mixed fruit, a tooth brush (twin pack), and 1 bottle of multi vitamins. 3 bags. She double bagged the mix fruit and put the tooth brush and multi vitamin in a separate bag. Everything could have gone in 1 bag easy and the frozen fruit wasnt even heavy or real big or anything. This always happens and just pisses me off, i cant stand all these extra bags. [/FONT][/COLOR]

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=SolidSnake84;688043]It would be funny if they really are the same company. Thing is, they rip people off just as bad.

Dealerships as a whole are shady, but Carmax straight up robs fools. My friend Evan bought a car out of the valley trader last year, and was stuck with his old one, so feeling that he had nothing to lose, sold it to carmax because he wanted the cash.

[B]It was a 2006 Chevy Silverado pickup. They gave him only 1,200 dollars for it. It had a Kelly Blue Book value of almost 8500 at "Fair" condition....Heck "Poor" was almost 5,000.[/B]

Guarantee you they took that same pickup and put it out on the lot for probably 12,000.[/quote]

That's called being a retard. Who sells a car without looking at the blue book value?

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=Schneed10;688202]That's called being a retard. Who sells a car without looking at the blue book value?[/quote]


LOL! I wan to say that but didn't want to be rude. you will always get the most money for your car if yo usell it yourself. Generally Carmax will give you the most money for your car then a normal dealership.

Carmax loves cars that are late model and under 60k miles.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=mredskins;688231]LOL! I wan to say that but didn't want to be rude. you will always get the most money for your car if yo usell it yourself. Generally Carmax will give you the most money for your car then a normal dealership.

Carmax loves cars that are late model and under 60k miles.[/quote]

he didnt want the hassle of selling himself, and was just looking to unload it.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=SolidSnake84;688241]he didnt want the hassle of selling himself, and was just looking to unload it.[/quote]
he could've listed it on CL and gotten twice the money that very day

unless people were skeptical why it was so low

let me know when he has a garage sale.. or another car

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=Schneed10;688202]That's called being a retard. Who sells a car without looking at the blue book value?[/quote]

Hell I sold a truck with over 210,000 that would not even start for $600.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

Tell your buddy I have a slightly used tooth brush I'll let go for a good deal.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=SolidSnake84;688241]he didnt want the hassle of selling himself, and was just looking to unload it.[/quote]

Maybe so, but doing due diligence to find out what your car is worth isn't that hard, and if he was willing to sell it like that, you can't blame CarMax for taking advantage of it. You can get blue book, at least the ball park figure, from the bank, library or online fairly easily.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=SolidSnake84;688241]he didnt want the hassle of selling himself, and was just looking to unload it.[/quote]


They probably offered him that amount because of their inventory, if they are load up on a certain type of car that has low demand they will offer you a ridiculously low number in hopes you either bite which means they will jus tbring it to auction or you take your car somewhere else. Kelly Blue book is just one of the factors they use in determining what they will give you.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=Trample the Elderly;687427]Violence may not be the best option, but it's still an option. Look up chemical moltov cocktail. It's basically sulfuric acid and potassium chlorate. The good thing is that no one will see the bottle being lit, just throw and go. You're not going to win against them any other way. They'll just line the pockets of the local county board, then they'll import cheap sweat shop BS to undercut Americans. [B]I saw the same thing happen in Ashland.[/B] Now they want to put one up on a civil war battle field.[/quote]Was just shown this in a Business Ethics class:

[url=http://www.documentaryfilms.net/Reviews/StoreWars/]Store Wars: When Wal-Mart Comes to Town - A Review[/url]

I don't have anything nice to say about it, so I won't say anything at all.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

we watched a similar thing when i was in economics during my college years. The documentary that was brand new at that time was called "WalMart: The High Cost of Low Prices".

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

lol Schneed I dont fear change. In fact I love change, but I value things likes cultures, new ways of thought, etc. What exactly does Walmart have to offer? A culture of low prices, lol?

Sure some people care only about price, and I do too for certain products. However I rather get a real pizza from a place that has been around for 10 plus years and has really developed a good product. A good product to me is not just price, but quality. And Schneed, as someone who understands consumer preferences, I would hope you know that each consumer has his/her own preferences. Part of my utility curve accounts for these "intangibles"

I guess I am an outlier, but that doesnt mean I am getting attached. I just am willing to pay extra for what I want. Also if you note I clearly said I dont care about how they treat their employees.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[URL="http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109315/fortune-500-2010?mod=career-leadership"]Forbes Top 20 Companies[/URL]

[IMG]http://l.yimg.com/a/p/fi/28/75/77.jpg[/IMG]
Photo: Wal-Mart

1. Wal-Mart Stores
Rank: 1 (Previous Rank: 2)
Revenues ($ millions): 408,214.0
CEO: Michael T. Duke

The mega-retailer didn't have a whole lot to complain about in fiscal 2010. Profits were up and, thanks to its sales, the company once again climbed to the top of the Fortune 500. Same-store sales were about flat for the year, but compared with Target's 2.5% decline, flat is good.

Most remarkable was Wal-Mart's image overhaul. It helped that former CEO Lee Scott beefed up health care coverage for employees, thought more about the environment and became a public presence. Certain critics will never be placated and fiscal first-quarter results weren't the greatest. But there's no denying Scott left new CEO Mike Duke a company in fighting form.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

I'd like to know what type of Mom & Pop stores that Wall Mart is running out of business because I hear that arguement all the time.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=firstdown;688553]I'd like to know what type of Mom & Pop stores that Wall Mart is running out of business because I hear that arguement all the time.[/quote]

Down in Atmore, there's a store called "Joe's Grocery". It's been there probably 35 years...ran by an older man and his son's family. They know everyone that comes there, have kids' pictures up on their bulletin board, stuff like that.

Probably everybody worked there at 1 time while they were in high school, etc.

If Walmart ever came to town, it would be out of business, and that's how walmart wants it.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

Well first, lets figure this out by analyzing Walmart. All of Walmart's products are provided at a very low cost to consumers. And Walmart sells anything and everything.

Any store that sells food, clothes, medicines, supplies, electronics, etc. So any store.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

Any store will be "run out" of business.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=SolidSnake84;688562]Down in Atmore, there's a store called "Joe's Grocery". It's been there probably 35 years...ran by an older man and his son's family. They know everyone that comes there, have kids' pictures up on their bulletin board, stuff like that.

Probably everybody worked there at 1 time while they were in high school, etc.

If Walmart ever came to town, it would be out of business, and that's how walmart wants it.[/quote]

You say that, but they'd be out of business because that's how the townspeople want it. It's en vogue right now to hate on Wal-Mart, but people vote with their feet everyday, and they're taking their asses to Wal-Mart. There's nothing wrong with that, people just can't have it both ways.

This whole, Wal-Mart ends small businesses argument is getting really old. Just don't go to the Wal-Mart, go to the smaller store. It's not really that difficult. If that's your concern, go to Joe's Grocery and not Wal-Mart. If it's really that big of a deal to the rest of the community, they wouldn't go to Wal-Mart either.

It's not Wal-Mart's fault that they can offer a lower price.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=hooskins;688498]lol Schneed I dont fear change. In fact I love change, but I value things likes cultures, new ways of thought, etc. What exactly does Walmart have to offer? A culture of low prices, lol?

Sure some people care only about price, and I do too for certain products. However I rather get a real pizza from a place that has been around for 10 plus years and has really developed a good product. A good product to me is not just price, but quality. And Schneed, as someone who understands consumer preferences, I would hope you know that each consumer has his/her own preferences. Part of my utility curve accounts for these "intangibles"

I guess I am an outlier, but that doesnt mean I am getting attached. I just am willing to pay extra for what I want. Also if you note I clearly said I dont care about how they treat their employees.[/quote]

Yeah, I wasn't just addressing you, I was responding to a few posts from a few people, so not all of that applied to you.

I get what you're saying, sometimes I like some personal attention when I go to buy something too. Like electronics or computer equipment, sometimes I need a few answers. But most of what Wal-Mart sells requires no customer service, the consumer is perfectly capable of self-selecting. Tube socks, frozen pizza, tennis balls, a Justin Bieber CD, etcetera. Nobody needs help with the lion's share of the stuff Wal-Mart sells.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=hooskins;688611]Any store will be "run out" of business.[/quote]

The reason all those stores will be run out of business is they hold no competitive advantage over Wal-Mart.

As I said, most of the stuff Wal-Mart sells requires no customer service, so the consumer selects the retailer simply based on price.

Some mom & pop places can hang with a Wal-Mart, if they offer service so great that it outweighs the price difference. If you're talking about a mom & pop consumer electronics store, they pretty much need to come to your house and set it up for you. Because these days, most consumers are perfectly capable of getting online and doing their own product research. The "expert" at the store is rendered obsolete.

Culture. Pffft.

Our culture is evolving.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=Schneed10;688626]The reason all those stores will be run out of business is they hold no competitive advantage over Wal-Mart.

As I said, most of the stuff Wal-Mart sells requires no customer service, so the consumer selects the retailer simply based on price.

Some mom & pop places can hang with a Wal-Mart, if they offer service so great that it outweighs the price difference. If you're talking about a mom & pop consumer electronics store, they pretty much need to come to your house and set it up for you. Because these days, most consumers are perfectly capable of getting online and doing their own product research. The "expert" at the store is rendered obsolete.

Culture. Pffft.

Our culture is evolving.[/quote]


I love capitalism but Walmart is cut-throat capitalism. It gives everyone else a bad name. Walmart is no different than a plantation or a robber barron. Yes there are good things about the company, but there were good things about pirate ships too.

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

i see a whole lot of bitching going on here. so how come every time i pass Walmart, the parking lot is full? i personally do not shop there. but there has been talk about one basically across the street from my development. as far as the mom and pop stores, i know Walmart can employ many more people then the smaller stores that they replace. so why the feelings towards the older, smaller stores? is it purely sentimental?

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=dmek25;688648]i see a whole lot of bitching going on here. so how come every time i pass Walmart, the parking lot is full? i personally do not shop there. but there has been talk about one basically across the street from my development. as far as the mom and pop stores, i know Walmart can employ many more people then the smaller stores that they replace. so why the feelings towards the older, smaller stores? is it purely sentimental?[/quote]

The US gov borrows money from China to finance wars without end. The gov also pushed through free trade agreements. Remember that giant sucking sound? The Chinese devalue their currency making their exports cheaper. All of our factories went to China. (See the sucking sound) They (the Communist) use slave labor to export cheap BS products that kill people in the US and undercut American jobs. Happy tax day. Did I leave anything out?

Re: Solid Snake Hates: Walmart
 

[quote=dmek25;688648]i see a whole lot of bitching going on here. so how come every time i pass Walmart, the parking lot is full? i personally do not shop there. but there has been talk about one basically across the street from my development. as far as the mom and pop stores, i know Walmart can employ many more people then the smaller stores that they replace. so why the feelings towards the older, smaller stores? is it purely sentimental?[/quote]

Yes, i think the feelings are mostly sentimental. But trust me, if that was YOUR family business, and your livelihood depended on it, as did your children's, you'd feel differently about Walmart trying to put you out of business..