Thursday, May 21, 2009

Wal-Mart: Everyday Job Creator: 1,400 in May

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 13, 2009A new Walmart opens this month in Jacksonville, bringing 400 new jobs, savings for local shoppers and an increase in tax revenue to support the area’s economy. Nonprofit organizations will also benefit from the retailer’s ongoing charitable contributions and support for community projects. The Walmart, located at 10251 Shops Lane, will be open to customers at 8:15 a.m., Wednesday, May 20th.

MARICOPA, Ariz., May 15, 2009The new Walmart in Maricopa will celebrate its grand opening this week, bringing the community 320 new jobs, support for local organizations and Walmart’s unbeatable prices on a full line of groceries and general merchandise. The new store, located at 41650 W. Maricopa Casa Grande, will open at 8 a.m., Wednesday, May 20 and give local shoppers a glimpse at Walmart’s next generation of store design and customer experience.

CAMDEN, Ark., May 14, 2009A new Walmart opens this month in Camden, bringing 170 new jobs, savings for local shoppers and an increase in tax revenue to support the area’s economy. Nonprofit organizations will also benefit from the retailer’s ongoing charitable contributions and support for community projects. The Walmart, located at 950 California Ave., will be open to customers at 8 a.m., Wednesday.

WAL-MART MARKET TO BRING ABOUT 90 JOBS TO LARGO -- The 42,000-square-foot former Kash n' Karry in southwest Largo has been a sign of the harsh reality of the stark economic times. But things are looking up for the once-vacant building.

Scheduled to open as a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market on July 15, the store is seeking potential workers. Wal-Mart is looking to hire at least 90 people to staff the 24-hour, seven-day-a-week grocery store.

New Albuquerque Wal-Mart Hiring 420 -- Wal-Mart is hiring 420 people for its new Albuquerque Supercenter, which is scheduled to open July 15. "It's almost like bringing hope back to the community," said store manager Alberta Garcia. "When you have all these companies laying off people and here we are bringing 420 jobs in."

60 Comments:

At 5/21/2009 9:35 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey, I have a great idea! Let's unionize them!

Hard to say that without laughing out loud.

 
At 5/21/2009 9:40 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great news for a great company and great news for Americans. Funny how you never hear anything but negative-slanted news about WMT. I recently went to California on vacation to visit some family. My cousin, who is 26, asked me if I liked Walmart as we drove past a store. I said "yeah certainly," as the store has helped save Americans countless billions of dollars when they need it most, and she promptly replied "we pretty much think Walmart is the devil." Nothing to support her opinion, but that's what she believes. Perhaps its because her mom works at Target, or perhaps that's the typical attitude there in California. As for me, I love seeing the parking lot of the local Walmart full here in North Texas.

 
At 5/21/2009 10:05 AM, Blogger CastoCreations said...

Oh that damn Walmart...they're so eeeeveeeel. Providing jobs and stability.

I love my local Walmart. Nearly everyone there is friendly and helpful and it's almost always very clean. Not perfect, but no store is.

 
At 5/21/2009 10:07 AM, Blogger Hot Sam said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

 
At 5/21/2009 10:15 AM, Anonymous gettingrational said...

China's number one source of U.S. dollars is the low wage, minimal benefit conduit named Wal-Mart.

What has become of our expectations of China being a huge market for U.S. produced goods and services? This is not going to happen thus Wal-Mart offers a one way superhighway for the export of American jobs.

I read a comment at Seeking Alpha in response to a column by Peter Morici that highlighted the multiplier effect. To paraphase: The U.S. borrows money to create a job with the hope that as many as three other jobs are created. Why arn't U.S. dollars returning from China thought of as the same? The multiplier effect would be huge.

The complexities of the Chinese market for U.S. products (barriers) are now growing. I look at a Wal-Mart with disgust because it is the front for such a scam.

 
At 5/21/2009 10:35 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

gettinrational-

you say walmart offers a "one way superhighway for the export of American jobs." But businesses don't exist and operate for the purpose of employing Americans. They exist to generate profit for the owners, and Walmart accomplishes this with the ability to source products at a low cost and provide value to customers. Aren't American consumers better off with products of value and consumer surplus, or with pieces of paper with dead presidents?

 
At 5/21/2009 11:23 AM, Anonymous Cheech (in) Marin said...

A Walmart opening in China does not mean a Walmart in California must close.

Walmarts in China employ Chinese and sell stuff to Chinese and send profits to Americans.

Walmarts in California employ Americans, sell stuff to Americans, and send profits to Americans.

Walmart sends *no* American jobs overseas. If they buy their goods from abroad it's because US goods are too expensive. High taxes and unions sent our jobs overseas!

A high school dropout in Ohio operates a machine which makes plastic forks. Exactly how much pay and benefits do you think this guy deserves? What is the value of his labor to the company compared to his wages, health insurance, workman's comp, unemployment insurance, paid vacation, sick leave, and taxes that the US government and unions impose? If a company loses money on each employee, they lose lots of money and go out of business. Everyone loses their jobs.

When a new Walmart opened in Oakland, California 11,000 people lined up to apply for 400 jobs. Despite an extremely high cost of living, the low wages and benefits drew enough applications to keep HR busy for months.

Vallejo, California went bankrupt last year. Vallejo has lots of crime despite having THREE high-paying unionized police forces. The problem is that two of those police forces are retired.

 
At 5/21/2009 11:30 AM, Blogger QT said...

gettingrational,

Wallmart is not the sole distributor of products from China. Every other large chain also sells products from China...Loews, Home Depot, Target, Ralph Lauren, T.J.Maxx, etc.

Why is only Wallmart evil?

 
At 5/21/2009 12:01 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

gettingirrational,

Remind us all again, what was the effect on the U.S. unemployment rate during China's ascendency from poverty? What was the effect on U.S. manufacturing output?

Trade has never made anyone poorer!

 
At 5/21/2009 12:38 PM, Anonymous gettingrational said...

Let us revisit several basic economic concepts.

1. High value added jobs are high paying jobs.

2. When the government offers a stimulus plan it usually involves the mulitplier effect.

3. The mercantilist protects export producers and accumulaes foreign reserves or a proxy such as gold.

Does anyone think that the dollars that Wal-Mart ships to China will be returned to the U.S. for purchases of high value goods and services? This is not happening except for a few public relations purchases. The mercantilist surplus is used to purchase natural resources to build up the Chinese high value added industries. The dollars are not returning and this potentially huge mulitiplier effect, done without government borrowing, is a mere mirage for the U.S.

Don't worry about the lack of good paying jobs because one can always get a job a Wal-Mart and make up the difference in county, state and Federal transfer payments. Yikes, that is not what most of us want or believe in who visit this form regularly.

 
At 5/21/2009 12:58 PM, Blogger sethstorm said...

Funny how you never hear anything but negative-slanted news about WMT
...when it's truth.

"we pretty much think Walmart is the devil."
Hard to argue against that point even if you're not a Target employee, or don't live in California. Then again, they are the prototypical Benedict Arnold business.

That is why they get flak for China; they converted from being "as American as apple pie" to a Communist Party organ in function and devotion.

A Walmart opening in China does not mean a Walmart in California must close.
Ask some of WMT's former suppliers about what *they* had to close. That's close enough, and more damaging.

A high school dropout in Ohio operates a machine which makes plastic forks
How much value does he make if he were to be quickly re-trained to repair cash registers or automated teller machine? Not that I wouldnt be able find an answer in Ohio, but it is still a valid question.

As for the rest of it:

That is not an excuse for business to complain when they're no longer able to lord over a city.

for purchases of high value goods and services
Something foreign to China even in its imperial times.

 
At 5/21/2009 12:58 PM, Blogger Hot Sam said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

 
At 5/21/2009 1:09 PM, Anonymous geoih said...

Quote from gettingrational: "2. When the government offers a stimulus plan it usually involves the mulitplier effect."

What voodoo economics are your reading? The multiplied effect from government spending is at best fantasy, at worst a negative multiplier.

Quote from gettingrational: "3. The mercantilist protects export producers and accumulaes foreign reserves or a proxy such as gold."

So are you advocating the US become mercantilist? Mercantilism doesn't work. That was proven centuries ago. If China wishes to be mercantilist, what do we care?

 
At 5/21/2009 1:33 PM, Anonymous Ralph Short said...

The only thing that happens with a government "stimulus plan" is a) an increase in liabilities b) an increase in taxes.

The majority is clueless about it perhaps because they have been taught math in our glorious public school system.

Walmart has save me money over the years and with it I then can buy or save something else.

 
At 5/21/2009 1:51 PM, Anonymous gettingrational said...

HEADLINE: Tianjin, China, May 19,2009 CHINA ASSEMBLED A320 MAKES FIRST FLIGHT

There goes that high value added export idea for the U.S.; sorry Boeing. Maybe Chinese officials will make shopping trips to WalMart and promise to buy U.S. coal.

Have you ever seen U.S. paper money with a website printed on it to track it's travels? If it's first stop is China then the next may be Iran, then Japan, then Taiwan, then Venuzuela and a maybe end up again in China. My point is that they don't have to return to the U.S.

 
At 5/21/2009 3:35 PM, Blogger Marko said...

And what does China do with all those dollars they get from us? They lend it back to us!

Sounds like a good deal to me.

 
At 5/21/2009 7:00 PM, Blogger Craig Howard said...

"When the government offers a stimulus plan it usually involves the mulitplier effect."

Wrong. When the government offers a stimulus plan it usually claims there's a multiplier effect. Such a thing doesn't exist in the real world.

And your antagonism toward WalMart is really misplaced. Once upon a time it offered all American-made products, but as those disappeared or became too expensive for WalMart's target market, the company switched. As has been mentioned, it only played the hand it was dealt.

Your not-irrational annoyance at the decline in American manufacturing as a percentage of the economy should be directed at governmental economic, fiscal and monetary policies.

 
At 5/21/2009 7:07 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

gettingirrational,

First, it doesn't matter where those dollars go, they still represent a claim on US assets and production. They will have to come back. Either China buys or invests or someone else, who did business with China in exchange for dollars, does.

Second, name a single product conceived, developed and manufactured in China that most people feel they must have.

China has one thing - cheap labor. They must manipulate their currency in order to keep their labor cheap. This impoverishes them, not us. Their hording of U.S. dollars is a sign of weakness, not strength. After decades of loans made to insolvent state owned enterprises, their banking system is in worse shape than ours.

 
At 5/21/2009 7:15 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Despite the high economic growth rates of developing nations, the United States is by far the world's wealthiest nation as measured by GDP -- the broadest measure of economic wealth. And the rest of the world isn't even close. This year, U.S. GDP is projected to be $13.22 trillion. That means that the U.S. economy is as large as the next four-largest economies in the world -- Japan, Germany, China, and the United Kingdom -- combined.What about the United States' nearest rivals? Germany and China -- #3 and #4 on the list of the world's largest economies -- are smaller than the economies of Texas and California combined. India's $800 billion economy is on par with Florida. Brazil, as we see on the map, is comparable to New York. Russia's economy is about the size of New Jersey (or Texas).California and Texas have a combined population of 60 million, while China's population is 1.3 billion. This has huge implications. Let's say China does become the largest economy in the world in 20 years time. Yet, because of its large population, even if it continues growing at its current pace (a huge assumption), by 2050 it will only be as wealthy as former Communist Hungary is in 2007.The Global Guru

 
At 5/21/2009 7:22 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The only reason that manufacturing has dropped as a percentage of GDP is because other parts of the economy have grown so much.

The reason that other parts of the economy have been able to grow is because our manufacturing has become far more productive, freeing up people for other sectors.

At the same time median household income has risen, not fallen.

Trade makes us all wealthier.

 
At 5/21/2009 7:34 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

My job doesn't pay much, but the work couldn't be more rewarding!

 
At 5/21/2009 11:10 PM, Blogger QT said...

Good posts Anon.,

Thanks for putting the issue in some perspective.

 
At 5/22/2009 3:44 AM, Blogger sethstorm said...

Walmart has save me money over the years and with it I then can buy or save something else.
Where that something else is usually more Chinese junk.

Be valuable to an employer!
That's usually confused with business being given something from the medieval era, divine right.

 
At 5/22/2009 6:58 AM, Blogger juandos said...

sethstorm whines: "Where that something else is usually more Chinese junk"...

Simple situation for you then, go to some pricey California botique for what you need...

Is it just me or do those who whine about Wal-Mart have a socialist bent?

 
At 5/22/2009 10:20 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

what about the wal marts that shut down all over america. not only are jobs lost but also, the acres of unused building.

 
At 5/22/2009 10:54 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

Wal-mart isn't in the business of creating jobs for the sake of creating jobs like our government is. Therefore, if WMT is adding jobs that pay $X per year then that is what those jobs at that skill level are worth. That's the wonderful thing about markets. There may be other companies that pay more and are more "fair" to workers, but are they hiring? NO. Because they cannot afford to do so. The value of your labor is what a company is willing to pay. I'm sorry if you don't like it, or think you are getting shorted. If you're right you shouldn't have any trouble convincing some venture capitalists to start a company to undercut whatever evil company is cheating you out of your salary. Entitlement is the biggest problem our country faces today.

 
At 5/22/2009 1:03 PM, Blogger Rosey said...

Not so fast. Wal-Mart is NOT creating jobs, they are only running other employers out of business, then hiring people part-time without benefits.

To compete with Wal-Mart you have to hire part-time, offer no benefits and get local tax abatements --- all businesses new and old should get the same abatements and all employers should offer no benefits, then they could compete.

 
At 5/22/2009 1:59 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

The parallels between the U.S. and the Roman Empire are too striking to ignore.

As the Walmarts of the world expand, all the while hollowing out our manufacturing base and weakening our ability to wage war against our enemies, the U.S. continues to sink in a morass of degeneracy and yes, laziness. The same thing happened in Rome until by the latter fourth century A.D., when their local economy was totally dependent upon imports to feed the burgeoning masses of poor and unemployed. Their legions were staffed largely by what they called barbarians, what we call illegal immigrants. The language of the Empire, once Latin for conducting business with government, or Greek for the highly literate upper classes, had descended into polyglottary, to the point where simple literacy was beyond the reach of most citizens.

We may be the world's sole superpower, but like the Rome of 350 A.D., we are a hollow, paper tiger, a facade of phony perceived strength. In a few years, Chinese deep water navies will be escorting convoys of ships bearing what remains of the world's most valuable industrial and energy resources back to the homeland. Should the U.S. get into a serious dispute with them, the Chinese will simply stop the flow of ships bound for the U.S. with all the consumer goods we rely on. Within weeks, all the Walmarts, Targets, and K-Marts will close their doors. We will be begging the Chi-Coms to resume shipments to us.

Walmart is jus a symptom of what's wrong with us. No nation has lasted long after it stops protecting the basic industries necessary to equip its fighting forces.

 
At 5/22/2009 2:03 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

As for Walmart: I gave them 22 years of service and when I was forced to retire I was not even told Good Bye from my manager. My wage at that time was only between 12 and 13 dollars. Yes they create jobs but if you look at their turnover you will find out just how they treat their associates. They used to have a going away party for their associates when they left but where I live they do not even say goodbye or good luck.If you move from one position to another you used to keep your same pay but not anymore. You have to give up pay if you change to certain positions as they consider them to be "lower" positions as others. I think everyone needs to know what kind of company Walmart really is. They might look good on the outside but if the associates would tell the real truth you would find out how they run the inside!

 
At 5/22/2009 2:17 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeah, a few years ago, before Katrina, the new Wal-Mart near the garden district in New Orleans was the anti-christ incarnate. You had plenty of stoned hippies stumbling around with "sprawl-mart" picket signs and crap, insisting that people pay 5x as much for the same merchandise in specialized boutiques that, omg, you won't believe this, has the "made in china" sticker on the bottom of most of their merchandise! Just about every retailer sells Chinese-made goods. I wish they wouldn't, but the issue here is not Wal-Mart but our acceptance of Chinese goods since good ol' Saint William Clinton put China on preferred trade status.

 
At 5/22/2009 2:29 PM, Anonymous dennisl59 said...

Here's my deal. I lost my job and needed a way to pay my mortgage. I applied for, was offered and accepted a job with WalMart working 3rd Shift Maintenance. My monthly wage pays the mortgage. So if I have to mop floors and clean bathrooms to keep my house I will. I consider myself lucky and grateful to have a job in this economy. Thank You.

 
At 5/22/2009 2:55 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The problem is only that Walmart is profitable and growing and your jealous! We all want the cheap prices, but how dare they actually make a profit. The main reason for a business is for profit. If they are so evil, then don't go there. Don't work there. I think we have enough laws controling business practices. If what they are doing is against the law I am sure our great government will have open hands waiting to collect on fines. Has anyone ever played king on the mountain. The goal of everyne else is to kick them off the mountain. Sound familiar?

 
At 5/22/2009 4:12 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The way things are going, maybe our govenment will figure out a way to own Walmart too, along with banks, GM, California and our health care system. It would round out the portfolio pretty well, don't you think?

 
At 5/22/2009 4:59 PM, Anonymous Lori, Chicago said...

I'm not that smart, Sethstorm, so maybe you would articulate your name calling antics. Will you take responsibility for your strong words? Yikes, "Benedict Arnold"...Communist Party organ in function and devotion"? You've gone down SOME road.

I'm pretty sure we're living in the same reality with different preceptions, so what do YOU know to be truth?

With regards to the suppliers having to close: I seem to remember some environmental activists complaining about Walmart selling products made by companies that were not environmentally conscious. So, Walmart pioneered the "Environmental Scorecard", which all suppliers were required to complete; forcing them to be environmentally friendly and sustainable companies.

Lastly...All due respect to the machine operator who makes plastic forks. God love him. However, the example stops there. He DIDN'T get retrained to repair cash registers. He didn't look for a better job with higher pay. He didn't run for senate. We don't know whether or not he had children or cats. Try to follow along. We all have choices. And contrary to what EVERYONE tells me, LIFE IS FAIR because life is what what you make it.

 
At 5/22/2009 5:18 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The parallels between the U.S. and the Roman Empire are too striking to ignore.barry, what color is the sky in your world?

 
At 5/22/2009 5:24 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

As for Walmart: I gave them 22 years of service and when I was forced to retire I was not even told Good Bye from my manager.

Yes they create jobs but if you look at their turnover you will find out just how they treat their associates.

Am I the only one who sees the irony in these two statements being in the same post?

 
At 5/22/2009 6:56 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've been employed at a walmart distribution center for just over 6 months. I'm paid very well and I love the job. Great bennies and great people. I have created an acronym for people who hate Walmart.
Angry
Socialist
Systematically
Harassing
Organized
Legitimate
Enterprise

 
At 5/22/2009 10:53 PM, Blogger Try4 said...

Wal-mart is a terrible employer to work for. I should know I worked there. Managers were routinely working 80 hours a week or more. Perhaps it was only the stores here that were treating their employees like garbage, but somehow I think not. By the way, those friendly people you meet at Wal-mart are making 7.00 a hour! WHOOPEE!! Great job to have. Yeah, yeah, managers make more per year, but several at my old store kept track of their hours and were rather disappointed to see that they made less than 7.00 per hour! The Land of Opportunity is touting Wal-Mart jobs?????? We are in real deep $hit!

 
At 5/22/2009 11:54 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

No one is "touting Wal-Mart jobs" or suggesting that you make Wal-Mart a career. We're simply pointing out that Wal-Mart is still creating jobs and opportunities.

Maybe you could take some time off from community organizing and open Lefty-Mart. You could pay everyone 100 dollars an hour with bullet proof benefits. Sell only goods that are assembled in unionized shops and made from eco-friendly materials and give away any profits. (I doubt that profit will be a problem) Yada, yada, yada. Kumbya.

Until then, SFTU and just be thankful you have a job.

 
At 5/23/2009 1:29 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

When you have limited funds making them stretch is necessary therefore we shop where we can find bargains, that will be Big Lots, the 99 cent store, and Walmart. However, I am one who would like to see made in America back on my products. So trim down the Union influence and get back to basics, we have priced ourselves out of the market.

 
At 5/23/2009 6:47 AM, Blogger sethstorm said...

Lori said:
You've gone down SOME road.

...so what do YOU know to be truth?
To call them that is to name them according to their actions. Sam kept the stores as US-friendly as possible, and the main complaints were environmental. His trio of succcessors departed from that path and earned the title "Benedict Arnold"; they took what made Wal-Mart(a low-price retailer that was devoted to its country) and went the path that is probably making Sam's grave spin.

As for that statement on cash registers, it was a veiled reference of NCR; they maintain an Ohio presence despite economic conditions.


Simple situation for you then, go to some pricey California boutique for what you need...
General Motors, IBM and such are hardly companies I'd find in California. For the stuff I buy, it's a matter of not being able to get it anymore at all; never mind it being costly.

 
At 5/23/2009 7:27 AM, Anonymous kay said...

Stop complaining. A job is a job. My husband just lost his skilled, machine tool manufacturing job. Praise the Lord, I am still employed.

Over the years I have humbled myself by working for MINIMUM wage at retail. I have worked for MINIMUM wage at a boarding kennel, scooping doo. Get over yourselves. I worked 3 part time jobs when my children were babies to help keep the roof over our heads. We did not sign up for welfare and ya know what? We paid the bills, fed the children and survived on store brand food and a garden.

One child is now a college graduate and the other is working on it. They did it the old fashioned way. They WORKED for it on MINIMUM wage.

 
At 5/23/2009 7:30 AM, Blogger freespeak said...

Walmart is one of the greatest spoilers of our time and economy under the guise of helping the American consumer.
They have done much more harm than good because of their love affair with China and the trickle down effect to local economies. The manufacturing sector is dying in the U.S. and China is taking it all. No one mentions how the Chinese Communist ethics have affected this country and the way they treat workers.
It is a great influence on American big business.
It is the reason for the push to end unions in America...Unions are not ruining America, Walmart and China are. They are winning over my dead body.
I go out of my way to not shop Walmart and to support local small businesses.

 
At 5/23/2009 7:32 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

As consumers, we like Wal-Mart because they have stuff for less. Whatever gives us more for our buck, we're happy. But, there's a hidden cost we're passing on...

More people buying means more stores needed, more stores needed mean more jobs created. But there's a hidden cost we're passing on...

The jobs are in RETAIL not MANUFACTURING, and Wal-Mart naturally seeks to buy at the lowest price so thay can sell at the lowest price. That means more CHINESE goods.

We're doing more to strengthen the Chinese economy that our own. personally, I'd rather pay a few bucks more for a fan built in AMERICA, because the guy who builds that fan is going to spend his dollars here in AMERICA. The fan company is going to invest their profits here in AMERICA. Even if the CEO pockets the profit, then he or she is going to spend that money here in AMERICA.

Big stores are not the evil, we're just happy we save a few bucks and we don't always look upstream to see who is peeing in our river...or realize we're peeing in the river our kids and grandkids will have to drink from.

 
At 5/23/2009 8:10 AM, Blogger jimmy said...

it was not wal-mart that created the rush for chinese goods. Others, Fred Meyer, Target, Kmart were running to China before Wal-Mart. It was forced to or close their doors. Less than 30% of its goods are import. Most are American made. Oh and a Target is also non union, so go waste your money at other stores. I'll keep my Wal-Mart.

 
At 5/23/2009 8:12 AM, Blogger freespeak said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

 
At 5/23/2009 8:24 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

No one's mind is being changed here. Comments don't do much but stir things up and nothing gets changed...actually, enemies can be unintentionally created.
I don't like Blogs, they only cause too much strife. Bye.

 
At 5/23/2009 9:03 AM, Blogger sethstorm said...

It was forced to or close their doors
Explain why they didn't do so until Sam died.

The only force came from the folks who inherited it.

 
At 5/23/2009 10:32 AM, Blogger maddie said...

Why union? I don't pay dues. I have a 401K, stock options, share,I work 24hrs a wk have medical,vacation, personal time pd.I make $3.50 over min wage in CA.
I love my job and my customers. I had a customer cry, he said he could finally afford to buy shoes and clothing for his 6 kids. never a day goes by that I'm not thanked for being in our town.

 
At 5/23/2009 11:41 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Funny, because the wal-mart greeters here make about 13-14 an hour, not bad, considering that starting wages for a certified nurses assistant is no more than that.

Also, local businesses have had little trouble with the new wal-mart, via uniqueness of product, location, or simple fact that many of us do like our organic food, a host of things.

Here's something wonderful: we have a choice! what can be more wonderful than that? An article about the difference in how walmartophiles and walmartophobes view things, take this article by GOOD mag (trust me, no matter which side of the debate you're on, this is a good one)
http://www.good.is/post/unconscious-consumption/

 
At 5/23/2009 11:45 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

a synopsis:

Wal-mart shoppers get the best bang for their buck, donate plenty more on average than their peers with what they have left over.

Wal-mart haters view their purchases as their vote in the world, and don't give as much charitably on average, as their peers, which may explain why they assume everyone is a self-centered prig who needs heavy taxation so the gov can give.

Actually, it's a great deal more fair than that :)

 
At 5/23/2009 10:04 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am a 9 year associate of Walmart. It is the best company I have ever worked for. They treat me fair and I am a woman and I have all the health insurance I need. My insurance plans are just as good as and sometimes better than I had at previous companies. Walmart is a very giving company to non-profit organizations, I work on the committee at my store that helps and decides where the money goes. Most of it goes to local schools. People should give Walmart a chance. There prices are better and most stores are clean and inviting. They are constanly changing their ideas and store formats to meet the customers expectations. Walmart is truly the real deal.

 
At 5/24/2009 6:13 AM, Blogger sethstorm said...

5/23/2009 10:04 PM
Yow. That just sounds like you've drank the whole barrel of Kool-Aid when they asked you only to take a cup.

How's the weather in Bentonville, AR, PRC?

 
At 5/24/2009 10:11 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wal-Mart creates jobs because they have a huge turnover rate!I know because Ijust left after 10 years.

 
At 5/26/2009 1:50 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Walmart started and made it's fortune by the great Made in America campaign!!!!Which, we all no is the great switch to made in China !!!!! Walmart could no longer afford to buy American products!! GREED won out!

 
At 5/27/2009 1:30 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I say we pass a law that Walmart has to only sell American made products and must provide full benefits. Then we can make sure that no jobs or dollars are sent to china.

Walmart will probably end up paying more for their merchandise, but that's okay, because they can just raise their prices. That's a good thing, because then Americas GDP will rise. Either that or people will tend to buy a lot less stuff from Walmart, which will cause the company to fold leaving all those employees and all the employees of the suppliers out of work and without benefits.

On second thought, maybe we should just leave Walmart to do what it does.

 
At 5/30/2009 9:01 PM, Blogger army_girls_mama said...

I work for a Wal-Mart distribution center in Wisconsin. Low wages? No. We have the best wages in the area. And they keep getting better. We have received an annual raise EVERY YEAR since the center opened. That includes this year, even with the crap economy. We also get quarterly bonuses, 401k, stock purchase options, vacation time, sick time, personal time and insurance. We get the option of supporting charitible organizations in our community with Wal-Mart. They even have a program called Volunteerism Always Pays (VAP) where the company will give $250 to any non-profit organization if an employee donates 20 hours of volunteer time.
Last year my job at the center was eliminated. I was not sent packing as so many companies are doing. I was given the option to retrain into another job or transfer to another distribution center or store anywhere in the country. Where else do you find that kind of job security?
If you think Wal-Mart is an evil empire, talk to my children. Their schools have benefitted many times over from Wal-Mart's generosity. Or our local food pantry who got money for a new walk-in freezer from Wal-Mart so they could store more of the food that Wal-Mart donates.
Remember, like every other business, Wal-Mart started small. They just do what they do better than anyone else and they got big because of it.

 
At 6/02/2009 9:14 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

It sounds as though none of you have talked to its employees about wages and benefits. And Sam started that chain with the motto "Made in America". They might as well paint "Made in China" as their logo on the store front now. Ever accidently carry something from one department to another? Check out how many people are watching you. I used to be a HUGE fan. I no longer will step inside the store. They have betrayed every principle its founder believed in.

 
At 6/15/2009 2:07 PM, Anonymous madmilker said...

People in America need to realize jus what got America in this shape…”cheap” yes so-call cheap items from a foreign land.

quote*Wal-Mart firmly believes in local procurement. We recognize that by purchasing quality products, we can generate more job opportunities, support local manufacturing and boost economic development. Over 95% of the merchandise in our stores in China is sourced locally. We have established partnerships with nearly 20,000 suppliers in China. *end quote!

Now! if there be 182 country’s making items for the world to buy and they have only 5% of the pie in China…duh! This company makes the nice people of China support their currency(yuan) by keeping it in their country working for the people there…. but with the “yuan” going up in value and the US dollar going down…all the foreign items that the American consumer buys thinking it is cheap has went up in price.

People…its all about the currency and to keep a currency strong you got to keep it floating around the country you live in so it can work for you. For the past 12 years all them US dollars are being shipped overseas to a foreign bank and with the American worker not making anything for the foreigner to buy the “we the people” have to turn to the “second” largest employer in America(Uncle Sam) to sell “we the people” debt in order to get all them dollars back!

50 years ago a foreigner would had given their left nut for a US dollar or a Hershey’s chocolate bar and today the same foreigner has got Uncle Sam and the American consumer by both all the while Hershey is moving the chocolate factory to Mexico. Wake up! America and think “MADE IN AMERICA.”

quote*"Considering that there are over 30,000 ships at sea this morning," writes James Carlton, director of the Williams College-Mystic Seaport Maritime Studies Program, in an e-mail, "the total number of organisms and species in this global 'bioflow' on the morning your readers read your piece could be staggering - billions of individuals, and thousands of species."

Indeed, scientists have long considered ballast water the primary way invasive aquatic organisms are introduced. From the zebra mussel's arrival in the Great Lakes, to an American jellyfish severely disrupting Black Sea fisheries, the potential costs of accidental introduction of a species to new homes can be tremendous. Aquatic invasives cost the US $9 billion yearly, according to estimates by David Pimentel, professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. Zebra and quagga mussels (a cousin to the zebra) alone cost the $1 billion annually.*end quote!

tat is $9 billion a year in hidden taxes to all Americans...
cheap ain't chic and it cost America............jobs!

"Now let us look at Wal-Mart again; you buy a product there, 6% goes to the employees, 10-18% is profit to the company, 25% goes to other costs and 50% goes to re-stock or the cost of goods sold. Of the 50% about 20-25% goes to China, a guess, but you get the point. Now then, how long will it take at 433 Billion dollars at year for China to have all of our money, leaving no money flow for us to circulate? At a 17 Trillion dollar economy less than 40-years minus the 1/6 they buy from us. Some say that if we keep putting money into our economy, it would take forever, but if we do not then eventually all the money flow will go. If China buys our debt then eventually they own us, no need to worry about a war, they are buying America, due in part to our own mismanaged trade, so whose fault is that? Not necessarily China, as they are doing what's in the best interests, and we should make sure that trade is not only free, but fair too."
http://www.worldthinktank.net/pdfs/TheFlowofTrade.pdf

 
At 12/14/2009 12:53 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The US Government doesn't have a problem borrowing money from China..they only have a problem paying it back.
I know from personal experiance that a certain pet product my family business designed that was to be created in the US would have cost 250 dollars (just to produce)however, to have the same product manufactured in China would cost us 79 dollars. When you go to Petsmart to buy the product for your pet how much are you willing to spend?
You can't blame China because American's are greedy.

 

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