Daniel Weintraub: Wal-Mart: Collective bargaining for the consumer

Sacramento Bee ^ | December 31, 2003 | http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/columns/weintraub/story/8024542p-8960641c.html

[John Jorsett]

I am not a Wal-Mart shopper. Never have been. I don't think I have ever bought a thing in any of their stories, nor do I plan to any time soon. I prefer shopping at my neighborhood supermarket or, when possible, at the corner grocery. But I think the massive retail company is getting a bad rap. We are supposed to hate Wal-Mart because the company is huge, nonunion, pays low wages and squeezes suppliers until they scream. The prospect of Wal-Mart invading the grocery business by opening 40 California superstores next year is the only thing that supermarket owners and their workers agree upon: It's bad.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I can't imagine anyone "NEVER" having shopped at Walmart. Although I prefer Target, less of a crowd.

[sam_paine]

Wow. Ludwig von Mises writing for SacBee.

[John Jorsett]

I've never shopped at Wal-Mart. I walked in to one once, and the vibe was so bad that I walked out immediately. Not sure what creeped me out about the place, but I've never gone back.

[Muleteam1]

>>Although I prefer Target, less of a crowd.<<

Is it true that Target is French-owned and does not support American Veterans but has a national policy in support of gay and lesbian causes? This could explain the smaller crowds.

Muleteam1

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I believe Target is owned by Dayton Hudson Corp. out of Minneapolis, Minn.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The newer ones, particularly the Super Centers (with Grocery stores in the Midwest ) are quite nice, but always busy!

[vbmoneyspender]

I have to admit that I've never shopped at Walmart, but only because there isn't one nearby to where I live in Los Angeles.

[mel]

I know it is kind of bad feeling to me also. I really don't think Wal-Mart is a friend to America.

[austinTparty]

False. And false. All urban myths. See here. When in doubt, check Snopes before perpetuating harmful rumors.

[Bernard Marx]

I really don't think Wal-Mart is a friend to America.

Intriguing. Would you like to explain that in words we can all understand?

[Sergio]

Going to Wal-Mart is like going to the state fare. No matter how bad you're feeling for yourself, you always feel good about yourself when you leave.

I cannot believe the number of folks in there that look like they just got off their shift at the carnival side show.

Don't go there for one reason, too crowded. Takes 30 to 45 minutes to buy a bottle of asprin.

Best Regards

Sergio

[mel]

I don't really know but I would really be interested in the global impact of Wal-Mart. The loss of manufacturing jobs in America has many causes which NAFTA is one, but it would really be insightful to see the impact that the world's biggest retailer has made on the loss of jobs in America.

Wal-Mart tells manufacturers what they will pay and then expect a decrease in price the next year. No wonder so many companies have gone overseas to manufacturing. Gee whiz, can't even get a Made in America shirt now or Levi jeans made in America.

With loss of manufacturing jobs, unskilled workers can get a job at Wal-Mart, even a full time employee isn't going to make enough to support a family. So now, we have more people on government subsidies. So what if you can get a bar of soap less at Wal-Mart, just going to pay more in taxes to support government subsidies like health insurance (a lot of part timers), housing allowances, etc. I don't know, I am a pharmacist, not an economist, but I am deeply concerned about the loss of manufacturing jobs in America. Gee it's gotten to the point that I am wondering are there even any manufacturing jobs left in America. What's going to happen, there can only be so many doctors, lawyers, etc. What are unskilled people supposed to do, work in Wal-Mart or fast food industry?

Honestly, I if I have the choice to buy something in America, I would choose it even if it costs more. I used to purchase a certain line of clothes, then I noticed they were made in Bengladesh, I lost my taste for that brand.

At any rate, just don't think I personally will shop at Wal-mart again.

[Muleteam1]

Thanks for the website. I had wondered about the Target story which has been sent to me numerous times via email. The story has never presented me from shopping at Target as I had thought it was probably an urban tale. However, I still prefer Walmart as I have their stock.

Muleteam1

[Bernard Marx]

Honestly, I if I have the choice to buy something in America, I would choose it even if it costs more. I used to purchase a certain line of clothes, then I noticed they were made in Bengladesh, I lost my taste for that brand.

I'll take you at your word. But the vast majority of American buyers is concerned with only one thing: price. Yes, I hear them say otherwise, but I attach more importance to what they do than what they say. Our local WalMart (which I, too, try to avoid in favor of less crowded shopping) is always extremely busy.

it would really be insightful to see the impact that the world's biggest retailer has made on the loss of jobs in America.

I always have a problem with confusing the effect with the cause. The cause here is that there's a huge market (us) for very cheap goods (from China, etc.) It's only good business (capitalism and the efficiency of markets, etc.) to get the two together. No one is twisting anyone's arm to shop at WalMart; their customers can use their dollars and their credit cards any way they choose.

I don't really know the answer to maintaining the old status quo. NAFTA and GATT were attempts to deal with trade realities in a world where borders aren't what they once were due to many factors, mainly fast transportation and communications. In my lifetime I've watched dozens of once-major industries give way to capitalism's "creative destruction." No kidding, when I was 12 or 13 I used to deliver papers to a harness-making (for horses) shop in Idaho. Two wonderful old German gentlemen let me warm myself by the pot-bellied stove while I enjoyed the rich smell of tanned leather and viewed their fine selection of buggy whips -- no lie. They didn't sell many; this was toward the end of WWII.

I tend to agree with Weintraub. No one promised us that things wouldn't change except maybe union bosses. The only people they seem to be able to deliver for consistently these days are public employees who simply blackmail taxpayers by withholding essential services (police, fire, teachers, prison guards, etc.) until they get their money and perks.

[JoeGar]

Is it true that Target is French-owned and does not support American Veterans but has a national policy in support of gay and lesbian causes?

Urban myth. See www.target.com. Look in the lower right hand corner of the home page for Target's comments about this rumor.

[gcruse]

I really don't think Wal-Mart is a friend to America.

 I don't think you are a friend to freedom, making you an outright enemy of America.

How tacky.  Don't you know it's rude to point out to people benefitting from capitalism
yet carping about it in soft brown words (think dung), that freedom doesn't come from
laying around picking at it?

[mel]

Oh you are too funny. That is the best laugh I have had in a couple of days.

[mel]

So what has Wal-Mart done for America