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The Price Is Right [Harvard business professor praises Wal-mart] (NYT Op-Ed)
The NYT ^
| Aug 3, 2005
| PANKAJ GHEMAWAT and KEN A. MARK
Posted on 08/03/2005 12:54:00 PM PDT by summer
click here to read article
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To: summer
I shop at both Walmart and Target and appreciate the fact that both are in my area.
21
posted on
08/03/2005 1:50:20 PM PDT
by
Ciexyz
(Let us always remember, the Lord is in control.)
To: Gabz
"I know that in my area they are about the best paying private employer other than the poultry plants."
That says multitudes about the manufacuring base in your area.
22
posted on
08/03/2005 1:51:49 PM PDT
by
BipolarBob
(Yes I backed over the vampire, but I swear I didn't see it in my rearview mirror.)
To: scheuber
The Pakistani and Central American made products you find in WalmMart are no different than the Pakistani and Central American made products you will findin Target, KMart, Sears, Penney's, etc..........the price just happens to be lower in WalMart..........but they are the same proudcts.
23
posted on
08/03/2005 1:52:46 PM PDT
by
Gabz
(Smoking ban supporters are in favor of the Kelo ruling.)
To: Diana in Wisconsin; CWOJackson; bfree
And it's not even Saturday :)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
24
posted on
08/03/2005 1:53:36 PM PDT
by
Gabz
(Smoking ban supporters are in favor of the Kelo ruling.)
To: BipolarBob
I live in a rural/agriculture/fishing area, not in a manufacturing area.
Walmart pays far better than any of the other retailers in the area. You don't have to believe me, but I know this for a fact.........but as I said, that is in my area, your mileage may vary.
25
posted on
08/03/2005 2:00:34 PM PDT
by
Gabz
(Smoking ban supporters are in favor of the Kelo ruling.)
To: Gabz
26
posted on
08/03/2005 2:02:41 PM PDT
by
Diana in Wisconsin
(Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
To: sergeantdave
...while watching the cat dig a hole in the garden and doing his business. Dude, you really need to get a TV...
To: BipolarBob
They are in depressed wages and subsidies. Wal-Mart also pays so little that many of its workers rely on state healthcare subsidies, food stamps, housing vouchers and other public aid. They have pressured manufactures to go overseas to "keep the price low". That costs jobsdid you even read the article? The author is spot-on - prices are lowered to the consumer (remember there are many multiples of consumers as compared to employees), but also, choices are increased - I challenge anyone to prove that the net benefits to any of affected parties is negative. The people working at Wal-Mart are also part of the lower/middle class consumers that shop there.
To: BipolarBob
I also know a lot of mom and pop type stores/businesses where the same holds true. I worked for one early in my career.
Another observation: I just read somewhere that manufacturers are finding overseas employees to be less profitable and are bringing them back home, but are using more automation. That is also a major factor in our changing economy.
There is not much difference in big box stores and mom/pop stores. They all carry things from all over the world...and some of it is cheaper at Walmart, and some of it is not. But it just seems to me that to blame changes in our economy on Walmart is a simplistic solution to a very complex situation.
To: BipolarBob
To measure the more insidious effects involves looking the "hidden" charges the community pays. And that is more difficult. Waiting for you to enlighten us.
30
posted on
08/03/2005 2:16:01 PM PDT
by
Graybeard58
(Remember and pray for Sgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
To: pollyannaish
" But it just seems to me that to blame changes in our economy on Walmart is a simplistic solution to a very complex situation."
I didn't make that charge. The author (and others) gushing over Wal-mart and how they are bringing prosperity to the consumer prompted my response. I am offering an opposing view - that it has a price. And that price is not so obvious. If you're willing to pay that price . .fine.
31
posted on
08/03/2005 2:17:01 PM PDT
by
BipolarBob
(Yes I backed over the vampire, but I swear I didn't see it in my rearview mirror.)
To: BipolarBob
No they are not, thanks for asking. They are in depressed wages and subsidies. Wal-Mart also pays so little that many of its workers rely on state healthcare subsidies, food stamps, housing vouchers and other public aid. They have pressured manufactures to go overseas to "keep the price low". That costs jobs. There are more but that's just a start. No worse than other retailers and better than most.
32
posted on
08/03/2005 2:18:11 PM PDT
by
Graybeard58
(Remember and pray for Sgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
To: Gabz
Thanks for the heads up. Can't wait for kellynla to put in his same old 2 cents about the "Chicoms". But I see we have a new one with the union talking points here, bipolar.
They all hate free choice. It perplexes me why they all think Walmart is the only company importing goods and not paying the same wages as other retailers. The union talking points fail to say who, other than the state, would be paying these employees if Walmart would just close up. It's hard to imagine that over one million people work for the company against their will.
The only real fact is that unions are dying and their last real hope is to unionize the retail industry and Walmart is the target, they need the dues and don't give a damn about the employees. The article did an excellent job of pointing out the benefits of the Walmart business plan to much of the country, the only loser is the union. Too bad.
33
posted on
08/03/2005 2:19:49 PM PDT
by
bfree
(PC is BS)
To: Graybeard58
" Waiting for you to enlighten us."
It takes longer for it to soak in for some and there are only so many years in a lifetime, so . . .
34
posted on
08/03/2005 2:19:58 PM PDT
by
BipolarBob
(Yes I backed over the vampire, but I swear I didn't see it in my rearview mirror.)
To: BipolarBob
It takes longer for it to soak in for some Obviously.
It hasn't "soaked in" to you yet.
Wal-Mart is an American success story. Learn to live with it.
35
posted on
08/03/2005 2:22:15 PM PDT
by
Graybeard58
(Remember and pray for Sgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
To: BipolarBob
It takes longer for it to soak in for some and there are only so many years in a lifetime, so . . . In other words, you truly don't know what you are talking about. Freedom of choice is a great thing, if you don't like the company-don't do business with them. But trashing them without knowledge just makes you look silly. It is amazing how you echo the union talking points though, almost word for word. Makes me wonder...
36
posted on
08/03/2005 2:24:44 PM PDT
by
bfree
(PC is BS)
To: bfree
It is the same crap I see while lurking at DU.
37
posted on
08/03/2005 2:25:53 PM PDT
by
Graybeard58
(Remember and pray for Sgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
To: bfree
I didn't trash Wal-mart. I said there is a hidden cost to a company that receives subsidies from cities and pays less than a living wage and few benefits. Do they have cheap goods? Yes. Do many of its workers rely on state healthcare subsidies, food stamps, housing vouchers and other public aid? Yes. There are two sides to the coin and I just want people to think about the other side.
38
posted on
08/03/2005 2:31:13 PM PDT
by
BipolarBob
(Yes I backed over the vampire, but I swear I didn't see it in my rearview mirror.)
To: Graybeard58
Yes, it is the same leftist, union garbage. These fools think that their unions, which drove the jobs out of the northern states, will rescue them. What a laugh. Labor intensive jobs will always flow to the lower cost centers, but the union fools don't recognize that simple fact. And the left always hates success in private industry.
39
posted on
08/03/2005 2:32:13 PM PDT
by
bfree
(PC is BS)
To: BipolarBob
Do many of its workers rely on state healthcare subsidies, food stamps, housing vouchers and other public aid? Yes No more so than any other retailer.
Less so than most.
40
posted on
08/03/2005 2:32:40 PM PDT
by
Graybeard58
(Remember and pray for Sgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
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