Category: money

12/04/12 07:42 - ID#56955

The Low Price of Wal-mart?

1. This Is a blog I've been meaning to write for a bit of time so sorry if it isn't what it should be... I'm sure no one will agree with me and that is fine... this isn't face book so you are allowed to tell me so (If anyone who read this one read the last one)

2. I honestly am not sure how much I can say with out getting into trouble or at least where the possibility of that starts or If I'm even high enough in the food chain for that to be an issue.. So I will say this.. Where i work we send product to many places Target, CVS and so on and so forth including Wal-Mart... No I'm not a pro writer but Need to toss that out there so anyone reading this or anyone whom you never know could share this knows....

There was a time when I thought Wal-Mart was evil and they may have done some bad things... But that isn't what this blog is about really Again this is a blog not a research paper or a piece that is running in the news in some form.. But I Like Wal-Mart and I do shop there... But also after work it is quicker to get to them then to Target and I can get home quicker also....

---Kinda a tangent but... The Reason I thought Wal-Mart was Evil is that they would show up in some small town. Then in these towns local places couldn't compete and they would close. Hey why go buy food then go buy wood then plants when you can get everything you need in one place..Not a new Idea Sears did this a long time ago... But see it isn't Wal-Mart's fault that people in town also think about prices and go there instead of the local flower shop or local record store... Price is a huge factor in where people buy stuff some times it is a choice and sometimes not... As a quick example that is why people go to Pricerite and not Wegman's ....

BLACKFRIDAY! Oh no we are all going to die Or get 3 TVs for the price of one depending on what facebook status you believe .... This is what got this post inspired was posts I saw after that... Now hey if after thanksgiving instead of sleeping or watching football you want to go get that huge Wal-Mart tv or what ever fine.... But posts (Something in the news i missed also) about low wages at Wal-Mart .. I didn't share them cause guess what I'm for them ...

Yes I support Low Wages for Wal-Mart workers... Again this is were research would be great to have the numbers to compare but would it be a blog any more? Target Doesn't have Lay-a-way and Wal-Mart does there is a reason for that... If you have the money to shop at Target you don't need lay-a-way (Or atleast during christmas not sure about all year like K-mart did)... So I'm saying Target it costs more or at least appears to at Target then at Wal-Mart and that is ok...

Yes some people just go where they think things are the cheapest.. But I believe that most people who go to Wal-Mart have to cause they don't have enough money to get stuff at Target or other high end places in the mall..

Now every business has a profit margin.. Now if Wal-Mart just went up and raised the starting wages of every worker and brought everyone else up accordingly since they would be paying out more money in wages they have to make that up someplace.. Now yes they could be nice with all the money they make and still have killer profits just not as killer .... But there are people who make money off of how much profit they make so.. The Natural thing to do is raise prices on everything.. Now what happens to the person who shops there for say food .... What bill don't they pay... Do they not do Christmas this year... Go Hungry ?

Now Granted there might be some places where there is only Wal-Mart and not Target so I'm not talking about those places... If you are a stock boy or Cashier or even management and you could pick a place to work Where would be better Target or some high end Retail place or Wal-Mart I doubt it is Wal-Mart .... Now I have no idea how they decide whom gets a job... But if it is true that places pay higher then those jobs must be tougher to get or should hold one to a higher standard .... The Wal-Mart near where I work is Near the Galleria Mall and Target also... So I'm contending that the people who work there couldn't get a job at Target so it is good they have a job if not for Wal-Mart they wouldn't .........

As an Example I've been to a few Targets and you all ways see people working and me at least (They think I'm a cowboy who is going to steal I guess... What never heard of a Metal band or watched Wrestling :) )They even come up and ask if you need help... But all wal-mart the people are talking to each other and you have to find someone one and half the shit has Keys so if you want to buy a memory card you have to get every thing else first... Yes Wal-Mart is aimed at the poor and that is ok....

Example 2: Back in my old days before the (e:strip) I was a stock boy at what is now 7-Eleven when we where owned by tops... Yeah you do pay for things being a block away from your house and short lines... But again back then Wegman's was the Premium Brand.. Think the non management route after about 2 years there you still made less then to start at Wegman's ... I loved most of the people I worked with they where great.. Now granted that and a Grocery Store is different but a few people tried and Never got hired there... One Manger did but he got an entire section and it was a bit over his head even for the more money so think he came back... Great guy buy the way... Wonder how that crazy mother fucker is doing... Yeah I admit I wonder how a bunch of those people are .. No facebook back then... Ah good times man.... But it goes to the same point the high end places some people just can't work there...

So I think I kinda made my point that if Wal-Mart paid people more.. some of the people who work there wouldn't have a job there.... And with prices up what would people do who can't shop any place else go what would they do.............................

metalpeter writes at 11:33:57 12/05/12 - Comment #68955: Now the fire was very tragic and yes Wal-Mart could have increased there costs.. But again at the end of the day what that would cause them to do is Raise Prices.. For Some not a big deal... But for others not so much... Now if these Unions care so much about workers go help the workers in other countries and drive up the price of making goods there... In terms of the "Factories" if one can even call them that... 2 questions to ask one self. If wal-mart didn't buy clothes from them then would they be making clothes.. If one says yes then how would they make any more money... If the answer is no then those people wouldn't have a job at all....

The Ugly Truth is there are different Economies in this country... The other ugly truth that doesn't tie in we are kinda a socialist country ... Or we should be more... We have poor and very poor.. Of course the middle class and yes there is over lap and rich and wealthy ... Where one ends and one begins who knows... But it is ok to be poor and live the poor life ... Insurance works cause most people aren't sick or don't burn the house down or arn't sick.. People who get HEAP, Foodstamps or other help is because people who make more money are supposed to pay more in tax... I love that if you work 20hrs at Wegmans you get Health care... But unless you are getting things on sale you have to pay more... Of course they claim they aren't more then tops... Same thing is true with Wal-mart but the other way need to keep things cheap so people can buy stuff.... I'm lucky I don't live on Elmwood or Richmond I could never do anything cause I would have no $ So I can shop on the cheap or where I prefer mostly... I'd have to shop at Pricerite and Wal-Mart if I had a car or get 2nd job.... So thanks....

lilho writes at 06:35:18 12/05/12 - Comment #68948: Thanks for the additions (e:) yesthatcasey ... I will check out that article tonight. :) You made excellent points as well...

lilho writes at 06:33:51 12/05/12 - Comment #68947: (e:yesthatcasey) I was thinking about Costco as well after I commented. They also operate in a warehouse type environment and keep low prices but their workers are actually paid a decent salary and offer benefits their employees can afford. Unless you are a fan of social, human, and economic injustice, you should not be a fan of Wal-Mart.

YesThatCasey writes at 05:33:59 12/05/12 - Comment #68946: And on top of ((e:lilho))'s excellent points, there was recent attention on Costco that provided a stark demonstration of a sustainable model versus the Walmart model.

YesThatCasey writes at 05:30:13 12/05/12 - Comment #68945: Aside from all of the data out there that shows how poorly Walmart workers are paid (each store results in approximately $400,000 federal & state dollars per year to make up the horrible wages that they pay and the lack of benefits), or how much money is funneled out of the local economy ($1,200,000 per store, annually), and the aggressive tactics they use to prevent unionization (which the majority of their workers want), there are also regular stories like this that deal with their even more dispicable partnerships that are less well-known:

:::link:::

Yep, in the short term, you can save a few pennies on the dollar by shopping at Walmart. But, in the long term, your purchases are responsible for enabling the horrible working and living conditions that those employees face, and the reckless, selfish practices that result in real world tragedies.

metalpeter writes at 10:24:52 12/05/12 - Comment #68943: Yeah I admit their execs Live a very very nice life... And Yeah I do think they could Raise what they pay workers... I would love it if they had a lower level of profit but... The reason that people shop at Wal-Mart is because they are cheap. Well that is one reason ... Of course buying power has something to do with that also... Some food they and I think Target as well shockingly is cheaper then at tops... I'm sure some food costs more... I see this same thing where I work that the company In the past gives us a raise once a year .. They will spend all kinds of money on all kinds of things before us... But once someones pay goes up it can't go back down and that employee can leave the company for another job at any time so investing money back into the company is a better idea.... So I don't really see any companies would raise what people make... Cause then to make the same amount of money you have either cut something or raise prices but then at some point people buy less you make less....

Now that being said though... What I don't like is how companies measure profits... They don't look at ok here is how much profit we made.. They look at it as how much did our profit increase ... As odd as it sounds and kinda creepy they measure the growth ...

Now I can't talk about Wal-Mart in other towns and maybe I just go to the "Ghetto" "Black" Wal-Mart as they call it and I've heard people stay away from it because of that ... Yes the Photo lady is great But other then her they all seem a step down from people who work at target... Now maybe the fact that target is more fancy and looks pretty and has nicer uniforms and is aimed at a higher income customers does factor into that.... You may have a point... I just don't see how anyone who ( when they are able to get to both places ) would work at Wal-Mart if they could at Target.. Now maybe other places aren't hiring but I would think in most cases one couldn't get a job at Target as an example...

That Being said I did just think about something.... I Think I may be a little Biased... I think I may hold Target Workers above Wal-Mart workers Since It just dawned on me an (e:Peep) worked there, And Someone else (not getting along right now) I hold in high regard works there and I've kinda known a few others who work there..... And Just had another thought maybe some people do prefer Wal-Mart cause it is there kinda people... What I mean is ... They Fit in... Cause this is how I kinda felt a bit with Canisius Yeah granted great school and a lot of great people... But also after a couple years in it was like ... I"m here and these people are up there... That doesn't mean they where bad ... But It is kinda like how I wouldn't shop Lord & Taylors or how I wish I had money to walk into brookstone or what ever........

Now that being said I do want to look more into the health Care thing.... The only thing is most places do the you have to work Full time to get Benefits and then only Management is full time... Yes some people will work like 35-38 hours but aren't full time so....

So guess I'll do a little Wegman's Ad.... When I worked at Wilson Farms I loved that they where in the top 100 employers every year. I love that store... But all that nice stuff has to be paid for with higher prices... hence why I go to pricerite hey I'm kinda poor sometimes... There was no way I could get hired there... Plus getting there would be tougher .... I would love to go there every week and just buy what I want... Do I like going to pricerite um not really.. Yes they do a lot of things that save on cost like no shelves and pallets full of stuff so it isn't handled twice... And I'm guessing that lower pay for workers... Good keep it low I want to buy my food cheaply ......

lilho writes at 08:31:49 12/05/12 - Comment #68942: Your theory is actually completely off ad you should do more research before coming to conclusions. The level at which Wal-Mart exploits humans is on a global scale. To say that people who worn for them can't find work elsewhere is also a fallacy. By no means does target hire "more intelligent" people. People that work for Wal-Mart I'm sure could find worn elsewhere, but many people do not realize their professional self worth and accept or keep jobs they are over qualified for because they lack an education. Or understanding of how to job search, write resumes, and interview.

Wal-Mart consistently exploits the poor, women, and those in third world countries all while their top execs fly around on their private jet fleet. They could most certainly afford to pay their employees more and offer reasonably priced healthcare benefits rather than suggesting their employees accept Medicaid and public assistance.

Companies like Trader Joes keep prices low and pay their employees decently... Hmmmmm. Lots of other companies do it as well. I will never set foot in a Wal-Mart again, have only been there a few times. Also pretty sure I will speak out when I find that anyone shops there.

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Category: money

01/10/06 08:09 - ID#28271

Up, Up, Up

I can't belive stamps went up. For those of you that communcate through the web and pay all your bills on line then that is a nice savings but most people don't do both the minority of people pay at tops or through the internet. New york state sales tax just went up. So for those who get paid Minimum wage and just got a raise now how much of raise did you really get since the tax went up half a cent. It is like the Regal there prices sneak up every so often and you don't notice it untill you think back a couple years and compare prices. I saw Fun with dick and jane over the past weekend I enjoyed it. I had more of a point of how prices went up but lost it somewhare. On another note I thought Truffles where candy oh well little do I know.