KickIT
TRIBE Member
Read this interesting article about Walmart's modus operadanus. Not that I shop at that dump.
http://alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=12962
http://alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=12962
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Walmart: Low Prices costs quite a bit
- Thread starter KickIT
- Start date
these days people can't really afford to be as socially concious as they'd like to be. for a lot of middle class families, it comes down to what is affordable and convenient. very little will change that. you can tell them about the many evil's that walmart is supposedly guilty of until the cows come home but as long as the stores are there and open for business, people will flock. same reason why people continue to buy gas from shell, running shoes from nike, etc. etc.
<----hopes super walmarts stay out of canada.
<----hopes super walmarts stay out of canada.
Not directed @ you cause i know what you mean....
That's the lamest excuse of all.... Hey lets all overlook wal-marts shortcomings and inequities and shop there cause we don't make enough not to. the more people shop there the worse it will get, and continue until the general public stops buying their product and marketing... we live among a web of lies to which anyone can spin a positive web.... buy walmart we're cheap, just don't mention those Chinese ppl we're exploiting or the American worker, or the small business man or other dept stores we've run out of town....
Kyfe
This IMO is one of the worlds biggest problems... people making decisions based on money and convenience while thinking (actually, not even considering) other concerns are less important than their own personal wants and needs. Until people live their lives with proper attention to what their actions & money support, and what impact their individual choices have on the state of society and the planet, we're going to have powerless citizens who are actually against many of the evils their very choices support and condone...
JMan
Here's the thing ...
From the article ...
From the article ...
Sure, blame Wal-mart for poverty and suffering in Third World countries. God forbid that we attack the corrupt socialist governments and military dictatorships of these nations! I forgot that China does such an excellent job of protecting its workers and spreading wealth and prosperity to all citizens without these evil American corporations getting in the way.
The arrival of the Super Walmarts are a matter of time, and will change the landscape of retail in Canada for sure, just as the emergence of power centres and the demise of the regional shopping centres. Walmart as another concept on the shelf soon to arrive in Canada as well, called the neighbourhood concept store. A much smaller, downscale version, I believe offering all the same services and products as their superwalmarts but in more neighbourhood settings, as opposed in power centre nodes.
I think that is a lame excuse. People are going to look after themselves and their families long before they give a damn about the negative effects that their support has on other people (especially when it is halfway around the world). If wal-mart or another store like it is the only option, people will shop there.
Re: Here's the thing ...
Good point...
Originally posted by AdRiaN
From the article ...
Sure, blame Wal-mart for poverty and suffering in Third World countries. God forbid that we attack the corrupt socialist governments and military dictatorships of these nations! I forgot that China does such an excellent job of protecting its workers and spreading wealth and prosperity to all citizens without these evil American corporations getting in the way.
Good point...
kyfe and jman...i totally agree with you both but that is totally what it comes down to. go into walmart and look at the people shopping there. also, take a step back and see where walmarts are situated. you won't find a walmart at yonge and englinton or queen and john, they are placed in middle class suburban neighbourhoods and for good reasons..this is where they thrive.
KickIT
TRIBE Member
Re: Here's the thing ...
You're right in that you can't blame one company for all the world's ills. These countries don't look after their own. Doesn't help that government officials are bribed off to look the other way. Gee, I wonder why so many people (not countries) around the world are anti-american.
Whenever I can I shop local. I support local mom & pop shops even if it means that I pay a little more. At least I know the money is staying in my local economy. But I suppose as long as people care more about save $1.00 on toilet paper they could give 2 fucks about some poor shmoe killing himself just to stay alive.
*c*
Originally posted by AdRiaN
From the article ...
Sure, blame Wal-mart for poverty and suffering in Third World countries. God forbid that we attack the corrupt socialist governments and military dictatorships of these nations! I forgot that China does such an excellent job of protecting its workers and spreading wealth and prosperity to all citizens without these evil American corporations getting in the way.
You're right in that you can't blame one company for all the world's ills. These countries don't look after their own. Doesn't help that government officials are bribed off to look the other way. Gee, I wonder why so many people (not countries) around the world are anti-american.
Whenever I can I shop local. I support local mom & pop shops even if it means that I pay a little more. At least I know the money is staying in my local economy. But I suppose as long as people care more about save $1.00 on toilet paper they could give 2 fucks about some poor shmoe killing himself just to stay alive.
*c*
My previous employer was the engineer in charge of most new Wal-Marts in Canada. We were the municipal engineers in charge of site design and project management. We were involved from the intial stages of investigating property right through to construction. I personaly was involved with the design and project management of several new WalMarts in Canada.
Wal-Mart is ruthless. I'll leave it at that.
www.walmartwatch.com
Wal-Mart is ruthless. I'll leave it at that.
www.walmartwatch.com
Site location any major property if your a retailer is actually pretty scientific in its methodology, utilizing geodemographics, geographic information systems, etc. One of best schools that pumps out grads with this kind of training is actually Rye High and its Applied Geography program, I'm proud to say. Chances are, the person who answered the question "where should I place our new shinny Wal-Mart" was a Applied Geography grad. To be a successful "big-box" retailer you have to be ruthless, or else your soon out of business, its as simple as that. Wal-Mart more fundamentally also changed the supplier-seller relationship with the "pay for what's scanned". This means that you as a supplier will only be paid for what is scanned through, and not what you shipped.
Interesting company to look at with its business model, irrespective of its negative impacts to the small retailer and other obvious negative points.
One crazy thing I heard, a friend of mine used to work at head office in Mississagua for 5 years, claims they have the 4 foot rule or something like that, if someone passes within 4 feet of you, you have to say hi and make small talk, if you don't, you may face some sort of reprimand.
Interesting company to look at with its business model, irrespective of its negative impacts to the small retailer and other obvious negative points.
One crazy thing I heard, a friend of mine used to work at head office in Mississagua for 5 years, claims they have the 4 foot rule or something like that, if someone passes within 4 feet of you, you have to say hi and make small talk, if you don't, you may face some sort of reprimand.
Subsonic Chronic
TRIBE Member
Walmart sucks
i went to visit my relatives in cornwall a while back and you should see what walmart and chain stores have done to the downtown core. it's dead - you can practically see the tumbleweeds rolling through the streets. i'm sure many other small towns are going through the same thing - so sad...
KickIT
TRIBE Member
Now on the complete opposite of the spectrum. Much smaller scale but I'm a believer in smaller is better.
http://alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=12973
http://alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=12973
Downtown Core
But you cannot forget about all of the small towns and cities that have accomodated an onslaught of big-box stores like Wal-Mart, while still maintaining a vibrant downtown core. I think the problem of decay in downtown retail is a little more complex than whether or not a Wal-Mart goes up. A good municipal government will implement policies and initiatives to balance both the large and small retail sectors.
But you cannot forget about all of the small towns and cities that have accomodated an onslaught of big-box stores like Wal-Mart, while still maintaining a vibrant downtown core. I think the problem of decay in downtown retail is a little more complex than whether or not a Wal-Mart goes up. A good municipal government will implement policies and initiatives to balance both the large and small retail sectors.