If not at Wal-Mart, where should impoverished Americans shop?

[Blu Dahlia]

I know Wal-Mart is a mega corporation that exploits and uses workers, while increasing our trade deficit on a daily basis. Anyone who has the means to shop somewhere else probably should.

Yet, for many Americans, it is the only place they can afford to shop. I've seen remarks around this board that suggest that people who shop at Wal-Mart are stupid. These comments reek of classism.

Where should the poorest Americans shop as an alternative to Wal-Mart?

[5X]

1. We never shop at walmart and we spend less than when we did.

We shop at Target or Warehouse Market and get by just fine,
thank you.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

2. Not everyone has the luxury of someplace else.

And you do sound a little classist. I agree with the OP whole-heartedly. And I shop at Super Target now.
Duckie

[5X]

8. How do I sound classist?

[Sherman A1]

77. You Don't

[YellowRubberDuckie]

161. Because I'm an idiot and misread your post.

I'm sincerely sorry I said what I said.
Duckie

[La Lioness Priyanka]

67. that was not a classist statement.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

3. Target or Costco, both filter more of the corporate wealth to

their employees!

[barb162]

99. I can never figure why should pay Costco to shop

[prolesunited]

121. Because you save WAY more

than your annual membership fee. COSTCO has an extremely low markup and makes most of its profits from those membership fees.

[Cleita]

4. When I was cash strapped, I found thrift shops like the Goodwill

and yard sales to be my salvation. This was in pre-Wal-Mart days, when Sears and Penneys were the only low priced goods stores around.

Also, there were emporiums that sold what was called seconds, or goods that had small flaws in them and sold for a third or half of what they normally were priced. I found these stores handy for bed linens and towels.

[hfojvt]

18. Awesome point!! I went to the thrift shop

and got 3 pairs of pants and a belt for $4.50. Woulda cost me about $30 at Wal-mart.

Also, I note that milk and bread seem to be no more expensive at the local grocery store than they are at Wal-mart.

[BamaGirl]

33. We need a milk and bread post

I pay through the nose for milk. Bread doesn't hurt so bad since I buy it from the bakery and freeze it. Milk though...omg. The generic with tax is about $4/gal. The brand is almost $5/gal. The problem is the generic goes bad so fast it's a waste of money, and my kids drink a gallon of milk in two days! If I drive 30 miles to the commisary at Ft Rucker tho (which I do about once every 3 weeks), it's $2.50/gal for the same brand name! It drives me up the wall. I wonder what the national avg is because almost all of my extra take home income (after bills) goes to groceries. Oh and bread, we pay like $1.50 a loaf for generic at the grocery store. I can almost half that at the bakery discount store which is great. I can go in there buy a bunch of discounted stuff and freeze it. Everything else is killing me though.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

37. I pay $1.98 for a gallon of brand-name milk

at a convenience store. I don't know what the store prices are because I never buy milk at any of them.

Why the hell is milk so expensive in your neck of the woods?

[BamaGirl]

44. Holy crap!

Where the hell are you lol!? I'm moving lol! I haven't seen that price in 7 or 8 years. Why is it so expensive? Greedy assholes!? I dunno. But the dairy that provides our milk is about 5 miles down the road. So greedy assholes works for me. There really is no good reason for it to cost us so much.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

61. I live in Idaho, where there are lots of dairies

and the pasteurization plants where they process the milk. Maybe that's why it's so cheap.

[Nikia]

68. I saw milk at that price last night shopping

At a Woodman's store. It is an employee owned large (as in store size) grocery store in Wisconsin.
We don't go through milk that fast so we bought a half gallon for $1.30.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

72. There are lots of dairies in Wiconsin, too, aren't there?

That would explain why you and I get cheap milk, and people in other parts of the country pay so much.

[Sherman A1]

75. Woodman's

I went into their store in Rockford, IL a few years ago - VERY IMPRESSIVE! Prices were excellent and looking at a yogurt section that was 48 feet long - just blew me away.

[POAS]

142. Some local convenience stores here (Ohio)

also offer milk at 1.99 while the major grocery stores have specials every few weeks. Mostly it is aroung 3.00.

The "I don't have anywhere else to go" reason for shopping Wal*Mart may be due to laziness. If you do a little looking (watch the ads and the store signs as you drive around) then you can probably stop the Wal*Mart habit.

[Sherman A1]

42. $2.68 a gallon for 2% at the local Supermarket

which by the way is staffed by members of UFCW. Sounds like you are getting ripped off - majorly!

[BamaGirl]

47. We are

we're really close to our local dairy, but this part of Bama is lost somewhere in 1900 I think. Ppl don't have any choice but to pay it, so they'll continue to charge it.

[Sherman A1]

56. Well

I am certainly sorry for your situation. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to charge that much for milk. I was told that we had some of the highest prices in MO for milk (I work for the chain with the $2.68/gallon). Wish I had a good suggestion for you, doesn't sound like there really is one.

[hfojvt]

76. It does not matter how close you are to the local dairy

if the dairy farmers do not produce enough milk for the region. Places like Missouri, Wisconsin, California and New York are probably exporting milk and cheese. You'd think dairy farmers there would be raking it in though, because the subsidy used to be based on how far you were away from Eau Claire, Wi.

[Der Blaue Engel]

83. Buy the cow

:D

[BamaGirl]

89. Lol! My friend and I

she had about an acre and half, have actually been throwing this around as a possibiliy. For a goat at least lol.

[KSU Wildcat]

66. That is terrible....

There is no way that milk should cost more than gasoline if you look at the processes involved with each.

[sandnsea]

114. Down to $1.98 in Oregon

Over the last 2 years or so. It was about $3.19, I don't know why it went down so much. Store brand bread is .89, quality whole grain is around $2.00.

It's really odd your prices are so high, when I lived in Arkansas they were cheaper. Plus, we have $7.50 minimum wage and grocery stores are union.

Maybe it's got something to do with your being a military town????

[DemReadingDU]

35. Goodwill stores do have nice clothes

Some are new with the tags still on, $5! Most clothes that I see in our Goodwill are gently used, almost like new. Very nice.

edit to add: our milk in SW Ohio is good price, appx $2.50 per gallon!

[William769]

I shop at Wal-Mart out of necessity.

Being on a limited income. If people here don't like it, they are more than happy to come to my house with groceries.

[kineneb]

98. I hear you

I try to avoid MallWart whenever possible, but there are only two big stores in our entire county- MallWart and Kmart. The Kmart is 25 miles away, while the MW is only 10. When all the other stores fail to have what we need, then I have to go to MW.

I shop for food at the locally-owned grocery, which always seems to be cheaper than the chains. Grocery Outlet and the Dollar Tree have also become favorites. We are on a fixed income (SSDI) and have to watch our spending.

[Naturyl]

5. OP makes a good point

I make less than $600 a month, so I don't have much choice. I hate going there, but I have to eat.

[cornermouse]

6. Round here they shop at Wal-Mart or one of a plethora of

$1 type stores.

[pooja]

7. In order to collapse the giant, we have to stop shopping there.

And I am not a good example. But when I do go to Walmart I usually purchase water (cheaper by the case) and diapers, and sadly baby clothes (kids grow so damn fast 4.00 clothes items seems worth the little time for wear)... once the kid outgrows the item, I donate to charity. Other than that I try not to frequent the place.

[rusty charly]

9. costco?

Costco's health-care benefits are available to most of its employees. And although it recently increased its employee health care contribution, the company covers about 92 percent of health care costs, generous by industry standards.

With its relationship with workers in good standing, Costco's sales increased during the Southern California strike as consumers avoided picket lines at other retailers and shopped at its warehouses.

The company's employees in Washington state are not unionized. But at a time when some grocery companies say they have to contain their labor costs, Chief Executive Jim Sinegal believes in compensating the people who built the $42 billion business into what it is today.

"They're entitled to buy homes and live in reasonably nice neighborhoods and send their children to school," he said during an interview last week at the company's corporate headquarters.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/166680_costco29.html

[Blu Dahlia]

13. There are no Costcos here

It sounds like a great company, though.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

34. Write them! I did! I begged them to open a store here, and just

got a reply they had no plans to build here currently. Costco is smart, and will continue to grow if they hear that we want them to.

They are not about being the next Walmart, whose doors will close I believe, sooner than later, they are about managed and sustained growth and service. I think with the constrained purses of the middle and lower class a Costco expansion would be disastrous, now, but it just might kill Walmart!

[tpsbmam]

25. Availability.......

I totally agree -- I used to shop at Costco and loved it! I loved it for the ease and prices but more, I loved it for the way they treated employees and their political contributions (mostly to Democrats).

But, sadly, the closest Costco is 2 hours away from here. I've begged & pleaded with the company to consider opening one in this area. I've tried to make the case for it being a wise move. We shall see. But in the meantime, the only lower cost stores around here are Walmart/Sams & Target. Target isn't a lot better than Walmart if anyone is really paying attention. I've posted some stuff about Target. They're better, but just by a hair.

I can't fault folks for shopping at any of these places. When my neighbor, whose family lives on a pretty tight budget, points out that just for a gallon of milk she saves $1 when she goes to Walmart, who the hell am I to criticize? She and her husband are both good Democrats, but they're good Democrats who have to feed and clothe a family (not to mention college and all of that as well).

[Gelliebeans]

120. I am a retired Costco employee

and so are most of my family. I can personally attest to Costco being one of the best companies to work for.
I can't work anymore (illness) but if I could I would be back there in a heartbeat.

[bliss_eternal]

139. Hi Gelliebeans...

:hi: My dh became interested in working there, after seeing them profiled on a news show. I know we've haven't spoke prior to now, but would you mind if I pm you for more info. about the company?

[Gelliebeans]

141. absolutely

:hi:

[bliss_eternal]

144. You've got mail!

;) and thank YOU! :hug:

[Mend]

10. resale stores such as Goodwill, garage sales, newspaper ads,

grow some of your own food (tomatoes, etc.), other box stores such as Costco which is a blue company. Poor people survived before they invented Walmart's and can survive without them now.

[BlackVelvet04]

64. There IS no Costco around here....

I can't grow my own food.

[Selatius]

11. For the very poor, I would say the choice is up to them

If saving money is a paramount concern with respect to food and other goods, then I would not begrudge them.

In the meantime, I think it's important to get the word out about their exploitative policies and to support trade unions that try to unionize their stores. Unfortunately, unionization is more difficult in right-to-work states. It's possible, but progress in these areas is slow.

[Ilsa]

12. I don't shop there because

it is distant, inconvenient, the parking lot is a mess, and I don't like the produce. I also don't shop there for the other "politically correct" reasons. Sometimes I go to my market, a dollar store, wherever I can find what I need or want. My Target sells very little in groceries.

But if that is the only place where you can find what you need at the best price, then I guess you should shop there. I think alot of stores in many areas have "followed suit" and done what Wm has done: stop paying as much in wages and benefits. WalMart has dragged down alot of rural economies with their cheapness and driven mom-and-pop stores out of business, IMO.

[KT2000]

14. I try to get as much

as possible from thrift stores. It is absolutely amazing what people are getting rid of - besides that - so many things that are older are made better.
I feel better that I am recycling, benefitting a charity (my favorite store is a charity for the homeless and also has an addiction program) and the prices are great.

But I know what you mean about Wal-mart. I live in a small town where they have run other businesses out so there are not really any alternatives. The only stores left are the expensive ones. Two fabric stores closed after they opened, now Wal-Mart has decided to close their fabric sections.

[Blu Dahlia]

17. it's an unfortunate cycle

Walmart runs other smaller, employee friendly companies out of business. Given the choice between buying something new (albeit cheap and foreign made) or something used, a lot of people prefer the new item.

I think those who *can* afford to shop somewhere else probably should. There are far too many well off people shopping at Walmart, thus encouraging their practices.

[bliss_eternal]

140. I've found amazing items at thrift stores...

I also take items I can't use anymore to thrift stores--keeps the cycle going so to speak. I like to give back. ;)

When I was working as a server, I was able to get most of my button down work shirts as thrift stores--some were practically new!

[BlackVelvet04]

15. Sometimes it isn't even a matter of economics so much as

location. For those who live in rural areas sometimes there isn't anywhere else close by. So what do you do? Waste gas to drive somewhere else?

Each of us do what we can and what we have to do.

[Bobbieo]

16. They love us and our food stanps at Wal-Mart -

I can no longer afford to shop at my regular grocery and WAL-Mart is just around the corner.

I do know the 99 Cent major outlet in my area is now offering canned and packaged fruits and vegetables. The store was packed the other day -my first and last visit - and it seems to be appealing to the regular Wal-Mart customers. Finally, some competition but is that good or bad?

[WilliamPitt]

19. Didn't you get the gov't report?

There are no impoverished people anymore.

:eyes:

[William769]

21. Well someone forgot to tell me!

[Inkyfuzzbottom]

20. There are SO many choices...

Thrift stores are located in most all communities large and small. They are terrific for clothing, shoes and household goods and furnishings. For other items there are stores like Dollar General and all the different Dollar type stores, discount grocery stores (like Aldi's and Save More in my area), generic brands in chain grocery stores,...etc. If you look around there are many alternatives to the dreaded Wally World with comparable or better priced goods.

[BamaGirl]

22. I avoid it like the plague, unless I have no choice.

And sometimes I have no choice. It depends on how much overtime we have and what I need. We don't have a Target or a Costco. A lot of ppl seem to assume everyone does, which I always find funny. Closest of both is 100 miles from me.

[ckimmy57]

23. Were lucky enough to have an Aldi's

and here lately they have had excellent meat choices for alot less and quite frankly their meat is alot nicer then Wally Worlds and their produce and fruits are alot nicer also. Kudos to our Aldi's. I started to boy cot WM when they ceased with their layaways because it "catered to the poor". Talk about a remark in poor taste. I was a fuming pissed off woman when I read that and I have not been back in the store since. We also have a K-Mart that is struggeling to compete with WM and I go there along with the Dollar Tree and Dollar Zone......:)

[knitter4democracy]

24. Aldi and Save-A-Lot

That's where a lot of people around here go. Also, the local bakery outlets. You can save big there.

[Ron Green]

26. If shopping at Wal*Mart is your only alternative,

maybe you're shopping too much. Is it a matter of going hungry if you have to get your groceries elsewhere? Could you get by with fewer non-essential items? What non-food things do you buy at Wal*Mart and why? Could they be gotten from a used-goods store and recycled into use?

These are not rhetorical questions; I'd really like to know why people darken their door.

[Bobbieo]

81. I only buy food and cleaning products Oh yeah - I bought 2 pr of tennis shoes for $3,50

each last month. I have not bought any other clothes for more than 3 years, now. I have plenty of tee shirts, sweat shirts, jeans and pants to last me for the rest of my life. My social life these days consists of an afternoon at Wal-Mart and that's no bull!

[prolesunited]

125. I would try the library, bookstore or coffee house

for my social life rather than wander through the aisles there.

[athena]

148. I agree.

Whenever I go past Walmart, I see people walking out with giant bags filled with stuff that doesn't look at all essential -- toys and yard stuff. I don't see too many people walking out with just groceries. If this sounds classist, keep in mind that I'm barely above the poverty line myself. I can't afford to buy anything that's not essential.

I suspect the truly poor people can't afford to shop even at Wal-Mart. My impression is that most people who shop at Wal-Mart are comfortably middle class and just like to use the "I need to feed my family!" excuse whenever someone points out that it's immoral to shop there.

[SoCalDem]

27. Malls are a good place to start, if you are looking for new stuff

I have found better merchandise for LESS than the crap sold at cheapo places. BUT you have to shop the sales, and may not have as great a selection. but in America, shopping has become a recreation..

People "go shopping" as something to do.

Walmart sees to it that after they arrive, there are few places TO shop, so naturally they are willing and ready to "serve your every need"...

Walmart is little more than "China outlet Store"..

The sad things is that even at malls or independent stores (are there any left??), you cannot escape foreign goods because somewhere there's a CEO sitting on his fat ass, drawing millions of dollars a year, who just cannot figure out a way to do business without slave labor..

Think about all the fuel used and the ocean pollution involved in the shipping of all that stuff..

The whole thing has spun out of control :(

[Cleita]

29. That's so true. My husband used to get upset that I had Robinson's

and May Company cards, but I proved to him that if you shop smart, you can get better quality clothing for much the same price as shopping at Target or Wal-Mart.

[SoCalDem]

30. I got my husband a London Fog raincoat for $10.00 (Robinsons)

he 'bout fainted..

They turned our Robinsons into a Macys:puke:

[Sherman A1]

49. Absolutely

I check the clearance racks at Dillard's and have gotten some fantastic bargins. A very nice work jacket that lasted for about 3 years for $15.00. I loved it, but my wife had to pry it out of my hands as it was in her opinion thread bare (in mine - just getting broke-in).

[gratuitous]

28. I can't control anyone else's behavior

But if I have a friend or an acquaintance who shops at Wal-Mart, I make sure I give them some information about Wal-Mart's corporate practices in terms of employee relations, union busting and so forth. What they do with the information is their business, but my business is to make sure they have the information.

I don't give anyone grief about shopping at Wal-Mart out of necessity or out of choice. My activism on this issue is reserved for Wal-Mart. Some people are quite touchy, though, thinking that my anti-Wal-Mart attitude somehow imputes to them, or for some reason they think that their patronage of Wal-Mart isn't in line with their own beliefs but then they take their discomfort about it out on me. It's okay, though; I have broad shoulders.

[SmokingJacket]

31. People shopped before WalMart.

And that's the rub; WalMart shut many of those places down.

OBVIOUSLY if you don't have a choice, you shop at WalMart.

If you DO have a choice, I beg you: go elsewhere!

[Digit]

32. As a single mom, I used consignment shops to make money

It worked well with kid's clothing.
I would receive decent money on clothes I consigned, and in turn, I would buy "new" clothing for my child.

I have also found brand new clothing with the old price tags still on it at Goodwill.

[Rex]

36. That is the whole idea of class enslavement.

The working class live to buy cheap stuff. Cheap stuff keeps the wealthy that way.

[madrchsod]

38. the "dollar stores"

the one down the block from me has a lot of $40,000 plus car and suv`s in it`s parking lot. it`s an interesting cross section of america shopping at dollar general

[TallahasseeGrannie]

39. I get a lot of stuff at Goodwill

but God help me, coffee (lifeblood) is $12 a bag and Publix and $6 at Walmart. I have a few things I buy there. But most of the stuff you get at Walmart (excluding groceries) ends up at Goodwill anyway. Also, garage sales are great.

[NMDemDist2]

52. lots of great deals on the internets on coffee Grannie

check out Ebay, there are some good sellers over there and if you freeze the beans you can save on shipping

:hi:

[TallahasseeGrannie]

90. Never thought of that! I'll look into it.

[jgruhl]

40. Where did impoverished Americans shop before Walmart came about?

Are not these stores the same ones people are shopping at now? (Costco, K-mart, Target, etc). Anyway, many of these stores all sell cheap foreign-made goods, so in effect, one is just choosing a lesser of so-called evils. I can buy the same cheap goods at Rainbow Foods or Cub Foods with some coupons as I can shop at Walmart. The point is to put pressure on all of these stores to be responsible employers and share their wealth with the workers and communities that make their sales possible, yes?

[sandnsea]

115. I choose based on union stores

They do all sell foreign stuff, but they don't all exploit their employees at the same time they're making exorbitant profits. Wal-mart makes it difficult for the other stores to pay their employees, that's why FDR implemented a minimum wage in the first place. He wanted to avoid a race to the bottom.

[Horse with no Name]

41. Actually most of my finds are at thrift stores

If you are willing to frequent them often, you can get some nice stuff.
My granddaughter wears only expensive name brand clothing and I never buy it new. Today for her Thanksgiving program, she had a beautiful silk and velvet dress made by Bonnie Jean that cost me $1.99 and black Stride Rite patent leather shoes that were $2.00. If I had paid retail, I would have spent at least $75.I buy nice things that don't have any wear and then send them to the dry cleaners to shape them back up. But it requires diligence to search through the mounds of crappy stuff to find the nice stuff.
I'm willing to do that.
Her jeans are Abercrombie, Old Navy, Zana Di, etc and I didn't pay over $1.00 a pair.
I buy off season. I bought her Christmas dresses in July. I was able to get two Gymboree dresses for the holidays for $1 apiece.
As far as gifts...I make my list of people to buy for and their interests.
You can find books that are new and like new for $1.00.
I even found a book that I sold on Ebay for $75 that I paid $1.00 for.
My granddaughter loves dolls. I found a Crissy doll and her cousin Mia (both have the hair that pulls down) in excellent condition. I paid very little for them. I then purchased some clothing for them on Ebay.
That is one of my presents to her and I guarantee it will be her favorite. Not to mention that these dolls in excellent condition are collectors items.
Sometimes I am forced to shop Walmart--but I never SHOP Walmart for gifts or clothing.

[William769]

43. I'm glad to see we haven't lost any of our self righteous people here.

:eyes:

[NMDemDist2]

45. here in my town, without spending 80 miles of gas, I have WallyWorld

Dollar General and Albertsons

I have managed to not step foot in WallyWorld so far (4 months). Internet shopping is my friend....

every quarter we do the road trip if we need to and hit Target and KMart (I make a list)

it takes discipline and smart shopping. it ain't easy I'll tell you. thank heaven we don't have kids!

[NuttyFluffers]

143. thanks about mentioning shopping by mail

using the internet is just the latest fast way to do someting america's rural lifeblood, as well as Sears, was founded upon... shopping by mail with catalogs.

and if you add up the wear and tear on your car, and gas, you easily save money covering the shipping and more. good rule of thumb: 1 mile = $0.50 (rounded average and takes into consideration gas, wear and tear, insurance, registration, etc). so if your wal*mart is 10 miles away (it's usually farther in rural communities) that's 20 miles round trip, and thus around $10 just for the privilege to get there and back. more than enough to cover a good deal shipping out there and that $0.39 stamp (or internet click). and it cuts out impulse buys and wasted time, too.

[Canuckistanian]

46. Classism? That's a little harsh

There USED to be discount stores, factory outlets, thrift stores.... No more.

Walmart squeezed them all out.

The small stores just can't compete with the buying power of the behemoth Mal-Mart. Quality has been driven down to the lowest level, including the labor used to produce the crap.

You're right on one count - there's no alternative for people who are desperate.

[Jed Dilligan]

48. Who needs NEW shit?

I suggest that even wealthier Americans look into getting stuff secondhand, because there is already so much stuff in the world and making more of it helps no one but CEOs.

[Horse with no Name]

51. I live in an area that doesn't have a great deal of personal wealth

I have lived around real wealth and the majority here APPEAR to have money, yet they just live on credit and minimum payments.
All drive new cars and live in very nice homes.
However, more frequently as of late, it is not uncommon to see the Goodwill parking lot littered with luxury cars.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

94. I agree. There's enough "stuff" out there to go around.

I've shopped thrift stores for years. The best are the ones located in or near affluent neighborhoods.

MKJ

[Jed Dilligan]

118. There are also dumpsters

Most of my furniture is dumpster-dived. College towns are great--the spoiled kids leave good stuff because they don't feel like moving it and their parents will just buy them another one if they need it.

[buckettgirl]

50. Its not always a matter of poor, but of accessibility

I don't think that I'm among the poorest of Americans (we gross $24000/year, have no debt outside of student loans, and decent savings), and although I know of the hatred of walmart to be found here (and not that I necessarily disagree with it), I don't have much choice but walmart.
Of course, I'll get flamed for that and get told I should I try harder or whatever (cuz its all been said to me before here), but I am in a town of less than 2000 people. I live 20 minutes from the town where I go to college, which is about 21,000 people. We have walmart, home depot, and a really crappy mall. The next closest place with any decent shopping is well over an hour away, and its not much better.
I shop at walmart not because I *want* to support them, but because that's my option and it is highly impractical to travel 130 miles away when I need goods like those sold at walmart/target/etc (hmmm... in that case, I can either spend my money at walmart or spend my money to support the oil companies - neither is an attractive option).
I buy goods online, I shop from various catalogs and amazon... however even that is limited for me due to the cost of shipping and the fact that I don't want to wait days for something I need and can get now.

I have to say that I think that people who don't live in rural america just don't get it. This is what we have to work with...

[I_Make_Mistakes]

62. I am sorry and sometimes we come off callous, those that have a

choice I mean. Walmart could save me $1.00, but I won't shop there out of choice. I think sometimes, we are speaking from our own experience, because, it never occurred to me that you might not even have a choice, because it is not my situation. Please understand, some of us have never been in your shoes, so, we have no reference with which to work.

[buckettgirl]

87. I understand that

I know what you're saying, and I don't take anything here personally (certainly I have dished out some crap in the past :P)
I just hate the assumptions that those who patronize walmart are stupid, poor, or whatever the stereotype for the day is.
I find it sad that my situation is not unique. Certainly there are a few thousand more people out here in BFE Kansas who live farther away from town than I do, and yet they make the hour or more drive *just* to go to super-walmart because their small towns might not even have grocery stores.
I don't even know if we have costco anywhere in kansas??!!
And maybe because kansas has such a sparse population, that in and of itself makes it easier for walmart to suck us in and take over everything else like a virus.

on a side note: I am proud to say that I have most of my christmas shopping done and I haven't bought any of it from walmart! hey, thats at least something...

[I_Make_Mistakes]

91. You take it where you can get it and today is a good day! Walmart

employees aren't bad, just their mgmt and those who tag along. Do you remember the days when quality mattered? Those were the days my friend, and good for you to be that far along on your shopping!

I have an inkling this yrs. x-mas #'s are going to paralyze the domestic agenda, in Jan., and the Dems better get out in front of the disaster.

[rpannier]

53. Everyones situation is different

If you can afford to avoid walmart you should.

But, not everyone has that luxury.
Some people live on very fixed incomes.
Some people have to travel too far to find another place they can afford. The cost of gas would be too much.

To those who wish to criticize people who have to shop at Walmart -- why don't you go purchase clothes and other items for these people and send it to them. I'm sure they'd appreciate it.

[Generic Other]

54. I can't fault seniors for buying $4.00 perscriptions at Walmart

even though I know what that will mean for every other pharmacy in America. I just want to know why they are the only company that can sell drugs this cheaply.

[Sherman A1]

60. At least two reasons

one being trying to buy themselves a better image (and market share) with the new reduced costs on prescriptions. The other called predatory pricing, which is their usual game plan to drive out competition.

[Horse with no Name]

69. The drugs on the list are older drugs

who no longer have rights of patent.
Personally the last time I got a prescription filled at Walmart out of necessity, it was for an antibiotic.
It was a stock bottle that had never been opened that was supposed to have 30 antibiotic pills in it. When I opened it, it only had 21.
I took it back the next day and they acted like I was a liar and was trying to STEAL 9 pills.:eyes:
I refuse to do business with a pharmacy (even if they are charging $4) that treats me like that so I will make the effort to drive into a larger town to do business. However, when someone on a tight income has to pay $30 apiece for 4-5 prescriptions and can reduce that to $4, then that is a decision I can respect all day long.
On the funny side of that--I have a friend who works as a pharmacy tech for Walmart in another state. She tells me that their incidences of stock bottles being inaccurate is extremely high and that their pharmacy mandates they be counted before dispensing.
Imagine big pharma screwing Walmart?:rofl:

[Generic Other]

79. Ah the old bait and switch...

I just knew there had to be a catch.

So how can Walmart's ploy be used against them? In a just world, their action would lead to the plummeting of all drug prices everywhere. Permanently.

I have a relative with AIDS who lives in Ecuador. His drugs in the US cost thousands of dollars a month. The same medicine costs $200 per year in Ecuador. As far as I'm concerned, Americans should all have the option of buying cheaper drugs from other countries! The fact that we can't illustrates the degree to which our freedom has been curtailed by corporatist criminals.

Walmart sucks for pulling a fast one like that. Every CEO of every drug company deserves to face the death penalty for their criminal behavior toward the sick and defenseless.

I have yet to enter a Walmart (one is being built down the street from where I work), and now I will make a conscious effort to avoid the place. Thanks.

[Nikia]

70. My local pharmacy sells drugs cheaply

Cheaper than Walmart and the chain pharmacies.
It seems that those chains count on people having copays and expecting to pay at least the copay so cheap (under $20-$30) drugs are more expensive.

[Generic Other]

82. Actually, Walmart claims they will be selling the top 300 drugs for $4

in generic form. I doubt many smaller chains will be able to compete.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

80. Well, Target matched that $4.00! I just didn't want it to go unnoticed!@

Edit: to add $4.00

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

55. Absolutely No Problem With Them Shopping At Walmart.

[U4ikLefty]

116. What about households of around $100,000 per year shopping there?

While driving their SUV's of course?

It is one thing for the impoverished folks to shop there, but it is quite another for upper-middle class folks.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

151. Anyone Who Wants Can Shop There. It's Their Business, Not Yours.

But I have a feeling you'll cast your falsely righteous judgments at them anyway, regardless of it being none of your business.

That's ok though. I just laugh at it anyway. :hi:

[Mr_Spock]

57. Situations vary - so long as people are aware of WalMart's issues

I'm proud of my 2+ years away from Wally world. They aren't really that inexpensive in areas with lots of competition anyway.

[VforVicarious]

58. I think the big deal about Wal mart

is that they don't use Unions..and Unions want in on it.

Yea, I've heard Wal mart horror stories myself and try to avoid shopping there whenever I can. But the OP is right. It sells just about anything you can imagine at very good prices and for alot of Americans, that's their only choice. I lived in a single parent household for a few years after my mom and dad's divorce and that's how we got by.

What can ya say, they found something that works. That's capitalism defined

[Sherman A1]

71. Capitalism is one thing

and is certainly the system we use, the problem comes when companies play by the rules and then along comes Wal Mart who just ignores the rules. It's not just about Unions, it's about a level playing field for everyone. No company should get away with the laundry list of labor law violations that Wal Mart has over the years. No company should get away with using and exploiting undocumented workers as has Wal Mart. No company should send it's workers back into a store to look for explosives after a bomb threat as has Wal Mart (in Canada) and the list goes on and on and on. To say it's just about Unions is far, far too easy an answer. It's about human rights and the rights of workers.

[VforVicarious]

92. that's true

I'm not debating Wal Mart's ethics. One of my best buddies worked there and he told me plenty of horror stories about how they treat their employees. All this stuff about taking over mom and pop shops and whatnot is just part of the downside of capitalism.

But that being said, I fully agree with ya about Wal Mart's business practices and like alot of people here, I try to avoid shopping there whenever I can

[prolesunited]

126. "Just the downside of capitalism"?

I think you would do well to do some more research on this subject.

Wal-Mart doesn't represent capitalism at its best, rather it's worst. They take advantage of the entire U.S. infrastructure that makes their success possible and refuse to pay their fair share.

Do you realize how many taxpayer dollars subsidize their "free market" profits? How about when they go into communities promising jobs and receive huge property tax breaks just for building there? They benefit from the roads, police, fire departments, etc., but are cost-shifting the maintenance of this infrastructure onto the middle and working classes.

Or, how about paying such low wages that employees qualify for food stamps? Or pricing employees out of health-care insurance programs and forcing families into state-subsidized system? Who do you think is paying for all of this? It's you and I.

Corporations have no conscience and they must be forced by the government to be held accountable.

Unless you want a return to the late 1800s, we must put the reigns on capitalism. People can make profits and become rich, but it should not be at the expense of the fabric of the very society that made such wealth possible.

[Sherman A1]

135. Well Said

Thanks I missed those points, in my reply.

[Pithlet]

I won't step into a Wal-mart, but I get what you're saying.

I won't condemn another's choice to shop there simply because I don't know the factors of their decision. I have no problem shouting out loud why I think Wal-mart is a horrible company, and I have indeed talked more than one person out of ever shopping there again. I would like nothing more than for everyone to stop shopping there, and for the whole company to go under. But, I would not look straight at a person who's telling me they don't have much choice and judge them and try to make them feel bad about it. I don't think that tactic tends to work very well anyway, because putting people on the defensive almost never works to get them to do what you want them to do.

[electron_blue]

59. Well, I think the impoverished don't have many choices and that's a shame.

Truthfully, I'm not around many impoverished people, so I am pretty uneducated on how they do it. I was damn poor about 20-25 years ago and I know how I did it, but I'm sure things have changed. Plus I didn't have a family to take care of. I have no problem with impoverished people shopping at Walmart.

I'm mostly around middle income people (people spending $40,000 - $70,000 per year) and they shop at Walmart. Many of these shop at Walmart to buy blank DVD's for recording movies with their 60-inch wide digital tv's. They claim they are too strapped to shop anywhere else. Yeah, I bet.

Seems to me that if so many people across the U.S. feel they can't afford anyplace to shop but Walmart, they should realize that they are backed into a corner and the system needs to be fixed. For example they should consider what are they going to do when they can't afford Walmart? Sooner or later Walmart is going to put the squeeze on, once all the competition is gone. I don't see these people thinking about it. Not much anyway.

[BlueEyedSon]

63. Costco is blue and has better hiring practices. nt

[and-justice-for-all]

65. Dollar Stores, Dollar Tree, Dollar General...

...Big Lots, Aldis, IGA, GoodWill and if one has really hit bottom, the Salvation Army.

By not buying Cigaretts, Alcohol and other substances that will not only break the person, but also the wallet.

All it takes is a little initive and a willingness to survive in a healthy manner. For extra money one can collect aluminum items for recycling or get employment at a GoodWill, also partnering up can benefit all involved and there is nothing wrong with asking for help. I dont mind helping as long as the person has the full intention of getting back on their feet.

[Horse with no Name]

74. Salvation Army is one of my favorite haunts

and as far as I can tell, I am not at rock bottom.
I'd rather go to a Goodwill rather than ANY retail store any old day.

I do take a little offense to your post and the assumptions that everyone who has hard times drinks, does drugs or smokes.
And truly...when you attach conditions to your help
"I dont mind helping as long as the person has the full intention of getting back on their feet."
You might as well just keep it.
Many people who are in dire circumstances probably can't fulfill the expectations you have for them when you hand them that $5.

[and-justice-for-all]

134. It seems gratitude must be ...

...Long Term for you or anyone in such circumstances to be of any use, now thats sad. If the expectation is "I will help you help yourself" then I see nothing in error with that. Hand outs are not an answer, people must be motivated to do better and when someone lends the help to get that in motion it should not be taken for granted.

I am not in any way capable of sheltering or assisting on an indefinite bases, are you?

When "mentioning" Alcohol and Drug use, its petty common in both poverty and "normal" living situations. Many people also fall due to finanical circumstances, but substance abuse is either the culperate or what people use to try to numb the situation or even to make money...I am not saying that poverty stricken people are ALL substance abusers, but its not like its uncommon either, now is it?

Conditions must be applied, other wise ones good intentions will be taken for granted. I will not allow someone to bleed me dry and abuse my good will, no one should. Its redicules on your part to make a statement that makes you sound greedy and ungreatful to any contributions simply because "certain restrictions apply." My assistence should not lead me to the edge or entangle me desolution, its not like I have not kicked and clawed myself to where I am today.

Asking that someone, who is capable of it, to have the willingness to better themselves with my gradtuite is NOT uncomprmising nor is it to much to ask. People who are NOT capable and who have been left astray by society is another story, those people need to be housed and cared for by the state because they should not have to suffer and be forgotten about due to their handicaps. Before funds are shipped over seas to aide those dire situations I firmly believe we need to take care of our own and fix whats broken here now, then once that is on the mend we should then try to help the rest of the world.

[Blu Dahlia]

85. collecting cans?

I'm sorry but you seem to be way out of touch. Is this really how you view the poor?

[DaveJ]

111. ...

Doesn't it seem rude when someone asks a question and then berates the answers they don't like?

[and-justice-for-all]

133. Thank You, I appreciate that. nt

[and-justice-for-all]

132. I am far from out of touch.....

...I know what I would do if I had to and collecting cans (as well as other aluminum items) to take to the recycling center would be one of them.

Actually, I do that now to be honest. I do recycle the aluminum that I do use, I dont go digging for it, but I do recycle rather then contribute to the garbage mounds. Any metal can be recycled and they do pay you for it...

As far as the poor goes, I am not sure what you would expect someone to do in a poverty situation. There is no Macy's or 5 star restaurants for the poor...What do you want?

I also suggest growing ones own food, if at all possible.

I simple provided suggestions on how or what someone could do to live when in a poverty stricken situation on the bases of what I would do.

[Nikia]

73. When we lived closer to one, we shopped at Woodman's in WI

It is an employee owned grocery chain with large stores that have low prices and a large variety of products and brands.
Now we live quite a distance away, but still go there every few weeks to buy soda and other dry goods. We do sometimes pick up fresh vegtables and meat while we are there anyway, but usually buy it elsewhere between our trips.

[jgraz]

112. I always shopped Mifflin St Co-op when I was a poor student

[LonelyLRLiberal]

78. My mom used to mix dried milk with "real" milk

to make it go further.

If Wal-Mart is all you have (after they have ruined all the small businesses), that's that. Have they started selling prescriptions for $4 at your Wal-Mart? If so, take advantage of that. Avoid buying non-necessities at Wal-Mart, though!

I hate them and refuse to shop there, but I have lots of other options.

[Der Blaue Engel]

86. Yikes. So did mine.

Just thinking about it makes me shudder. Actually, there were many months where it was only the non-fat dried milk. Nothing is worse than that stuff *warm*. :puke:

We never had a Wal-Mart where I lived, but we had something called "Fed-Mart," where we did most of our shopping.

[pamela]

84. Check out the Angel Food Ministries program

I recently saw some people on another board talking about this program and it sounds interesting. It's a program designed not just for low income families but for anyone who is trying to save money on groceries. Each month they have a box of food that you can purchase for $25.00. I've never tried it, but their site says that they bulk purchase from well known companies and don't use generics or seconds or anything like that. The menu is different each month and they also have bonus boxes of meat and other things that you can purchase if you buy the first box. These boxes are distributed by churches throughout the country so check the website to see if there is one near you.

Here is their menu for December:

December 2006 Menu $25.00

(1) 4 lb. IQF Drums & Thighs
(1) 2 lb. Italian Lasagna Dinner
(10) 4 oz. Beef & Bean Burritos
(1) 2 lb. Chicken Breast Tenders
(1) 12 oz. Philly Steak Portions
(1) 24 oz. Breaded Breast Filets
(1) 16 oz. Ground Turkey
(1) 16 oz. All Meat Hot Dogs
(1) 16 oz. Pinto Beans
(1) 1 lb. White Rice
(1) 7.5 oz. Corn Muffin Mix
(1) 24 oz. Potato Wedges
(1) 16 oz. Carrots
(1) 16 oz. Cut Corn
(1) 3 lbs. Apples
(1) 12 oz. Omelette Starter
(1) Dozen Eggs
(1) Dessert Item

DECEMBER SPECIAL #1
Beef Combo Box - $18.00
(1 lb. T Bones - 2 8-oz., 2 lb. Pure Ground Beef Patties - 4 8-oz., 2 lb. NY Strips - 4 8-oz)

DECEMBER SPECIAL #2
NY Strip Steaks - $18.00
(8 8-oz Filets)

DECEMBER SPECIAL #3
Holiday Asst. Fruit Box - $24.00
(Each Assorted Box Contains: 5 Ruby Red Grapefruit, 4 Red Delicious Apples, 4 Golden Delicious Apples, 4 Rome Apples, 4 Blush Pears, 4 Navel Oranges, 6 Florida Oranges, 6 Tangelos, 6 Tangerines)

DECEMBER SPECIAL #4
Holiday Gift (Meat & Cheese) Box - $16.00
(Each Box Contains: 1 8-oz. Summer Sausage, 1 8-oz. Beef Salami, 1 8-oz. Beef Sausage, 3 7-oz. Cheeses (Pepper Jack, Smoky Cheddar, Sharp Cheddar))

DECEMBER SPECIAL #5
Holiday Stuffed Chicken Breast Combo - $18.00
(Each Box Contains: 4 6-oz. Chicken Cordon Bleu, 4 6-oz. Chicken with Broccoli & Cheese, 4 6-oz. Chicken Kiev)

DECEMBER SPECIAL #6
Holiday Coffee Special - $16.00
(Each Box Contains: 1 12-oz. House Blend, 1 12-oz. Hazlenut Cream, 1 12-oz. Guatemala Antiquate)

They put religious tracts in the boxes but I don't know if they are right wing nutjob religious tracts or not. It's not a charity, though, and you don't have to qualify to buy from them or anything like that. It's worth checking into. Here is a link to their site.

http://www.angelfoodministries.com/about.asp

[Lars39]

93. The churches distributing the boxes accept food stamps, too.

[pamela]

97. Have you tried the boxes?

I don't know if I'd use it because we're on the South Beach diet and there are a lot of things on the menu that we wouldn't eat. There isn't an Angel Food program in my community and I've thought about talking to someone at my church about doing this but I'm wondering what the religious tracts inside the boxes are like. I'd hate to recommend this program and then find out that they are those awful hatefilled tracts. Ick. I do think it sounds like a great idea, though, especially for the elderly or people trying to feed a large family on a budget.

I hope you don't think my question was nosy. I mainly just want to know about the tracts in the boxes before I start recommending them to a lot of people.

[Lars39]

105. I don't remember anything negative about the tract.

Somebody there might email you a copy so you can look it over, though. We only received 2 boxes.
The chicken tenders are really good. It's quite a bit of food, but some of it is processed.

[pamela]

106. Thanks!

I was telling my Mom about this program because she's on the council at her church and works in their soup kitchen. It's a fairly mainstream (non-nutjob) church so she was worried that the literature might be that far-right crap, too. That's a great idea about asking them to just send me some of the tracts so I can see for myself. I don't know why I didn't think of that. D'oh!

[Lisa0825]

88. I HATE shopping.

I only shop at WalMart once or twice a year, and it is usually at time when both the cost and the convenience are factors. I HATE shopping, and when there's a variety of items I need at the same time, I'd rather go to WalMart and get my pet supplies, a couple food necessities, pantyhose and other items in one trip. I work full time and do volunteer work, and I am tired at the end of the day. Going 20 miles to the nearest pet supply store, then driving to the grocery store, parking and walking in, then going to the drugstore, parking and going in.... well, it's just a pain in the ass. And I don't have the time or patience to hunt for sales.

All that being said, ever since I found out about WalMart's practices, I have done what I can to limit the number of time I go there per year.

I don't have a Costco within an hour's drive, and the nearest Target is a 20 mile drive as well.

I don't blame people who need to shop at WalMart, but I do discuss the situation with people so maybe they'll do like me and at least limit their trips there if that is possible.

I agree with the OP. But it's not just WalMart. NUMEROUS topics are like this... where some strong believers want to convince everyone that if you don't do as I do, you are wrong and bad.

I volunteer at a no-kill animal shelter. I don't like the fact that people breed animals when shelter pets need homes. I also think cats belong indoors. We all have issues we feel adamantly about, and because there are so many of us here, those topics tend to get groups of supporters (and dissenters) all fired up.

Oh well, that's what discussion boards are all about!

[MazeRat7]

95. Good question. I say they should not "shop"... at least not per-se

The real question becomes effort vs convenience ?

I really liked your OP as a thought provoking question. Almost makes me want to write a book on "simple living".

I'm going to "study" on that idea for a while with the perspective of the FireFox books, off-grid living, etc....

The alternative I would like to offer interested parties... how to live with little money....


Hummmmm.... I like it.

MZr7

[Mabus]

96. What do you need to buy?

I know there are Wal-Mart that have grocery stores. Our doesn't. Or at least it didn't the last time I went there about ten years ago. Otherwise, our local Wally World is more of retail discount store.

What alternatives are there in your area? We are lucky in that we have a number of grocery stores to choose from. I shop at a huge, locally owned store that's actually got a bigger variety than any of the local chain grocery stores. It's huge and dingy but the prices are right. We've got a day old bakery nearby. I also have the luxury of shopping at a small, locally owned hardware store and the locally owned feed company for dog food and dog medical supplies (flea, tick, heart worm, etc.). For clothes, it is the local Goodwill and thrift stores. We've got one a few blocks from our house where you can have up to a sack of clothing and other goods per day for free. They can be pretty lax about it too. You can also get small appliances, books and coats for free. If you have anything that you've outgrown or don't need, you can take it there and leave it for someone else. You don't go in expecting to find a certain item but you can find some good stuff that you need.

Once in a while I'll go to Target but it is usually in conjunction with picking up a prescription or a toner cartridge. I admit it. We're very fortunate to live in a liberal university community and we have a lot of choices. But if you don't have an alternative, you've got to go where you can to get food and other necessities of life.

[Broken_Hero]

127. hehe, Checkers...:P nt

[Mabus]

163. That's "Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-Checker's" to you

:rofl: I don't know if you saw their commericals or not, but they always start out: "Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-Checker's, your hometown store..."



With all the talk about female leadership recently, I've been wondering how you and your wife are doing these days.

[barb162]

100. I think by shopping sales at other places you do better

than shopping WalMart

[BuelahWitch]

101. We just got a Walmart grocery store here in Lawrence

I've looked at their prices and don't see that they're that much lower than the other chains. Nor is their selection that much better. But I do have a choice where I shop here. A small choice, and most of the stores are still chains, but it's still a choice. I generally choose Hy-Vee or Checkers.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

102. poor people--i'm extrapolating to the unemployed

I'm not poor, yet, but I have been unemployed for several years. I fell outta the middle class. The Clinton years were NOT good years for employment in my experience.

My story is NOT unique. There are millions of us.

I see...I should look for a job at a Goodwill. Or Sally.

Which one of my three college degrees should I tell them the most about? The bachelor's degree in the natural science? Or the doctorate, in a totally different field, perhaps? The doctorate would make me over qualified, obviously. So would the decades of experience in the field related to that doctorate. They wouldn't care. :rofl:

BTW, I have NEVER EVER smoked a single cigarette in my life. I do not drink alcohol either, EVER. I cannot stand the taste of alcohol. NO illegal drugs either. I had a few beers in college but that was decades ago.

and-justice-for-all seems to have a strange view of poor people. Go figure.

Asking a church/house of worship to help me find a job??? Are you KIDDING??? Not handouts. Just help finding a job. You really think they do?? Not in my experience. :rofl: :rofl:

[Sammy Pepys]

159. What's your doctorate in? n/t

....

[Manifestor_of_Light]

160. law

Juris Doctor.... no license to practice

[last_texas_dem]

103. It depends on their particular situation

I think Wal-Mart has mostly become what it is due to convenience (people wanting to do most or all of their shopping at one place) and using their clout as such a major company to run off the competition. This has allowed them to become the only option in some small towns. However, many cities still have other options. I live in a town of less than 20,000 and we have three grocery stores and a couple of dollar stores in addition to Wal-Mart. Often, Wal-Mart doesn't even have the best deals on items when compared to the grocery stores; I think their success has more to do with people going there due to the convenience.

I think people who know the problems with Wal-Mart and have other options should avoid it. However, in situations where there are truly no other options (many small towns) or in instances where it's the only practical options (other stores are several miles away, Wal-Mart's price is drastically cheaper for a needed item) and the shopper doesn't have much disposable income, Wal-Mart may be it. I do think people should definitely compare prices with Wal-Mart and other stores in town if they have them, though; Wal-Mart may not always be the best option in terms of cost- even though they do a great job of spreading this idea.

[StrongbadTehAwesome]

104. I paid my own way - 100% - through college.

I was too broke for Wal-Mart. Thrift stores and Goodwill kept me in clothes and electronics (alarm clock, etc). Aldi's for food and hygiene products.

Wal-Mart really only has low prices on the loss leaders designed to get you in the door; most of the rest of their prices are on par with Target and regular grocery stores.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

107. I agree - Lots of cheap alternatives, and better shopping experiences

I also paid my way through college while raising children. I clipped coupons & shopped at stores that doubled them, avoided Wal-mart, shopped Thrift stores (got some nice designer clothes), avoided Wal-mart, grew vegetables & fruit, avoided Wal-mart, the kids & I loved swap meets, avoided Wal-mart, looked for clearance items, avoided Wal-mart.

[StrongbadTehAwesome]

122. Wow - with kids?! My hat is off to you!

*wild applause*

[JCMach1]

131. Dude, they don't lose money on ANYTHING!

[DaveJ]

108. Serious answer: it's not the consumer's burden

Con (artists) will say that you have the choice but you don't. You need to buy wherever the cheapest prices are when you can barely make it to Friday.

Right wing maniacs want to blame the public for the destruction of America to take the focus off of them -- the greedy executives and shareholders. THEY are the ones who should change. We need to shop there. They have FORCED us into this by creating the American poor.

The only thing we can do is badger government and these big box stores into paying employees livable wages. Smiley logos and embracing gays is no substitute for respecting America.

[upi402]

109. I buy school supplies and HABA at union grocery stores

I look for sales and there is usually a discount basket/cart for Health And Beauty Aids.

Don't buy prepared food or processed food if you're poor or the health care costs will sink you.
I get used clothes at Salvation Army -an old habit- and donate stuff all the time too (recycle).
If computer, then craigslist.org for bigger goods and electronics -very very cheap- like a garage sale but specific.

[dysfunctional press]

110. anywhere else.

afaic.

and don't feed me that crap about there being "nowhere else"- if that was true, wouldn't there be anti-trust violations? i've been very poor, and i've survived just fine without EVER having stepped foot inside a walmart.

[NuttyFluffers]

145. interesting... anti-trust violations for monopolies in rural areas...

well, if some people, as have been mentioned on this board, live in areas where the only other option outside of wal*mart is 50+ miles away i think that might be an intriguing grounds to explore anti-trust lawsuits. i wonder if anyone is willing to do pro bono work on getting some of these lawsuits up and running? 50+ miles w/o a single other option is definitely potential grounds for anti-trust action in my book. wonder if we could get a legal view on this....?

[dysfunctional press]

149. the thing is- there are ALWAYS other options...

and for people in truly rural areas- 50 miles away is not all that far to have to travel for some things anyway.

[BlooInBloo]

113. imo, the poor should shop wherever they may - first things first, after all...

... The rest of us should be fighting for the places the poor shop to not be as evil.

Something of that sort seems the proper order of things to me, at least.

[mountainvue]

117. Target, Costco, Kohls to name a few. n/t

[Rosemary2205]

124. kohls?

I don't know about you but around here Kohls is famous for having Wrangler jeans that sell at walmart for $12 regular price marked at $40 and on sale for $30. I went in there once and never bought anything. I hate that place. Can't stand Walmart either though... for different reasons.

[tomreedtoon]

119. Going "thriftin'"...and "divorce sales."

When I did Rocky Horror Live Cast, I gave rides and some assistance to two people who were really poor. They lived next door to a crack house. They were decent, hard-working folks who didn't have good jobs; one worked at Disney World in costuming, the other did some security guard work.

When they needed something, they went "thriftin'." Meaning hitting all the little thrift stores, run by churches and other charities, to find something that would work. They did very well doing that.

When I took a friend to a local hospital, we noticed a "thrift shop" run by the hospital across the way. I found three excellent, high-end office chairs for $6 each. They apparently came from some architectural firm that decided to remodel.

My sister in St. Louis does garage sales. Her husband hates all the stuff she stocks in the house...until he realizes she got something he needs for a fraction of the price. She told me about "divorce sales." These are sales by wives in wealthy communities who found out their husband has been cheating on them. So they wait until he's got a busy day at work, or goes out of town on a business trip or assignation with his mistress, and they put stuff on sale. Want to buy a $400 camera, barely used, for $25? How about a set of golf clubs costing $1200 for $100? The wife takes the cash for the goods, then moves in with a friend and starts filing the divorce papers.

In other words, this isn't an easy way to buy things. It takes time, patience, reading ads in the papers, practicing driving through the most lucrative streets, and paying attention, which are often too much for Americans in this day and age. But you can do quite well with them. Especially with divorce sales.

[951-Riverside]

123. If not Wal-Mart, where should improverished American work?

If these unions get their way and shut down walmart they are not going to hire ex-walmart employees so most will go back on welfare, unemployement or simply turn to homelessness but fuck the poor people who work and shop at walmart, shutting down walmart is all that matters! YEEEEAAAAAH!!!! :eyes:

[prolesunited]

128. Shutting down WalMart is NOT the goal

Making them be good corporate citizens is. Costco proves that you can still make a profit without exploiting workers.

And, you seem to have something against unions. Do you realize how many protections you now enjoy in the workplace because of the blood spilled by union members?

[Rosemary2205]

129. I have never understood the whole "unions are the enemy" thing.

Granted a few crooked apples have spoiled the cider so to speak but the benefits unions have brought to all Americans are just incredible.

[Sherman A1]

136. Agreed and Well Said.

Unions just as corporations are human endeavors and therefore are imperfect creations, but they and their people have done so much for us all through the years that where would we be if they hadn't existed at all?

[gollygee]

158. If there were no wal-mart

people would go back to shopping other places, which would be back in business (or once again do more business), and which would employee people (or more people) again. And those other places paid more and had better benefits.

[JCMach1]

130. Walmart=fleecing

Prices for the cheap goods coming from Asia are marked-up at about 10x the RETAIL cost in Asia.

For example: a t-shirt you might pay $10 US, I might pay 3-10 dirhams for here. That's .90-$2.75.

I will never shop at Walmart again because of this. It's highway robbery on a grand international scale.

[Election]

137. They should continue to shop at Wal-Mart

However, we as a society will raise Wal-Mart's labor costs just a tad, like every other company. :)

[NuttyFluffers]

138. you're right, in the land of freedom there is no choice.

the poor must shop in wal*mart. it's nigh dictate now.

k-mart, target, thrift stores, outlets, wholesalers, and even the special huge bargain sales that retailers regularly offer (because 75% off after labor day is just not enough) cannot possibly compete, ever, with the absolute 100% monopoly of the lowest prices on every known thing in the universe offered by wal*mart.

:eyes:

remind me to never bargain shop with you; i'll end up spending too much money in a shitty store for shitty quality products.

[pinstikfartherin]

146. Well..

I have a single dad who scrapes by every month taking care of my sister and I. Well, not so much me anymore because I earn enough to feed and clothe myself, pay my own bills, buy gas, and even pay a good chunk on my student loans (all thanks to those who TIP their servers!). I am a college freshman and living at home is helping me to pay on my loans instead of paying rent. Of course, dad will appreciate this later in life when I can help support him.
He shops at WalMart. I shop at WalMart. Our other alternative is Kmart, but Walmart has more of what we are looking for usually. We do not shop at the Winn Dixie's and the Food World's here because they are more expensive than Walmart. So expensive sometimes that it is ridiculous. My sister and I save money by shopping the clearance racks in stores like Khols. We love to shop at Rosses Dress for Less. I can't tell you guys how much money we've saved by shopping there- especially on the clearance racks! My favorite jeans are about $50 at the mall and other stores, but I can get them at Ross for about $15 to $20 regular and about $10 or so on clearance, which is great because I'd never pay that much for a pair of jeans I am just going to wear out. Their prices have went up a bit recently, but I still can afford to get great clothes there on a limited budget.
I do LOVE Target though. Our closest one is about 35 to 45 minutes away as well are the malls and pretty much everything else.
I am happy to report that they are finally building a Target here though! But with the Target comes another Walmart. We are going to have two Walmarts within about 5 minutes or less from one another. One will be about 2 minutes from my house which I know I will not like.
I had heard about Costco before, but I didn't know we even had one in our closest city of Montgomery until you guys made me curious. I've never even seen the place here, but I will definitely be checking it out sometime soon.

[MadHound]

147. Target, Costco, Aldi's, Kmart, various others depending on your region

And frankly, with such a void in place, there would be businesses that would jump in to fill it. I live in a rural area, with a Walmart, a couple of grocery stores, and various specialty stores. I've found that I can save as much, if not more money by not shopping at Wal Mart. Sales and everyday prices beat out WalMart. If you want to save money on pet food, go to a feed mill. High in bulk, low in price.

[petgoat]

150. "the only place they can afford to shop. "

There's ALWAYS an alternative.

What about thrift stores, garage sales, flea markets, and
church rummage sales?

As a nomadic American, I try to avoid spending much on stuff
I'm going to wind up giving away anyway. I find repairable or
perfectly good TVs, stereos, musical instruments, furniture,
computers, and bicycles in dumpsters and alleyways.

Nobody has to go to WalMart.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

152. If they're poor, they shouldn't be shopping at Wal-mart.

Wal-mart isn't cheaper than other big box stores, and often more expensive.

This classism argument is bullshit.

[grizmaster]

153. thrift shops, goodwill, community cooperatives to name a few

Walmart is a leech on society.


As to your claim that DUers "suggest that people who shop at Wal-Mart are stupid" I challenge you to prove it. Let's see one post that says that.

[Sabien]

154. ALDI

[SeattleGirl]

155. Some people really don't have a viable alternative to WalMart

Like my youngest sister, who has a young son. She and my BIL aren't swimming in money, and while she is aware of the way WalMart treats their employees and doesn't like it, she can only stretch a dollar so far. I don't fault her or anyone in her situation. Her number one priority is making sure my nephew has the things he needs, and if that means shopping at WalMart, so be it.

[mdmc]

156. poor folk need to make ends meet

any which way but loose.

Dems have never been too good to the poor. We need to cut them some slack.

[Texasgal]

157. Wal-mart is now offering

4.00 Prescriptions. Not all of them are four bucks but they have a HUGE list that is.

My mother takes a high blood pressure med that is almost 70.00 a month compared to FOUR dollars at walmart for a 30 day supply.

Guess what? She's going to wally world and I do not blame her!

When the other drug stores follow suit we'll move her over!

[Virginia Dare]

162. Remember the quaint old days...

when the only place you had to spend your wages was at the company store? Same principle. I don't have an answer to your question, by the way. I personally choose not to shop there, but I do have options, and I don't judge others who do.

[Bluebear]

164. I've not seen remarks at 'this board' that called those shoppers stupid.

I have seen people decry WalMart's miserable pay structure, their draconian work policies and lack of healthcare coverage for their employees. That opinion is hardly classism.