BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?

Subject: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 08:12 AM

We see these threads about Wal Mart come up with a fair amount of consistency. So I'm wondering, how many people here actually shop there?

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Bobert
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 08:31 AM

nope...

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 08:38 AM

Occasionally if they have something I need. Kendall generally stays in the car!

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: GUEST,MBSLynne
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 08:42 AM

Not me

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: gnu
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 08:48 AM

I see some Quebecers will not be shopping there since the employees of one store voted for a union and Wal Mart closed that store.

BTW, have you read about the CEO being charged for falsifying expenses? He has claimed that monies received without receipts were for payments to union reps and others in the know for info regarding pro-union employees and organizers. Stupid bastard. Now he's going to go to jail for union busting as well as stealing from his employer.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: gnu
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 08:51 AM

Got some of that wrong. Here's the story from yesterday. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05100/485943.stm

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: gnu
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 08:52 AM

Darn.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: gnu
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 08:54 AM

Or, you could read the thread titled : "BS: Walmart: Union-Busting SOP". Sorry, My bad.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 08:56 AM

gnu, were you meaning to post that in the other Wal Mart thread perhaps?

I've only shopped at Wal Mart a couple of times--at a Sam's Club and one of their stores that opened up in the neighborhood where I lived and shopped at K Mart before Wal Mart drove them out.

But I have since stopped shopping at all the conglomerate discount stores.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 08:59 AM

We cross-posted there, gnu.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: GUEST,*Laura*
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 09:03 AM

Well I shop at Asda sometimes and thats owned by Wal Mart. Its not great though.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Severn
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 09:05 AM

Being a union man, I try to keep away from the Wall-Marts of the world, but I'll admit, until now, I've newer thought about the working conditions of the people who work in the junk stores, thrift stores, pawn shops and dollar stores where, as a collector, I go scrounge for books, recordings and movies. Is this a possible moral dillemma?

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 09:11 AM

"Is this a possible moral dillemma?"

Looks like it. The real problem is our addiction to cheap consumer shit that ends up at the Goodwill and in the dumpster in a very short span of time.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 09:16 AM

I will check Goodwill before going anywhere else. If they don't have what I'm looking for I will look wherever I need to for it.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 09:29 AM

I find not shopping much at all to be the best antidote to consumerism, new or used.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: jaze
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 09:38 AM

I personally have never liked Wal-Mart and therefore never go there. My wife however does the grocery shopping there because it is cheaper, she says.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: breezy
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 09:41 AM

Does this Union philosophy infiltrate the U K stores too?

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Greg F.
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 09:49 AM

WalMart: your source for cheap plastic crap, made by virtual slave labor in China.

Why the hell would I want to purchase garbage that I'll have to replace in a matter of weeks??

Aside from the politico/moral objections to this outfit, there are practical reasons to shop in a REAL store.

Best, Greg

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Alba
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 10:06 AM

Actually the cheap Labor from China and Tiawan providing goods is more wide spread than just in Walmart or Target Stores.
Check your Labels Folks...
Most of the time I am reading ..manufactured in China/Tiawan. Assembled in the US.
We commission the work out, these Countries do the drudge part then they import it to us and then our cheap Labor force put it together and apply the labels saying made in the US!
With the buying power they command I am sure Walmart and Target, K Mart and Sears and many others buy up a good portion of these imports.

It is hard for some People NOT use these stores considering their economic situations for many people in this and other Countries...sometimes the monetary cost of a Principal and the needs of a Low Income Family just don't work out Budget wise sadly.
Hence why these Companies are thriving.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: RichM
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 10:14 AM

I LIKE some of the goods produced in China. Clothing, electronics, and especially blueridge guitars.

Nothing wrong with buying well made goods from China. Everybody deserves a chance to sell goods in the world's market.
;

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 10:18 AM

And nothing wrong with the Chinese now having buying power to rival the US as a petrol guzzling nation, either.

So now, our freedom loving right to shop at Wal Mart for cheap Chines consumer goods is resulting in it costing Americans a whole lot more to drive to Wal Mart. What goes around comes around, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: GUEST,Joe_F
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 11:09 AM

I have never been in one. They seem not to be meant for people who don't have cars.

--- Joe Fineman    [e-mail]

||: Hogamus, higamus, Men are polygamous. Higamus, hogamus, Women, monogamous. :||

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 11:29 AM

I was in one once...in N. Carolina.....when I was traveling and had no choice. I will work VERY hard to be sure that doesn't happen again.

I simply don't like the way they GET their 'lower prices' and what it does to small communities.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 12:22 PM

Never.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: dianavan
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 12:33 PM

I never shop at WalMart but when I was in the States I had to go into one of their stores to scan some photos. I almost bought a cheap CD player and looked at a digital camera, too. The film was cheap! I understand why some would shop there for lower prices but as noted above, the cost of gasoline to get there probably negates any real savings.

My problems with WalMart are many. Mainly that profit without ethical considerations always stinks. Walmart encourages car traffic, cheap labour and monopoly. WalMart is all about instant gratification and impulse buying. It may be a temporary solution for those on a tight budget but the long term damage that is done to the community is well documented.

I also heard that WalMart was busted for transporting illegal aliens to clean their stores. Does anybody know anything about this?

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Alba
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 12:53 PM

Here's the Story behind the Illegal Aliens being employed. Walmart fined
It does not mention however these these cleaning crews were being locked in the Stores overnight till the shift ended.
Jude

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: dianavan
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 01:14 PM

Alba - Thanks for the link. From the article: 'The chain's use of illegal immigrants "makes them seem like a financial company purely driven by numbers verses a neighborhood company that cares about the community."

I'd say!

Seems WalMart in now campaigning to improve their image and come across as good corporate citizens by donating money to the U.S. govt. to enforce illegal immigration. What schmucks!

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 01:16 PM

And to think the Minutemen could have accomplished the very same vigilante goals by simply shopping at Wal Mart.

Go figure.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: GUEST,Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 01:30 PM

I have a much bigger problem with stores which require that customers reveal personal information about themselves in order to obtain a "discount card" that allows them to buy merchandise at only-somewhat-inflated "with-card" prices instead of hyper-inflated "without-card" prices. On average, stores that adopt "discount cards" raise their "without-card" prices by about 40% compared to what they were before. And, here's the kicker, the "with-card" prices average about 12% higher than pre-card-system prices. So, you have to give them your name and address so they can track your shopping habits while you pay more for their merchandise than it was before they invaded your privacy. They can all take their cards and shove 'em.

Now, guess what the only grocery outlet in my area that doesn't require a card is? Guess where I buy groceries? Guess what you can do if you don't like it?

And before anyone says something about Walmart driving "Mom and Pop" grocery stores out of business, there haven't been any of those around here since way before WalMart sold their first can of beans. Alberston's, Winn-Dixie, Publix and the like drove them all out of business years ago. If you wanna talk about mega-stores driving small stores out of business look at the "home-center" stores like Home Depot and Lowe's. Every time one of them goes up, three or four small hardware stores or lumberyards close their doors.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: kendall
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 01:44 PM

It's next to impossible to buy American made goods now, even L.L.Bean has stuff made in foreign countries, but their price sure as hell doesn't reflect their savings!

Wal-Mart= anti-christ.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 02:01 PM

Yet, your wife has admitted in this very thread to shopping there, kendall. So, does waiting in the car absolve you from buying from the anti-christ, then?

I find natural food coops and farmers markets where I can buy from sustainable ag farmers are the best alternatives to Wal Mart and Albertsons. So that is where I choose to shop for my food and gardening stuff.

I too shop second hand, vintage, flea markets, and garage sales (way fun!) when I have the time. I also shop on the internet now. I do still use a handful of stores that have local chains--here in the Midwest I shop at a local chain called Herbergers, which is owned by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises. They are not a perfect corporation, but they have responded positively to pressure from some quarters (like a boycott to get them to stop sourcing from the worst, most abominable sweatshop cartels, that sort of thing.

I try not to be holier than thou about it all. I just try and let people know it really isn't that hard to be an activist consumer and advocate for the small and sustainable these days, especially if you break the addiction of shopping for disposable consumer crap.

Which includes new cars, hybrid or not.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Ebbie
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 02:12 PM

I don't shop at Walmart. No particular virtue there- we don't have one. I have a sister in Oregon on a limited income, however, who says she doesn't know what she would do without it. We're in a bad bind here, folks.

I do shop at Costco, by the way.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 02:21 PM

BTW, the internet is a wonderful resource for learning how to be an ethical consumer. Try here and here and here and here for starters.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: RichM
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 02:37 PM

Alba, your posting made me curious... so I checked labels!

Had to drop my pants and remove my shirt and tshirt...

But here it is:

jeans: Canada
Tshirt: Canada
Underwear: Made in Mexico!
shirt: Germany!
socks : I dunno
shoes(Rockports): China!
Car: Japan
Guitars: Canada, Canada, USA!, China! Korea! Spain!


Not bad for a Canadian, eh? 4 out of 12 made at home?
Can I put my clothes back on now?


Honestly, I have trouble understanding why USAians get in a knot about these things. OK, so you only own 50% of the world, down from 80% or so...

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 02:40 PM

But ethical consumers, especially American ones, can really start spreading the wealth around and do it responsibly.

So, in that case is it so bad to be concerned about the effect we have upon the planet. I don't shop any differently than I camp, which is to say I try and leave each campsite in better shape than I found it, and tread as lightly upon the environment as I can while I'm there. I find the same philosophy works just as well at home.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Mudlark
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 02:44 PM

I rarely shop at Walmart, largely because I hate being in the store, surrounded by towering shelves of junk food, plastics, cheap toys, all displayed under mind-numbing, glaring flourescent lights, aisles croweded with people who look as braindead as I feel. Like cattle, we shuffle along, pushing a cart...argghhh. I go once a year to buy cheap, nonbrand vacuum bags. That's it. Their Iam's dogfood is $1/bag cheaper...even with 3 corgis, I don't care. I feel one trip to Walmart takes hours, days even, maybe, off my life.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Padre
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 03:00 PM

I shop at WalMart every week - I like the choices that I find there.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 03:01 PM

Guest 02.01

Kendall allows me the courtesy of making my own decisions on these matters.

He may not agree with my decisions but, as I am unable to drive in the USA at the moment, he will take me to the places that I want to go to. Otherwise I would go on my own and not involve him in the trips.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Peace
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 03:06 PM

With good ol' Paul Wolfowitz at the helm of the World Bank, we are a giant step closer to 'globalization'. There is really going to be only ONE store within the next 20 years. Ya gotta choice: stop it now or it ain't gonna stop.

The problem then will be, IMO, that of all people working for the global economy, the global machine. There will be two classes: rulers and the rest of us. Suck it up or deal with it. There is no third option.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 03:06 PM

jacquic--honest, I wasn't trying to be holier than thou, or diss either of you. I was just pointing out how difficult it is to be absolutist and judgmental about these things.

It's much easier to just share ideas rather than make statements (however ironic or humorous) like wal mart = anti christ, no?

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Peace
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 03:07 PM

. . . and these people will help keep you in line.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Alba
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 03:13 PM

Yes RichM. put your clothes back on..lol

I checked my Labels too and Ive put my Clothes back on now youlle be glad to know...:>)

Jeans: UK ( Marks and Sparks bought in Oxfam last November when I was back in the UK can't see where they were made?)
Tee shirt: China (also bought in same UK Oxfam)
Slippers: Mexico
Undergarmets...blush..: Hong Kong
The Slippers and Undergarments I bought here in the US.
I'm off to read some more labels....yes I have that much time on my hands today...sad in it:>)

Jude

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: maire-aine
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 03:16 PM

In answer to the original question, I went into one Walmart once, looked around a while and left without buying anything. That was 6 years ago or more. Haven't gone back since, and I can't imagine any circumstance that would take me back into one. Fortunately I have plenty of alternatives.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: jaze
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 03:53 PM

Do you have Wal-Marts in the UK?

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 03:56 PM

I was just in Puerto Vallarta Mexico, and there was one there.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Alba
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 04:09 PM

They have Asda in the UK. Part of the Walmart corporation I think?

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: robomatic
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 04:15 PM

If you're going to rip off third world workers, the least you could do is pass the savings on to the consumer. I prefer to pay less to the middlemen.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 04:42 PM

I shop at WalMart whenever I have ANY shopping to do...   If not there, then Costco...

Ya don't like it? Call someone who cares....

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Peace
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 04:53 PM

That's nice.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: DougR
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 05:10 PM

Sometimes. There are other stores closer by, so I guess you could call me an infrequent shopper at Wal-Mart. I have no objection to shopping there though.

DougR