BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Big Mick
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 12:55 AM

Yeah, all that is grand. But I ask you paragons of virtue the same question, and you keep ducking it.

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Peace
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 02:00 AM

What question?

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 06:42 AM

I don't think Walmart entirely forgets about the community. The local Walmart here is a big contributor towards many organizations (schools, cancer society, autism walks, etc).

They have large copies of checks that they have donated to various organizations hanging on the wall. Also, near the Customer Service desk, they have photos of their employees involved in civil organizations. I suppose it's recognition, support, promotion and encouragment to do the same all wrapped up in one.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: GUEST,Auggie
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 10:55 AM

I'm not a big fan of Wal Mart's hard-ball business ethos.

I would strongly disagree with the view that good business practice is based on the premise of maximizing profits at any cost, and I've owned and run a reasonably successful business for 27 years. Now granted, mine is much (much) smaller than Wal Mart (hey, whose isn't?), but it's certainly easy enough to survive financially when each exchange of money is viewed as a win-win (I win, You Win)opportunity rather than an "I win, You Lose" proposition. You also sleep a hell of a lot better at night.

While I would agree that it's laudable to avoid patronizing ANY business you regard as a predator, regardless of whether it's preying on it's suppliers, it's customers or it's employees, I'm afraid I view it as rather unfair to single out Wal Mart for this distinction.

If I avoid Wal Mart because it has been painted in the media as a ruthless beast, how do I know the alternative stores are any better?
Is K-Mart, IKEA, Safeway, Costco, or whatever a better corporate citizen, or are they equally ruthless but with their sins merely less well known? In my town there are some "mom and pop" operations who would take you for every last dime if you were to give them half a chance.

Wal Mart makes an easy target becuase of it's size, but making certain we're spending our dollars only with responsible corporations, big or small, requires a lot more time and expertise than most of us possess.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: M.Ted
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 12:50 PM

It's nice to read a post from Martin that has a point (other than the one on his head), though, in all fairness, it should be pointed out that it is not Walmart, but Christianity that is the greatest marketing organization that the world has ever known.

Auggie makes an important point as well.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Peace
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 08:39 PM

M Ted,

Islam ain't doin' so bad, either.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Once Famous
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 09:19 PM

I wouldn't mind if Islam went out of business.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Peace
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 09:21 PM

LOL

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: number 6
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 10:16 PM

I dunno MG, I don't think Islam will be going out of business soon. Got to hand it them, they are one great marketing organization; after all they are the fastest growing religion on this earth.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 10:51 PM

Auggie--

Regarding facts on comparison of Walmart with Costco on treatment of employees--see my 13 April 2005 11:07 PM posting on "Walmart: Union-Busting SOP" thread.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: dianavan
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 01:59 AM

Augie - You said, "Is K-Mart, IKEA, Safeway, Costco, or whatever a better corporate citizen, or are they equally ruthless but with their sins merely less well known? In my town there are some "mom and pop" operations who would take you for every last dime if you were to give them half a chance."

I don't shop in any of those stores, including unfriendly, rip-off Mom and Pops. It doesn't take that much effort to give your money to people you respect. Its easier, in fact, to support the friendly neighborhood families than to throw your money at a faceless corporation. There are alot of other ways to save money than shopping at Wal-Mart.

Ways to save money:

1. Skip the Latte
2. Sell your car
3. Sew
4. Cook and bake
5. Repair it instead of throwing it away
6. Re-use it
7. Resist impulse buying

The list goes on and on.

Like I said before, its your conscience. If you value community, put your money where your mouth is.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 10:39 AM

Dianavan,

   You must live in a heavily populated area. Some of us live out in the sticks and the places to shop are very limited. Good for you that you have the option to shop where you please and the funds to do so. Please don't assume that everyone has the same options.

Where I live, there are two places to shop for groceries within a 13 mile radius. Walmart and a Mom & Pop shop. While the sales at the Mom & Pop shop are sometimes decent, the remaining merchandise is outrageous. If I drive an additional 15 miles from there, I have the choice of 2 more chain grocery markets. If I were to drive 30 miles from my home in an opposite direction, I can find additional stores...but that is time consuming and costly to do for just sale merchandise.

I'm not complaining but rather stating how it is here and could very well be in other places.

Some of your suggestions are great but others are not a one size fits all kind of deal.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Auggie
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 11:49 AM

Thank you Michelle, for covering half of what I was going to post.
I too, would be led to believe Dianavan does not have a working knowledge of what life is like in an area similar to mine (sell my car?-there is no public transportation out here in the boonies sweetheart, nor for that matter is there anyone who sells Lattes). In fact, I often wonder if she lives on the same planet, but regardless Diana, your response misses my (perhaps poorly made) point entirely.
How are we to know who is truly a "good corporate citizen"?
Yes, we often are informed of the bad ones, but who is to say the others aren't worse, only hiding behind a PR veneer of civic respectability. The mom and pop examples I referred to look to the casual observer like they are straight out of Mayberry, however if they were examined with the same level of scrutiny Wal Mart is, they would come off looking considerably worse.
In short, it ain't that simple to tell the good guys from the bad guys, and neither size nor friendliness is a valid indicator of ethical behavior.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Once Famous
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 12:07 PM

dianavan,

I would rather have the latte, the cool car, buy new clothes, eat in nice restaurants, buy a new CD, etc. and save money at Wal-Mart.

Life is America is great! Interesting, too.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 03:30 PM

Bev and Jerry,

I'm glad to hear how interested you were in my skivvy-buying habits (kidding).

Actually, I don't think I've ever bought a single item of outerwear at WalMart (unless socks count because the tops of them are visible).

I probably spend more on lawn/yard/gardening supplies than on anything else I get at WalMart ~ at least during the growing season (which is about 9-10 months long here in the deepest South).

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: DougR
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 04:44 PM

Dianavan:doesn't your coffe taste stale at some point?

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Once Famous
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 05:17 PM

Hey, she saves money on stale coffee.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: dianavan
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 10:40 PM

Thats right, Lily, I live in a big city with lots of options but WalMart is still trying to muscle in. I haven't always lived in the city and I know that sometimes the closest and most convenient store is a big box. However, if you have the option, you should exercise your consumer power to support the merchant of your choice.

Even when I lived on the island, we had community. Although I didn't have a car and it was a passenger only ferry, I bought locally whenever I could. On the other side, I had choices. I chose not to buy at the big boxes.

If you live in an isolated place without community, I guess the loss of community outlets would not mean as much to you as it would to me. If WalMart is your only option, what can you do? What did you do before WalMart?

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: tarheel
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 10:49 PM

yes,i shop at, "WALLY WORLD"!!!

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Apr 05 - 03:42 AM

I shop where I work

I take care of them, they take care of me.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 16 Apr 05 - 07:48 AM

Dianavan,

   You are just way out there honey. Isolated areas do not equal lack of community, if anything, the sense of community is much greater. Get off the soapbox and realize that people, no matter where they are in the world, are going to do what THEY feel is best. I do what I feel is best for my family just as everyone else does.

ML

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: dianavan
Date: 16 Apr 05 - 12:05 PM

LilyFestre - I already said your conscience should guide you.

I also realize that isolated communities are often the closest but I thought you were saying that you really didn't have local merchants nearby. I urged you to use your consumer power to shop wherever you choose. Although our choices might be different, that hardly standing on a soapbox.

I'd still like to know where you shopped before there was WalMart.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 16 Apr 05 - 09:08 PM

Walmart was here when we moved here. Before that we shopped in the town in which we lived.

My conscience feels just fine while shopping at Walmart, thank you.

ML

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 16 Apr 05 - 09:25 PM

"I also realize that isolated communities are often the closest but I thought you were saying that you really didn't have local merchants nearby."

I am not of the opinion that community is not made of merchants (near or far) but of the people who live nearby who contribute to the living environment. To me, that means the farmer who would help out when we ran out of hay....my husband who pushed a car out of a ditch on a cold winter night for a woman who was stranded...the lady up the road who helped us drive some escaped hogs one night....the exchange of notes of encouragement to and from our mail carrier...need I go on?

I realize that merchants are part of many communities but seeing how we don't have any merchants in the neighborhood, I'd be awfully hard pressed to say there is a lack of community simply because there are no stores, churches or post offices on our mountain top.

ML

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 16 Apr 05 - 09:36 PM

I am not of the opinion that community is not made of merchants (near or far) but of the people who live nearby who contribute to the living environment.   

*********OOPS****************

That SHOULD read that I am not of the opinion that community is made of merchants (near or far) but of the people who live nearby who contribute to the living environment.

ML

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: bobad
Date: 04 Sep 06 - 08:29 PM

Sign the Wal-Mart Bible letter

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Don Firth
Date: 04 Sep 06 - 09:00 PM

How many times have I shopped at Wal-Mart?

Once. That's when my wife and I were visiting in a small town in Nebraska, and we didn't have any bloody choice. It was the only store in town. All the old family stores had been driven out of business by the Giant Box on the edge of town.

By the way, the item I purchased was a bit cheaper than what I would have had to pay in most stores. But then, it fell apart in three days.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 04 Sep 06 - 11:46 PM

Bobad

Interesting letter.

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Old Guy
Date: 05 Sep 06 - 12:46 AM

It is a funny thing but you can buy the same identical things, US made and foreign made, that others sell, for less at Walmart.

So how does that make Walmart a perveyor of cheap goods that fall apart in a few days?

If there is an item you need at Target and Best Buy has it for less, you buy it at Best Buy. So does that make Best Buy evil?

Walmart does the same thing that MacDonalds, Jiffy lube, Dunkin Donuts, Home Depot. Etc does.

I shop around and buy from the one that has the lowest price which is not always Walmart.

If that is stupid, whom does an intelligent person buy from?

Got a TV?

Where was it made?

Did you buy it from the highest priced retailer?

Did you buy it online to beat even Walmart's price?

Subject: RE: BS: How many Mudcatters shop at Wal Mart?
From: Mooh
Date: 05 Sep 06 - 09:36 AM

Hate shopping to begin with. Had the misfortune to enter an IKEA store in an university town on the Friday evening before Labour Day weekend. What a zoo, but I'd do anything for my kids.

Shopping for me has to do with tackle shops in sleepy little out of the way places, music shops when there's not a crowd, a grocery store (take a look at me, it gets a lot of my business!), a genuine hardware store, news-stand, and once or twice a year maybe a clothing store like Mark's Workwearhouse or whatever.

I don't like Mall-Wart because most shopping sucks, especially what doesn't interest me. I also don't like Mall-Wart's general attitude towards its workers. It probably doesn't like my attitude either, and I'm comfortable with that.

Peace, Mooh.