I live in a city of about 100,000 people, we have three Super Walmarts and a Sams Club. They are all always busy. I drop about $800.00 or more at them almost every month. I buy all of my groceries and other household goods there. But what always gets me are the extras. They sell just about everything there, and you wind up picking up stuff you really did not intend to.

You want a CD or DVD. They got em. New IPOD, check. Fishing tackle or lawn furniture, you bet. Sporting goods and sewing notions, no problem. Live lobsters and pet fish. Power tools and toys, of course. They will even chnage your oil and put on some new tires while you shop. Then gas up on your way out, Get your eyes examined and buy some new glassess. You can even bank there now.

You could almost get everything you would ever need there, and at a good price, so there should be little wonder why they are doing so well.

Now I know some people don't like Walmart. But in a Democracy people get to vote on what they like and don't like. With Walmart, people vote with their wallets, and they are winning in a landslide.

I don't approve of many of Walmart's policies but I have to admit that I shop there a lot. My family doesn't have much money so the low prices are really helpful for us. Plus we live in a very rural area so there really aren't a lot of choices besides Walmart. It's a bit of a moral struggle though, for me to shop at this place that I really do have serious issues with.

When, (not "if," "when") the recession really gets going, you can count on the fact that Walmart will use it as an excuse to lower the incomes of their employees - either by paying them less, letting them work fewer hours or laying them off. (Oh, what a wonderful dream organized labor was, too bad Walmart killed it.). Their mythical "health insurance" will be the first thing to go. This will make the recession even worse, but the people at the top won't care.

The profit that drives Walmart is derived from the sweat and toil of their employees and that of their vendors, so there is always more profit to be made. They will just exploit their employees and vendors some more. If you think Walmart is bad, now, just wait until they face the reality of rampant inflation and decreased consumer spending after the recession really hits. Then the abuses will really start. After all, the bigwigs at Walmart have always refused to accept that anyone is important, but themselves. They don't lock people in at night and hire undocumented workers because they care about them.

I don't know anybody who goes to Walmart and just buys necessities. They sell a whole lot of other junk, (in terms of quality), that aren't necessities. And when there is no more money to buy the junk Walmart buys from China by the shipload, desperate steps will have to be taken. And since labor costs are always the first thing to be cut in any business that sees its profitability go down, the exploitation of their employees will reach new levels. Just so Sam Walton's buddies in Arkansas can make another billion they don't need.

The thing that has always gotten me is that Walmart's prices on things that I might buy there - including food - aren't that good. [And even brand name products are of lower quality than the same products sold elsewhere.] I have never understood how selling some trinket made by exploited worker's in sweat shops in China means they have "lower prices." If Walmart didn't buy the junk and put it on their shelves, people wouldn't buy it, because they don't need it and would have no desire for it. Without these products, Walmart couldn't compete in the free market. Their entire marketing strategy is based on selling people junk they don't need by endlessly blasting their offensive ads over and over until people actually believe them.

FYI, I live on disability and I am not rich. Since their prices on goods that I want to buy aren't any better than any place else, (esp. Costco), and because they exploit their employees and vendors so heinously, I won't shop there. I encourage others to really look at Walmart's prices, the junk they sell and how they exploit their employees. Is it really ethical and moral to "save" by buying trinkets made in China by exploited workers and sold by Walmart employees that don't make a living wage? Are we really that selfish? Think about where the money one spends at Walmart goes, (Hint: It doesn't go to pay their employees a living wage or to support free market competition).

Let the posts from people who love Walmart begin...

The reason there aren't a lot of choices is because Walmart ran them out of business. The only way Walmart succeeds is in a market place that has no competition. And, because they are so big, they can - and do - afford to run everyone else out of business.

If people stopped to think about the morality of supporting Walmart, I doubt many people would shop there. Unfortunately, some people justify supporting an unethical and immoral, (those are my opinions), business because they tell themselves they need to save a few cents. And they don't think about how their actions affect others on a global scale,

Well, I wouldn't say I love Walmart, but they do sell things cheaper than pretty much anybody else, and it isn't just useless junk as you have suggested. I buy most of my groceries at Walmart if I can and the rest at Traders Joes just around the corner from my local Walmart. Here is a sample of what I bought last week and a price comparison to the local Publix:

Carnation Hazelnut Creamer: Walmart $1.99; Publix $2.49

California Frozen Pizza (BBQ Chicken): Walmart $4.98; Publix $5.98

Dole Guava/Pinapple juice: Walmart $1.97; Publix $2.59

Pepperig Farms Sweet Bread: Walmart $2.99; Publix $3.49

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter: Walmart: $2.49; Publix $2.99

Dora/Yoplait Kids Yogurt: Walmart $1.99; Publix $2.49

1/2 Gallon Horizon Farms Organic 2% Milk: Walmart $2.99; Publix $3.79

5 Lbs bag of Clementine Oranges/Tangerines: Walmart (SamsClub) $5.99; Publix $7.99

These are but a small sample of what I buy from Walmart and Sams Club pretty much every week. As you can see they very much are the necessities that you believe no one buys from Walmart and I'm pretty sure none of these products are 'cheap China' garbage.

As suggested in the article one of the main reasons people buy from Walmart is because their prices are unbeatable. As you can see from the small sampling above the differences are not huge, but over the spread of 15, 20 or even 50 items can add up to pretty big savings week over week.

When my wife was doing all the grocery shopping at the local Publix she was spending between $150-$250 a week on food and household items -- and that's just for 3 people! Now that I'm doing the shopping at Walmart/Sams Club I spend between $100-$150 per week and rarely go above the $150 mark. That's an average savings of $75 a week and yet I'm buying pretty much the same things we've always bought. I don't how much money you make, but for my family saving $75 a week ain't no chump change!

'After all, the bigwigs at Walmart have always refused to accept that anyone is important, but themselves.'

you are full of crap. Walmart has created more millionaires than microsoft. employees get stock options that have served them very well.

being that you are some liberal dipshit, you see some ignoramus yokel who dresses poorly. the fact is that same ignoramus may be a millionaire because of walmart stock.

i can't understand why all these oh so smart liberala who deride walmart don't start a retail business that caters to the pinheads needs.

i guess those lazy twerps are content to complain about the successes of walmart.

it is easier to watch stupid hollywood movies and documentaries.

Rush, is that you? Stop trolling already. It's beneath you.

'Rush, is that you? Stop trolling already. It's beneath you.'

what pisses you off the most about el rushbo?

A) he has the liberals number

B) he goes around telling everyone about it

C) he makes mega millions doing it

or

D) all of the above

Doc Holiday,

I've never understood this idea of boycotting stores for hiring people cheaply. Do you think not shopping at Wal-Mart is going to make the workers better off? Do you think the workers are chained to Wal-Mart now, but if you put them out of business the workers will get fired and finally be free to work wherever they want? Same goes to China...how exactly does not sending money to China help Chinese workers?

Ummm... I wouldn't call ANY of that stuff "necessities" or "staples". And I LIKE convenience food, don't get me wrong. But it's nearly all convenience food.

Rush pisses me off because he's:

a) Racist. "Halfrican American" comments are just a sissy way of saying the N word. Just admit what you are Rush we already know.

b) Picks on children.

c) He's a hypocritical drug addict.

d) "Phony Soldiers". Criticizing men and women who actually served their country when he was too busy being a college boy douche to pick up a weapon and stand a post. Enjoy your freedom Rush and be sure to question those who protect it.

so it's A. he has your silly number.

No, the unions haven't pulled one over on you, Doc.

First of all, everyone knows that Wal Mart doesn't pay a heck of a lot. Why? Because they're EVIL!!!! No, seriously though, they don't pay much because the work that people do there isn't worth a whole lot. Trust me, I was a cashier for minimum wage once upon a time. Yeah, you stand on your feet a lot, but when it comes to marketable skills, there ain't much to "grab, swipe, put in bag, hit 'total'." Then there are the greeters. Those are gift jobs, man. Gifts. People getting a paycheck from "evil" Wal Mart to stand at the door (or sit) and say, "Hi, welcome to Wal Mart." I know, they deserve $16 an hour like the people who collect tolls on the PA Turnpike, right. Sheesh.

"The profit that drives Walmart is derived from the sweat and toil of their employees and that of their vendors, so there is always more profit to be made. They will just exploit their employees and vendors some more."

B.S., dude. All companies live and die by the labor of their employees. How exactly does WM "exploit" their employees? Oh, right. They don't pay cashiers $20 an hour. As far as "paying less," how does one go about paying less than minimum wage? Just curious.

"They don't lock people in at night and hire undocumented workers because they care about them."

Evidence, please?

"I don't know anybody who goes to Walmart and just buys necessities. They sell a whole lot of other junk, (in terms of quality), that aren't necessities."

That's the choice of the consumer. Don't want it? Don't buy it. That's a no-brainer.

"Just so Sam Walton's buddies in Arkansas can make another billion they don't need."

Jealous, much? Who are you to decide what kind of profit a company should make? Would you rather Wal Mart go out of business so that no one can work there? You don't seem to realize that WM makes profit by moving a large volume of merchandise. The last time I read up on it, WM made something like 3 cents on the dollar in profit. What do you want them to do?

"The thing that has always gotten me is that Walmart's prices on things that I might buy there - including food - aren't that good. [And even brand name products are of lower quality than the same products sold elsewhere.]"

Um, then don't shop there. Now, I would like to know how Pennzoil 10W-30 is of lower quality from WM than from Pep Boys or AutoZone.

"If Walmart didn't buy the junk and put it on their shelves, people wouldn't buy it, because they don't need it and would have no desire for it."

Remember that it's the consumer's choice? Wal Mart sells it because people buy it. That's how you run a business. Sell what people buy. You do realize that the whole point of going into business is to make money, right?

" Without these products, Walmart couldn't compete in the free market."

It is a free market, and Wal Mart is doing well in it. I'm sure if Applebee's stopped selling food, they wouldn't do well in the free market either. What the hell kind of argument is that?

"Their entire marketing strategy is based on selling people junk they don't need by endlessly blasting their offensive ads over and over until people actually believe them."

What offensive ads? Blasting over and over...etc? Have you watched TV lately? Um, Pepsi? Coke? Chevy? Hyundai? Duuuuh, duh duh duh....(to the tune of "Dragnet")

You make it sound like Sam Walton lassos people, tosses them in a truck and ships 'em off to a Wal Mart store and chains them to the cart return. To read your posts, one would think that there are Roman sentries with clubs and axes that prevent employees from leaving the store. You seem to be the kind of guy that hates profit of any sort, and it drives you nuts that Wal Mart continues to profit while other businesses are hurting. You have an interesting definition of "free market."

greenflash75XX:

Rush pisses me off because he's:

a) Racist. "Halfrican American" comments are just a sissy way of saying the N word. Just admit what you are Rush we already know.

b) Picks on children.

c) He's a hypocritical drug addict.

d) "Phony Soldiers". Criticizing men and women who actually served their country when he was too busy being a college boy douche to pick up a weapon and stand a post. Enjoy your freedom Rush and be sure to question those who protect it.

A) Sensitive, much?

B) How?

C) "I did not inhale..."

D) Example, please. I've heard him speak highly of our troops, so, perhaps I missed that particular broadcast.