Wal-Mart, More Than Bad Taste...

[debateman]

www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=15438

Wal-Mart has dropped in the HRC ratings and has devolved into a company that the GLBT community should avoid according to some... Any thoughts?

[Kizzume]

I guess I don't view it as of big as a deal as some. I don't think a place has to involve themselves with a bunch of organizations in order to be decent. I think the big thing is how much they pay their employees and insurance and things like that. Whether they have a low rating according to an organization isn't something I really care about.

Now, if they suddenly got an endorsement from the James Dobson foundation or something, maybe I'd be more worried.

[debateman]

But Wal-Mart is the bane of human existence. Where is the final straw?

[Kizzume]

I agree, but people want their inexpensive items and don't really care.

[jq]

debateman said:

But Wal-Mart is the bane of human existence. Where is the final straw?

It is sort of funny to think about how much the Wal Mart children (the owners) are worth. $15 billion a piece. Makes me wonder....how much is enough? When are you rich enough to say, "hey, you know, I think I am going to cut the world a break, and use my giant corporation to do some good things."

I certainly can't imagine ever having 1/50th of $15 billion, so obviously I can't speak on what it would be like. But it seems to me that maybe there would be a point, when you have enough money to live exactly how you want, and having everything you could possibly ever want, and be able to sustain that lifestyle forever, and at that point, maybe you would consider not breaking other people's back for your own gain.

I don't think anyone could spend $15 billion in a lifetime. So why not start cutting people a break?


Anyway, Target and Fred Meyers are about as good a deal anyway. They really are. I have toured Wal Mart before. Their prices aren't THAT good. In fact, I really prefer fred meyers or target. Plus, Fred Meyer carries the products I like, like food that is organically grown, goat milk, and cage-free chicken eggs. Wal Mart doesn't. Fred Meyer employes UNION EMPLOYEES, Wal Mart doesn't. And about Target

I know both Fredy Meyers and Target do bad things too, I am sure. But Target at least donates a certain amount of their profits to causes. Also, they sell some stuff, including blankets, that are actually american made. You have to search for it, (you probably won't accidentally stumble across them,) but if you look for it, there are actually some American Made products at Target.


And then there is costco. Awe yes, Costco. The best deal of them all. Better deal than Wal Mart, Fred Meyers, or Target. I can't buy everything there, because there is only so much room in my townhouse. I certainly don't have a big enough freezer to really reap the full benefits of Costco. But I have done quite well lately saving money buy buying much of my food wholesale. My frozen pizza-- I get it at costco. A three pack of digorno for I think $10. $3.33 a piece for digorno pizzas, verses $5-6.50 retail. Wal Mart can't beat that, either. And my yogurt, again, way cheaper at costco. Ends up being $.40 a piece, whereas you usually can't find yogurt on SALE for less than $.50. I think we all know how Costco treats their employees-- pretty damn well. I think I have heard they start employees off from $10.50 an hour and upwards depending on experience, and that they have a good benefits package, and promote purely from within. Also, their "kirkland signature" items are actually high quality. I prefer those brands, often, over other name brands. So its nice to know they have some quality control, and that you probably won't get lead poisoning there.


Then there is a place called Winco, which is basically like costco, except no membership and the stuff isn't wholesale, but is basically wholesale price per item. Ritz crackers, $1.98. I was blown away. I was angrily paying $3-4 a box at the local grocery store. No more! Their beer is also significantly cheaper than anywhere else. HOw does Winco treat their employees? Well, I knew one person who quit their job working with my girlfriend to work there. She said they started her off at $10/hour (which is at least $2/hour more than any grocery store starts you out at, and I am sure it is more than Wal Mart, too) and get this-- it is employee owned!

Between my options-- Target, Fred Meyers, Costco, Winco, and Wal Mart, 4/5 are good companies to invest in, they are all close to the prices of Wal Mart, and 2/5 are a better deal than Wal Mart, hands down.