Pine Barrens Mafia Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 Is Wal-Mart good for America? I watched the re-broadcast of this last night, and felt prompted to post this question here on PPP. Is Wal-Mart doing the average American a favor by lowering prices for consumer goods? Or are they destroying American manufacturing? What's your take? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UConn James Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 American manufacturing was being destroyed before Wal-Mart came along... but they sure didn't help. And the fact that they reduce prices in the short term doesn't console the people put out of jobs where they are compensated for making a tangible product, and put into jobs relying on a whole set of factors that can evaporate quickly -- i.e. new media, real estate, financial.... We export 'ideas' and it's hard to get money in exchange for them. We are fast becoming an economy based in paying each other to buy each other's imported wares. And pornography. Both are examples of circle-jerks. And both sensations don't last very long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PastaJoe Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 Walmart is the poster child of short term gain with long term losses. I'd rather pay some more for products if I knew it would mean keeping jobs in America. But there aren't enough people that look at that big picture. I'm on year 5 of my personal boycott of Walmart, for principle even if it doesn't make a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pine Barrens Mafia Posted December 13, 2006 Author Share Posted December 13, 2006 Walmart is the poster child of short term gain with long term losses. I'd rather pay some more for products if I knew it would mean keeping jobs in America. But there aren't enough people that look at that big picture. I'm on year 5 of my personal boycott of Walmart, for principle even if it doesn't make a difference. 865504[/snapback] It's a chicken and egg issue. Like UConn says, manufacturing was well on its way to being dead in the USA long before Wal-Mart became a player. So peoples' incomes were lower already. In that regard, Wal-Mart sensed the market and adapted to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GG Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 Does this look like a company that's about to dominate the world? One year (fixed?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef Jim Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 Does this look like a company that's about to dominate the world? 1 yr trend 865522[/snapback] Wouldn't you agree it takes longer than one year to dominate the world? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GG Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 Wouldn't you agree it takes longer than one year to dominate the world? 865533[/snapback] Maybe 5 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Avenger Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 Aside for the negative impact on American manufacturing and jobs, I have a couple of other problems with Wal-Mart that weren't really addressed that much in teh Frontline piece: -Impact to smaller businesses - when a Wal-Mart opens up, mom and pop businesses go under in droves - they simply can't compete with a megastore like that. Look at what's happened to pharmacys - there aren't any mom and pop drug stores anymore - you have to get your prescriptions at CVS, Walgreens, etc. God help us if Wal-Mart starts delivering pizzas for $3 - they'll be cheap and crappy but every local pizza joint will go under. -Quality of merchandise - In order to sell widgets at $4.88 Wal-Mart completely bullies their suppliers by setting the price, regardless of the production costs (see Rubbermaid). Manufacturers not only have to produce overseas and pay their workers pennies, but they ofetn time have to settle for lesser quality materials and quality control. I hate $4.88 widgets that break after 1 use - can't I pay $7.99 and get one that will actually last? I hate buying crap that breaks or doesn't last. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pine Barrens Mafia Posted December 13, 2006 Author Share Posted December 13, 2006 Aside for the negative impact on American manufacturing and jobs, I have a couple of other problems with Wal-Mart that weren't really addressed that much in teh Frontline piece: -Impact to smaller businesses - when a Wal-Mart opens up, mom and pop businesses go under in droves - they simply can't compete with a megastore like that. Look at what's happened to pharmacys - there aren't any mom and pop drug stores anymore - you have to get your prescriptions at CVS, Walgreens, etc. God help us if Wal-Mart starts delivering pizzas for $3 - they'll be cheap and crappy but every local pizza joint will go under. -Quality of merchandise - In order to sell widgets at $4.88 Wal-Mart completely bullies their suppliers by setting the price, regardless of the production costs (see Rubbermaid). Manufacturers not only have to produce overseas and pay their workers pennies, but they ofetn time have to settle for lesser quality materials and quality control. I hate $4.88 widgets that break after 1 use - can't I pay $7.99 and get one that will actually last? I hate buying crap that breaks or doesn't last. 865574[/snapback] And yet, Wal-Mart recently announced they're going to sell prescription drugs at a fraction of the cost. How is that a bad thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef Jim Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 Maybe 5 years 865572[/snapback] Looks like they took over the world a few years ago but got bored with it. Can you blame them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Avenger Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 And yet, Wal-Mart recently announced they're going to sell prescription drugs at a fraction of the cost. How is that a bad thing? 865619[/snapback] Never said it was a bad thing, but overall, cheap generic drugs don't makeup for the bad things Wal-Mart brings (loss of manufacturing jobs, forcing anything smaller to go under, the proliferation of cheap quality crap). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PastaJoe Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 "Would Jesus shop at Wal-Mart?" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16191729/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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