Your experience dealing with idiot today

[g-love]

Before going to Walmart I like to do a cost-benefit analysis.

I ask myself if the amount that I save is worth the extra time and headache that I will likely experience.

When it comes to going to Walmart the cost is always higher than the benefit IMO. :-\

 

[OrdinaryAvgGuy]

When it comes to going to Walmart the cost is always higher than the benefit IMO. :-\

You must have some deep pockets my friend.

 

[forstmeister]

You must have some deep pockets my friend.

I can't speak for him, but even if there was a Walmart in my area I would avoid it like the plague. I also don't have deep pockets, but I prefer to give my money to companies that have some modicum of respect for their employees.

 

[Pilgarlic]

Call me a misanthrope, or a curmudgeon, or even a pilgarlic. There's an old saying I just made up. "That's the trouble with the world. People."

 

[g-love]

You must have some deep pockets my friend.

Haha... Not at all. It's just that if I were ever to lose it and kill somebody, I feel that Walmart is the place in which that would happen. Jail time = high cost.

In addition, I'm almost positive that 50% of the pictures on peopleofwalmart.com were taken at my local store. It's scary business out there... Scary business my friend.

 

[OrdinaryAvgGuy]

I can't speak for him, but even if there was a Walmart in my area I would avoid it like the plague. I also don't have deep pockets, but I prefer to give my money to companies that have some modicum of respect for their employees.

Which company may this be?

Walmart always seems to take a beating when it comes the perceived treatment of their employees. The truth is, with any company it comes down to the all mighty dollar. This is especially true when it comes to the big box store.

Unless you live in Mayberry where these stores do not exist, you too are supporting the "corporate devil"

 

[forstmeister]

Which company may this be?

Walmart always seems to take a beating when it comes the perceived treatment of their employees. The truth is, with any company it comes down to the all mighty dollar. This is especially true when it comes to the big box store.

Unless you live in Mayberry where these stores do not exist, you too are supporting the "corporate devil"

Not always true. Meijer, which is regional in the Midwest, treats it's employees quite well and they have hundreds of stores. They offer decent pay, full-time hours, and benefits (as far back as the mid-90's even). Costco, which is one of the biggest box stores out there is ranked as a great place to work by it's own employees.

I am not trying to be preachy, I have shopped at Walmart in the past when it was necessary. I am just glad that I have other options now.

I mostly shop at small grocery stores in Chicago that are family owned and Costco for my bigger purchases when possible.

 

[maxamuus]

Unless you live in Mayberry where these stores do not exist, you too are supporting the "corporate devil"

There is different degrees of the Devil in this case and Walmart is the Devil of the Devils.

I can shop at other stores that while they are too big companies, they pay their employees a livable wage and provide benefits.

If I shop at a Kroger store their employees are union, make a decent wage, and have full benefits.

If I shop at Walmart, their employees are likely making a dollar or two over minimum wage, and kept at 36 hours a week so Walmart doesn't have to pay for their benefits. In the long run you pay for them anyway in higher taxes to provide them food stamps, and higher medical costs when they us the ER for their primary care physician.

Walmart is SHINNING example of what is wrong with this country. The worker is getting screwed while the company is raking in BILLIONS and the CEO and executives are wealthy beyond our comprehension.

So yeah, ill shell out a little more and shop in good continuous knowing I am not giving a company like Walmart a damn dime.

/rant off

 

[maxamuus]

 

[OrdinaryAvgGuy]

There is different degrees of the Devil in this case and Walmart is the Devil of the Devils.

I can shop at other stores that while they are too big companies, they pay their employees a livable wage and provide benefits.

If I shop at a Kroger store their employees are union, make a decent wage, and have full benefits.

If I shop at Walmart, their employees are likely making a dollar or two over minimum wage, and kept at 36 hours a week so Walmart doesn't have to pay for their benefits. In the long run you pay for them anyway in higher taxes to provide them food stamps, and higher medical costs when they us the ER for their primary care physician.

Walmart is SHINNING example of what is wrong with this country. The worker is getting screwed while the company is raking in BILLIONS and the CEO and executives are wealthy beyond our comprehension.

So yeah, ill shell out a little more and shop in good continuous knowing I am not giving a company like Walmart a damn dime.

/rant off

No one is forced to work for a particular company for crap wages. If you take a job with crap pay and benefits that was your choice.

If you are unable to find a job where you are treated and paid "fairly" this is a you problem. Seek higher education, learn to network or become self employed.

If this does not seem plausible then I guess Darwin has done his job.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

No one is forced to work for a particular company for crap wages. If you take a job with crap pay and benefits that was your choice.

If you are unable to find a job where you are treated and paid "fairly" this is a you problem. Seek higher education, learn to network or become self employed.

If this does not seem plausible then I guess Darwin has done his job.

This logic simply could not possibly be more fundamentally flawed.

 

[OrdinaryAvgGuy]

This logic simply could not possibly be more fundamentally flawed.

Lets hear why Creamy

 

[CreamyGoodness]

I dont really feel like it today. Someone else take over?

 

[g-love]

No one is forced to work for a particular company for crap wages. If you take a job with crap pay and benefits that was your choice.

If you are unable to find a job where you are treated and paid "fairly" this is a you problem. Seek higher education, learn to network or become self employed.

If this does not seem plausible then I guess Darwin has done his job.

Awwwwww man. :-(

 

[Airplanedoc]

Had to go to the DMV ....Enough said

 

[maxamuus]

Creamy I think it would be a exercise in futility.

A lot of people in this country could give a rats ass about their neighbors or fellow worker. If it means they can save a nickel on a bottle of Ketchup, then so be it pay the worker less or do away with their health insurance.

The funny part is these people don't understand Walmart is just being subsidized by the tax payers. That's right, when that worker is so poor they cant afford to feed themselves or their families, who do you suppose does? FOOD STAMPS. When they don't have medical insurance and are on Medicare who do you suppose pays for that? You taxes dollars once again.

So you support a company that is raking in billions while they have pushed the burden of paying for their workers on the US tax payer. How bizarre is that... I guess just a new angle at the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, but this one is disguised since the US tax payer is indirectly footing the bill.

 

[OrdinaryAvgGuy]

I dont really feel like it today. Someone else take over?

Okay, I'll pay devil's advocate on this one for you.

Some people come from disadvantaged backgrounds and have no other options in America.

Others have lots of kids and don't have time to improve their lives.

Its just not fair that some people have so much money while others can't seem to make a living wage.

Why can't we all just get along?

People deserve to be paid well even if their performance sucks. Its only fair.

Somewhere along these lines?

 

[CreamyGoodness]

Why yes, because we progressives all hold hands, sing coombaya and shake tamboreens during our 2 hour lunch break.

 

[maxamuus]

I suppose all the small business that Walmart puts out of business are just lazy doffs too.

A half a block from my house was a Family owned grocery store that had been in business since the 1950s. 2 miles down the road they open a Super Walmart. That mans small business lasted almost a year. If only he would have got off his ass and worked a little I am sure he could have saved it.

I am sure his employees that used to make a decent wage, have found themselves at Walmart because they chose a crappy job.

 

[OrdinaryAvgGuy]

Creamy I think it would be a exercise in futility.

A lot of people in this country could give a rats ass about their neighbors or fellow worker. If it means they can save a nickel on a bottle of Ketchup, then so be it pay the worker less or do away with their health insurance.

The funny part is these people don't understand Walmart is just being subsidized by the tax payers. That's right, when that worker is so poor they cant afford to feed themselves or their families, who do you suppose does? FOOD STAMPS. When they don't have medical insurance and are on Medicare who do you suppose pays for that? You taxes dollars once again.

So you support a company that is raking in billions while they have pushed the burden of paying for their workers on the US tax payer. How bizarre is that...

Fair enough. The tax payer does ultimately pay to feed, house and insure these folks.

By paying everyone a fair wage will this eliminate the reliance of so many on the government for basic necessities?

I tend to think not. If this were to happen, an increase in circulating currency would ultimately dilute the value of the dollar and lead to inflation.

The same folks would soon be in the cheese line looking for a govt handout cause they can't pay for the necessities once again.

Any economist in the house?

 

[OrdinaryAvgGuy]

Why yes, because we progressives all hold hands, sing coombaya and shake tamboreens during our 2 hour lunch break.

Lets not forget about driving a Prius with one of these bad boys slapped on the back.

 

[maxamuus]

By paying everyone a fair wage will this eliminate the reliance of so many on the government for basic necessities?

I tend to think not. If this were to happen, an increase in circulating currency would ultimately dilute the value of the dollar and lead to inflation.

Weird.... it worked for how long before Walmart showed up ??

So now to protect against inflation we need to have the US largest employer paying near minimum wage with a good portion of their workers on public assistance?

I am no economist, but that doesn't pass the smell test. Sounds like a bit of bull$hit to me

 

[CreamyGoodness]

Terrible sentiment I agree. I would much rather survival of the fittest.

 

[TyTanium]

Any economist in the house?

You rang?


Where do you think the incidence of higher "fair" wages fall? I.e., who pays for it?

The same poor people. Higher wages = higher input costs = higher prices. Who is affected most by higher prices? Those for whom "cheap" goods comprise the largest portion of discretionary spending. Empirical evidence seems to suggest that when you pay the poor more, everything gets more expensive for the poor, and they are no better off. I.e., need to find another solution.

 

[maxamuus]

What would a economist say about a company that is being subsidized by the tax payers? Arent we dipping the big toe into socialism here?

Can I say that word outside of the debate forum?

 

[CreamyGoodness]

What also hasnt been mentioned is that with a company like Walmart the size of the competition is rather small. Its not inconceivable that eventually, in some parts of the country, one would be literally forced to work for Walmart as there is literally nowhere else to work without relocating.

Ord did actually make a good point regarding inflation... its just that this is one slice of the pizza.

 

[OrdinaryAvgGuy]

What would a economist say about a company that is being subsidized by the tax payers? Arent we dipping the big toe into socialism here?

Can I say that word outside of the debate forum?

Shhh.. Don't say the "S word" around here. I'm enjoying this discussion.

So the govt is indirectly subsidizing the poor working class. Seems like a better solution than artificially inflating the economy by putting an extra dollar in everyone's hand thereby devaluing the currency.

The consequences of doing such a thing would devastate our economy.

 

[TyTanium]

I think we're talking real wages here; adjusted for inflation. The poor are worse off than they were 20-30 years ago. The middle class is worse off than 10 years ago. That much is clear from the data.

Rents (i.e., profits) go to scarce resources. Not productive resources. Wages fall to the incremental productivity of the last worker hired. So if you're a huge company hiring a ton of people from a huge area, labor becomes less scarce and marginal productivity falls, so wages inevitably fall. Advances in technology also makes low-skilled labor less scarce....double whammy.

So the real question, with huge policy implications, is how you can increase the real wages of the poor...how can you make them more scarce so they capture more rents.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

Is your argument that in order to maintain a healthy economy and perpetuate business interests that a certain amount of those workers necessary to keeping businesses running must live below the poverty line by design? Please say no as I am not allowed to drink at work.

 

[OrdinaryAvgGuy]

Had to go to the DMV ....Enough said

Anyhow... lets get back on topic here.

DMV, now there's a fun place to hang out. Prime example of motivated government workers who tend to make most of our lives miserable.

This one ranks up there with the SS office where not only will you find overpaid under-achievers working behind the desk but also their counterpart on the other end looking for a handout.