There is a Proposed Super Walmart Project Nearby. Should I Worry?

[MooCowSteph]

I find it odd that people always discuss the quality of stuff that wal-mart sells or the fact that their goods are made in China. Other than their line of clothes, and maybe one or two other lines made especially for them, and their linens shower curtain type stuff, the things they sell are the same goods available at a variety of stores. They sells school supplies, cookware, cosmetics, and a whole range of other brand name goods that can be bought at many stores, only at higher prices. You’re right - many people do not think abotu the consequences of purchasing goods at Walmart, except the consequence that they will have more money to spend on their families. We all have to make choices about how to spend our money. For the majority of Americans it would seem they would rather save money than spend more on something just because they don’t like that Wal-mart manufactures some of it’s brand name goods in China (like the rest of the country) or doesn’t supply their employees with top of the line health insurance. Sometimes we need to put our families and our financial needs first.

 

[leaner]

MooCowSteph:

I find it odd that people always discuss the quality of stuff that wal-mart sells or the fact that their goods are made in China. Other than their line of clothes, and maybe one or two other lines made especially for them, and their linens shower curtain type stuff, the things they sell are the same goods available at a variety of stores. They sells school supplies, cookware, cosmetics, and a whole range of other brand name goods that can be bought at many stores, only at higher prices. You’re right - many people do not think abotu the consequences of purchasing goods at Walmart, except the consequence that they will have more money to spend on their families. We all have to make choices about how to spend our money. For the majority of Americans it would seem they would rather save money than spend more on something just because they don’t like that Wal-mart manufactures some of it’s brand name goods in China (like the rest of the country) or doesn’t supply their employees with top of the line health insurance. Sometimes we need to put our families and our financial needs first.

You know, I don’t buy clothes there regularly – if something catches my eye or is on sale, but shopping with kids doesn’t afford much looking around time, so we don’t usually hit the clothes racks – it’s just better for everyone that way. BUT - that being said, my neighbor gave us two pairs of faded glory (or whatever the walmart name is) jeans…they had already lived thru her son’s 4-5yr old days and now they’ve survived and thrived thru a year on my son climbing trees, sliding down mud hills, etc…I am impressed with how well they’re made and how well they’ve held up. When I mentioned it to my friend in Fla with two boys, she said that’s the only kind she’ll buy b/c of how well they hold up. So I don’t necessarily agree with that “cheap ****” theory either. I sent my DH to get DIF (wallpaper remover solvent) and whole grain rolls the other night…15min, he was home. That’s why I go there.

 

[MooCowSteph]

leaner:

You know, I don’t buy clothes there regularly – if something catches my eye or is on sale, but shopping with kids doesn’t afford much looking around time, so we don’t usually hit the clothes racks – it’s just better for everyone that way. BUT - that being said, my neighbor gave us two pairs of faded glory (or whatever the walmart name is) jeans…they had already lived thru her son’s 4-5yr old days and now they’ve survived and thrived thru a year on my son climbing trees, sliding down mud hills, etc…I am impressed with how well they’re made and how well they’ve held up. When I mentioned it to my friend in Fla with two boys, she said that’s the only kind she’ll buy b/c of how well they hold up. So I don’t necessarily agree with that “cheap ****” theory either. I sent my DH to get DIF (wallpaper remover solvent) and whole grain rolls the other night…15min, he was home. That’s why I go there.

I actually really like their Faded Glory brand jeans, too. I haven’t bought a pair in a while, but in college on limited funds, I wore them a lot. I wear petite, which can be hard to find, and they always have my size. You can’t beat a $14 pair of jeans. They hold up pretty well.

 

[captaincatholic]

I don’t like to buy Walmart stuff at all because of the way they tend to push out other businesses in town. However, I have had good luck with some of their Faded Glory brand clothes that I bought at thrift shops. It’s not that I prefer them…yet!

As far as getting in and out fast, the Walmarts around here seem to be quite congested in Maryland, and in many of the suburbs around here. It often takes us 20-25 minutes just to get through the checkout, and we have tried several times of the day-- midday (not noon), early evening, late night, and always the same crowds!

 

[cargopilot]

You can’t stop Wal Mart, so there’s no point in trying to stop them. I’ve got friends who rail against Wal Mart, professing they will never shop there. I had a good laugh when I ran into one of them in Wal Mart with a shopping cart full.

My family’s from the small town where Sam Walton grew up. They owned Walton Drug for years and years. It was a different time. Eventually, Wal Mart came to this very town, and there’s no doubt it had an impact on this little Main Street and all the Mom and Pop businesses. The city leaders knew better than to fight Wal Mart. They will either loose, and the Wal Mart will be built anyway, drawing customers from Mom and Pop, or they will loose even more when Wal Mart just goes to the next town, drawing customers AND revenue to the next community.

Love 'em or hate 'em, Wall Mart is just too big to fight. Did 'ja hear the one about ‘Where does a Wal Mart SuperCenter sit?..Anywhere it wants to.’

 

[leaner]

captaincatholic:

I don’t like to buy Walmart stuff at all because of the way they tend to push out other businesses in town. However, I have had good luck with some of their Faded Glory brand clothes that I bought at thrift shops. It’s not that I prefer them…yet!

As far as getting in and out fast, the Walmarts around here seem to be quite congested in Maryland, and in many of the suburbs around here. It often takes us 20-25 minutes just to get through the checkout, and we have tried several times of the day-- midday (not noon), early evening, late night, and always the same crowds!

Since school started back up, I’ve been going around 10am and getting out around 11am…there are no lines whatsoever, and lots of times it’s my choice which register I pick, as three or four have one or no customers in line…there’s also a subway in our walmart, which I suppose puts small mom and pop sub shops out of business…and then there’s the Papa Johns and the Dominos, which takes business from the Joe’s Pizza…and Borders or Barnes and Noble, who ran poor Meg Ryan right into the ground…

 

[captaincatholic]

leaner:

Since school started back up, I’ve been going around 10am and getting out around 11am…there are no lines whatsoever, and lots of times it’s my choice which register I pick, as three or four have one or no customers in line…there’s also a subway in our walmart, which I suppose puts small mom and pop sub shops out of business…and then there’s the Papa Johns and the Dominos, which takes business from the Joe’s Pizza…and Borders or Barnes and Noble, who ran poor Meg Ryan right into the ground…

I know all about the small town shops that are run out by big chains. I guess I just count on knowing the owners of the little individual stores, or at least shop those that advertise in the parish bulletin. It is a hard line to walk, and I will be the first to admit that I do not do it perfectly, but I do try to support the small businesses in the area: the local coffeshop on Main Street, the little diner run by a third generation of the same family, and even the local deli/sandwich shop. Even when I buy online (books) I try to find a smallish Catholic vendor… but every now and then, the price does make a difference, so I give in to the temptation and buy at a bigger chain… I hope that is only a venial sin!

 

[on_a_journey]

I’m not a Wal-Mart shopper. I can get the same food items cheaper at the local mom and pop by buying their store brand and not the big names (who are the ones making the store brands anyway). It was a conscious decision we made to not shop at Wal-Mart when we moved back to the states. A decision based on wanting our small town neighbors businesses to succeed; based on the union issues; based on the “slave-labor” issues; also based on the fact that we tend to spend a good deal more money on junk when we go to a super-size store like that. When we NEED clothes I look for hand-me-downs–come on, who needs new ones. When we NEED other stuff…well, we have a roof over our heads, what else do we truly NEED? And, yeah, I’ve got kids too.

We all spend way too much on junk we CAN learn to live without. I know this sounds really preachy but really how much do we NEED??? I think of my friend in the Philippines who works with the poor…listen folks, we’ve got it MADE here. Let’s teach our kids about want and need and the better path.

 

[Cupofkindness]

Here’s a recent news article about Walmart efforts to be a better steward of everything:

news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051025/ap_on_bi_ge/wal_mart