How does WAL-MART affect your life?

I am conducting a research on how wal-mart affects american lives, both individuals and business owners. Please specify in your answer wether you are a consumer or a business owner...





Thanks

How does WAL-MART affect your life?
I am a consumer with aspiration of becoming a business owner.





They have decent prices and I studied their history.





Before 1962 in small towns many had to drive to bigger ones to do shopping since many big businesses stayed away from them, so Samuel Moore Walton started his business to cater to people that were neglected.





He did it with effective and efficient plans.





He slowly caught up the his giant rivals since he was ignored and not seen as a threat to them. He sold in bulk since he could sell them at lower prices.





Since he died in 1992 Wal Mart has radically changed from being one of the better employers in the USA to just a regular employer like their competition. They used to say their merchandise was USA made until they got caught with lies and China was the major supplier. Many say it internally died especially when Helen Walton died in April 2007.





They began with a promise from Sam M Walton to take care of associates that care about Wal*Mart so it can stay in business.





Do a Yahoo and Google search on these:


0) Wal Mart Spies ,


1) Sam's Club 6625 ,


2) Sam's Club 6625+US politicans ,


3) Sam's Club 6625+Walton Family


4) Sam's Club 6625+Thomas M Coughlin ,


5) Sam's Club 6625+Tom P Noonan





Tom or affectionately known as Tommy has Autism and worked there from 1991-2002.





Democrats and Republicans were written to investigate Wal Mart employment practices and WERE ignored all of them.





Wal Mart works with local law enforcement and the FBI to harass critics especially current associates by using noise to disrupt sleep so they become aggressive or make mistakes so Wal Mart or an affiliate can fire them. Remember lack of sleep can turn people aggressive and/or make it possible to make mental mistakes at work.





Read these books


How Walmart Is Destroying the America (And the World)


By Bill Quinn





Megamall on the Hudson: Planning, Wal-Mart and Grassroots Resistance


By David Porter, Chester L Mirsky





In Sam We Trust: The Untold Story of Sam Walton and Wal-Mart, the World's Most Powerful Retailer


by Bob Ortega(former reporter of the New York Times)





Michael Barbaro of the New York Times investogates them a lot. His conversation with a Wal Mart employee was recorderd by Bruce Gabbard,a 19 year associate. Bruce was terminated in March 2007 and was possibly paid off so he could stay quiet about the 'Threat Research Center' or as Mr. Gabbard called it 'Batcave' in Bentonville Arkansas.





If Wal*Mart wants to disprove/refute their critics mainly the Unions,they should have an open investigations on all allegations to include Democrats and Republicans along with people not influenced by Wal*Mart.





Begin with an investigation of Sam's Club 6625 since management follows what Wal*Mart's Chairman of the Board of Directors desires. Lower payroll through creative firings,allow few to retire,and replace full-time with part-time people to reduce benefits.





This is from 2004





http://money.cnn.com/2004/05/24/news/for...





Wal-Mart shopping for subsidies?


Watchdog group's report says $1B in government subsidies have aided the retailer's expansion.


May 24, 2004: 4:03 PM EDT





One question.


Has Wal Mart changed since 2004 especially Samuel Robson Walton and James Carr Walton along with the board of Directors?





If they do this then they will effectively and legally silence their critics, UNLESS they are scared of the truth!





I hope Samuel Robson "Rob" Walton and his brother James "Jim" Carr Walton are shown this from their "concerned" Wal*Mart associates that scour the internet for criticism.
Reply:It pays me a good income and gives me a job I enjoy going to every day. I don't get paid the crappy pay that everyone talks about, and the people that are just starting there don't either. They are competitive with their starting pay with other retailers. They don't treat me crappy like everyone says. Now, I'm not naive....I do know that some stores have crappy managers and the morale is low. But, I think working for a company that always has such negative publicity and consumers that think they know all that goes on at Wal-Mart, from our pay, to our benefits, to how crappy everyone gets treated - that they go in there with righteous attitudes and most of the time THEY are the ones that treat the associates crappy. I have worked for the company many years and I've seen a lot of changes. But, I would not say that any other retailer is 'better' to work for. Yes, they are trying to better their image. They've increased pay, give us plenty of different benefit plans to choose from, we have Delta Dental. We have 401K plans and stock plans. You can take out as little as $5 a paycheck or as much as a couple hundred ea. pay check and if you want you can sell your stock at any time.


We have funds for 'associate in need' in case an associate suddenly needs money because of an accident, death, or whatever the case may be. When my neice died a few years ago, the associates at my sister-in-law's store raised money to help her with the funeral and with bills - they raised a lot. At my store we recently raised over $1,500 for an associate who's husband passed.


We also help the communties we are in. We donate millions of dollars to Childrens Miracle Network company wide. Some stores do Relay for Life and Juvenile Diabetes walks- just to name a few.


So, Wal-Mart affects a lot of peoples lives in a positive way and they may not even know it. If you or a family member has cancer we affect you. If you or a family member has diabetes - we affect you. If you or a loved one serves in the military - we affect you.


If you work at Wal-Mart and you hate it, find something else. Do something you love.


If you shop at Wal-Mart and you hate it, why shop there?
Reply:Wal Mart is not the only one that lower payroll with creative termination and replace full-time with part time. Kroger does the same with their employees as Wal Mart and these 2 are not the only ones to only care for the investors and owners. These ensure they have management that do not care that much about their employees. This happens from small to large multi-national conglomerates.





Wal Mart overtook K-Mart that did the same from the 1970s and 1980s until they made mistakes that allowed Wal Mart to overtake them as number 1.





Read book by Bob Ortega


IN SAM WE TRUST


The Untold Story of Sam Walton and How Wal-Mart is Devouring America





James Lawrence Walton or "Bud" (died in March 1995) was the younger brother of Samuel Moore Walton or "Mr. Sam" (died in April 1992)





There is a passage were Bud Walton told the Board of Directors in a Shareholder's meeting in 1993 that if they cut their associates pay through less work hours why don't they cut their salary? The Board of Directors were not happy and invited him,BUT not to speak and he only appeared in 1 more Shareholder's meeting in 1994 since he died before the one in 1995. These meetings occur every June.





Wal Mart finally died internally when Helen Walton the wife of Mr. Sam died on Thursday,19 April 2007. She was responsible for profit sharing. Their sons Rob and Jim are slowly dismantling the dream and vision of their parents Mr. and Mrs. Sam M Walton and uncle Mr. James L Walton.





Was Mr. Thomas M Coughlin,former Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors,set up for a downfall?


He was the protege and confidant of Mr. Sam.


There were allegations at home office that he,Tom, was about to tell the truth as to how Wal Mart has been successful as anti-union as allegations that Wal Mart has a slush for to prevent unions has not been investigated or addressed by the leading candidates for US President this year.





I am a consumer.
Reply:As a consumer Wal-Mart is a nuisance. Yes they are cheaper than some other stores in town or should I say they are cheaper than the other stores that have survived since Wal-Mart came to town. They built a Wal-Mart where we (they home owners of a sub division) didn’t want it. Why? Because the road they built it on isn’t meant to handle that kind of traffic. I also don’t shop at Wal-Mart because of how they treat their employees, their way of forcing a supplier to drop their prices or they will drop their products from their shelf’s. I’d rather spend my money at Target.
Reply:One-stop shopping saves me time and gas. Cheaper prices saves me money. Large crowds and long lines give me a headache.


-The consumer
Reply:If cheapens the American experience. Corportizing the World.