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"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
On Aug 21, 10:52*am, RickH wrote:
On Aug 21, 8:30*am, Harry K wrote: On Aug 20, 9:25*pm, mm wrote: On Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:08:20 -0700, "Dave Bugg" wrote: Dave What is best in life? * *"To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women." -- Conan This guy is going to make a terrible replacement for Leno. Amen to that! *I have tried to watch him (follows Leno here) and can see no humor at all in his monologue. *His "apeing" is way overboard also. I suspect "The Tonight Show" will tank within 6 months of the replacement. Harry K Steve Allen was still the best IMO, followed by Johnny Carson. *All the others are about the same but Letterman annoys me more than Conan.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Steve Allen and Carson rocked. Can't get interested in either Conan or Letterman. Harry K |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
On Aug 21, 5:47*pm, mm wrote:
On Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:29:01 GMT, aemeijers wrote: Mark Lloyd wrote: On Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:42:29 -0400, mm wrote: [snip] If you put toothpaste in boxes, it all leaks out at the ends, where the openings are. * It's better to use tubes. AFAIK, toothpaste is almost always sold in boxes. There's a tube in there, so among other things, you get a lot less toothpaste than it looks. The only tubes I have ever seen sold without boxes or blister packs were the plastic kind, containing lotions and shampoos and such. Foil tubes would look like hell after being bulk-packed in one of those plastic shipping boxes. My first tube of Ambroid Cement was all beat up like that, but I bought it anyhow and love it. *I bought it at a hardware store. It was the big size and lasted more than a decade or two, and when I needed more, I couldn't find it. *I was lucky, before the web, that someone knew the product and told me I had to go to a hobby store, and they had it although only the small tube. *It sticks to everything, dries quickly, breaks apart if necessary, and smells good (but I don't make a practice of sniffing it. I'm losing brain cells fast enough as it is.) By tradition and practicality, toothpaste comes in metal foil tubes, since you can't roll up plastic tubes to force stiff contents to the top. You certainly can't, but a lot of toothpaste is coming in plastic tubes now, Crest at least, at least some kinds and places and times, like when I lost bought some. *It's been a wyhile since I bought two tubes and they might not have been in boxes, or the second one, that I just started, woudl have been in a box. * Since you can't roll them up, keep your eyes open for a advertising "gift", with a slot in it, designed to be pushed up the toothpaste tube, since there's no other way to close the back door. * They're too cheap to sell, so they print company names on them and give them away. * Maybe dollar stores would have them. * Overpriced but better than none at all.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - I must be unlucky or something. I don't buy toothpaste by brand but by whatever catches my eye. Can't recall what band or when it was the last time I got one in a metal tube, been a long time. Harry K |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
On Aug 21, 5:14*pm, "Mamba" wrote:
"Steve Barker DLT" wrote in ... I can assure you the reason for the skylights is savings on the electrical bill. *It's not just a 'side effect'. *It's the main reason. *Natural lighting could hardly increase sales. *And it's used equally all across the store, not just the food section. s Missed the original thread, but catch the drift. *It's amazing that America created the society and economic environment that generated the Wal-Mart phenomena, and now mostly detests it. Sure, I want dirt cheap endless consumer goods, just not in *my* neighborhood. Was a big fight trying to keep a supercenter out of Pullman, Wa - went on for a couple years. People screaming "I won't shop there" but were the same ones who would be seen in the check-out line of a WM just 7 miles down the road in Moscow Id. Don't know what the current status is. Last I heard last year was that all permits were finally approved and the last lawsuit was pitched out of court. Harry K Harry K |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
On Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:32:53 GMT, aemeijers wrote:
You certainly can't, but a lot of toothpaste is coming in plastic tubes now, Crest at least, at least some kinds and places and times, like when I lost bought some. It's been a wyhile since I bought two tubes and they might not have been in boxes, or the second one, that I just started, woudl have been in a box. Since you can't roll them up, keep your eyes open for a advertising "gift", with a slot in it, designed to be pushed up the toothpaste tube, since there's no other way to close the back door. They're too cheap to sell, so they print company names on them and give them away. Maybe dollar stores would have them. Overpriced but better than none at all. You sure they are all-plastic? I just went and looked at my Crest shelf stock, and there is still a foil core, although the plastic skin is a whole lot thicker than it used to be, and it seems to well resist the sharp creases of an old-style tube. That sounds like mine. So how do you know there is metal inside? I just checked mine and the nozzle and its outside was plastic, so I took of the cap, and took off that plastic girdle I said to get, and squeezed and tried to suck the paste back to the bottom of the tube, and rapped the tube and looked in the nozzle and it all looked like plastic. Then I held it up to a Tensor lamp, and I could see the level of the toothpaste inside, right through the plastic. I don't think there's any metal. These did come in boxes, but maybe Maybe mine did too, and I just forgot that I threw one away. they are gonna try going boxless. These were SamsClub bulk pack- don't know if they have same purchase specs as wally world, even if they are the same company. Stores will probably hate it- they would have to alter the gondolas from shelves and facing, to bins. (You can't stack naked tubes.) Plus you need bigger signs, with the trademark, versus using the boxes themselves as the sign. I didn't buy mine at Walmart or Sams (that I don't belong to.) but I forget where. Probably on sale at a regular store, or I wouldn't have bought two. -- aem sends... |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
On Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:56:11 -0700 (PDT), Harry K
wrote: I must be unlucky or something. I don't buy toothpaste by brand but by whatever catches my eye. Can't recall what band or when it was the last time I got one in a metal tube, been a long time. Harry K Remember those Crest studies, in the 60's or 70's. Well my brother went to IU from 1958 to 1960 and he was in the test. They gave him lots of toothpaste and we used it for years afterwards. So I got used to the taste of Crest, so I use it. It came in a metal tube of course with a blank white vinyl? cover. But eventually we found out that it was Crest, though we never found out if it contained the famous stannous fluoride. We don't know if he was the control or not. He told them when they enrolled him in the experiment that he planned to go to college only 3 years and go to medical school in place of his fourth year (that the was the standard plan then, for many many years), in another city becuase there is no medical school in Bloomington Indiana, and they told him it was ok, but when he showed up for what would be his last appointment 2 1/2 years later and said he wouldn't be back anymore, they were mad at him. I don't know if that's why we had all that extra toothpaste or not. Since he had to see them once a year, I think, or at least they were on campus that third year, it seems unlikely they gave him a 4-year supply at the start. When I was about 6, my father, a dentist, brought home a tube of bubble-gum flavored toothpaste. I really liked it, just like Double-Bubble, and asked him for more, but I think he never got any more samples of it, and I think they never sold it retail. Or he forgot. :) |
-google_groups- "We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
Harry K wrote:
On Aug 21, 6:31 am, George wrote: Jim Redelfs wrote: In article , George wrote: The contemporary Supercenter dedicates about 1/3 of the store to its grocery operation. Pre-packaged, consumable food is not subject to SALES tax in many areas but virtually everything else is. Given they are not a not-for-profit entity, they pay taxes on their profit. They pay property tax. Not in my state. When they want to build a store we obtain the site and prepare it for them for free (corporate welfare by transferring wealth from taxpayers) including the infrastructure such non-trivial costs as utilities, highway interchanges etc and give them a nine year tax exemption. They *explicitly* do not pay property taxes and they pay a very reduced corporate franchise tax or whatever that tax is called to the state. When the nine years is about to run out they move across the street to restart the nine year clock. The third local walmart is about to move across the street as I write this. If this is a BAD THINGtm, perhaps you should express your dissatisfaction for such accommodation at the ballot box. It is, after all, your (presumably) elected representatives that are giving the accommodations. Walmart, and any OTHER business, can ASK for the sun, moon and stars. Those in the position to GIVE those things are responsible for the "gift" - not the recipient. Only a fool would turn down legitimate gifts. Actually lots of businesses choose not to take the welfare. Would you proudly announce to your friends you were on welfare? Also I am only one voter and can call this to the attention of a few family members and friends. Maybe if just a few people read my words and think "gee, we have a tiny house and pay $5,000/year property taxes and Walmart doesn't pay anything" it might get thenm to act differently at the poll.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - And you, of course, are prepared to prove that. Not jsut _say_ it happens but prove that some business has turned down such a golden goose. Harry K It would take a little work but I could do it. This stuff isn't published in a neat tidy package. I know the details because I have friends on planning commissions, friends who are township supervisors, friends who are principals at an engineering and planning company. All of whom I know and trust who have shown me documentation and told me details about projects. Since you want the proof to be presented to you it is only fair that you pay for the time and expenses of these people to gather and present it in whatever form you would like. But since I am quite confident of the facts here is what I will do. If you pay and they are unable to present the information I will reimburse your expenses and add $10,000 for your inconvenience. |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
Kurt Ullman wrote:
In article , George wrote: Kurt Ullman wrote: In article , George wrote: Absolutely. But the government didn't pay for my lot and let me use it for free or install my driveway or extend the mains just for me and install the sewer lateral or water lines into the house. Which, of course they are also not doing solely for WalMart. Every WM I have seen is surrounded by other buildings, many coming to the area specifically for the traffic WM generates. I would find it hard to beleive that the city buys the lots, too. They don't, it is a state program where the state acquires the property and then Walmart gets to use it for cheap. And this is only for the Dreaded WalMart? This isn't a program available to others who qualify under whatever the criteria are? Solely and utterly a plan at the beck and call from the Boys from Arkansas. The WalMart Act? Or is it just the use by WM that offends you? Any company that is on welfare offends me. Walmart just happens to be (at least in my state) the #1 welfare queen. That is a good question, but I doubt it is a WM only question. Manufacturers, wharehouses, other big boxes, heck even banks get the same economic development incentives in our area and I would bet yours, too. I know Target for example didn't. I know Lowes didn't. I know a regional market who built two large stores here didn't. Walmart without a doubt is the welfare queen. Sounds like a problem with the government instead of WM. Vote 'em out. Which of course boils down the entire discussion, to WM offends you so you don't think they should get what many others of similar size get. As I said lots of other outfits don't get welfare. Can you give me a good reason why Walmart should be on welfare? If qualifies under the state law, why shouldn't they? Would you proudly announce to your friends that you were on welfare or would it feel better to say that you pay your own way? Years ago the guy opened a food market and then grew the business all on his own. Now he owns 3 large modern complexes (with a 4th in planning) anchored by a large food store, the plazas include gas stations, large hardware/garden stores, mini-marts and around 15 spaces for the typical bank, laundry & medical offices. The guy is tough, no-nonsense, wealthy, not a supporter of Hussein Obama and doesn't spout "God bless America, I am sure God would want me to do whatever it takes to make money etc) but he is an adamant believer in not being greedy so unlike Walmart he pays his help well and also provides real benefits and his business isn't on welfare. Cool. Does HE have any problems with WalMart getting this largesse? The guy reminds me of the first job I had with real authority. The guy I worked for was a self made man who became very wealthy in an honest fashion. He had a very simple saying concerning dealing with others. It was "the other guy has to eat too..". Meaning get value and a fair deal but don't cross the line and stand on someone's head just because you are in a superior position. Simply put he wasn't greedy. I can't say what he thinks about Walmart being a welfare queen because I have not heard his opinion. However he is very vocal about the low wages they pay and how they muscle their suppliers way past a fair deal. |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
On Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:35:26 -0400, George
wrote Re "We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!": I can't say what he thinks about Walmart being a welfare queen because I have not heard his opinion. However he is very vocal about the low wages they pay and how they muscle their suppliers way past a fair deal. In regards to WM muscling their suppliers way past a fair deal, this is a must-see for anyone wanting to be a WM supplier http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Wal-Mar...1596743468_0_0 After viewing this expose, I decided I would rather go out of business than be a WM supplier. |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
Hmmmmmm. bet they don't sell that movie at walmart.......
s "Caesar Romano" wrote in message ... On Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:35:26 -0400, George wrote Re "We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!": I can't say what he thinks about Walmart being a welfare queen because I have not heard his opinion. However he is very vocal about the low wages they pay and how they muscle their suppliers way past a fair deal. In regards to WM muscling their suppliers way past a fair deal, this is a must-see for anyone wanting to be a WM supplier http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Wal-Mar...1596743468_0_0 After viewing this expose, I decided I would rather go out of business than be a WM supplier. |
-google_groups- "We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
On Aug 22, 4:20*am, George wrote:
Harry K wrote: On Aug 21, 6:31 am, George wrote: Jim Redelfs wrote: In article , *George wrote: The contemporary Supercenter dedicates about 1/3 of the store to its grocery operation. *Pre-packaged, consumable food is not subject to SALES tax in many areas but virtually everything else is. *Given they are not a not-for-profit entity, they pay taxes on their profit. *They pay property tax. Not in my state. When they want to build a store we obtain the site and prepare it for them for free (corporate welfare by transferring wealth from taxpayers) including the infrastructure such non-trivial costs as utilities, highway interchanges etc and give them a nine year tax exemption. They *explicitly* do not pay property taxes and they pay a very reduced corporate franchise tax or whatever that tax is called to the state. When the nine years is about to run out they move across the street to restart the nine year clock. The third local walmart is about to move across the street as I write this. If this is a BAD THINGtm, perhaps you should express your dissatisfaction for such accommodation at the ballot box. *It is, after all, your (presumably) elected representatives that are giving the accommodations. *Walmart, and any OTHER business, can ASK for the sun, moon and stars. *Those in the position to GIVE those things are responsible for the "gift" - not the recipient. Only a fool would turn down legitimate gifts. Actually lots of businesses choose not to take the welfare. Would you proudly announce to your friends you were on welfare? Also I am only one voter and can call this to the attention of a few family members and friends. *Maybe if just a few people read my words and think "gee, we have a tiny house and pay $5,000/year property taxes and Walmart doesn't pay anything" it might get thenm to act differently at the poll.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - And you, of course, are prepared to prove that. *Not jsut _say_ it happens but prove that some business has turned down such a golden goose. Harry K It would take a little work but I could do it. This stuff isn't published in a neat tidy package. I know the details because I have friends on planning commissions, friends who are township supervisors, friends who are principals at an engineering and planning company. All of whom I know and trust who have shown me documentation and told me details about projects. Since you want the proof to be presented to you it is only fair that you pay for the time and expenses of these people to gather and present it in whatever form you would like. But since I am quite confident of the facts here is what I will do. If you pay and they are unable to present the information I will reimburse your expenses and add $10,000 for your inconvenience.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Suuurrreeee you will. Harry K |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
"Caesar Romano" wrote in message ... On Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:35:26 -0400, George wrote Re "We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!": I can't say what he thinks about Walmart being a welfare queen because I have not heard his opinion. However he is very vocal about the low wages they pay and how they muscle their suppliers way past a fair deal. In regards to WM muscling their suppliers way past a fair deal, this is a must-see for anyone wanting to be a WM supplier http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Wal-Mar...1596743468_0_0 After viewing this expose, I decided I would rather go out of business than be a WM supplier. You're more likely to go out of business by becoming a WM supplier. |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
On Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:34:52 -0400, "h"
wrote Re "We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!": "Caesar Romano" wrote in message .. . On Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:35:26 -0400, George wrote Re "We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!": I can't say what he thinks about Walmart being a welfare queen because I have not heard his opinion. However he is very vocal about the low wages they pay and how they muscle their suppliers way past a fair deal. In regards to WM muscling their suppliers way past a fair deal, this is a must-see for anyone wanting to be a WM supplier http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Wal-Mar...1596743468_0_0 After viewing this expose, I decided I would rather go out of business than be a WM supplier. You're more likely to go out of business by becoming a WM supplier. That is the exact inference I got from watching that expose. |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
In article ,
Caesar Romano wrote: After viewing this expose, I decided I would rather go out of business than be a WM supplier. You're more likely to go out of business by becoming a WM supplier. That is the exact inference I got from watching that expose. It is amazing how many people still think they can lose money on every one, yet make it back up in volume (g). |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
"Kurt Ullman" wrote in message ... In article , Caesar Romano wrote: After viewing this expose, I decided I would rather go out of business than be a WM supplier. You're more likely to go out of business by becoming a WM supplier. That is the exact inference I got from watching that expose. It is amazing how many people still think they can lose money on every one, yet make it back up in volume (g). I didn't see the link to the exposé, was it about Vlasic Pickles? IIRC, becoming a WM supplier nearly put them out of business. |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
On Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:45:56 -0500, Jim Redelfs
wrote: There are many returned products that have been simply opened and are returned for various reasons. Given today's theft-resistant packaging, it is nearly impossible to open a package without rendering it unsalable should it be returned. Such returns (among others) are returned to the vendor for repackaging. That's good to hear. I've wondered about that. Of course even then, it's a lot of work for the store, paying the shipper, the vendor, and I hate to do that if I could have figured out somehow that I didn't want it without opening it up. Usually I use a band saw to open up one side of a welded plastic bubble pack, so it looks pretty good if I have to return it. Would that be resold as I returned it, or shipped back for repackaging? When there is cardboard that is stapled, I open the staples and then if I have to return, I reuse the original staples, putting them through the second piece of cardboard one leg at a time, and bending the legs down by hand. Sometimes I use my own stapler. BTW, I make a point to buy already opened packages, to encourage vendors to accept already opened packages for return. (because I know if they are hanging from the hook but never sold, it will leave a negative taste in the mouth of the manager.) Now this can have problems. I bought an already-opened, then taped shut, car adapter for a laptop compputer and when I got it home, it was missing one of the tips that was supposed to be included. I wanted to return it for other reasons, and was afraid the clerk would attribute its absence to me. But she didn't look closely and she took it and gave me cash in return. This was the only time I thought I might get burned by buying open stuff, but I didn't. (I like to pay cash so I get a cash refund, instead of wondering if the credit will actually reach my credit card account.) I also make a point to buy dented cans, even if the price isn't reduced, because why should they take a loss because someone, employee or customer, dropped a can? (Not bulging out cans, which probably contain poison, and I've never seen for sale.) Defective merchandise is likewise returned - as it is by ANY retailer. A customer with a purchase older than 30 days, that has proven defective, is directed to the manufacturer (vendor?) for warranty adjustment. Walmart is not involved in these cases. Merchandise that is obviously used or "virtually destroyed" is not accepted as a return, even for in-store credit. -- :) JR |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
On Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:00:13 -0700 (PDT), Harry K
wrote: Sure, I want dirt cheap endless consumer goods, just not in *my* neighborhood. Was a big fight trying to keep a supercenter out of Pullman, Wa - went on for a couple years. People screaming "I won't shop there" but were the same ones who would be seen in the check-out line of a WM just 7 miles down the road in Moscow Id. A How do you know they were the same ones? B If one person opposed shopped in Moscow, how do you know how many others did? c Did they say they would shop at any WM or that they wouldn't shop at this one, because they resented it being in their town. D If they said they wouldn't shop there, does that mean they can't change their mind later? E If they said they wouldn't shop there and they were bluffing, is that so bad? Don't many people bluff for many reasons? Is it always bad? Because it is lying? F Again, how do you know that the ones who said they wouldn't shop there are the same ones who shop in Moscow? How many faces could you possibly recognize? Don't know what the current status is. Last I heard last year was that all permits were finally approved and the last lawsuit was pitched out of court. Harry K |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
In article ,
George wrote: What part of "Management is adamant about it" don't you understand? All of it. I suspected as much. You would do well to consult even the lowliest dictionary for elucidation. IIRC, Walmart was fined BIG TIME for wage and hour violations related to the practice many years ago. As I understand it, I am liable to be fired if caught working off the clock. Given I PREFER to be paid for my time AND wish to keep my job, I won't be testing their policy. I do understand how big corporations typically work. I believe you THINK you understand. When they get caught doing something rotten they make a big point to put up posters and hold coffee clatch meetings while quietly telling managers just don't get caught next time. Ahhhhh. Are you cynical about everything or just when it comes to mean and evil BIG business? For good reason, it costs them almost nothing. And it sure makes for good customer relations. So the end justifies the means. In this case, yes. So you are saying it is a good thing that they screw their suppliers? No, YOU are saying that. I adamantly (oops, there's that word again) deny that they "screw" their suppliers. No one is FORCED to do business with Walmart. Again the end always justifies the means? Not always. But, in this case, yes. Complying with a contract or the terms of an agreement can be a bitch but, after all, it IS a contract or agreement - which requires - as the word implies - an AGREEMENT. You are just trotting out the same nonsense everyone uses to defend Walmart. One person's nonsense is another's common sense - and obvious fact. As for defending Walmart, forget it: They don't need it in ANY case and certainly not from me. Your baseless prejudice against an American success story is obvious and quite revealing. If you don't agree that morality should be set aside then somehow you are anti-capitalist and a Hussein Obama supporter. "Somehow" at least. You'll need to explain that one to me - a dyed-in-the-wool capitalist and anything BUT a Obama supporter. As for your contention that the customer can "literally destroy" the product and get an easy return is simply untrue. Sorry no. Lots of evidence how Walmart has a free tool rental service. Unless you are implicating yourself in this baseless charge, can provide empirical evidence of the practice or, as am I, you are an "insider", I don't believe you. There. That was easy. :) ....and thank-you for shopping at Walmart! smirk -- :) JR |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
In article ,
Jim Redelfs wrote: When they get caught doing something rotten they make a big point So you are saying it is a good thing that they screw their suppliers? No, YOU are saying that. I adamantly (oops, there's that word again) deny that they "screw" their suppliers. No one is FORCED to do business with Walmart. Interesting that nobody ever thinks that maybe the greed of the SUPPLIERS has something to do here. They see the great big numbers WM could order and start salivating to the point where the figures become unreadable but they sign anyway. |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
mm wrote:
On Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:32:53 GMT, aemeijers wrote: You certainly can't, but a lot of toothpaste is coming in plastic tubes now, Crest at least, at least some kinds and places and times, like when I lost bought some. It's been a wyhile since I bought two tubes and they might not have been in boxes, or the second one, that I just started, woudl have been in a box. Since you can't roll them up, keep your eyes open for a advertising "gift", with a slot in it, designed to be pushed up the toothpaste tube, since there's no other way to close the back door. They're too cheap to sell, so they print company names on them and give them away. Maybe dollar stores would have them. Overpriced but better than none at all. You sure they are all-plastic? I just went and looked at my Crest shelf stock, and there is still a foil core, although the plastic skin is a whole lot thicker than it used to be, and it seems to well resist the sharp creases of an old-style tube. That sounds like mine. So how do you know there is metal inside? Look at the other end- unless the tube-sealing machine is aligned perfectly, you can see metal in the joint. Maybe what I am calling foil is just a vacuum-deposited layer of metal, to keep the toothpaste from outgassing through the plastic? I dunno anymore. There is something in there with a better bend-memory than plastic. -- aem sends, not really caring that much anymore.... |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
In article ,
George wrote: Can you give me a good reason why Walmart should be on welfare? No. I can't even give you a BAD reason. Can YOU give me a reason - ANY reason - why Walmart is a "welfare queen". (This should be entertaining.) Of course, while unexpected, specific citations would be helpful. If Walmart is breaking laws or committing crimes, they should be punished. If Walmart is NOT breaking laws or committing crimes, you should shut up. If Walmart is operating within the law, your prejudice against the corporation is undeserved and misguided. Your ire should be directed at those "improperly" accommodating Walmart. The ballot box and initiative process comes to mind. -- :) JR |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
In article
, Harry K wrote: I suspect "The Tonight Show" will tank within 6 months of the replacement. I rarely watch The Tonight Show. Can I assume that Leno has announced his retirement and that Conan is the announced replacement? If yes, I don't agree with your "6 months" prediction. It will happen sooner. sigh JR |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
In article ,
George wrote: Only a fool would turn down legitimate gifts. Actually lots of businesses choose not to take the welfare. Would you proudly announce to your friends you were on welfare? Certainly not. And I wouldn't accept it. If I wished to establish a business, and tax breaks were available, I would most certainly avail myself of them. As I said, only a fool would decline a legitimate gift - "corporate welfare" if you prefer. Also I am only one voter and can call this to the attention of a few family members and friends. Maybe if just a few people read my words and think "gee, we have a tiny house and pay $5,000/year property taxes and Walmart doesn't pay anything" it might get thenm to act differently at the poll. It might. Of course, most THINKING voters (there are a few) would realize the folly of the charge that Walmart "doesn't pay anything". When in the voting booth, I am more careful to cast my ballot for a candidate that will appoint judges that will support my interpretation of the law. I am much less likely to be concerned that an incumbent supported Tax Increment Financing to the benefit of a particular incoming business. -- :) JR |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
In article ,
Mark Lloyd wrote: AFAIK, toothpaste is almost always sold in boxes. There's a tube in there, so among other things, you get a lot less toothpaste than it looks. Never mind the OUNCES listed on the package. Perhaps they should begin packaging the same tube in a carton the size of a corn flakes box. They'd make a killing, assuming, as you apparently do, that most toothpaste buyers are idiots. -- :) JR |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
In article
, Pat wrote: if you can keep the lights off, say, even half of the time during summer, it seems like you'd be saving a bundle. I am skeptical of "a bundle". In fact, I doubt there is any NET savings, given the considerations I previously listed. You'd only lose money if they were flashing on and off every 30 seconds or so. Let's just say the lights switch on and off frequently enough that, when working in the store, it is annoying. I do, however, acknowledge that natural light is physically and emotionally beneficial. Regardless, I'll have to get used to the "light show" on partly cloudy days. -- :) JR |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
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"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
In article
, RickH wrote: A small manufacturer can hit the jackpot overnight with a WM contract, there is a constant flow of vendors traveling to Arkansas for an evaluation by WM buyers. I never considered that but I don't doubt it. Having your [widget] appear on a Walmart shelf virtually guarantees vast exposure. Having Walmart FEATURE the thing would likely "bury" a small vendor in orders. -- :) JR |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
In article
, RickH wrote: Steve Allen was still the best IMO, followed by Johnny Carson. Aw, that's comparing apples to oranges. Hi-ho, Steverino was good but Johnny was just as good - in a different way. I never cared much for Jack Paar. -- :) JR |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
In article ,
Samantha Hill - remove TRASH to reply wrote: My mom asked the clerk if that meant that clothing for [whichever age group had their clothing taxed] was optional. ARGH!! [ROFL] :) I now LOVE your mom and have never met her! Priceless... -- :) JR |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
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aemeijers wrote: By tradition and practicality, toothpaste comes in metal foil tubes, since you can't roll up plastic tubes to force stiff contents to the top. My gawd! I haven't seen toothpaste in a metal/foil tube in AGES. Then, again, I have used Crest for AGES and, for many years, the Cool Mint gel variety that comes in a plastic tube. And you are right: It doesn't stay rolled-up worth a darn. -- :) JR |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
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"Mamba" wrote: It's amazing that America created the society and economic environment that generated the Wal-Mart phenomena, and now mostly detests it. I agree it is an amazing thing and one in which I take great national pride. However, I dispute the "mostly" part of those that detest it. Those detractors are a VERY small - but vocal - minority. Think about it: You aren't going to find too many folks motivated to shout from the rooftops, "I just LOVE buying all that CHEAP STUFF at Walmart!" Sure, I want dirt cheap endless consumer goods, just not in *my* neighborhood. N.I.M.B.Y.? (Not In My Backyard) Not I, said the duck. I would LOVE to be able to site a cell tower in my backyard - perhaps even a landfill. I could retire. -- :) JR |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
After viewing this expose, I decided I would rather go out of business than be a WM supplier. You're more likely to go out of business by becoming a WM supplier. Why don't you just go out of business anyway? If you can't make business choices that involve selling something for less than it costs you to make it, you don't sound like business material to me. Unless, of course, you get government contracts. Steve |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
In article
, Harry K wrote: Was a big fight trying to keep a supercenter out of Pullman, Wa - went on for a couple years. People screaming "I won't shop there" but were the same ones who would be seen in the check-out line of a WM just 7 miles down the road in Moscow Id. Don't know what the current status is. Last I heard last year was that all permits were finally approved and the last lawsuit was pitched out of court. In contrast to the charges that Walmart runs roughshod over local and state governments, steals candy from babies and polishes the Teflonr with which they coat their handicapped parking spots, their latest "intrusions" into our otherwise idyllic, serene locale were accomplished by Walmart accommodating the local governing bodies: A couple of stores were "forced" to make significant changes and improvements to the entire store facade to improve its appearance. The newest store, in order to gain approval, agreed to NO merchandise outside the store. This resulted in an interesting SNAFU a couple years ago when, in the store's first spring, semi-loads of nursery stock (bedding plants, trees and shrubs), lawn and garden bagged goods and landscaping timbers and blocks appeared at their door, ready to be delivered. Oops. It was all turned away and went to other stores. Of course, all those that would have availed themselves of that merchandise drove many more miles to get it. But, take heart: At least there isn't all that unsightly stuff in the parking lot each spring. -- :) JR |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
Jim Redelfs wrote:
If Walmart is breaking laws or committing crimes, they should be punished. If Walmart is NOT breaking laws or committing crimes, you should shut up. If Walmart is operating within the law, your prejudice against the corporation is undeserved and misguided. Your ire should be directed at those "improperly" accommodating Walmart. The ballot box and initiative process comes to mind. It is entirely possible for a business to be operating within the law and have an unethical business practice or an unsound business philosophy or to violate something that falls out outside the capacity for legal redress and to have a legitimate complaint against them. One example of a different natu I stopped doing business with Sears 26 years ago when I bought a house and was looking at washers and dryers and was told that they didn't have any incentive financing for major appliance purchasers, the reason being, and I quote, "We don't have to do anything extra to get your business. We're Sears -- you are automatically going to come to us." I figured that if they felt like they didn't need to do anything to get my business, they didn't deserve it, and I have not bought a single thing at Sears department store since (although I do make some purchases at Orchard Supply Hardware, which is owned by Sears but which *does* go the extra mile to help customers and encourage their business). I have the right to complain about Sears' shoddy business philosophy even though they have not broken the law. You cannot tell me that I cannot complain because they are breaking the law. I think it absolutely stinks that a business feels that they are doing you a favor by staying in business and that you owe it to them to shop with them to the point that they take it for granted. Walmart used to be a good place before Sam died. I think the stores that have been built since he died have a totally different atmosphere than the ones that have been around for ages -- at least, when a group of us were discussing Walmarts all around the country and what made some of them great and others abysmal, that was the general consensus. Perhaps you work at one that has been around forever and is totally different than the one here that was built after Sam died. |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
In article ,
George wrote: the low wages [Walmart pays] Following my retirement from Qwest, I signed-up for the services of a reputable, local employment agency. When I was hired (again) by Walmart, I was asked by owner of the aforementioned agency to reveal my starting wage. When I did so, she remarked that that was "quite good for retail". It was almost a third of what I was making after almost 35 years at the phone company but significantly more than minimum wage. -- :) JR |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
In article ,
mm wrote: There are many returned products that have been simply opened and are returned for various reasons. Given today's theft resistant packaging, it is nearly impossible to open a package without rendering it unsalable should it be returned. Such returns (among others) are returned to the vendor for repackaging. That's good to hear. I've wondered about that. Of course even then, it's a lot of work for the store, paying the shipper, the vendor, and I hate to do that if I could have figured out somehow that I didn't want it without opening it up. My work station is directly across from the clock/alarm display. It is amazing to watch the occasional customer that methodically opens the carton of literally EVERY model (there are about 4 or 5). Sometimes they select one and take it away, often not. Sometimes they are able to get it all back into its box properly, often not. Given this particular example, simply as an ordinary consumer, I wonder what they discover about the product having opened it that was not apparent from the outer packaging. Usually I use a band saw to open up one side of a welded plastic bubble pack, so it looks pretty good if I have to return it. You are probably among rare company. I regularly use an X-Actot knife for MY convenience but never go to your extent. Would that be resold as I returned it, or shipped back for repackaging? Well, that depends: If the buyer was YOU, it MIGHT be resold. Good chances are it wouldn't sell. Most customers will reach behind an apparently previously opened package to take a "new" one. The previously opened package will languish on the shelf or peg hook while the "repaired" package stays behind. The constant handling of the repaired package worsens its appearance and, after a while, it is usually returned to the vendor. Most times, when charged with the disposition of such an opened package, I'll simply "claim it out" and immediately send it back, dispensing with the usually fruitless "game" of placing it back on the shelf or peg hook for a while. BTW, I make a point to buy already opened packages I occasionally do the same if I can do so with confidence that the product is as good as new. However, I seriously doubt that we are doing any favor to the retailer. There is a well-honed process for returning and repackaging such item. Your contribution would keep but a single item out of a very large "stream". this can have problems. I bought an already-opened, then taped shut, car adapter for a laptop compputer and when I got it home, it was missing one of the tips that was supposed to be included. I wanted to return it for other reasons, and was afraid the clerk would attribute its absence to me. That is an EXCELLENT reason to NOT do what you do. But she didn't look closely and she took it You were fortunate that the returned package was not closely inspected for "completeness" by TWO, successive clerks. If an opened package that contains several parts or unique parts (electronics comes to mind) of which the returns clerk is unfamiliar, s/he is supposed to summon a clerk from the department that sells the item for their inspection of the it and approval of the return - that the package has all its parts. Occasionally, as you have discovered, this is not always done. This was the only time I thought I might get burned by buying open stuff, but I didn't... I also make a point to buy dented cans, even if the price isn't reduced, because why should they take a loss because someone, employee or customer, dropped a can? Yours is an admirable practice but, I suspect, not practiced by many. Obviously, if the product is on display, the retailer hopes it will sell. They are not surprised, however, when it often doesn't. -- :) JR |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
In article ,
Samantha Hill - remove TRASH to reply wrote: It is entirely possible for a business to be operating within the law and have an unethical business practice or an unsound business philosophy or to violate something that falls out outside the capacity for legal redress and to have a legitimate complaint against them. Agreed. One example of a different natu I stopped doing business with Sears 26 years ago when I bought a house and was looking at washers and dryers and was told that they didn't have any incentive financing for major appliance purchasers, the reason being, and I quote, "We don't have to do anything extra to get your business. We're Sears -- you are automatically going to come to us." I figured that if they felt like they didn't need to do anything to get my business, they didn't deserve it, and I have not bought a single thing at Sears department store since You'll notice how poorly Sears has done in the ensuing years. It's a reasonable conclusion that your experience was not unique and that the attitude you describe pervaded the company to its detriment. You did the right thing (stopped shopping at Sears). I have the right to complain about Sears' shoddy business philosophy Absolutely. In fact, you might consider doing so as your DUTY as a Capitalist. You cannot tell me that I cannot complain because they are [not] breaking the law. Agreed, and I have not been telling you that. However, I am equally vocal when I believe someone or some thing - including a business for which I care - is being unfairly maligned. I think it absolutely stinks that a business feels that they are doing you a favor by staying in business and that you owe it to them to shop with them to the point that they take it for granted. I agree. I contend, however, that Walmart (specifically) has never employed that concept as corporate practice. They didn't get to be the world's largest employer and retailer by abusing their customers. If they did, they would eventually fade as has Sears and K-Mart. Walmart used to be a good place before Sam died. I think the stores that have been built since he died have a totally different atmosphere than the ones that have been around for ages -- at least, when a group of us were discussing Walmarts all around the country and what made some of them great and others abysmal, that was the general consensus. Perhaps you work at one that has been around forever and is totally different than the one here that was built after Sam died. I work in Omaha's first Supercenter, but its third store. IIRC, it was built in 1999 or 2000 - well after Walton died in 1992. I am skeptical of your contention that newer stores have a "totally different" atmosphere than older ones. They are all operated and managed in virtually the same manner with some, minor differences based on demographics. Indeed, I have patronized more than a few, distant stores, of varying ages in different communities and notice a specific sameness among them. I recall Sam's "Made in USA" campaign that proliferated for a time before his death. He would surely be disappointed to know the extent to which that concept has changed. -- :) JR |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
Mamba wrote:
Missed the original thread, but catch the drift. It's amazing that America created the society and economic environment that generated the Wal-Mart phenomena, and now mostly detests it. The original thread started with the story about a community activist who fought against the possibility of a local Walmart. Walmart finally gave up and a metal reclamation company took over the location. Now the community activist dearly wishes he had a local Walmart -- so he could buy earplugs. As for "mostly detests" Walmart, I dunno 'bout that. Walmart is the largest business and largest employer in the nation. |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
h wrote:
"Caesar Romano" wrote in message ... On Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:35:26 -0400, George wrote Re "We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!": I can't say what he thinks about Walmart being a welfare queen because I have not heard his opinion. However he is very vocal about the low wages they pay and how they muscle their suppliers way past a fair deal. In regards to WM muscling their suppliers way past a fair deal, this is a must-see for anyone wanting to be a WM supplier http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Wal-Mar...1596743468_0_0 After viewing this expose, I decided I would rather go out of business than be a WM supplier. You're more likely to go out of business by becoming a WM supplier. I can relate an example of this. The particular company is now gone and folks I know have moved on so I don't think it will cause grief for anyone. The company whose branding includes the words "57 varieties" owned a pet food division. They definitely ran it above board and in a reputable fashion. They had an sophisticated onsite lab for inspection of materials and animals on site in their quality lab for testing purposes. There was no union but folks who worked there got decent pay and benefits. Everything I know was from responsible people and because of providing certain services. This isn't Bob the forklift guy overhearing someone and creating a rumor. They started selling to Walmart and eventually they became their biggest customer. For the folks without business experience who will now say "but they didn't have to to sell to Wally" just read on. They went through the various steps of minimizing packaging and improving efficiency. Walmart placed huge orders and things were good. They installed additional process equipment and expanded the building and things were good. Then each time Walmart placed an order they would demand a lower price even though costs of operation had risen. So they needed to figure out how to meet the pricing demands. If you are reputable and have a moral compass there is only so much you can do. Along the way someone at Walmart got the idea that people wouldn't notice if packaging changed from 6 up to 4 up (that refers to the common packaging where they bind 6 cans with a plastic ring) so they could sell 4 cans of "happy cat" for the price of 6 cans of "happy cat". The company spent a large amount of money putting a line in to do 4 up packaging but it didn't work out at retail so they had to absorb all of the costs of that failed idea. Meanwhile each time Walmart placed an order it would go like "1 million cans of happy cat, last time $0.12/can, this time $0.11/can. They had already cheapened up their process as much as they could and the only options left were to cut even more corners, pay Walmart wages to their employees etc so they simply decided to close the division and sell it off. Net result was lots of good jobs lost and a reputable company with losses. But there is always someone without a moral compass just like Walmart who will step in. So another outfit whose name I can't remember picked up the slack. According to my friends they were a perfect match and would do whatever was necessary. Then some might remember the fairly recent melamine flavored pet food incident. According to my friends the reason it happened was that the company without a moral compass was shopping around for the cheapest stuff they could find and got a good deal on the contaminated supplies. The "57 varieties" place would have caught contaminated supplies because their lab tested all materials and the final result was fed to their lab animals. And for those who would suggest "no one has to sell to Walmart" just consider the chronology. The deal starts off good, the supplier makes enough margin to stay in business and keeps expanding. Once Walmart becomes their major or sole customer they then demand unreasonably cheap prices. If you have a large investment in a facility you can't afford to loose major volume because you loose your economy of scale so your only choice is to do whatever is necessary which includes cheapening the product, paying Walmart wages, closing the plant and going offshore depending on what is being manufactured etc. |
"We kept Wal-Mart out of our town!"
Samantha Hill - remove TRASH to reply wrote:
Jim Redelfs wrote: If Walmart is breaking laws or committing crimes, they should be punished. If Walmart is NOT breaking laws or committing crimes, you should shut up. If Walmart is operating within the law, your prejudice against the corporation is undeserved and misguided. Your ire should be directed at those "improperly" accommodating Walmart. The ballot box and initiative process comes to mind. It is entirely possible for a business to be operating within the law and have an unethical business practice or an unsound business philosophy or to violate something that falls out outside the capacity for legal redress and to have a legitimate complaint against them. Exactly, I couldn't say it better. One example of a different natu I stopped doing business with Sears 26 years ago when I bought a house and was looking at washers and dryers and was told that they didn't have any incentive financing for major appliance purchasers, the reason being, and I quote, "We don't have to do anything extra to get your business. We're Sears -- you are automatically going to come to us." I figured that if they felt like they didn't need to do anything to get my business, they didn't deserve it, and I have not bought a single thing at Sears department store since (although I do make some purchases at Orchard Supply Hardware, which is owned by Sears but which *does* go the extra mile to help customers and encourage their business). I have the right to complain about Sears' shoddy business philosophy even though they have not broken the law. You cannot tell me that I cannot complain because they are breaking the law. I think it absolutely stinks that a business feels that they are doing you a favor by staying in business and that you owe it to them to shop with them to the point that they take it for granted. Walmart used to be a good place before Sam died. I think the stores that have been built since he died have a totally different atmosphere than the ones that have been around for ages -- at least, when a group of us were discussing Walmarts all around the country and what made some of them great and others abysmal, that was the general consensus. Perhaps you work at one that has been around forever and is totally different than the one here that was built after Sam died. |
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