Originally Posted By vbdad55 101 Evil employment Dalmatians....willing to overlook anything to make 3 more cents and drive competition out of their area -- all the while running around waving the American Flag --
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<all the while running around waving the American Flag -- >> And I'm sure they've got plenty of 'em (made in China of course) on sale for 4th of July. I'll have to run right down and buy one!! ;-)
Originally Posted By wahooskipper When my wife has been home alone for 8 hours with my 3 1/2 year old son and our newborn and I walk in the door...she needs a break. I don't think that is unusual. When we are going on 7 nights in a row with little sleep and my mother offers to watch the 3 year old for a few hours on the weekend, that is a well-deserved break. I completely understand needing to have a break from the kids.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper When my wife has been home alone for 8 hours with my 3 1/2 year old son and our newborn and I walk in the door...she needs a break. I don't think that is unusual. When we are going on 7 nights in a row with little sleep and my mother offers to watch the 3 year old for a few hours on the weekend, that is a well-deserved break. I completely understand needing to have a break from the kids.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 When my wife has been home alone for 8 hours with my 3 1/2 year old son and our newborn and I walk in the door...she needs a break. I don't think that is unusual. When we are going on 7 nights in a row with little sleep and my mother offers to watch the 3 year old for a few hours on the weekend, that is a well-deserved break. I completely understand needing to have a break from the kids.<< I agree, I let my son visit grandma whenever he wants. Its not really giving us a break, its giving him a chance to spend time with grandma before we move to Germany. I think next year I am going to go to WDW, with grandma, take them all to WALMART and then "take a break" while my son goes to the Pooh play area with grandma. I bet you all would have a frickin heart attack. ;o)
Originally Posted By vbdad55 My understanding of a vacation was to get away to spend time 'together', not get a break from each other...but then I guess my definition is wrong. Enjoy Wal Mart -- that will be the only place left for our kids to work ( & for minimum wage ) - as we patronize the competition killing , wage cheating , non overtime paying , illegal alien hiring Bentonville Express...but then some people would see nothing wrong with that either... jsut google a few times if one is in denial: walmart illegal ( 1 of 8M+ hits) <a href="http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/search?s ourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG</a>,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:en&q=walmart+illegal walmart unfair 1 of 2.7M hits) <a href="http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/search?s ourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG</a>,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:en&q=walmart+unfair or any other terms you want -- catch those fallin' prices.....
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Maybe while you're there-- you can say hello to the Mom & Pop store owners ( there the ones sellng flowers on the interstate off ramp now) - who went out of business because of unfair predatory practices. You know, the people who gave their neighbors great service....hired the local kids when they were in school and helped them work in their hours -- etc etc... I know they will be glad you are stopping there....
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 Hey, if I can get a videogame for 19.99 when other stores sell it for 39.99, I will take the 19.99. I love those who bash Wal Mart. Jealousy.......
Originally Posted By vbdad55 no- business sense- not short sighted. when all competition is gone- that will be 49.99 for the game and you will have no choice but to pay it...but I am wasting my breath. jealousy has nothing to do with it....but this is how they thrive and continue to work there way thru more and more areas...
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I have been in senior management for a major corp for 20+ years --( not in their industry - so no direct vested interest) - So if you want to tell me what my feelings are...base them on my business knowledge, not on what you perceive..which is incorrect. Show me a business model where predatory practices are good for the economy or GNP, and employment outlook and I will listen, talk to me on a business level about what I am saying and dispute my points..but do not blow me off as someone who does not know what they are talking about from a business sense...I find it offensive.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 If you want to shop there-- so be it...but at least take the time to udnerstand what others here are saying....then if you still disagree...and the cheapest value for any 'one' item is more important -- shop there....that is your right. But do not discount what many say as jealousy...what the heck would I have to be jealous of ? There is a reason why the city of Chicago will not allow them to build in the city limits...and fought for years to keep them out --and it wasn't jealousy.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper If I want to find the best price I usually go to Wal-Mart. If I want to have the best shopping experience I go to Target...or, better yet, I shop online. 24/7 with the kids sounds great in theory but in reality it takes a lot out of me. In fact, 24/7 with my wife is no picnic. You can love your kids (or wife) with all your heart but still need a little "me" time.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^^^^^^^^ we are all different....my wife and I lived the 24/7 with 2 kids and had no issue with it...so it is reality (not just theory) for some...for others you have to do what you feel you need to. as for Walmart..my issue has nothing to do with the shopping experience...just for the record.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 and W99 -- just so you don;t take completely the wrong way...I know what you do for your life ( from W/E) - and I would never question something you put forward based on your experiences there...as they are based on 1st hand knowledge and skills I don't have.....and would never blow off your opinion on the military for instance as any type of emotion.....I would take it as facts you have lived and understand...I am only asking for the same consideration. Business is my skill and trade...and my opinions on this corporation are not based on emotions, rather facts and 1st hand knowledge. Does that make more sense ?
Originally Posted By wahooskipper vbdad...you NEVER took a break from your kids? Wal-Mart is an easy target...and they bring a lot of that on themselves. What I find funny is that we here in Laughing Place don't seem to have any problem supporting a company that takes advantage of it's workforce. If you compare what the Disney company (and it's CEOs) make compared to what the typical Disney castmember makes then you have to raise your eyebrows some here too, don't you?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I'm not in the business of defending Wal-Mart. I go there occasionally, but not regularly. My last time there would have been about 9 months ago. I don't see much wrong with their business model. They obviously don't price many items under their cost or they would go out of business. I've also found lower prices on the same items at Target or Kohl’s. So they are not always the low price leader. I'm sure they occasionally sell items below cost to get people in the door. So what? Convenience stores have been doing that with milk for years. Driving Mom and Pop places out of business? Oh well. That has been going on for years. With grocery stores. With "Dime Stores" (remember those?). With the family farm. With Theme Parks. Sorry, but that IS capitalism at work. The most efficient producer wins. Lousy benefits? I can guarantee you one thing. Their benefits are probably a whole lot better than what was available at the Mom and Pop places you are lamenting. Lousy pay? Welcome to the world. It's not much different from Target, or Kohl’s, or McDonalds, or any other place that hires entry-level employees. Opportunity for advancement? A significant portion of Wal-Mart management started as Wal-Mart hourly workers. Don't think you can say the same about the Mom and Pop place. The only way you get in to management there is if you are the owner's kid. Everyone loves to brag up American increases in productivity. I saw statistics showing that something like 20% of the U.S. productivity increase in the late 90's was attributable solely to Wal-Mart. Will Wal-Mart take out all other merchandisers? I doubt it. Kohl’s has consistently out-performed Wal-Mart. Target has been beating Wal-Mart recently too. A business pays a price by catering to those at the bottom of the spending chain. Many Wal-Mart customers now have to choose between filling the car with gas or buying a DVD. The Target customer can do both without worrying about it. For people in the upper income brackets to sit around and complain about Wal-Mart is really beside the point. Ask the recently divorced mother trying to support herself and 3 kids on 16K per year if Wal-Mart's low prices are important to her. I doubt she worries too much about the things you have the luxury of worrying about. It's easy to dump on Wal-Mart when you can afford Nordstrom's. Not all people can.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 and W99 -- just so you don;t take completely the wrong way...I know what you do for your life ( from W/E) - and I would never question something you put forward based on your experiences there...as they are based on 1st hand knowledge and skills I don't have.....and would never blow off your opinion on the military for instance as any type of emotion.....I would take it as facts you have lived and understand...I am only asking for the same consideration. Business is my skill and trade...and my opinions on this corporation are not based on emotions, rather facts and 1st hand knowledge. Does that make more sense ?<< I don't discount the facts you have put forth against Wal-Mart. I just don't see a problem with it. Because eventually when they "wipe" out all other businesses and charge 50 dollars for a 10 dollar item, somebody will create a store with that same item for 20 dollars and the cycle will begin anew. Thats why I love this country, so many choices and options. Eventually everything will balance itself out.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <vbdad...you NEVER took a break from your kids< when my kids were younger the only 'break' was business trips...then when I returned my kids always took priority - that is correct. Both my kids played club sports -- very time intensive..my oldest had volleyball practice 5 days a week for 2 - 3 hours each day -- she had to be driven to and picked up from ( I usually stayed at practice and worked on my laptop there)- for 7 years -- my youngest is involved in that now. My oldest plays college volleyball - yet when in town I never missed a volleyball, basketball game or track meet from when she was in 6th grade on. My wife also attended when I did not. We never took a vacation without the kids and never put them anywhere so we could have 'me' time.. we worked that around their schedules. I have been married 28 years as of last Friday so it hasn't affected our personal life, and I have 2 great well adjusted kids...doing very well in life. Somehow I survived without needing to 'get away' - When your kids get older and leave home you may look back at times differently ( I know I do) and you may not--but for me--- I will have plenty of 'me' time when my kids leave home....I will not be able to get the time spent with them then. just my viewpoint-- doeesn't make it right or wrong, just makes it mine
Originally Posted By vbdad55 < If you compare what the Disney company (and it's CEOs) make compared to what the typical Disney castmember makes then you have to raise your eyebrows some here too, don't you?< although true-- that applies to ANY major corporation. Are CEO's and CFO's overpaid compared to 30 years ago-- you bet.
