You get the same result from putting lipstick on a pig.
Walmart Changes Logo
- Thread starter superstring01
- Start date
superstring01
Moderator
Horseshit.
There is a severe shortage of computer and software engineers in the USA. Either they can come here and put tax dollars in our economy or big software companies will just offshore.
When has it ever been American policy to STOP young, educated and ambitious people from coming here? This is patently ridiculous. The USA should open its doors to anybody with an education and ambition. If it causes competition in the market here, then THAT'S NATURAL. No non-executive career will ever remain uncompetitive forever. Now what you have is professional protectionism which has caused a shortage in the market, and is now forcing IBM, Microsoft, Adobe, Sun and their like to send the jobs overseas that aren't being filled here at home.
The result? Lost tax dollars and lost infrastructure here that benefits the USA.
~String
Wal-mart pays pretty well. The benefits and hours are bad though. I worked there for a short amount of time. They don't pay well enough to support a family on so I can see why some people who work there might still qualify for welfare or food stamps. I made about $10/ hr. I think it's kind of weird that their changing the logo. The happy face seemed much more inviting, but maybe I'm just being like a grumpy old lady who doesn't like change.
Oh, so sphincters denote gay sex?!?!?
Gay as in happy, lighthearted, and carefree?
Did you hear about the lawsuit in Minnesota? People being forced to work on their breaks?
If that's true, it's despicable. But not unimaginable. Apparently, from what I read, Wal-Mart may face up to $2 billion in penalties.
Crazy?
superstring01
Moderator
Odd, since Walmart forces its employees to clock out for breaks and the system won't let the clock back in until its done. When I worked for Walmart managers were fired for NOT forcing employees to take their brakes. If this did happen, it is probably isolated. Also, breaks aren't a requirement, legally speaking, only lunches. 30 minutes for each 6-8hours worked. The "fifteen minute break" thing is a corporate option.
~String
In Minnesota, employers are not required to offer any specified amount of time for breaks of any kind - http://wcco.com/local/employees.rights.work.2.762579.html
There's a federally mandated meal break for full days, but it's length is not actually fixed by law. If it's less than 20 minutes, it has to be paid, is the only kick.
There's a federally mandated meal break for full days, but it's length is not actually fixed by law. If it's less than 20 minutes, it has to be paid, is the only kick.
That was part of the basis for the lawsuit - not that they weren't getting breaks (there's no law says they have to be given breaks), but that they weren't getting paid for time spent working. Before and after shifts, overtime, working through breaks, etc.string said:
No I hadn't heard about it. When I worked there everyone was really strict about breaks and lunches. You had to take them and you couldn't come back until you did. You don't have the option of working through lunch even if you wanted to. I guess they want to make sure they don't pay you for any extra hours. Unless you work overnight then they have to pay you during your lunch break. All corporations have dirty laundry, Wal-mart's just seems to be focused on more often because other businesses hate them so much.
superstring01
Moderator
TARGET IS BETTER THAN WALMART!!! That's all I have to say.
Side note: Wamart puts more of its income toward charities than any other corporation. At least I'm pretty sure I've heard that somewhere.
I worked for both Target and Walmart. Target paid worse, you worked just as many ridiculous hours, and had no personal life. The only thing that Target does right is pad the pockets of liberal organizations and have a superb anti-union mechanism that is much more "touchy-feely" than Walmart's.
The net result, however, is the same. Huge quantities of imported products, low wages and horrific work hours for salaried managers.
~String
dixonmassey
Valued Senior Member
I've been to hundreds of Wal-Marts around states (no exaggeration), including distribution&maintenance centers. All working areas, all the areas around punch clocks are full of printed materials mandating employee to punch in, punch out and don't work after punching out no matter what.
The point is - Wal - Mart is just another box store, it's just huge and hugely efficient, it's not meanest, cheapest or evilest as far as employee are concerned. It's just big enough to piss off its huge chain of supply by dictating prices.
The point is - Wal - Mart is just another box store, it's just huge and hugely efficient, it's not meanest, cheapest or evilest as far as employee are concerned. It's just big enough to piss off its huge chain of supply by dictating prices.
TheAvenger
Registered Member
Walmart sucks.
dixonmassey
Valued Senior Member
kmguru
Staff member
It is a kind of monopoly since in smaller towns where Walmart is, there is no other store to compete. Walmart has the computational power to adjust its prices in those areas and no one is the wiser.
Because it is so big, sometimes it does not know what price its small competitors are charging. For example, you can get generic Benadryl (Diphenhydramine - 100 cap/25mg) for $3.00 at a dollar store while Walmart charges $4.00.
New products are hard to enter Walmart due to self space and supply chain logistics unless the supplier is already doing business with Walmart.
Walmart may not be evil now, but can be in the future when it is the only one left standing....reminds me of the movie "Demolition Man" - all restaurants are now Taco Bell....
kmguru
Staff member
All you need to know about Walmart behemoth...
http://www.union-network.org/Unisit...ltinationals/wal_mart_campaign_index_page.htm
http://www.union-network.org/Unisit...ltinationals/wal_mart_campaign_index_page.htm
dixonmassey
Valued Senior Member
I do now that some Wal Marts would pay back extra $ you've paid, if you'll find something cheaper in the area (and prove it, an item should not be on sale). Yup, WM is not always cheapest, but I don't get why should I pay more for the same Chinese junk in some other box store, which is paying a dollar less per hour to its slaves. Maybe other stores pay more to its suppliers, but I really doubt that supplier's wage slaves have a cut of that.
Creating a monopoly is not a cheap thing to do, generally speaking, monopoly is prohibitively expensive (+ no guarantees against start ups).
kmguru
Staff member
I do not have any problem with monopolies as long as they are socially responsible. It is like a benevalent dictator. Besides, who does not want products that is lowest cost possible just a few mile away than buying from internet?
My concern is that in the absense of competition, Walmart is free to raise prices - so the shavings may not apply to that particular community.
The other part, which is really a serious matter is that when Walmart caters to the common denominator, you can only get items that is sold the most and no minority items such as Tempura Sauce, Panasonic batteries, Lychee, etc. that means there will be less choices. Taken to its extremes, imagine Walmart sells only white shirts and Khaki pants because 75% people buy them...
It is not a problem for people who live in big cities, since there are other stores, but in small or medium size cities - that can be a problem having driven out all the mom and pop stores.
So, my suggestion to them sometime ago was 1) support local producers - carry some local products 2) carry a few special items that are normally found in big cities.
My concern is that in the absense of competition, Walmart is free to raise prices - so the shavings may not apply to that particular community.
The other part, which is really a serious matter is that when Walmart caters to the common denominator, you can only get items that is sold the most and no minority items such as Tempura Sauce, Panasonic batteries, Lychee, etc. that means there will be less choices. Taken to its extremes, imagine Walmart sells only white shirts and Khaki pants because 75% people buy them...
It is not a problem for people who live in big cities, since there are other stores, but in small or medium size cities - that can be a problem having driven out all the mom and pop stores.
So, my suggestion to them sometime ago was 1) support local producers - carry some local products 2) carry a few special items that are normally found in big cities.
There is a severe shortage of all types of workers in the USA. I am willing to hire many workers at 50 cents an hour but I can't find any good workers available to work for me at the wages I want to pay.