can someone tell me some ways Wal-mart could be BAD for a communties economic health?

Question

and by the way, NO, ive never shopped there. thats y i have no idea

Answer 1

There is such a cycle of confusion when it comes to WalMart...
I think the government feeds WalMart, every 1st and 15th of each month. And guess who gives them the money to give it away? The taxpayers.

Answer 2

SOMETHING NEW AND DIFFERENT THAN OTHER ANSWERS

(1) In addition to what has already been shared, Wal-mart locates them selves towards the end of town, therefore in small towns the downtown retail goes dark as mom and pops shops close thus driving down real estate vaulues and leading towards the deterioration of the downtown area (core of the town)

(2), If Walmart locates themselves just out side the city limits, their sales are not subject to city sales tax, another disadvantage to downtown retailers and to the town it's self.

(3) Restaurants, like McDonald's, like to either locate themselves inside the store or on what are called "pad sites" at the entrance off the main street leading in to Walmart Parking lot. Thus it isn't just downtown retailers but also the restaurants and grocers who struggle against the loss of business.

(4) Walmart generates high traffic flow. Therefore, even though they may be outside the city limits, the streets leading towards them may require an upgrade in traffic control devices from stop signs to stop lights. An addition expense to the city.

On the other hand, there are some counter arguments, which can be made listing the benefits Walmart brings to a community

POST SCRIPT: Grinning makes a good point. It is estimated that for every NEW dollars brought in to the economy, it is spent again seven times within the economy. That is why tourist towns always flourish. They are always being pumped up with NEW money coming in to their economy.

Conversly, the oppisite is true when a retailer is exporting the money out side of the economy. The loss translate to more than dollar for dollar in regards to cash flow and lost sales tax revenue to the city.

.

Answer 3

Wal Mart and other large retailers filter money out of communities rather than circulate it within a community. When you buy locally, that money goes directly into the pockets of your "neighbor" instead of some large headquarters in New York, Chicago or Dallas padding the wallet of a corporate fat cat. These places run small business out of business and create a sort of monopoly effect. I read someone's answer that, "Wall Mart is the only store in 50 miles." I am sure that it wasn't always that way. Small business ownership creates a sense of independence for a town. Plus, when these companies are the sole supplier and sole employer, they are filtering hard earned dollars back into their pockets.

Answer 4

Walmart does minimal impact in large communities. They will be a direct competitor with other big box stores. Small rural towns with mom and pop stores are driven out of business. They have no direct competition. Mom and pop eventually have to work at Walmart. They have low wages and almost a non-existing health care. Hours are always doctored so you will never get full-time and many are still under government assistance because they can't get ends met.

Answer 5

They purposely undercut local stores to drive out competition. Hire people at minimum wage, force them into managerial type rolls only so they don't have to pay overtime or keep them from being full time so that they don't have health benefits. The wages they pay don't support the local economy because their employees can only afford to buy things from their store. The stuff they sell is mostly crap thus having to buy more things when it breaks or wears out.

Oh don't forget their encouragement of their employees who are paid so little to supplement their income by signing up for welfare. I don't know if they are doing that anymore but it was a practice at one time.

I've heard their health care program is pretty bad. And let's not get into the environmental impact of the junk they sell.

Answer 6

Small businesses lose when Wal Mart comes in, because they can't afford to sell at such cheap prices because their stuff isn't made in china.

Answer 7

i work for walmart and i feel that too many stores can hurt the local mom and pop stores that have been in business for years. remember sam walton's store started out as a mom and pop store in bentonville arkansas. it can hurt/or help the other major stores such as target, kmart, giant food store etc because of the competition. walmart does not carry everything that other stores may have

Answer 8

The small busness man who offers any of the same things is in trouble. If he is to survive he must offer something that walmart does not. better quality or unique items or better service etc. Other wise, walmart takes the business and he folds up and goes away.

Answer 9

Walmart is the death of locally owned Mom and Pop enterprises. Further, Chinamart doesn't sell items made in the community.

Answer 10

Its been said they drive down wages, drive smaller businesses out of business, and often cause a financial burden to the community by causing environmental damage from the huge "footprint" of their huge stores.