Do you think Wal-Mart has cost our country jobs?

Question

It seems like so many manufacturers are moving overseas. Do you think Wal-Mart demanding lower prices from their vendors is the reason? Also, I hear so many people say how much they dislike Wal-Mart for so many reasons. Do you think they hurt small, locally owned businesses in their markets?

Answer 1

IMO wal-mart has it's positives and negatives in a smaller town mainly.

Employment always a plus
Pushes out small and locally owned business:(

I shop at both. One market I don't think they can affect is our locally grown produce.

Answer 2

Good question! Wal Mart has monopolized the retail market considerably, and I realize many retailers cannot stay in busy or make a profit as long a the Wal Marts exist. As far as I'm concerned, every Sunday, one stop does it all! I always get my groceries there, pet supplies, and over the counter medication, and I like some of their clothes as well. If there is something I need that they don't have, or something special I am looking for, the Internet helps a great deal, and sometimes even the mall. I would say everything in life has its good points and bad points. I just feel that the Wal Mart employees should be treated fairly in benefits and pay as well.

Answer 3

Yes - as a large company they have the ability to sell products for less than they buy them. Walmart has been accused doing just this by entering local markets and targeting the existing stores and selling items cheaper than the existing stores.
If you can't move inventory it's only a matter of time until the business folds. While this might seem dumb to sell something and lose money if you eliminate your competition and lock up the market in the long term you make more money. Most people would not complain as they are getting the item for less but it does have a direct impact on the local economy long term. In some cases large companies get a tax or impact fee break for locating their business in the area.

Answer 4

I don't have a problem with Wal-Mart, the prices are low, they bring jobs to the area. If you don't like the way they do business just don't shop there. You can go to these other stores or mom and pop shops and pay more for the same product. A product that is made at the same place, overseas where the labor is cheap. So next time your in these stores, read the labels and you will be surprised.

Answer 5

A Wal-Mart will be opening up at the beginning of next year where my family lives. It is a really tiny town and it is opening up right at the edge of town at the highway. I think it will close a lot of businesses in the area and probably make the town a little trashy since what I loved about it was its small, old time, feel. But on the bright side, my sister can get a job there and actaully have benefits.

Answer 6

Yes, the low paying jobs. But that's the natural progression of societies. American has tranisitioned out of an industrial stage long ago into a service/information based society. People worked in manufacturing plants are becoming Artisans by creating and satisfying a growing need for unique, high end products that Walmart cannot afford to carry. Walmart did and is hurting the small business temporarily but those that are entrepreneurial are adapting to the changing market needs and thriving.

Answer 7

Oh yea Walmart is evil (sarcasm intended). The business of business is to make money. They are not here to be feel good about their competition. These are facts concerning WalMart as I have seen them feel free to disagree if you like.

1)WalMart is the largest domestic non government employer in the United States. So all those jobs that are supposedly lost due to small business closures are replaced.

2) WalMart provides low prices which Americans demand. It amuses me that nobody in this country wants to pay for anything, but at the same time they do not want the companies they buy from to be profitable either.

3) If you want to complain about lack of manufacturing in this country you are wasting your time. Companies are always going to look for low cost sources of labor. The government does not control whether companies outsource and WalMart is not showing any signs of going bankrupt any time soon.

4) Out of all the people I have known who have worked at WalMart, which believe it or not is a pretty large list, not one has ever complained to me that they were a bad employer.

For some reason people have the opinion that it is a crime to make money in this country. It got out of control under the last administration with the endless attacks against Microsoft and has continue through this day. The difference now is that you don't have a left controlled justice department to act as a personal hitsquad against companies you don't like for whatever reason. This is a capitalistic society. It was founded on these principles and will remain so because if the left really ever got their way on commerce goods would skyrocket and they would then be complaining about that.

Answer 8

Wal-Mart MAKES jobs.

IF a local "mom & pop" store had to close later when a WM moved in, then they were doomed anyway. Let's say a mom& pop closed, losing 5 employees, and taking away $120,000 in local taxes. What do you think a new WM would put back in?

Also, a lot of people complain that WM sells "junk" or imported stuff. Hmmmmm....I see GE, Sanyo, Sony, Emerson, etc for products, aren't those sold at Target, Dillards, May Company, etc??????

Can you go into ANY department store and find more than 1 product made in America, or none that say "made in china". You see my point(s)?

And, last but not least, how about the community involvement WM accounts for, hmmmm???????

Wal-Mart is a good thing people, get over it :)

Answer 9

No.

Wal-Mart is doing what Wal-Mart should do. It is our government giving China favored nation status all these years that allowed this to happen. When the US is a third world country the people might get a clue that the rich run this country and we are merely their fodder.

Answer 10

definitely.

Wal Mart is the biggest importer of goods from China. 1/5 of all exports from China are sold through Wal-Mart.