Wal-mart....?

Question

Could someone please tell us what type of store is Wal-mart because there has been rumours that one is possibly going to be built in our town? (we're in the UK) Thank you in advance.

We've just viewed the link from Wickwire...good grief! There's enough problems with toys made in China (Mattel) and lead levels in paint without all this as well. Opinions are varied about this company. If a store was built in our town it would definately put a lot of businesses out. With the stores we have Wal-Mart would put them all out of business in a short space of time. Hope the rumours are unfounded.

ASDA is a supermarket chain in the UK. It sells food, fresh, frozen and canned, household items, CD's, DVD's, video games and has a clothing range called "George". TESCO is exactly the same but their clothing range is called "Florence & Fred". We already have Tesco and Lidl with plans in the pipeline for an expansion of Tesco and a new Aldi (if planning is approved). Local businesses are trying to block the plans and the rumours about Wal-Mart are rife. We thought at first that the other businesses were trying to prevent the progression of our town but after reading all your answers we realise exactly what is at stake. Thankyou for enlightening us.

Answer 1

well many have told you some of the basics - good and bad - about walmart -- now hear it from one who used to work there

they treat their employees unfairly - one answer said this, but i can go into details -- i worked there for 5 1/2 years - i was offered my dream job, but hesitated because i thought i wouldn't be able to make the same money as i did at WM, so i finally got up the nerve to go and talk to the prospective employer and he offered me 25 cents less an hour to start than what i was making after 5 1/2 yrs, plus he guaranteed me 40 hrs a week. needless to say, i was back at WM within the hour and turned in my notice. another answer said that they don't hire full time so that they don't have to pay benefits, well i was considered full time, but the only time i ever got near 40 hrs was Christmas - to them, 32 hrs is full time.
i was sexually harrassed on the job, and they did nothing about it until i told them i was going to file suit - then all of a sudden they listened and fired the 2 guys responsible.
their goods are almost all made in foreign countries (mostly China) and are inferior.
i worked there when Sam Walton was still alive and was there when he died - within 6 months you could tell the difference in everything - employee treatment, products everything. we had a kmart and also value village and ben franklin stores (both locally owned) and all 3 were out of business within a year or less

to make a really long story shorter - walmart and sams are bad news for all concerned. their merchandise may be less expensive, but just remember -- you get what you pay for

Answer 2

Wal-Mart is a bargain discount store that keeps itself well supplied with most major things used in society.

Depending on where you live, you will have either the small, scaled down size, or the Supercenter. Supercenters sell much more than the scaled down size. They have everything from furniture to frozen foods and the prices are good. They also have services such as eye examinations and glasses, hair and nail salons and other services. Scaled down models do not offer many of these services, but you still can find just about anything you would need for the home from soup to nuts. And all have at least a fast food restaurant at the store.

It's true what you've heard about employment, and it's true what you have heard about small businesses and how they suffer at their hands, many going out of business very soon after a Wal-Mart opens in the area. Traffic and parking in the area become problematic for a great many places. And yes, there have been a number of communities here in the U.S. that have revolted against having one built in their communities, they've either gone through Court or put it on an election ballot as a referendum, to stop the construction in their areas, mainly because of the above mentioned problems.

Wal-Mart can be a good thing, provided they aren't allowed to overbuild and push out the smaller businesses that depend on their lifelong labors for an income.

One other thing that should be taken into consideration as you buy at Wal-Mart, they buy on a worldwide scale, so be sure that you know where in the world the merchandise is made, you know what I'm talking about.

Answer 3

I shop at Wal Mart every week. I don't like Walmart as much as I did years ago. They used to sell quality clothing but not so much anymore. The thing about Walmart is that it is so convenient because everything is under one roof. I never buy fresh meats there though. I don't like them. I get them at another local grocery store. There was a time when the store seemed to care about its customers but not so much anymore it seems. Not the most desirable place to work.
Most of them now are called ''superstores''. Some of them have a Subway or McDonald's within the store. Some have a branch of the local bank within the store, a beauty salon, a pharmacy, and a vision center with an ophthalmologist or two. You can get some work done on your car and they have a garden center. You will go when it opens. Everyone does.

Answer 4

It is a very large chain of stores that was started by a man called Sam Walton. His premise was good, to have items at fair prices that everyone could afford. And to sell only American made goods. Well, that all went by the wayside. Now, just about everything there is made in China. They were buying from the far East from people who use child labor. Some stores are in trouble for making employees work "off the clock" to get their work done. Women are not getting the same wage as men for doing the same jobs.

Those are the things on the down-side.

On the good side. I can find almost anything I would ever need there. Their meats and fresh fruits and vegetables are beautiful and at a pretty good price.

Answer 5

Dear Mrs. Fenton,

Over the past six months, your husband, Mr. Bill Fenton has been causing quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this type of behavior and have considered banning the entire family from shopping in any of our stores.
We have documented all incidents on our video surveillance equipment.
Three of our clerks are attending counseling from the trouble your husband has caused. All complaints against Mr. Fenton have been compiled and are listed below.

Mr. Wally Underpants
President and CEO of Wal-Mart Complaint Department

MEMO

Re: Mr. Bill Fenton - Complaints - 15 Things Mr. Bill Fenton has done while his spouse is shopping:

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people’s carts when they weren’t looking.

2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.

3. July 7: Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the restrooms.

4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official tone, ‘Code 3′ in housewares….. and watched what happened.

5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and asked to put a bag of M&M’s on layaway.

6. September 14: Moved a ‘CAUTION - WET FLOOR’ sign to a carpeted area.

7. September 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told other shoppers he’d invite them in if they’ll bring pillows from the bedding department.

8. September 23: When a clerk asks if they can help him, he begins to cry and asks Why can’t you people just leave me alone?’

9. October 4: Looked right into the security camera; used it as a mirror, and picked his nose.

10. November 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, asked the clerk if he knows where the antidepressants are.

11. December 3: Darted around the store suspiciously loudly humming the “Mission Impossible” theme.

12. December 6: In the auto department, practiced his “Madonna look” using different size funnels.

13. December 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browse through, yelled “PICK ME!” “PICK ME!”

14. December 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumes the fetal position and screams “NO! NO! It’s those voices again!!!!”

(And; last, but not least!)

15. December 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door and waited a while; then, yelled, very loudly, “There is no toilet paper in here!”

Answer 6

I agree with every word that Two Rusty Guns said about Walmart. Not much more to say other then a lot of the people employed by Walmart with families are on some kind of state program like food stamps, housing, Wic. In the long run we all lose when Walmart comes to our town. The people that work for them are the working poor. Harley Lady gave you a good idea what the store has. Daisymae gave you the best idea what to do about it...

.Edit : When I travel and see all the Walmart stores going up all around. The parking lots full. All the people who look like my age going in I wonder what happen to my Generation...Did we get old and stop caring...We were the generation of change and Freedom.. the end of oppression.

Answer 7

Harley Lady gave a good description on what the Super Wal-Mart's have.
She did not mention
The stores are crowed not just with people looking for that great savings also with shipments boxes
I get so flustered. Lots of times I had to ask someone to move the boxes so I can shop.
They have a rule if something is not in a bag you must be stopped at the door and give the person you receipt.then slowly they check everything to make sure you have not stole something.....Which I find upsetting. If you use the store bags..the bags one size...Medium small. which mean nothing fits in them so I get stopped if I buy medium size bag of dog food.......... The lines are long and if you bring your own bags the cashier calls a manage to see if she can use your bags instead of their Plastic ones..Then in that case of course I get stopped at the door because my things are not in a plastic bag.I miss the store that left when this town got a super store Albertson's ,Auto store and were I use to get my pedicures
. I refuse to be treated like I stoled something because
Wal-mart buys small plasticc bags.
Walmarts in the USA are eveywhere now. It would be nice if they went union As for me I refuse to be treated poorly to save a buck. I miss the stores that went out of business because
I avoid WM like the plaque.

Answer 8

Well folks I guess I must be one in a very few because I have two within a 5 mile radius of my home and DO not shop them. The few times I have gone with friends I have been very disappointed with the service and merchandise that I have purchased. Several small towns in South TX have voted again them buiding in their area.


I believe that a Wal-Mart was opened either in Germany or an Asian country and it was closed soon after opening as the people diid not like its service.

Answer 9

Did you ever see that Chevy Chase movie, the original Vacation where he was taking his family to Wally World? Well that is what I call Wal-Mart--WallyWorld. I read an article in the news that said their goal is to take over the world. I believe it. But on the one hand, even with all the bad stuff going on, it is a funny place to shop and you can do all sorts of things there, like in the super stores you can wander the meat department and leave your thumbs in the meat, eat a bag of chips and fill up a shopping cart, then say excuse me, I thought this was Sears and leave. Just like Wally World only more fun!

Answer 10

You have some good descriptions of Wal Mart in the previous answers. I have a Super Wal Mart not too far from my home. I do not like to shop there. The number one reason is that they NEVER have the same twice especially grocery items. I think they buy items from business that are going out of business, to pass on lower prices. Their merchandise is inferior, and not worth even their low price.