Walmart - Good or bad?
By CatEyes
@CatEyes (2448)
United States
January 23, 2007 1:54am CST
I call them the evil empire. Even though they have every thing under the moon, they are what they are. They make their suppliers sell their wares for way less, make impossible demands that cost money and then at the last moment (after investing so much time and money in it) they back out. On purpose, to make them loose profit and fade away from the market. It's horrible how they go about this, and their practice is normal for them.
Then you have the Poor employees, they are promised the moon (actually, what any one would expect from a job) like benefits, full time position, time off, vacation, sick time etc. and they never hold up their part of the bargain. There are so many who need to be working a full time position (36-40) not only for the money, but for the benefits, So even though they are hired as a "full time" employee they do not get the benefits nor the pay that one would get with the description. And if you don't want to work there awful schedule (mind you I have worked some pretty ones too), they will fire you, dock you or give you a worse one. Never mind that you are sick and don't want to work in 6pm-6am or that you have a sick baby in the hospital, they will make it more miserable for you.
Then they treat you like a criminal when you are leaving their store. I call the Greeters who check your receipt "the Nazi receipt patrol" Actually, I don't use that term verbally, others do, and it was started by a EMPLOYEE. (I do not mean to cause any hurt feelings by this term, so please do not take it to heart.)They have to check inside of your buggy and your purse then go down the list to make sure it all matches, and if they find gum in your purse and it's not on the list they get the leader, manager to settle this. By the time this is done your ice cream is melting through the bags, your baby is wailing and the people behind want to kill you even though you did nothing. WHY.
I Just stopped going, I much rather pay 10 more on my whole grocery bill than to have to deal with that.
I Know a lot of people who work there and who shop there and they ALL agree.
13 people like this
63 responses
@judyt00 (3497)
• Canada
23 Jan 07
I worked in a walmart, in the fabrics department. They used to call me in on my day off with only a half hour notice because they knew I only lived 2 blocks away, and if i said No, they grilled me on the phone, Why can't you, what are you doing that is more important than work? I broke my ankle, andbecause itwas not done at work, they just told me to use a stool when it hurt. Every time I got a chance to sitdown, some other staff memberwould besitting on my stool and would refuse to move andactually pull the racecard. They used to leave me alone to cover 6 departments every Saturday morning from 8am til sometimes 2 pm and then get mad when i asked for someone to cover my breaks, and these weren't little departments it was fabrics, furniture, housewares, bedding &domestics, hardware and chemicals. then they'd get angry with me if I didn't answer a page, or stay at the fabric table. they had me train people who were making up to $1.50 more than me but tell me I didn't deserve a raise. The final straw was the day they told everyone not to bring a lunch because they were supplying a barbecue dinner. when those of us who worked theafternoon shift asked about it, the manager simply stated I guess you should have been here at noon. So, I looked at my watch, called the manager back to the fabric table, and in front of 5 or 6 customers told him F you, I quit. and walked off.since then, in May, thewhole part ofthestore where I worked has been disgusting, and every time I go in I laugh at the managers
3 people like this
@nishdan01 (3051)
• Singapore
24 Jan 07
I think less pay +more work+ no rest for employees= a mighty profit evil empire.
@hitzphillygirl (1235)
• United States
23 Jan 07
My brother was an employee at Wal-Mart for over a year and he actually pretty much loved it. He's trying to get me to apply there, too, but I just don't want to work in a store that big. I love shopping there, too. The deals are great.
2 people like this
@Bevsue (251)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I agree. Anyone I have ever met who works or worked at Walmart says it is a rotten place to work. Those sickeningly sweet 'happy' employee commercials of theirs are enough to make you gag. I also resent the way customers are treated before they can leave the store--Nazi receipt patrol is right.That humiliation in itself is what keeps me out of Walmart as much as possible. I will shop ANYWHERE else first if I can.
2 people like this
@raven33 (69)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I don't shop their much at all anymore. I've really become disgusted with them after seeing the way they treat their employees and hearing countless horror stories.
True, you are bound to find disgruntled employees in any firm/chain this big that employees so many. But some of the things I've read and heard about would make me hang my head in shame if I were them.
@CatEyes (2448)
• United States
23 Jan 07
NOt every large corp is the same, actually they really are not. Target is one. I know of many many people and have spoken in detail with the employees whether they were happy or not. Quite a few of them came from Walmart, and said that though Target is not perfect (the pay is better, but not great) they are on par much better all around.
1 person likes this
@davishuang88 (187)
• China
23 Jan 07
i agree your point.
but Walmrt is a strong firm that they earn many money in his business. i upppose i can learn his way then i can get my success
@BrendaA (365)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I do not agree with their takeover method of operation. Still, they do not seem to be suffering for business. I think their quality has gone down in the last few years, and I really do not enjoy shopping their. Most of them in my area are a mess.
@badkat83 (1620)
• United States
23 Jan 07
They don't check your stuff here. They only do it around the holidays. I like walmarts. They are thinking of putting a supercenter down the road, which everyone is up in arms over. But our local grocery store is very expensive. I would save tons of money if they put it in. I understand what you are saying. I think most corporate companies end up like this.
1 person likes this
@enchantedemerald (454)
• United States
23 Jan 07
The store that my friend works at is in Louisiana. Maybe that is why she hasn't had any problems.
1 person likes this
@CatEyes (2448)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Your lucky; the states I have been too and did this are:
MO, FL, TX, LA, AR, KY, NV. . My parents have a very tight budget and they go there too, but not for groceries. They go to HEB, FOOD TOWN, FOOD CITY, KROGER etc. And I don't think that it is all corps that end up like this, just a select few. The ones I listed above are good and CHEAP. I keep trying to go to Walmart because they have my yarn, fabric, chemicals for the pool we used to have, but my hubby can't even bring himself to go theses days. So I go somewhere else, and pay less or at least the same. I know it's hard when you have nothing else around you and they are the only option;that's why they do it. So you have no other choice realy and I would be happy that I had them to go to in that circumstance. It's a catch 22.
1 person likes this
@pratu0708 (126)
• India
23 Jan 07
I agree to that. wal-mart has been squeezing suppliers, employees and also cheating on consumers. their size is just too overwhelming for suppliers who want to reach every nook and corner with Wal-mart and with Wal-mart coming to India now i am not too sure what the retailing industry here is in for. though it may be great at the beginning i am betting that many will lose out from their deals to near closing down and cheaper markets like China thrive thanks to Wal-mart.
2 people like this
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I have to disagree with you on that. I go to walmart every week rain or shine and enjoy shopping there. My walmart doesnot check in your purse or buggy as you put it. They only check your receipt and thats it. So like they say If you cant stand the heat get out of the kitchen.
1 person likes this
@CatEyes (2448)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Oh, and not only have they checked my purse (which is small) they checked my baby bag and it was not just me it happend to or just around a holiday. many many people deal with this, so please don't knock what they have experienced or I have.
1 person likes this
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
23 Jan 07
There is a documentary about walmart that came out in 2005. It is very good. It tells many stories like yours and of how they treat workers in china. There are many law suits against walmart from former employees for being forced to work off the clock or not getting paid for overtime. I guess it just depends on where you are and how honorable your store manager is. The movie is worth renting and watching. It is called "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price".
2 people like this
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
23 Jan 07
I'm not keen on Walmart just because it kills the small town main street wherever they go. I don't however think they're the "evil empire". There's a simple solution to bring Walmart to it's knees. DON'T SHOP THERE!!! Simple right?
2 people like this
@mobyfriend (1017)
• Netherlands
23 Jan 07
I've never been to a Walamart but I heard similar stories from my american friends. I guess in general it's not a good company but it depends on the location and managment whether one walmart is better than the other. Are there any unions that defend the right of people who work in this shop?
Anyway if the situation is that bad that everyone should quit shopping there.
1 person likes this
@nw1911guy (1131)
• United States
24 Jan 07
WalMart is vehemently anti-union. It's my understanding that any employee caught with union "propaganda" is immediately subject to termination.
@pendragon (3350)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Walmart is the absoulte devil.I will go on forever if I start, so U'll just say I completely agree!!
1 person likes this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
23 Jan 07
WalMart is a giant and there are many bad stories about them. The one I go to on occasion seems to be a bit nicer employee wise. The greeters I know from when I was a Salvation Army bell ringer and met and conversed with them. It is a shame that they get away with things like they do, would be so much better if they were one of the responsibile companies that took care of the employees and customers alike. Have heard that they help the community however I have not seen much around me to indicate that they have done so. I do take the price match when there and get my 100 dollars of groceries every 2 weeks. When we are on our feet I will loss leader shop again!
1 person likes this
@europebound (102)
• Canada
23 Jan 07
I know some people that work at Walmart here in Canada. It sounds like the work experience is really different because the two people I know that work there really enjoy it.
One of them used to work the night shift and they had this call in radio station where you could request what song you wanted played through the speaker system in the store! That's pretty rad.
But after reading these comments I can see that some people have had some bad Walmart related experiences. Strange how a border can completely change the attitude in regions isn't it?
1 person likes this
@fizzytom (752)
• Maribor, Slovenia
23 Jan 07
In Britain it's pretty much the case that all the major supermarket chains are squeezing the suppliers to the point of ruin. They talk about supply and demand and try to justify themselves but it's not right. if it costs a certain amount of money for a farmer to get his cows to produce good milk then the supermarkets need to take this into account and charge customers a sensible price instead of trying continually to lower the price. They have no respect for food producers.
As for wal-Mart, the evidence is there if you look for it. In one store the staff on the butchers department voted to become unionised; within the month their section had been closed down with all meat being pr-packaged and put in a chiller cabinet instead. Coincidence?
What are Wal-mart afraid of? That they will have to pay their staff a living wage?
1 person likes this
@whitney8812 (29)
•
23 Jan 07
well i remember that i have heard from some friends or reports that the UK giant Tesco has its factories in India and there are a lot of under age employment.. isnt that scary???
1 person likes this
@smitha61 (1)
• United States
23 Jan 07
You make all great points and I think you are right. However, Wal-Mart, like so many companies today does the minimum to get the maximum profit. Most companies do not care for much more than profits. I try to avoid Wal-Mart at all costs but when I go in there I am stunned how little things cost. Thanks.
1 person likes this
