Friday, March 28, 2008

Do I Need to Apologize?

I don't think I need to apologize and therefore, I won't. I admit, I am a Wal-Mart kind of person. My favorite uniform is jeans and sweats. No one has to shop there and for those who think boycotts will help, go for it. Do I like all their business practices? No, I don't. But they are legal actions. Clothes from China or Bangladesh? Check labels at Bergner's or Macy's - you will find them there too.

Reclaiming insurance money? Not nice, but very legal. Would other corporations sue to return the funds? Of course they would, and they have.

Sorry, but an orange is an orange. When my choice for oranges is $.50 or $.88 each, guess which one I am choosing? But then there are other items. I have never bought meat from Wal-Mart - seems like it is more expensive and seldom on sale. Mostly the meat comes from Kroger's. Dog and cat food from Wal-Mart.

I drive a KIA - Enough said.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ignorance really is bliss. You brag about your support of a company that is dedicated to reducing quality of life in the communities it invades.

Anonymous said...

I agree Ramble. Nobody is holding a gun to anyone's head forcing them to shop at Wal Mart. I have a few companies on my list that will never get another dime of my money, but that's my choice, and i don't try to force everyone else to stop shopping there.
As for quality of life, when I have more money left in my pocket because i buy things at a reduced price at Wal Mart vs. mom and pop stores, my quality of life goes up. Couldn't agree more with you on the meat prices, I get mine at Kroger too. Watch the sales and fill the freezer!

Ramble On said...

I try to spread the funds around (such as they are) to a variety of stores. If I can get something at ACE on McClure, I won't go to the Big Box stores. My favorite restaurant is China Village, I don't do fast food chains. Some things are saved for a trip to Big Lots or Dollar Tree. Then I can splurge when I go to Four Seasons for clothing! It is all about getting from one pay check to the next with a little bit to spare. What killed downtown Peoria? It wasn't Wal-Mart!

Rixblix said...

I hear you, Ramble. It's a chicken and egg thing for us. Our paycheck doesn't leave much room for driving the extra distance so that we can shop at 15 different stores but Wal-Mart is to blame for putting lots of those stores out of business. Until the economy is better or we win the lottery, my family has to use any means necessary to save a buck or two. I try to shop locally as much as I can and in season, I but as much as I can from the old farmer up the road or the farmer's market.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I support the little guy when I can. If they haven't been driven out of business by WalMart, that is.

When the economy is this shitty, it's not always possible to go to Joe's Grocery up the street and pay an extra 50 cents for an item when you're pinching pennies as it is.

Anyone who thinks the choice between principle and survival is easy is dead wrong.

Ramble On said...

Amen! I really do feel sorry for the Mom & Pops that have disappeared. But, many of them were gone long before Wal-Mart. Those with a loyal following and good customer service survive - think Haddad's in West Peoria, Pottstown Meat & Deli or Alwans, to name a few. I don't shop Northwoods unless I absolutely have to. Even for Sears, I would rather go to Pekin.

Michael said...

The point is the day will come (in some communities it already has) when Wal-mart owns the market and people pay half again more for the "cheap" products they sell. So when they put Kroger under you will eat Wal-mart meat at a higher price ... and like it ... or do without.

Anonymous said...

There is hidden cost that goes with those Walmart "deals."

Anonymous said...

Like Ramble said, I need to save a bit so I can have a better quality of life. I can't worry about others lives that is not my problem, there is stuff i need and if walmart helps me get my stuff then that is where I go. Everything is made in china anyway and I can't help that, maybe if the government would do something about it like they are supposed to then I would not have to worry about it. Try buying a decent birthday present for one of the 25 birthday parties my kid has to go to each year at any other store, it will cost too much, I don't want to hear about some chinese kid making the toy for no money, that kid does not concern me. I drive a regular car and am too busy to go to 4 stores when all the stuff my family wants is in one place. I don't get the no unions at walmart talk anyway, unions are supposed to pay me more money not ask me to pay more at a store for them. I am with Ramble on this thing, the heck with everyone else I need stuff cheap and walmart has it.

Michael said...

"the heck with everyone else I need stuff cheap and walmart has it."

Well good for you ... not many people would step up anonymously and admit to having no social conscience whatever.

Ramble On said...

Happy April Fools Day to you too Anonymous! Thank goodness, most people, including me, don't agree with all that crap in your little joke.

Mama T said...

"Ignorance really is bliss. You brag about your support of a company that is dedicated to reducing quality of life in the communities it invades."

It's funny how people who only have something negative to say on another persons blog will post anonymously....

And as far as this goes...I'm with Ramble all the way. They ARE a monster, they DO take over communities, They DO kill the mom and pop shops... BUT, if the mom and pop shops could sell their things at the low prices that wal-Mart does...well...I'd shop there instead everytime. It's called supply and demand...I demand low prices and Wal Mart provides them.

And lest we all forget that Wal-Mart is one of the largest employers in the WORLD??? They create jobs for thousands and thousands of people every year.

They aren't all bad. And as long as I can get a four pack of toilet paper for 98 cents...I'm there.

HUGS Ramble!

:o)

Anonymous said...

People are always whining about Wal-Mart putting "mom and pop" stores out of business, but rarely mention why that happens. It happens because people freely choose to go to Wal-Mart instead of these "mom and pop" stores. Wal-Mart's dominance in general merchandise retailing is the collective result of all of our individual decisions in a (relatively) free market.