Debate: Wal-Mart

[elSicomoro]

I don't know how much was going on during his reign, but since Sam Walton died, Wal-Mart has become a whole new beast.

The one good thing I can say about Wal-Mart is that they are practically the owners of the St. Louis Blues. (Bill Laurie's wife is one of Sam Walton's kids...one of the richest people in America.)

Wal-Mart has gotten a lot of flack recently for apparently preventing employees from unionizing. In a situation like Wal-Mart, I would imagine that being unionized COULD possibly be a good thing. I know how shitty I was treated when working for Venture (along with Caldor, one of the former discount divisions of May Department Stores, though May had already spun both off by the time I started there).

There's no doubt that Wal-Mart offers good stuff at good prices...hell, most of my work wardrobe is from there. But I would say that Wal-Mart undercuts competition like a motherfucker. Add to that the other allegations, and you have to wonder what the hell is going on over there.

(Having said that, however, Target has done a great job of keeping up with Wal-Mart. Maybe it's because Target also owns more high end stores like Marshall Field's, Dayton's, and Hudson's, but still...Target offers good stuff at good prices. And the difference between going to a Target and going to a Wal-Mart is like night and day.)