Walmart

A now typical Walmart Store
Picture credit: Walmart Corporation

For the number one retailer in America and largest Corporation in the world, Walmart, is not really very popular.

Sam Walton who founded the Company in 1962, had a great theory, buy cheap and sell a lot.

Or to quote Wikipedia:

Walmart founder Sam Walton once said, “I pay low wages. I can take advantage of that. We’re going to be successful, but the basis is a very low-wage, low-benefit model of employment.”

So, then to recap, this Billionaire’s business plan was to pay his employees as little as possible, with the fewest benefits.

Mr. Walton and his Company, Walmart were very, very successful at doing this until his death in 1992, at the age of 74.

When he died, Sam Walton was worth approximately $23 Billion.

We all know why we go to this store, don’t we, to save money, especially those with fixed or low incomes.

But often as I am driving home after shopping, I almost feel dirty, for going there.

I have just supported his tyrannical place with my purchase, therefore giving it my approval.

There are so many reasons that we, you and me and millions of us who shop at Walmart, don’t like this Store, or the Company, or the way that they do business.

The True Cost of Those Low Prices

So here are just a few of the reasons that I have come up with, I know that you will all add your own below:

Unlivable Low Wages for their employees.

Corporation wide failure to promote females.

Deplorable treatment and working Environment for Employees, which in turn causes a high turn over.

Until only recently, a complete refusal to participate in any form of charitable donations.

Buying and selling nearly exclusively with China, to the detriment of millions of American businesses and workers.

Deliberately putting any and all of their competition out of business, by underpricing them.

Countless Environmental damages adding up to millions at their facilities.

The slave labor, or sweat shops where they buy goods from in other countries.

Annoyingly Empty shelves, while stock sits on the floor in carts.

Never can find an employee to ask a question.

Opposition to Unions are an ongoing source of conflicts across the world.

Health Care for employees is poor, to non-existent.

Employees being forced to Work off the Clock has been widely charged.

Vengeful firings, or wrongful terminations, of any who may oppose any company policies.

Hiring and hiding undocumented workers, repeatedly.

More reasons we don’t like Walmart

Walmart’s history of rejecting any and all merchandise that may offend their “Bible Belt key customer base,” while treating their employees like virtual slaves, this is not very Christian!

When a Walmart comes to a town, crime goes up.
(At our Central Florida Walmarts, there have been many robberies, even murders)

Many Walmart Employees are paid so little, that they actually can be on welfare at the same time.

Walmart’s trade deficit with China has cost over 200,000 American jobs.

Continuously demands the lowest price from their suppliers, even at the risk of forcing them out of business.

Kraft Foods had to shut down 39 plants and fire over 13,000 employees for this very reason.

Have more to add to this list, go for it.

Places to learn more:

Criticism of Walmart

Walmart’s Labor Practices Backfire

Research: Crime Stats, Staffing Problems Plague Walmart

Walmart abuses aren’t just a problem for workers. They’re a problem for the rule of law.

Walmart’s Human Trafficking Problem