How is Target any less evil than Walmart?

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Target shoppers look down on Wal-mart shoppers, Wal-mart shoppers look down on K-Mart shoppers, K-mart shoppers look down on... [I dunno, homeless people?]

[Big Lots!]

I love Big Lots.

/shame

The ones around here are great. Usually very clean and sometimes great deals on energy drinks. Used to get some cheap tool stuff there as well until I found there was a Harbor Freight nearby. I've picked up an inexpensive sealy mattress there for a guest bedroom and gotten countless other deals.

I'm actually surprised some loathe it. Feel free to share...

 

[InflatableBuddha]

Originally posted by: MrChad

Originally posted by: InflatableBuddha
Watch Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price for reasons why WalMart is evil.

Cliffs:

WalMart:
Pays lower wages than other big box retailers.
Refuses to allow many employees to attain full-time status.
Cheaps out on heath care and benefits, instead relying on state and federal programs to support its workers
Obtains free grants/incentives from local governments to set up shop, to offset land, zoning and road costs, etc. Local businesses do not get preferential treatment.
Drives out local businesses, causing unemployment.
Has set up in towns and then left shortly after before repaying loans, etc.
Disallows unions.
Is discriminatory in its employee advancement practices (e.g. glass ceiling for women)
Imposes censorship on media products (music, movies, print) it sells.

Essentially, Wal-Mart is heavily subsidized by local, state and federal governments, which is one of the reasons it can offer such low prices.

These concerns are in addition to the common complaints leveled at big-box stores - environmental concerns, traffic and vehicle use, supporting abusive suppliers in developing countries (e.g. China).

I don't know if Target is involved in any of the specific practices I mentioned, but I can tell you that, for example, Costco is a big-box retailer which is not guilty of those Wal-Mart specific practices - only the basic problems with big box retailers.

You forgot "creates thousands of jobs in towns all over the country" and "lowers the cost of living for millions of consumers by offering lower prices on everyday goods".

You forgot that most of those are "$6/hour shit jobs that people can't afford to live and support a family on" and "lowers the cost of goods by shifting undue health care and benefit burdens to state and federal governments".

Guess who pays for the increased strain on those health and benefit programs - you, the taxpayer!

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: jjsole
The ones around here are great. Usually very clean and sometimes great deals on energy drinks. Used to get some cheap tool stuff there as well until I found there was a Harbor Freight nearby. I've picked up an inexpensive sealy mattress there for a guest bedroom and gotten countless other deals.

I'm actually surprised some loathe it. Feel free to share...

The one we had here closed years ago. It was pretty trashy inside. The building has sat awaiting someone else willing to lease it since then.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Originally posted by: InflatableBuddha
Watch Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price for reasons why WalMart is evil.

Cliffs:

WalMart:
Pays lower wages than other big box retailers.No one is forcing the people to work there.
Refuses to allow many employees to attain full-time status.See above
Cheaps out on heath care and benefits, instead relying on state and federal programs to support its workerssee above again
Obtains free grants/incentives from local governments to set up shop, to offset land, zoning and road costs, etc. Local businesses do not get preferential treatment.Walmart pays a lot of taxes to the local governments
Drives out local businesses, causing unemployment.And a Target doesn't?
Has set up in towns and then left shortly after before repaying loans, etc.I doubt they aren't repaying loans, if their is a clause to not repay it then that's the lenders fault
Disallows unions.Some states disallow unions
Is discriminatory in its employee advancement practices (e.g. glass ceiling for women)Work smarter
Imposes censorship on media products (music, movies, print) it sells.Target just won't allow some products in it's stores. You can't get any hunting equipment or hunting or gun mags.

Essentially, Wal-Mart is heavily subsidized by local, state and federal governments, which is one of the reasons it can offer such low prices.

These concerns are in addition to the common complaints leveled at big-box stores - environmental concerns, traffic and vehicle use, supporting abusive suppliers in developing countries (e.g. China).

I don't know if Target is involved in any of the specific practices I mentioned, but I can tell you that, for example, Costco is a big-box retailer which is not guilty of those Wal-Mart specific practices - only the basic problems with big box retailers.

 

[xochi]

This article came out in todays Dallas Morning News. I think Walmarts frest meat dept is subpar, but i shop there for almost anything else.

For years, the world's largest retailer has been trying to be cool like Target, to gain the attention of higher-income shoppers and to persuade its grocery clientele to cross over into its home, apparel and consumer electronics aisles.

Higher-end shoppers frequent Wal-Mart ... but don't tell anyone

 

[TallBill]

I don't shop at Walmart because their prices are insanely high. They reel you in with low prices on cheap crap.

 

[40Hands]

Originally posted by: InflatableBuddha

Originally posted by: MrChad

Originally posted by: InflatableBuddha
Watch Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price for reasons why WalMart is evil.

Cliffs:

WalMart:
Pays lower wages than other big box retailers.
Refuses to allow many employees to attain full-time status.
Cheaps out on heath care and benefits, instead relying on state and federal programs to support its workers
Obtains free grants/incentives from local governments to set up shop, to offset land, zoning and road costs, etc. Local businesses do not get preferential treatment.
Drives out local businesses, causing unemployment.
Has set up in towns and then left shortly after before repaying loans, etc.
Disallows unions.
Is discriminatory in its employee advancement practices (e.g. glass ceiling for women)
Imposes censorship on media products (music, movies, print) it sells.

Essentially, Wal-Mart is heavily subsidized by local, state and federal governments, which is one of the reasons it can offer such low prices.

These concerns are in addition to the common complaints leveled at big-box stores - environmental concerns, traffic and vehicle use, supporting abusive suppliers in developing countries (e.g. China).

I don't know if Target is involved in any of the specific practices I mentioned, but I can tell you that, for example, Costco is a big-box retailer which is not guilty of those Wal-Mart specific practices - only the basic problems with big box retailers.

You forgot "creates thousands of jobs in towns all over the country" and "lowers the cost of living for millions of consumers by offering lower prices on everyday goods".

You forgot that most of those are "$6/hour shit jobs that people can't afford to live and support a family on" and "lowers the cost of goods by shifting undue health care and benefit burdens to state and federal governments".

Guess who pays for the increased strain on those health and benefit programs - you, the taxpayer!

This.

Also the low prices part is not always true for everything. They will lower the cost of some stuff and raise other prices. Because people think Wal-Mart is so cheap, they don't think twice about price checking.

 

[Arkaign]

In anyone wants to know of a crap Target : There's a crappy Target (probably more of them) here in Dallas. It's at 635@Montfort Lane, near the Dallas North Tollway, across from Valley View mall. It's probably from the '70s, and has been slightly facelifted a time or two since then, but is still a crappy store compared to the newer Wal-Marts and Targets around.

There's a great Frontline documentary on the impact of Wal-Mart.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: 40Hands
Also the low prices part is not always true for everything. They will lower the cost of some stuff and raise other prices. Because people think Wal-Mart is so cheap, they don't think twice about price checking.

Definitely.
They also deceive people with packaging, generally when you buy a larger package, you expect to spend slightly less than multiples of a smaller package. The other day I saw they now have a convenient 5 pack of Kraft mac and cheese (all shrink-wrapped together). Price: $3.28
Price for individual package, same size and variety? Fifty cents. I've seen a few other items like that, too.

 

[torpid]

Some states disallow unions? That's news to me.

 

[joesmoke]

dammit... now i cant shop at target either. can someone recommend me a more expensive place to shop for the same stuff?

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski

Originally posted by: InflatableBuddha
Watch Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price for reasons why WalMart is evil.

Cliffs:

WalMart:
Pays lower wages than other big box retailers.No one is forcing the people to work there.
Refuses to allow many employees to attain full-time status.See above
Cheaps out on heath care and benefits, instead relying on state and federal programs to support its workerssee above again
Obtains free grants/incentives from local governments to set up shop, to offset land, zoning and road costs, etc. Local businesses do not get preferential treatment.Walmart pays a lot of taxes to the local governments
Drives out local businesses, causing unemployment.And a Target doesn't?
Has set up in towns and then left shortly after before repaying loans, etc.I doubt they aren't repaying loans, if their is a clause to not repay it then that's the lenders fault
Disallows unions.Some states disallow unions
Is discriminatory in its employee advancement practices (e.g. glass ceiling for women)Work smarter
Imposes censorship on media products (music, movies, print) it sells.Target just won't allow some products in it's stores. You can't get any hunting equipment or hunting or gun mags.

Essentially, Wal-Mart is heavily subsidized by local, state and federal governments, which is one of the reasons it can offer such low prices.

These concerns are in addition to the common complaints leveled at big-box stores - environmental concerns, traffic and vehicle use, supporting abusive suppliers in developing countries (e.g. China).

I don't know if Target is involved in any of the specific practices I mentioned, but I can tell you that, for example, Costco is a big-box retailer which is not guilty of those Wal-Mart specific practices - only the basic problems with big box retailers.

Neither states, nor companies, can "disallow unions."

 

[ElFenix]

no states disallow unions by the letter of the law, but right to work states where a union cannot close a shop and the non-union workers have to be paid the same as the union workers make organizing a union more difficult (why join the union and get your wages garnished for union fees when you get all the benefits already)

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski

Originally posted by: InflatableBuddha
Watch Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price for reasons why WalMart is evil.

Cliffs:

WalMart:
Pays lower wages than other big box retailers.No one is forcing the people to work there.
Refuses to allow many employees to attain full-time status.See above
Cheaps out on heath care and benefits, instead relying on state and federal programs to support its workerssee above again
Obtains free grants/incentives from local governments to set up shop, to offset land, zoning and road costs, etc. Local businesses do not get preferential treatment.Walmart pays a lot of taxes to the local governments
Drives out local businesses, causing unemployment.And a Target doesn't?
Has set up in towns and then left shortly after before repaying loans, etc.I doubt they aren't repaying loans, if their is a clause to not repay it then that's the lenders fault
Disallows unions.Some states disallow unions
Is discriminatory in its employee advancement practices (e.g. glass ceiling for women)Work smarter
Imposes censorship on media products (music, movies, print) it sells.Target just won't allow some products in it's stores. You can't get any hunting equipment or hunting or gun mags.

Essentially, Wal-Mart is heavily subsidized by local, state and federal governments, which is one of the reasons it can offer such low prices.

These concerns are in addition to the common complaints leveled at big-box stores - environmental concerns, traffic and vehicle use, supporting abusive suppliers in developing countries (e.g. China).

I don't know if Target is involved in any of the specific practices I mentioned, but I can tell you that, for example, Costco is a big-box retailer which is not guilty of those Wal-Mart specific practices - only the basic problems with big box retailers.

Neither states, nor companies, can "disallow unions."

Not having Unions is a :thumbsup: to me but otherwise I hate Walmart. Every single one I've seen has been horrible.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: OCguy
Walmart is great, because it keeps those people out of the good stores.

And whatever store you shop at is great because it keeps asshats like you out of Walmart. I'd rather shop with a few people who might be considered ghetto over people who think they're shit doesn't stink because they live in Anahiem Hills or Laguna Hills. Oddly most places that end in Hills are full of douchbags who love to cast judgement on people they feel are lesser than them.

I'm sure NOBODY except those people you speak of shops at Walmart.

 

[NFS4]

I do most of my grocery/everyday shopping at Super Walmart. Low prices, wide aisles, plentiful parking, and great products -- you can't go wrong.

 

[mugs]

Side note: I don't really care about a company's business practices (unless they directly affect me), I don't care how they treat their employees, I don't care if they punch babies, or any of that other crap. I care about the products they have, the price I'm paying, and my experience dealing with the company. But I will answer your question based on my understanding and my experience.

1. Walmart leads, other retailers follow. Walmart has the power to make their suppliers do what they want, because losing Walmart is huge. Walmart makes its suppliers continually lower prices, and they do. This has had positive effects in increasing efficiency. It has also had negative effects in decreasing quality. Both of those effects carry over to other retailers, including Target.
2. People will give you anecdotal evidence to the contrary, but in general you'll have a more pleasant shopping experience at Target. The stores are nicer and cleaner (case in point: go to the spray paint section in any Walmart). Targets are usually less crowded, and the customer are, to put it bluntly, from a higher economic class. That's not an assumption, that's a fact. The average Target customer makes $10k/yr more than the average Walmart customer. Walmart knows that, and they've been working to improve. Have you noticed that over the last few years they've been putting hardwood (or maybe laminate) floors in their clothing sections? That's because clothing is one of the areas where Target beats Walmart, which draws in the customers who make more money. Is that elitist? Yeah. Is it ironic for an elitist to shop at Target? Yeah. I'm just stating the facts - one of the reasons people shop at Target instead of Walmart is because it's a more pleasant shopping experience. I don't really care if your local Walmart and Target are the opposite, because apparently that's not the case in most places.

So yeah, the stores a similar. But there are things that differentiate them, and those are the reasons people shop at one store or the other. I shop at both, but more frequently at Target. Walmart is closer, but Target is next to Costco and Home Depot.

 

[TheKub]

Originally posted by: Ns1
I don't find walmart evil, just shitty. How shitty your walmart is is inversely proportional to the median income of its community.

Dont you mean directly proportional? Otherwise, I gotta hit me up the ghetto Walmart because its gotta be NICE.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: 40Hands
Also the low prices part is not always true for everything. They will lower the cost of some stuff and raise other prices. Because people think Wal-Mart is so cheap, they don't think twice about price checking.

Definitely.
They also deceive people with packaging, generally when you buy a larger package, you expect to spend slightly less than multiples of a smaller package. The other day I saw they now have a convenient 5 pack of Kraft mac and cheese (all shrink-wrapped together). Price: $3.28
Price for individual package, same size and variety? Fifty cents. I've seen a few other items like that, too.

its not just walmart that does this. EVERY store does. its a business practice that has been going on for decades.

Bulk stores are where you really need to pricmatch i have seen deals at both Sams club and costco. But i have also seen some things that were more expensive.

I buy the majority of my stuff at walmart. overall i save money for the same products. I will NOT buy fresh meat or produce. For meat i prefer the local butcher and for produce i will hit the real stores. it just looks/smells/taste better and last longer.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: OCguy
Walmart is great, because it keeps those people out of the good stores.

And whatever store you shop at is great because it keeps asshats like you out of Walmart. I'd rather shop with a few people who might be considered ghetto over people who think they're shit doesn't stink because they live in Anahiem Hills or Laguna Hills. Oddly most places that end in Hills are full of douchbags who love to cast judgement on people they feel are lesser than them.

I'm sure NOBODY except those people you speak of shops at Walmart.

Do you tip the cashier at Walmart too cus they are serving you?

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Target shoppers look down on Wal-mart shoppers, Wal-mart shoppers look down on K-Mart shoppers, K-mart shoppers look down on... I dunno, homeless people?

Wait there are K-Mart shoppers?

 

[spacejamz]

Originally posted by: Arkaign
In anyone wants to know of a crap Target : There's a crappy Target (probably more of them) here in Dallas. It's at 635@Montfort Lane, near the Dallas North Tollway, across from Valley View mall. It's probably from the '70s, and has been slightly facelifted a time or two since then, but is still a crappy store compared to the newer Wal-Marts and Targets around.

There's a great Frontline documentary on the impact of Wal-Mart.

don't forget the crappy ones at Bachman Lake (off Lemon and NW hwy) or at the Medallion Center (off NW Hwy and Skillman)...

However, the Targets by my are pretty nice...

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: AyashiKaibutsu

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Target shoppers look down on Wal-mart shoppers, Wal-mart shoppers look down on K-Mart shoppers, K-mart shoppers look down on... I dunno, homeless people?

Wait there are K-Mart shoppers?

Man, I go to K-mart occasionally, and that place is depressing. The parking lot is so empty. I don't know how they even stay in business. I have nothing against K-mart, but it's really out of my way so I only shop there when I need Craftsman stuff (since there aren't any Sears stores near me)

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: spacejamz

Originally posted by: Arkaign
In anyone wants to know of a crap Target : There's a crappy Target (probably more of them) here in Dallas. It's at 635@Montfort Lane, near the Dallas North Tollway, across from Valley View mall. It's probably from the '70s, and has been slightly facelifted a time or two since then, but is still a crappy store compared to the newer Wal-Marts and Targets around.

There's a great Frontline documentary on the impact of Wal-Mart.

don't forget the crappy ones at Bachman Lake (off Lemon and NW hwy) or at the Medallion Center (off NW Hwy and Skillman)...

However, the Targets by my are pretty nice...

the one target i used to go to was a dump. BUT they just tore it down and are builiding a "super' target. that should be cool.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: OCguy
Walmart is great, because it keeps those people out of the good stores.

And whatever store you shop at is great because it keeps asshats like you out of Walmart. I'd rather shop with a few people who might be considered ghetto over people who think they're shit doesn't stink because they live in Anahiem Hills or Laguna Hills. Oddly most places that end in Hills are full of douchbags who love to cast judgement on people they feel are lesser than them.

I'm sure NOBODY except those people you speak of shops at Walmart.

Do you tip the cashier at Walmart too cus they are serving you?

They're not servers, they're cashiers. Last time I checked nobody tips a cashier. Also the associates and door greeters aren't servers, so I don't tip them either. I do tip all servers at places I eat who give me good service though, because I'm not a cheap ass bastard like many.