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Guess I've gotta go back...at least once.
I stopped being a Wal-Mart client they had moved to the opposite side of town, and my gay friends were being skewered by their organization. I left Sam's Club because Costco proved you could run a successful warehouse store and pay people living wages. This is a big deal for me. For $10 more a year, I get interesting, helpful people who don't have to go to a second job after their shift ends. Who have a life, friends, and can continue their education if the right classes work with their schedule.
Wal-Mart still sucks dry the blood from rural communities -- and each store costs taxpayers an average of $400,000 per YEAR. At one point they had instructions for filing for food stamps, etc. on their letterhead stationary!
But apparently there's been a Sea Change for Wal-Mart. They have gone from hostile to neutral and now have joined an organization working for dignity and non-discrimination for GLBT folks. The "Religious Right" is picketing and boycotting Wal-Mart.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061121/ap_on_re_us/wal_mart_protests
I think I will try to go at least once during the holidays. If not discriminating for sexual orientation does not hurt their bottom line, they may try for more employee benefits (they added a low-cost health plan this year, according to this article.) I want to reward for good behavior and carry in a copy of a review of a book about the expose of Wal-Mart the destroyer. I want them to promote worthy female employees. I want that Damn living wage! So they will know that with me, at least, they're not home free -- not yet.
Wal-Mart still sucks dry the blood from rural communities -- and each store costs taxpayers an average of $400,000 per YEAR. At one point they had instructions for filing for food stamps, etc. on their letterhead stationary!
But apparently there's been a Sea Change for Wal-Mart. They have gone from hostile to neutral and now have joined an organization working for dignity and non-discrimination for GLBT folks. The "Religious Right" is picketing and boycotting Wal-Mart.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061121/ap_on_re_us/wal_mart_protests
I think I will try to go at least once during the holidays. If not discriminating for sexual orientation does not hurt their bottom line, they may try for more employee benefits (they added a low-cost health plan this year, according to this article.) I want to reward for good behavior and carry in a copy of a review of a book about the expose of Wal-Mart the destroyer. I want them to promote worthy female employees. I want that Damn living wage! So they will know that with me, at least, they're not home free -- not yet.
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Must clarify the post...
Not at all. I wasn't clear. Look at the rating on the store, in the article. I will probably go back sometime during this holiday season, when I need KMart/Target sort of things, and tell the manager that I haven't set foot in a Wal-Mart for over ten years. I came back to tell them I liked their joining a non-discrimination group. If they stop costing the American tax payers $400,000 per store, give a living wage to their employees, stop discriminating against their women workers, etc., I would probably become a shopper there.
I say "probably" because I did not explain to W that Wal-Mart is anathema, so he'd go there for things. Which usually broke immediately, being off brand for what he's trying to fix. It may be that their quality has sunk too low for the price to overcome other things.
I go to Sam's once a year (when they send me a one-day card) and buy only special baking chocolate, if they're carrying it, and to tell them in a clear voice, "No, I don't want to join because Sam's doesn't pay a living wage." This year, I will point out to the manager or assistant manager my reasoning. I normally go to World Market for that chocolate, but to make the point, I have to buy something there, if only to prove I can pay for things.
I am not totally nuts on this, but it has consistency for me. Considering my current ability (4-6 hr daily) to reason my way out of a paper bag. For now, this works. I can't watch it constantly, but I do watch for changes...or no changes.
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I think they are doing it because someone has figured out that the groups they're alienating by being fair are much larger than the fundie groups -- and if it's green, quality, etc. some of us (especially people living east of MoPac -- there are two major highways for me to cross -- I have followed stores I like, but not one I am so angry with) might come back.
I clarified my post -- I'll go back once when I need WalMart-y kinds of things, tell them I approve, and if they'll keep it up, I might become a customer again.
Might, as I phrased it to Noise -- I think their quality is hitting rock bottom.
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I have other reasons as well, tho -- stores like Wal Mart and K-Mart actively give me headaches. Something about their noise level, or the lighting, or something they're doing makes me flee the store after ten minutes, every time I've gone in.
I've never been in a Sam's, being a long-time CostCo member. Even if I don't make my membership money back each year, the fact that CostCo's policy is "consumers first, then employees, and then, down on the list, shareholders" has won my loyalty.
Agreed --
But I do feel like I should say, "Keep trying, Wal-Mart." The problem is partly what I suggested, but I also think your point is taken -- I don't WANT to go in a Wal-Mart Superstore. I took something back to the south store for W -- and I was bewildered the entire time I was in there.
I thought it was my condition, but sounds like it's just good sense. Perhaps they will back up on size, since several of their stores have been blocked by neighborhoods trying to protect their homes from water and light pollution?
Probably not.
I dread the day that every single damn thing we walk past tries to sell us something. I will live through the Internet alone.
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My sister wanted a cashmere scarf for Xmas two years past -- it was outside my price range, but I was going to get one from Lands End. She told me that Kohls had what she wanted, in black. I went to two Kohls to find it -- the last one, on sale. It was about as wide as a MM paperback, 2.5 times as long as one, and so thin I could see flesh behind every stitch. I said, "Are you sure?" It wouldn't keep her very warm....
It was for filling the "pneumonia hole" when going to church. Ah -- drama. Got it.
Give me Lands End catalog, Coldwater Creek, or LLBeans.
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I love Land's End, products and service both. I rarely buy from Coldwater Creek, but I still enjoy getting their catalogs as a source of jewelry inspiration. LL Bean... well, they've dropped off my list because they're heavy Republican supporters, and honestly, I like Land's End products better anyhow.
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I didn't know that about them. I sure hope we can get back to the days when we argued about politics and religion, and then went together to dinner and talked about movies or something. I don't like having to censor my choices because they give all their money to politicans I don't trust.
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then once again a friend's knowledge triumphs!
Since I am going almost totally organic (details later) this means I won't be going to Walmart anytime soon, even if I do want to encourage changed behavior.
I'm not endangering my life for them.
Re: then once again a friend's knowledge triumphs!
has a local box...we are gonna start in january, but I have a friend who works there and several who get deliveries and they love it.
Re: then once again a friend's knowledge triumphs!
We have people we get organic chickens and eggs from -- I'll investigate this when I have a hole in the schedule. Thanks!
Excellent little article
http://www2.boomantribune.com/?op=displaystory;sid=2006/11/26/233755/08
As she notes, they need to be held to this 3-5 year goal, but at least they're talking about it. Hopefully others will follow suit.