The Walmart Movie

Ideal08 · #1 11-17-2005, 12:36 PM

http://www.walmartmovie.com/

I went to see this last night and it was really good. I wondered if anyone else has seen it? If there is a screening in your area, I'd say go. It's worth if for the free popcorn, pop, appetizers, and wine. I love FREE. It was ALL FREE. I'm thinking you can also get the DVD at Blockbuster or wherever.

I'll think twice before shopping there again. It makes me wonder about the business practices of ALL stores, not just the retail giant.

Honeykiss1974 · #2 11-17-2005, 12:42 PM

Girl there is a whole underground movement against Wal-mart I never knew about myself until I started frequented another message board.

I've never liked them since 2 years ago, they were busted here in town for hiring GOBS of illegal aliens at sub-par wages(no breaks or anything either).

I know this isn't popular, but Walmart also contributes to the loss of lots of US jobs to oversea locations. They demand that their products be sold at a certain price and producers find that the only way to get their product that low is to move labor overseas or to purchase parts from oversea manufactuerers.

These reason are being presented on a very elementary scale (mostly because I'm at work and don't have time to dig ) but it just touches the surface as to why for a while, they are no longer on my list of places to shop - and that's if I can help it.

I may check this movie out - who produced this?

AKA2D '91 · #3 11-17-2005, 12:49 PM

I haven't heard about the movie.

However, I do know that Wal-Mart takes care of its employees from the top to the bottom. Many of our assistants work their as their second job. There benefits are great! When many of their employees evacuated for the storms, WalMart was there for them...IMMEDIATELY! They received on the spot assistance and the option to work immediately. Shucks, if all I had was a high school diploma, I'd probably work at Wal-Mart. Why not? Benefits, stock options, bonuses each year...

Many companies have their deep dark "secrets". If we knew about all of them, where would we shop? who would we support?

Ideal08 · #4 11-17-2005, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA2D '91
I haven't heard about the movie.

However, I do know that Wal-Mart takes care of its employees from the top to the bottom. Many of our assistants work their as their second job. There benefits are great! When many of their employees evacuated for the storms, WalMart was there for them...IMMEDIATELY! They received on the spot assistance and the option to work immediately. Shucks, if all I had was a high school diploma, I'd probably work at Wal-Mart. Why not? Benefits, stock options, bonuses each year...

Many companies have their deep dark "secrets". If we knew about all of them, where would we shop? who would we support?

Wow! One of the things they focused on in the movie was that the employees didn't get good benefits. They encourage their employees to seek public assistance and will even help with the paperwork?! 70-some odd percent (I think that's right) of their employees get government assistance of some sort (WIC, welfare, food stamps, etc).

I don't think it's about not supporting the businesses. I think it's more about forcing them to do what's right in order to continue supporting them. I'm sure ALL corporations have their deep dark secrets. But if those secrets come to light, should they be ignored? I don't know who we'd support. I guess mom & pop stores?

It's why I feel conflicted about boycotting them. Clearly, the people who work there NEED the jobs; I don't want anyone out of work. However, I also do not want people mistreated because they NEED the job and have nowhere else to work. It's not fair labor. They have too many class action lawsuits for all their employees to be totally happy. Like I said, I don't know, but it definitely has me thinking.

Robert Greenwald produced it.

Honeykiss1974 · #5 11-17-2005, 01:00 PM

Good point AKA2D91

And as with anything, some locations are probably managed poorly (ie the one in my city) as opposed to others where the managment really takes care of their employees.

nikki1920 · #6 11-17-2005, 03:12 PM

I can vouch for the assistance part. A lot of my clients work at Wal-Mart. The catch is usually that the health insurance costs are too expensive to cover the employee and their family. So a lot of my clients have Medicaid for their children.

Wal-Mart has put a lot of mom-and-pops out of business, but SOMETHING they are doing is working or else they would not be the powerhouse that they are now. As for hiring illegal workers, that goes on everywhere. There are ways to verify someone's SSN, and if it's a duplicate that will come up too. I do this everyday as part of my job.

And like every other chain store, like HK1974 said, it depends on how the store is managed and what its employee make up is like.

AlphaFrog · #7 11-17-2005, 03:19 PM

I worked at Wal-Mart in high school.

My General Manager bought a vacation house in Vale CO with his Holiday bonus.

nikki- Start Menu>Programs>Accsessories>System Tools>Character Map Pick your font and all of your accents/marks will be there. Ami me gusta hablar espanol, y tu?

AKA2D '91 · #8 11-17-2005, 03:33 PM

Re: Moms and Pops
You are SOOOOO correct on that. The moms and pops were so convenient to get to. However, many have lost their business to the competition of one stop shopping.

Bonuses:
I wouldn't mind working at the Walmart here. Many stores are still not operating. One store was open for almost 2 months before the nearest location opened almost 2 weeks ago. I KNOW that store's employee's bonuses will be HUGE! Last year, my former assistant received at least $1200 as a part of her bonus.

Also regarding the health coverage, many of the employees their working their 2nd job aren't in it for the benefits. They either get the benefits via the hubby or their regular job.

UrbanizdSkillz · #9 11-17-2005, 03:47 PM

I can't stand Wal-Mart. I despise having to go in there and when I do, I run in and get what I need. What people fail to realize with Wal Mart is while it does make merchandise that would be otherwise out of reach affordable for the working poor is that at the same time, it keeps the working poor just that. Poor.

AlphaFrog · #10 11-17-2005, 04:05 PM

Ok...those of you that hate Wal-Mart...

Propose an alternative...

It irritates me when people talk about something like Wal-mart as such a problem, but have no solution.

RedRoseSAI · #11 11-17-2005, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AlphaFrog
Ok...those of you that hate Wal-Mart...

Propose an alternative...

It irritates me when people talk about something like Wal-mart as such a problem, but have no solution.

How about the hardware store, grocery store, clothing shops, etc.. If you're looking for a discount store alternative, my answer to that is TARGET!

I live quite happily without Wal-Mart in my life.

Ideal08 · #12 11-17-2005, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AlphaFrog
Ok...those of you that hate Wal-Mart...

Propose an alternative...

It irritates me when people talk about something like Wal-mart as such a problem, but have no solution.

You can never even BEGIN to talk about a solution until you completely understand the problem. Otherwise, you are making uninformed decisions. I apologize if creating a conversation where different view points are discussed allowing us to learn from one another in order to perhaps make an informed decision in the future has made you uncomfortable. If you are that irritated, perhaps this isn't the thread for you.

My goodness...

nikki1920 · #13 11-17-2005, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AlphaFrog
I worked at Wal-Mart in high school.

My General Manager bought a vacation house in Vale CO with his Holiday bonus.

nikki- Start Menu>Programs>Accsessories>System Tools>Character Map Pick your font and all of your accents/marks will be there. Ami me gusta hablar espanol, y tu?

Gracias! Me gusta hablar espanol, tambien. Pero no me gusta me trabajo en este momento porque no puedo hace (I can't do) este renewal.....argh!

AlphaFrog · #14 11-17-2005, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RedRoseSAI
If you're looking for a discount store alternative, my answer to that is TARGET!

What makes Target so different from Wal-Mart...except slightly higher prices for the same or slightly more "brand name" items.

I'm not uncomfortable, and I'm really wanting people to "discuss different veiwpoints", but that includes, not only saying "I hate XYZ" but saying why and proposing alternatives. That is key in a good debate. I'm really not as worked up as you're apparently thinking I am.

Ideal08 · #15 11-17-2005, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AlphaFrog
What makes Target so different from Wal-Mart...except slightly higher prices for the same or slightly more "brand name" items.

I'm not uncomfortable, and I'm really wanting people to "discuss different veiwpoints", but that includes, not only saying "I hate XYZ" but saying why and proposing alternatives. That is key in a good debate. I'm really not as worked up as you're apparently thinking I am.

And saying "I don't know" is not appropriate for a "good debate?" Must we all have an alternative TODAY, RIGHT NOW? Or can we just discuss the issue? I don't have an alternative right now because I haven't completely made the decision to not shop there. Which was the reason why I started this thread, to generate conversation (because there are two sides to every story, so I'm not totally convinced that the Walmart movie is the gospel), not necessarily to wage a war against Walmart and come up with solutions and alternatives. I didn't know it had to be a debate.