Wal-mart

Andy A.

I think Sam Walton was an honest hard working man. I met him once and was amazed at how nice and down to earth he was. I don't think the Wal-Mart we know now has anything to do with him.

As I stated when I started this thread this all started for me 5 years ago when I had an older lady that was an employee of Wal-Mart and I found out how bad their coverage was. She paid almost $100.00 per month (she could not afford that) for short term disability insurance they offered, that when she needed it did not pay....not one dime. Through research I found out they never pay out on those type policies. She would have been better off without it and saved her $100.00 per month. This was not their health insurance plan, which she had as well, this was just a short term disability plan.

Just two weeks ago I had a guy who came in to our clinic and he could not afford the $1,000.00 deductible he had on his policy. It started over again at the first of January which means it would cost another $1,000.00 in just a few short weeks.

Here are some of their stats for you:


All of Wal-Mart's Health Plans Are Too Costly for Its Workers to Use

Since the average full-time Wal-Mart employee earned $17,114 in 2005, he or she would have to spend between 7 and 25 percent of his or her income just to cover the premiums and medical deductibles, if electing for single coverage. [Wal-Mart 2006 Associate Guide and UFCW analysis]

The average full-time employee electing for family coverage would have to spend between 22 and 40 percent of his or her income just to cover the premiums and medical deductibles. These costs do not include other health-related expenses such as medical co-pays, prescription coverage, emergency room deductibles, and ambulance deductibles. [Wal-Mart 2006 Associate Guide and UFCW Analysis].
Wal-Mart trumps the affordability of its new health care plan. According to Wal-Mart, "In January [2006], ...Coverage will be available for as little as $22 per month for individuals" [www.walmartfacts.com]

What Wal-Mart's website leaves out: Coverage is affordable, but using it will bankrupt many employees. Wal-Mart's most affordable plan for 2006 includes a $1,000 deductible for single coverage and a $3,000 deductible for family coverage ($1,000 deductible per person covered up to $3,000). [Wal-Mart 2006 Associate Guide]

The estimated total amount of federal assistance for which Wal-Mart employees were eligible in 2004 was $2.5 billion. [The Hidden Price We All Pay For Wal-Mart, A Report By The Democratic Staff Of The Committee On Education And The Workforce, 2/16/04]
One 200-employee Wal-Mart store may cost federal taxpayers $420,750 per year. This cost comes from the following, on average:
$36,000 a year for free and reduced lunches for just 50 qualifying Wal-Mart families.
$42,000 a year for low-income housing assistance.
$125,000 a year for federal tax credits and deductions for low-income families.
$100,000 a year for the additional expenses for programs for students.
$108,000 a year for the additional federal health care costs of moving into state children's health insurance programs (S-CHIP)
$9,750 a year for the additional costs for low income energy assistance.
[The Hidden Price We All Pay For Wal-Mart, A Report By The Democratic Staff Of The Committee On Education And The Workforce, 2/16/04]


Your tax dollars subsidize Wal-Mart's growth

The first ever national report on Wal-Mart subsidies documented at least $1 billion in subsidies from state and local governments.
A Wal-Mart official stated that "it is common" for the company to request subsidies "in about one-third of all [retail] projects." This would suggest that over a thousand Wal-Mart stores have been subsidized. ["Shopping For Subsidies: How Wal-Mart Uses Taxpayer Money to Finance Its Never-Ending Growth," Good Job First, May 2004]

All of the above would remain true for the same people even if they weren't working at Walmart. They would still get food assistance, income tax subsidies in the form of eitc and child tax credits, and all the other stuff on the list. That Walmart is the largest private employer in America contributes to the fact that as a group the employees get more in services from the government-there are just so many people workng there.

WOW ! Makes me want to call my Broker on Sunday and say BUY BUY BUY! That is just sickening, Pun intended!

BB your post is FACT! I have had family members work for them for several years and they still met everyone of those Fed handouts!

Sam Walton was a TRUE American, Greed and power will be the demise of WM now...Looks like its not to far down the road IMO.. Better watch those stocks close, Looks like WM is having a very slow 3rd and 4th Qtr this year. Hummm, Don't get me going on the SEC and the stock markets and MM's! another thread...

Merry Christmas to all!

What's the pun? I saw someone else post in another thread about a pun. And I didn't see one there either.

If people value service and quality so much why do stores around a Wal Mart close?

Andy A.

I think Sam Walton was an honest hard working man. I met him once and was amazed at how nice and down to earth he was. I don't think the Wal-Mart we know now has anything to do with him.

As I stated when I started this thread this all started for me 5 years ago when I had an older lady that was an employee of Wal-Mart and I found out how bad their coverage was. She paid almost $100.00 per month (she could not afford that) for short term disability insurance they offered, that when she needed it did not pay....not one dime. Through research I found out they never pay out on those type policies. She would have been better off without it and saved her $100.00 per month. This was not their health insurance plan, which she had as well, this was just a short term disability plan.

Just two weeks ago I had a guy who came in to our clinic and he could not afford the $1,000.00 deductible he had on his policy. It started over again at the first of January which means it would cost another $1,000.00 in just a few short weeks.

Here are some of their stats for you:


All of Wal-Mart's Health Plans Are Too Costly for Its Workers to Use

Since the average full-time Wal-Mart employee earned $17,114 in 2005, he or she would have to spend between 7 and 25 percent of his or her income just to cover the premiums and medical deductibles, if electing for single coverage. [Wal-Mart 2006 Associate Guide and UFCW analysis]

The average full-time employee electing for family coverage would have to spend between 22 and 40 percent of his or her income just to cover the premiums and medical deductibles. These costs do not include other health-related expenses such as medical co-pays, prescription coverage, emergency room deductibles, and ambulance deductibles. [Wal-Mart 2006 Associate Guide and UFCW Analysis].
Wal-Mart trumps the affordability of its new health care plan. According to Wal-Mart, "In January [2006], ...Coverage will be available for as little as $22 per month for individuals" [www.walmartfacts.com]

What Wal-Mart's website leaves out: Coverage is affordable, but using it will bankrupt many employees. Wal-Mart's most affordable plan for 2006 includes a $1,000 deductible for single coverage and a $3,000 deductible for family coverage ($1,000 deductible per person covered up to $3,000). [Wal-Mart 2006 Associate Guide]

Maybe lower prices at your clinic? If they can get 3 times the service for the same money that would effectively lower their deductible to $333.

Andy A.

I think Sam Walton was an honest hard working man. I met him once and was amazed at how nice and down to earth he was. I don't think the Wal-Mart we know now has anything to do with him.

As I stated when I started this thread this all started for me 5 years ago when I had an older lady that was an employee of Wal-Mart and I found out how bad their coverage was. She paid almost $100.00 per month (she could not afford that) for short term disability insurance they offered, that when she needed it did not pay....not one dime. Through research I found out they never pay out on those type policies. She would have been better off without it and saved her $100.00 per month. This was not their health insurance plan, which she had as well, this was just a short term disability plan.

Just two weeks ago I had a guy who came in to our clinic and he could not afford the $1,000.00 deductible he had on his policy. It started over again at the first of January which means it would cost another $1,000.00 in just a few short weeks.

Here are some of their stats for you:


All of Wal-Mart's Health Plans Are Too Costly for Its Workers to Use

Since the average full-time Wal-Mart employee earned $17,114 in 2005, he or she would have to spend between 7 and 25 percent of his or her income just to cover the premiums and medical deductibles, if electing for single coverage. [Wal-Mart 2006 Associate Guide and UFCW analysis]

The average full-time employee electing for family coverage would have to spend between 22 and 40 percent of his or her income just to cover the premiums and medical deductibles. These costs do not include other health-related expenses such as medical co-pays, prescription coverage, emergency room deductibles, and ambulance deductibles. [Wal-Mart 2006 Associate Guide and UFCW Analysis].
Wal-Mart trumps the affordability of its new health care plan. According to Wal-Mart, "In January [2006], ...Coverage will be available for as little as $22 per month for individuals" [www.walmartfacts.com]

What Wal-Mart's website leaves out: Coverage is affordable, but using it will bankrupt many employees. Wal-Mart's most affordable plan for 2006 includes a $1,000 deductible for single coverage and a $3,000 deductible for family coverage ($1,000 deductible per person covered up to $3,000). [Wal-Mart 2006 Associate Guide]

With that mentality I understand now... "That makes it Ok!" Gosh Gezzz Duhh me!

Merry Christmas to all! BTW Wal-Mart employees are not allowed to say that while on the clock... Interesting....

What's the pun? I saw someone else post in another thread about a pun. And I didn't see one there either.

LOL.. I will let the mystery remain, Sometimes its just better to let ones question stand as an answer...

Re: Wal-mart ot

FYI post watchers! Looks like this thread will make me 100+! Who woulda thought! 100 post party coming up soon LOL:rofl:

LOL.. I will let the mystery remain, Sometimes its just better to let ones question stand as an answer...

Gobbletygook to you to.

Gobbletygook to you to.

As-Salaam-Alaikum Back to ya!

FYI its spelled, Gobbledygook

Brings up another point, Being Christmas and all, Did anyone notice that Wal-Mart Destin , Andalusia and DFS (The only Three I looked at) Had only Christian decorations? I asked at all three for a simple "Star of David" ornament and to my surprise not one Jewish Holiday decoration! No I was not upset, Just surprised.

Oh and Merry Christmas to all!

Andy A--I worked for Wal Mart off and on in college, and I agree with some of what you said and what a lot of other people are saying: Sam Walton did have a great business model, and I think Wal Mart could have been a truly great thing.

Back when I worked there, they still carried all American-made products. Even then I was kind of selectively cynical and realized that American-made products could sometimes be really awful. (I drove a Volkswagen and a Toyota back then.) But if I was broke and needed toilet paper or a Huffy bicycle, Wal Mart provided it at a good price and gave another American a job.

I only worked part-time (and I was still young enough to be on my parents' insurance) so the benefits weren't an issue, but I was treated well. The management made sure I had breaks and that I wasn't in harm's way at any point (I worked in the garden center at one point, and assembled a LOT of grills.) One Christmas break, someone figured out that I was capable of doing a little more than a price check, and they sent me to another store to help with some year-end accounting--I literally punched numbers into an adding machine as fast as I could all day long for several days. But I was paid a little bit more than usual, and they paid mileage (which is usually more than what my car drinks.)

On the RARE occasions when I go to Wal Mart, I don't see anything like what I described. It's a big fat nightmare, and the only smiling face I see is on the signage. Wal Mart will probably continue to swell up like a tick now that it has latched onto its segment of the American economy, but I don't know that it's a good thing for those of us who don't own stock in it.

NoHall, Maybe one day I will learn to put into typed words the way you have of whats the bottom line. In person or "On The Air" I have no problems with it, But typing I lose some of what I am saying.. So in short thanks for sharing what I tried to say in 6 post in your one! (Bow)

Oh and Merry Christmas!

Andy A--I worked for Wal Mart off and on in college, and I agree with some of what you said and what a lot of other people are saying: Sam Walton did have a great business model, and I think Wal Mart could have been a truly great thing.

Back when I worked there, they still carried all American-made products. Even then I was kind of selectively cynical and realized that American-made products could sometimes be really awful. (I drove a Volkswagen and a Toyota back then.) But if I was broke and needed toilet paper or a Huffy bicycle, Wal Mart provided it at a good price and gave another American a job.

I only worked part-time (and I was still young enough to be on my parents' insurance) so the benefits weren't an issue, but I was treated well. The management made sure I had breaks and that I wasn't in harm's way at any point (I worked in the garden center at one point, and assembled a LOT of grills.) One Christmas break, someone figured out that I was capable of doing a little more than a price check, and they sent me to another store to help with some year-end accounting--I literally punched numbers into an adding machine as fast as I could all day long for several days. But I was paid a little bit more than usual, and they paid mileage (which is usually more than what my car drinks.)

On the RARE occasions when I go to Wal Mart, I don't see anything like what I described. It's a big fat nightmare, and the only smiling face I see is on the signage. Wal Mart will probably continue to swell up like a tick now that it has latched onto its segment of the American economy, but I don't know that it's a good thing for those of us who don't own stock in it.

I didn't mean to steal your thunder, though. I knew that I was repeating some sentiments that had already been expressed; I just wanted to throw in my own experience.

Merry Christmas to you, too!

Walmart started out innocently enough...bringing selection, convenience and jobs to far-flung cities across the nation. Thanks to Sam Walton's work ethic and it's "Made in the USA" pledge, Walmart was able to grow and thrive. But it really latched on to a killer business model when U.S. corporate greed took hold--effectively freezing employee wages while pushing for higher productivity and outsourcing production to third-world nations. Walmart, by then a retailing giant with the world's greatest distribution system, took advantage of its ability to demand the lowest prices from its suppliers. As a result, throughout the years, it continually increased Americans' purchasing power without (U.S. corporations) having to make commensurate increases in employee wages.

Because of Walmart, America was able to morph from what once was a world-class manufacturing/industrial nation into a service-oriented (and lower wage) nation without much notice.

Even though many people despise Walmart and declare they will never cast their shadow across its doorstep, in the end, the majority of the dollars they spend eventually do make their way through Walmart (and subsequently to China) by way of low-wage workers on down the supply chain. You may be able to spend your money at the "Prada Bags R' US," but rest assured, that $8.15 clerk will be buying their daily bread from the Reduced Price rack at Wally-World.

Walmart is the reason we haven't been "aware" of the inflation that has been going on around us for years and years....but now its gotten so bad, prices are rising and nothing can hold it back any longer--not even Walmart.

.

I went to Wal-Mart yesterday here in town. Lots better than fighting the Buckhead traffic just to get the new Alicia Keyes CD as a stocking stuffer for hubby. Friday it was taking an hour just to get in and out of the parking lot at Lenox Square once you had arrived. Phipps wasn't bad.

BR slumin in Walmart my oh my!!

BR slumin in Walmart my oh my!!

...good for you, BR! You must be getting brave in your old age!

Viva la Target!

...good for you, BR! You must be getting brave in your old age!

Viva la Target!

There's not a Target in our town.

Walmart started out innocently enough...bringing selection, convenience and jobs to far-flung cities across the nation. Thanks to Sam Walton's work ethic and it's "Made in the USA" pledge, Walmart was able to grow and thrive. But it really latched on to a killer business model when U.S. corporate greed took hold--effectively freezing employee wages while pushing for higher productivity and outsourcing production to third-world nations. Walmart, by then a retailing giant with the world's greatest distribution system, took advantage of its ability to demand the lowest prices from its suppliers. As a result, throughout the years, it continually increased Americans' purchasing power without (U.S. corporations) having to make commensurate increases in employee wages.

Because of Walmart, America was able to morph from what once was a world-class manufacturing/industrial nation into a service-oriented (and lower wage) nation without much notice.

Even though many people despise Walmart and declare they will never cast their shadow across its doorstep, in the end, the majority of the dollars they spend eventually do make their way through Walmart (and subsequently to China) by way of low-wage workers on down the supply chain. You may be able to spend your money at the "Prada Bags R' US," but rest assured, that $8.15 clerk will be buying their daily bread from the Reduced Price rack at Wally-World.

Walmart is the reason we haven't been "aware" of the inflation that has been going on around us for years and years....but now its gotten so bad, prices are rising and nothing can hold it back any longer--not even Walmart.

.

Yeh !!! What she said! :boxing:

Because of Walmart, America was able to morph from what once was a world-class manufacturing/industrial nation into a service-oriented (and lower wage) nation without much notice.

Walmart is the reason we haven't been "aware" of the inflation that has been going on around us for years and years....but now its gotten so bad, prices are rising and nothing can hold it back any longer--not even Walmart.

Thank you! Much better explanation than my simple "Walmart is evil and will destroy us all!"

Thank you! Much better explanation than my simple "Walmart is evil and will destroy us all!"

Walmart isn't evil...it's made itself a necessity in what the U.S. has become. (Kinda like the way we view the microwave oven and computer.)


.

Well, I guess you all answered my question. You all really do hate Wal Mart. I could tell you a story about the nicest thing I have ever had happen to me at a store...right here in Destin, but with all the attitudes I've seen here and the questionable "facts" I've noticed which were posted, why bother. To make everyone happy I'll just sell the few shares of stock I have and realize how "evil" Wal Mart really is. Yeah, right! Some of you really need to understand what make America the great county it really is and it isn't just companies like Wal Mart.

Please tell us how you think that companies like WalMart, which I know of no other comparison, make this Country great. I'm just waiting to hear that.

Here is another thought: Sam Walton would roll over in his grave if he knew that WalMart was selling dog food, branded after his own dog, Old Roy, which was made in China, using products which killed dogs.

Among the many problems Walmart has either caused, or contributed to, not the least is the almost complete demise of the "Mom and Pop" stores...in my kinder moments, I want to believe that Sam Walton didn't really intend this...just the way Robert Davies may not have intended what Seaside is becoming...there is much to ponder about "Unforeseen Results..."

For an indepth study of consumerism in this country, read "Consumed" by Benjamin Barber...

Walmart was/is inevitable. An American's time is intrinsically no more valuable than a monkey's or a chinese's or a mexican's when the job is pulling a lever, pushing a button, sewing undies on a doll, etc..The world is being commoditized and it is a race to the bottom in free marketry. I am not condemning or praising..just observing. Learn some skills and differentiate products -offer the non commoditized or educate the customer as to why your product is better. I rarely shop at Walmart. But I will if they have something I want, like many I prefer Target for that kind of item or better yet Amazon and have it brought to my doorstep. I am all for shopping local when local is a better value i.e For the Health of It on certain grocery items, Toni's for fresh available produce (Stan's when he was around). My cousin was looking for a beach umbrella over the summer Grayton was $24 or something-Walmart was $6..so was Wings but I really don't like those places. I am not paying 4 times for the exact same crap item. Speaking of put $ where the mouth is and go shop the local spots keep the fresh food places around so I can keep buying from them. I just don't believe in demonizing a company for doing what it is supposed to do and we ask for and commend as a people. That being said it is forums and debate like this that can change the way companies do business.