Walmart

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Corral

No the point is that walmarts and similar retailers are the product of the same ideology of government espoused by the ucp reformers etc. Small government less regulation. Let the market decide. Guess what. The market picks Walmart as its retail winner. Most consumers don’t care about dirty floors or poor working conditions until they face those conditions themselves. And markets will always drive down wages for the working class and so raise demand for cheaper retail goods. Walmart loves Jason Kenny

I'm not defending Walmart specifically here, but some of my worst working experiences have been for small businesses. Many are owned by ego-maniacs who are also cheap. They can also get away with skirting around labour laws, as it's difficult for a single employee to do anything about it, particularly if they are dependent on their paycheque.

Big corporations generally have a minimum standard of employment they maintain. They have to deal with unionized employees and the press. Generally, places like Walmart also have lock step automatic raises. For people who are doing mindless light labour work, you don't always get that in small businesses. Starting salaries in both scenarios are typically dictated by minimum wage, and not evil CEOs.

I've also had good experiences working for small companies, but there are drawbacks and benefits to both scenarios.

[_Q_]

The Walmart hate I understand, hating on Superstore, however is weird.

[HockeyIlliterate]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

This isn't a 3rd world country. Nobody in Canada has to accept these working conditions and if consumers don't care about dirty floors then they don't care about dirty floors. I despise the Superstore experience but I understand why it's so busy and I don't hold it against the shoppers that may be living paycheck to paycheck that appreciate the opportunity to save every penny they can.

The irony, of course, is that perhaps the shoppers are living paycheck to paycheck because they are shopping at a place that has driven down the prices so much that the employees (of both the shopping store and of the store that sells the goods sold at the store) are paid low wages in order for the employer to remain in existence.

Everyone likes low prices, until they realize that the low prices is why they are out of a job or not paid very much for the job.

And, by then, there isn't much that they can do about it, except continue to shop at the low price store.

[zamler]

First world problems.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by HockeyIlliterate

The irony, of course, is that perhaps the shoppers are living paycheck to paycheck because they are shopping at a place that has driven down the prices so much that the employees (of both the shopping store and of the store that sells the goods sold at the store) are paid low wages in order for the employer to remain in existence.

Everyone likes low prices, until they realize that the low prices is why they are out of a job or not paid very much for the job.

And, by then, there isn't much that they can do about it, except continue to shop at the low price store.

Walmart doesn’t pay low wages because paying more will put them out of business. They pay low wages because enough people support their business model for them to do so and ethics are not high enough on the company’s priority list.

[HockeyIlliterate]

[Quote isn't working for me]

As to Wal-Mart, that is how it is now, but not how it was when Wal-Mart was starting out.

And because Wal-Mart was so ruthless on costs with both suppliers and workers, the mom-and-pop stores in the smaller communities couldn't compete and shut down, thereby resulting in employment issues in the small towns.

As to Wal-Mart suppliers, they are certainly paying low wages in order to stay in business and supply Wal-Mart with the cheap goods that Wal-Mart sells at low prices.

[Ped]

Quote not working for me either.


I watched that Wal-mart anti-union video expecting it to not be that bad. I'm not a pro union guy by any stretch but holy crap was that so blatantly terrible and manipulative.

[flamingred89]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

This is the most ridiculous thing i have read on here the past 2 years.

You win!

Obviously you have never had the 3am, after the bar, experience of Mcvalue menu wonders. Or when you are 7 years old and your friend has a birthday party in the mcplay area and you had McDonald’s pizza.

Now tell me it’s not one of the happiest places on earth...

Edit. Forgot to add McDonald’s orange drink on hot dog day in elementary school.

[Rando]

Originally Posted by _Q_

The Walmart hate I understand, hating on Superstore, however is weird.

It's okay I guess, better than Wal-Mart? Maybe, but I wouldn't put it way above. Worse grocery store experience is when you get stuck behind a struggler or two at Superstore who think bagging their own groceries is an all-day event.

Superstore cashier has to be the easiest job in the world.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Ped

Quote not working for me either.


I watched that Wal-mart anti-union video expecting it to not be that bad. I'm not a pro union guy by any stretch but holy crap was that so blatantly terrible and manipulative.

Just another reason not to shop at Walmart.

Lowe’s, amazon and target(among others) do the same thing. They’re all on YouTube as well.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Rando

Superstore cashier has to be the easiest job in the world.

I don’t think I’d enjoy standing all day in one place dealing with customers who can’t bag their groceries quickly while you’re trying to hit productivity targets for items scanned per hour. But to each their own I guess.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

Walmart doesn’t pay low wages because paying more will put them out of business. They pay low wages because enough people support their business model for them to do so and ethics are not high enough on the company’s priority list.

Really it’s ethics aren’t high enough on their customers priority list.

[Rando]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

I don’t think I’d enjoy standing all day in one place dealing with customers who can’t bag their groceries quickly while you’re trying to hit productivity targets for items scanned per hour. But to each their own I guess.

Never said it was the most enjoyable job in the world, said it might be the easiest.

[iggypop]

Originally Posted by _Q_

The Walmart hate I understand, hating on Superstore, however is weird.

And click and collect is the bomb. Superstore pricing without even going in the store.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by GGG

Really it’s ethics aren’t high enough on their customers priority list.

I agree. I was alluding to that in my post when I stated their customers support their business model. However I also believe that many Walmart shoppers shop their out of necessity rather than by choice. When so many are struggling to make ends meet it’s hard to expect people to pay more for something even if the cheaper product is inferior.

[Tyler]

Walmart over Superstore any day of the week. Eff that place.

[Fuzz]

Depends on the Superstore. Some are absolutely miserable, but the one I go to is really good. Sunday morning while the churchies are busy, go at 9:30, and all the tills open at 10, it's pretty great. Produce is way better than Safeway, and probably half the price.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

I don’t think I’d enjoy standing all day in one place dealing with customers who can’t bag their groceries quickly while you’re trying to hit productivity targets for items scanned per hour. But to each their own I guess.

Isn't Superstore unionized? No need to hit productivity targets then.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Depends on the Superstore. Some are absolutely miserable, but the one I go to is really good. Sunday morning while the churchies are busy, go at 9:30, and all the tills open at 10, it's pretty great. Produce is way better than Safeway, and probably half the price.

If you are talking about the one on Centre St, it’s not bad. But now Save-On opened up just on 64th by Deerfoot so it’s a good option too. My wife hates going to other grocery stores besides Costco and Superstore, buy Save-On has some of the best bread.

Side note - T&T is selling some Vietnamese sub buns and they are awesome when toasted.

[Shazam]

I saw a fistfight in the produce section at the Superstore.