I love their prices, but not the cost it comes to for other independent suppliers and for their employees. They have some human rights issues and can buy out a lawsuit easily so while my morals don't exactly agree with them, heading over once in a while to pick up some cheap Shopper's Drug Mart- and even clothing-alternatives does make my wallet smile.

I had a Wal-Mart at my school too and hated the townies just hanging out inside or outside of the place but as a college student, you dont' have much choice. 

Eventually I moved onto Wegman's (much better), but that's when I had some money in my pocket to spend. 

@frozenfire55608@xanga - i kind of think they ARE ruining the world! haha. i mean, they're literally just taking over. we have 2 wal marts in the city i go to school. is that really necessary?

I hate Super Walmarts, but I like the smaller marketplaces they've just started.  It's more like a grocery store than a regular walmart.  No toys, sports equipment or things like that.  The prices are still low and I can get in and out quickly.  I still have to go to the big store occasionally, but my trips have definitely been reduced.

having been part of a compensation plan modeled after WalMart, and having been made aware of management and staffing practices,  I wouldn't spend a dime of YOU money there.  I'll gladly pay a little more or do without utterly.

Yeah, it's a strong opinion.

I don't care for some of their business practices.  I go there at Christmas if it's the only place that has what I'm looking for.  Otherwise, I spend my money elsewhere.

The people who work there are pretty rude.  I prefer to go to Harris Teeter of Target.

I support Wal-Mart on all fronts.  They give me everything I practically ever need, and at reasonable prices.  It beats driving around town to several different places, just to pay more at each stop.  I suppose some people like Target or whatever better.  That's fine; people should be allowed to shop where they like. 

I think a lot of the Wal-Mart bashing is unjustified though.  Do they have lower wages?  Yes.  But guess what?  They're apparently providing people with the best possible job at the moment, else they would be working elsewhere.  Wal-Mart wages are still better than being unemployed.  If we were to mass legislation forcing them to pay more, prices are going to go up, and some jobs are going to be lost as well.  If we forced everybody to "pay well", then suddenly everything is more expensive, potentially making that extra money you're earning a moot point (especially so if you got laid off, and you're actually not making that extra money because the government essentially made your job illegal, despite your wishes).

Plus, Wal-Mart has been running a stable business model, and hasn't required government bailouts.  Sure, GM may have had much better pay and a great pension plan, but does that really matter as much if they lay off half their workforce?  If a business model isn't sustainable or solvent, it's going to do more harm in the long run.

Has Wal-Mart driven "mom and pop" shops out of business?  Sure.  But tell me where you've got these other stores that pay awesome wages?  Odds are, the employees there weren't raking it in.  Plus, Wal-Mart offers more options and better prices.  Any "gains" in wages at these little stores come at the cost of higher prices and driving all over town. 

Then there's the fact that they don't buy 'merican.  Is this really the problem that we make it out to be?  Do you care if your new garden hose was built in Indiana as opposed to Georgia? The point is, you're still buying from a person.  If we impose protectionist policies, then we're just putting other people out of business (and typically, those are poor people in other countries).  But we don't mind holding a 3rd world country in poverty so long as Joe the Plumber can keep his full pay and benefits, and heaven forbid ever having to take a different job.  I'm not meaning to downplay the plight of people here who are having economic troubles, but when we impose protectionism, it must be remembered that our "gains" will come at somebody else's expense.  And of course, it will come at the American consumer's expense as well, if they have to pay more for everything.  Then, suddenly Joe the plumber if finding out everything suddenly is more expensive, which will perhaps negate any gain in his pay. 

Different companies and different countries and different regions of the world are more efficient at doing and making different things.  We shouldn't stiffle efficiency.  Should the U.S. always have to make all of it's own 2 cent plastic toys, or is it ok for somebody else to do that while we make more capitally intensive goods, such as airplanes and computer processers. 

Ok, I suppose I got a little off topic there.  I'll just stop and say that I like Wal-Mart, and so long as they aren't doing anything illegal or forcing people to do things against there will, whatever they do should be allowed.  Voluntary cooperation of free individuals isn't always such a bad idea. 

I liked it before it was SUPER. I liked the little Walmarts of my childhood, those were my favorite. :p

i think that wal-mart is alright, i don't do much shopping there. i like target better. but i try to avoid people when i go.

No Walmart in South Africa

I love Walmart, although my boyfriend says this is the wrong question to ask him on a Friday. He works at Walmart overnight and tonight will be the first night back after having 2 days off. Anyway, there's rarely ever a time where I can not find what I need at Walmart so I think it's the best place on Earth.