I've always believe that a person can run out of food, but that person better not run out of toilet paper. It is a sin to be without that.
An this is why the problem will persist Not blaming you in particular Ches just the mind set of convenience trumping everything. I doubt people in your position research alternatives because its just plain too easy not to.
In my case, you're wrong. I HAVE researched alternatives. I've watched Extreme Couponing, I've shopped at Costco in the past, I've shopped at Target, K-Mart, etc. I've found what works for my budget. Aldi for groceries, dollar stores for non-food items, but Wal-Mart is still a benefit to me for a few things: cosmetics, housewares, etc. The other stores are still more expensive. And it doesn't make sense to me to run to the other side of the county (and waste gas) to avoid going to a Wal-Mart. But I limit my shopping there to the things that I either can't get at Aldi or are too expensive to buy elsewhere. The way to shut down a Wal-Mart is before it's built, not after. We have 2 superstores and a regular Wal-Mart in our county. The north end of the county doesn't have one and they proposed to bring one to that area but people took action and complained: wrote letters to the editor, signed petitions, did whatever they could to protest it. The result? No Wal-Mart.
I was just using Costco as an example of a company that can pay it's employess a living wage, decent benefits, and still turn a profit every year. Compare that to Sam's Club which pays its employees less and also makes less money, despite having more stores across the country. Other good examples are ALDI and Trader Joe's. We got an ALDI where I live recently and it's the first place I normally go when it's time to do the grocery shopping. My overall point is that given how much profit Wal-Mart turns every year there is absolutely no reason why they can't pay their employees more than they do.
This, I absolutely agree with. However, I don't know what Wal-Mart employees get paid in my area, but honestly, I doubt that people who are employed at Target or K-mart here make much more. Costco is different than Wal-Mart in that it's a no-frills box store. You're literally shopping out of a warehouse, so it can't really be compared to Wal-Mart, but yes, it is an alternative to Wal-Mart. Costco just never made sense for us when I was married, because the commissary/exchange was cheaper and we didn't need to buy in bulk. And now, I have very little room to store items in bulk (including toilet paper! Lol) so I buy stuff like that at the dollar stores. Dollar General carries many of the same items found at Wal-Mart and grocery stores, but just a little bit cheaper. As for clothing items, not only is Target more expensive than Wal-mart their quality is worse. When our Target first opened years ago, I shopped there and I've checked back since and still find it to be inferior. I simply can't afford to waste my money on inferior products just to prove a point. And this may sound unkind, but it's the truth, at least at my local Wal-Mart: The majority of the employees don't deserve to make more than minimum wage. You can rarely find a sales associate except in electronics, and if you do, they have no clue where products are and couldn't care less about helping you find them. I'm familiar enough with the store now that I don't need that help any more, but truly: high school kids at McDonald's, making minimum wage, work harder than any Wal-Mart employee I've ever seen. Jmo.
it s interesting that you guys are mentioning aldi. we dont have most of the other companies you are talking about here, but aldi (german company, btw) is one of the bigger discounters here and i m glad i can agree with you, they pay the better wages here, too. i dont know how they are set up in the states, but here they mainly supply food. they do have offers of any kind (clothes, household stuff etc) weekly changing, but you cant supply yourself with those items there constantly. still, if you dig deeper, it s sad to say that they (like others) can supply us with affordable clothes only, coz they are producing them in countries at low wages and often with very bad work conditions. so in the end, it s not the employees paying for the price, but someone does.
Yeah you haven't been around so mind your own business. Don't you have more ills of the black community to report?
Not at all. You are a prime example of what's become the norm amongst Christians in this country. A shit ton of lip service but very little thought or action when it comes to living like Christ. It's easier now than ever to find ways to be more considerate and in support of our fellow man but we'd rather choose convenience over what's right. You don't have room for bulk items? Such bs. I live in a one bedroom apartment and have more than enough room. People will use any excuse to be lazy and its sad especially the holy rollers amongst us.
Rarely do you piss me off any more, but this time you crossed a line. You have no clue what my life is like or how I live, TDK. When you've walked in my shoes, you can comment on my life. Until then, stfu.
Quite true. And depending on where you are, it's more or less representative of the majority ethnic group in that area. Rural areas - all white; urban areas - more racial minorities. But there are poor people in every group and more whites in absolute terms than minorities in every category. Minorities just tend to be disproportionately represented relative to our share of the overall population.
I've stayed civilized for more than 2-1/2 years. I have better things to do like avoiding bankruptcy and foreclosure on my house. Again, when you've walked in my shoes, then you can comment. Thanks for making the decision to leave the forum easier than I thought.
There's a yearly fee to shop at Costco and Sam's Club (which is part of Walmart, BTW). So, if someone is living paycheck to paycheck, the yearly fee to buy stuff in bulk may not be an option. When I was pregnant, I checked out the prices of buying diapers in bulk at Sam's Club and found that Target's generic brand diapers (that worked wonderfully) were better priced than the Pampers or Huggies bulk diapers I could have bought at Sam's Club. Today, I don't hold a membership to either store because it's an expense I don't need for stores I would rarely shop at anyway. But that's just me. I avoid Walmart at all costs as much as I can. There are times when I'm forced to shop there for a particular item and I hate myself for it, but there aren't any other options. I do shop at Target on a near daily basis, though. That place is my vice. LOL.
You and me both. I am lucky enough to live in an area with two Targets within 15 minutes of me, including one that is within walking distance. They get way too much of my money
