A word about Wal-Mart...
In the next week, I will "have to" spend upwards of $150 at Wal-Mart, maybe more. I have tried switching to Target, but there's something about "them" that I don't like. I can be a picky SOB, and so, when I walk around their stores all the "teenagers" that work there have their walkie-talkies blaring instructions from their supervisors on where to go and what to do. It gives me a headache. I have complained. I told them to wear ear pieces and not bother the customers. They have chosen not to listen. And so they lose my $5000+ a year that I typically spend on restocking items for the truck. I tried K-Mart or Sears/KMart or whatever they call themselves these days. Their stores are pathetic. Not only are there no customers inside, there is little or no merchandise. As far as I'm concerned, they are already out of business. I have tried to "spread" our hard-earned dollars around to HEB, Publix, Walgreen's, CVS and Lowe's, but that's a lot of driving, walking and dealing with too many people and systems. So, as they say, all factors point toward Wal-Mart. But that really bothers me. This Sunday morning while eating my bowl of Sam's Choice extra raisin bran cereal, I noticed on the side of the box: "Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart, listened to his customers, understood their needs, and found ways to offer quality products to them at everyday lower prices." But does that mean having over 20,000 suppliers in China? I guess I'm really all for a global economy, but I don't know if I can accept everything I buy being from China or Mexico. Perhaps it's too late. No one ever asked me in the first place. It kinda just happened. But paying anyone - Chinese, Mexican or American $ .25 a day (week?) to work in shitty conditions without any health insurance while polluting the planet is wrong. And I think Wal-Mart knows that. What to do about it is another matter. I don't know the answer. But for now, it's back to Wal-Mart whether I like it or not.
In the next week, I will "have to" spend upwards of $150 at Wal-Mart, maybe more. I have tried switching to Target, but there's something about "them" that I don't like. I can be a picky SOB, and so, when I walk around their stores all the "teenagers" that work there have their walkie-talkies blaring instructions from their supervisors on where to go and what to do. It gives me a headache. I have complained. I told them to wear ear pieces and not bother the customers. They have chosen not to listen. And so they lose my $5000+ a year that I typically spend on restocking items for the truck. I tried K-Mart or Sears/KMart or whatever they call themselves these days. Their stores are pathetic. Not only are there no customers inside, there is little or no merchandise. As far as I'm concerned, they are already out of business. I have tried to "spread" our hard-earned dollars around to HEB, Publix, Walgreen's, CVS and Lowe's, but that's a lot of driving, walking and dealing with too many people and systems. So, as they say, all factors point toward Wal-Mart. But that really bothers me. This Sunday morning while eating my bowl of Sam's Choice extra raisin bran cereal, I noticed on the side of the box: "Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart, listened to his customers, understood their needs, and found ways to offer quality products to them at everyday lower prices." But does that mean having over 20,000 suppliers in China? I guess I'm really all for a global economy, but I don't know if I can accept everything I buy being from China or Mexico. Perhaps it's too late. No one ever asked me in the first place. It kinda just happened. But paying anyone - Chinese, Mexican or American $ .25 a day (week?) to work in shitty conditions without any health insurance while polluting the planet is wrong. And I think Wal-Mart knows that. What to do about it is another matter. I don't know the answer. But for now, it's back to Wal-Mart whether I like it or not. 