Would Jesus Shop at Wal Mart?

I went to the Super Wally World yesterday by myself.

I had a list of things to get. Needless to say, I left my cart and got out of there quickly with nothing. The place frightened me.

I considered it an escape to leave.

Dave.

 

David---I see where you're coming from! Those SuperCenters---you can land a jumbo jet in those buildings!

But here's my beef--agreeing with the sojo editorial:

A mulit-billion dollar industry like Wal-Mart-----and they pay their cashiers/stockers/warehouse workers "chump change" wages!!!

Your buddy,
Blackbird

 

If I am not mistaken, those people are working there voluntarily. They agreed to work for the wage. People too often fail to realize the relationship between wages and cost. If a company starts paying higher wages, the cost of their products goes up. Then you complain about higher costs and that fact that your higher wages don't buy as much you thought it would.

So long as Wal Mar is not doing anything illegal, then there is nothing wrong.

 

My daughter and son-Inlaw both work as night support managers for wal-mart. Both work very long hours, and after fighting for over a year to get the raise that was suppose to come with the job my son-Inlaw steped down to stocker

 

I have yet to meet the first customer who has volunteered to pay more than the asking price so that I might be paid more. Don't believe everything you hear and certainly not to the degree that you hear it. I have worked for Wal~Mart for over 12 years and have NEVER been asked to work off the clock, quite the opposite, EVERY manager (7) and a couple of dozen assistant managers have made it a point of emphasizing that we are NOT to work off the clock. I have never been locked in at night. We do lock the doors after the store closes to keep people OUT but, there are always doors that can be walked out anytime I want. I may have to tell someone so they can reset the alarm but I am not locked IN. I am not trying to defend everything Wal~Mart does because there are certainly incompetent managers and assistants who do things that should be rejected but don't take cheap shots at the whole company because of those few. As far as wages are concerned, I agree that they could be higher, but as is, they can range from the beginning $5.45 up to around $20.00 or so depending on your experience and job code. There is a tremendous amount of turnover and the average is skewed by the fact that so many are either new associates or ones with little experience.

Now, to respond to the original question. When Jesus asked his disciple to go and buy some food He didn't ask them to make sure the business was spiritually correct. I don't think very many businesses could stand up to that kind of scrutiny.

 

Everything in the store is made in China.

 

I shop at Walmart about twice a month. Nothing wrong with it. I don't have a problem with WalMart. I've never had a problems with service, with quality, or with pricing.

Big companies can't win with the American public. If they open a store in an area, people complain, and say they're evil and greedy. If they close a store, people complain, and say they're evil and greedy. If they raise prices, people complain, and say they're evil and greedy. If they lower prices, people complain, and say they're evil and greedy.

 

My family loves WallyWorld. A second supercenter just opened here in Cleveland, TN, and I am very happy to see it come in. The crowds can be a nightmare.

We presently do most of our shopping at WalMart. We do not shop at grocery stores that carry beer and/or wine, and thus far, WalMart hasn't here. But I just heard tonight that the Chattanooga stores have begun to carry such. If it comes into the stores here, I guess we'll just mosey on down the road...

In Christ,
Trotter

 

I pay the extra nickel and shop at Christian mom/pop grocery stores

 

Not only our Wal-Mart but EVERY grocery store and gas station around here sells Beer, Wine, Cigarettes, etc. Every restaurant serves liquor, too. Even Chuck E. Cheese. There's a Ryan's about 20 miles from here that doesn't.... There are no liquor stores in our town tho.

Diane

 

Not really, I believe the china is actually made in Mexico.

 

The Bible also tells us to be good stewards of the money God loans to us. And that to me means getting the best quality for the lowest price. If that means Wal-mart, Praise God.

BTW, If their prices are always falling, Why isn't there anything given away for free yet?

I see BB supports the Walmart logo:

 

Very true, indeed, tinytim. And I did my part at Walmart today.
But there are many other issues to consider than just the lowest price. An individual consumer can't realistically search every connection and practice of every company. But I personally try to avoid products that are directly linked to sweatshops in the U.S. and overseas.
There are organizations, Christian and otherwise, that act as middlemen for producers so that they can get a far larger part of the proceeds for their goods.
I like to buy vegetables when I can from farmers' markets and pay the producer directly, even though it costs a little more.

Another issue is what is the lowest cost? Lowest cost involves more than just the immediate lowest price to the individual consumer on his laundry detergent and dog food. And once again that is difficult to answer. But a big chain store that comes in on the edge of town with the lowest prices and dries up downtown is not necessarily bringing the lowest cost to that town.

I strongly believe in a free market. So I am not saying that the big chain store should be prevented from coming in. But I am saying that the individual consumer needs to look at more than just lower prices and fashion his choices accordingly. Now I'll go put away my stuff from Walmart.

Karen

 

Not quite. It's to get the best quality at the BEST price, which is not always the lowest price. This combination is often what we call best value. If I want lowest price, I'll go to the dollar store. If I want best value, I'll typically check out Walmart and/or Target. Between the two, I'm sypically satisfied that I've made a wise purchasing decision.

 

I like our supercenter. The service is good. I have also talked to many a people who work there and they are very happy there and stay for a long time. The only complaint I have with Wal Mart is that they will build big ole buildings in town, all the other businesses will build within their lot or move their business to that part of town close to Wal Mart so they can be close to Wal Mart, then Wal Mart will shut that store down (leaving an oversized, ugly, empty building that is an eyesore) and move to the other part of town. This actually happened in my town and is in the process of happening in the next town over from me right now. This leaves an eyesore because nobody seems to be willing to buy the oversized building (it has been empty there for about 6 years now). Also, it leaves all the other businesses in bad shape that moved there to be close to Wal Mart. I just think it is kind of rude.

Joseph Botwinick