tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30346489.post8725583378727578749..comments2024-03-20T11:22:09.369-04:00Comments on Flooring The Consumer: Wal-Mart Plano - Like No Other Store!CB Whittemorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737846177421292411noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30346489.post-59077189031644176512009-10-26T10:01:56.458-04:002009-10-26T10:01:56.458-04:00Roy, it looked to me to be a vinyl type solution a...Roy, it looked to me to be a vinyl type solution as it had some spring to it. If I learn more, I'll add it here. <br /><br />Thanks for stopping by.CB Whittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03737846177421292411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30346489.post-76585564234980775462009-10-22T09:41:06.830-04:002009-10-22T09:41:06.830-04:00I would like to know what kind of harwood looking ...I would like to know what kind of harwood looking flooring wal-mart is putting in their new updated stores.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30346489.post-54014459132471845172008-01-11T13:52:00.000-05:002008-01-11T13:52:00.000-05:00C.Y.W., I appreciate your offering balance to opin...C.Y.W., I appreciate your offering balance to opinions about Wal-Mart and detailing what they do right. <BR/><BR/>Including around sustainability. Definitely worth watching; I have high hopes there.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for visiting and commenting.CB Whittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03737846177421292411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30346489.post-24228769509458203692008-01-10T11:08:00.000-05:002008-01-10T11:08:00.000-05:00I've got to disagree with Stephanie and agree with...I've got to disagree with Stephanie and agree with anonymous. It's silly to boycott a company based on a sensationalist, one-sided, biased film that was more concerned with creating buzz than spreading truth.<BR/><BR/>Wal-Mart gets a lot of flack because it is big. But the practices pinned on it are the practices of American retailers in general, not of retailers in particular. In fact, Wal-Mart outperforms most other similar retailers and virtually all small businesses when it comes to taking care of employees and demanding more of suppliers. <BR/><BR/>For example, Wal-Mart spends huge amounts of money on health care. Even part time employees are able to get healthcare. They also hire people who might otherwise be unemployed or on welfare and give them jobs. It is untrue that Wal-Mart encourages its employees to use Medicaid, that's just a self-perpetuating rumor started by someone who didn't have his facts straight and oft-repeated by those too lazy to check the source. Entry-level employees aren't getting rich, but they are making market wages for what they do. No Wal-Mart employee anywhere makes minimum wage---that's right, every single Wal-Mart employee makes ABOVE the federal minimum wage. And almost all of Wal-Mart's management--even all the way up to the executives--started as hourly employees. There is HUGE opportunity for advancement.<BR/><BR/>Wal-Mart parking lots aren't any more dangerous than any other store's parking lots. In fact, in many cases they are safer since they are covered with cameras, well-lit, sometimes populated by RV-travelers, and usually have Wal-Mart employees in them collecting carts and keeping an eye out.<BR/><BR/>Wal-Mart is also using its dominant position to effect positive change worldwide. They are pushing suppliers to reduce excess packaging that hurts the environment, reduce fossil-fuel-consuming transportation, manufacture more organic products, harvest only sustainable seafood, meet minimum labor standards across the world, and more.... They do all this while striving to hold down prices for the working men and women where they do business. <BR/><BR/>I could go on and on, but I've already rambled quite enough. The bottom line is that no Wal-Mart isn't perfect and yes they share some of the flaws common to modern retailers. But its supposed sins aren't nearly what they are made out to be, and its positive impact--far greater than any other business--must not be ignored.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30346489.post-62802922661045814572007-07-01T14:20:00.000-04:002007-07-01T14:20:00.000-04:00Anonymous, thanks for sharing your comments. I ag...Anonymous, thanks for sharing your comments. I agree that it's important to take into account the big picture. There's definitely a role for the mightiest retailer to play to bring about better conditions. I have visited China and lived in Sub-Saharan Africa and have seen the poverty there firsthand. Especially in Africa, it is not a pretty picture.CB Whittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03737846177421292411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30346489.post-66725569430233520022007-07-01T13:30:00.000-04:002007-07-01T13:30:00.000-04:00hdgrStephanieI think you're a bit misguided in you...hdgrStephanie<BR/><BR/>I think you're a bit misguided in your thinking about the damage Wal-Mart does. Before you buy into a one-sided argument based on the cost of low prices, also consider the benefits enjoyed by those paying the low prices. As for "slave" labor in China, low-cost manufacturing jobs are a stepping stone into economic prosperity that would otherwise be unavailable to the Chineese. As time passes, the economic benefit will bring the standard of working and the wages paid upto first-world standards. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts. I've spent the last 4 years woking in both Asia and Africa and my experience leads me to believe that when outside nations try to pay the way rather than encourage the effort required to pull out of the third world, corruption and continued pain and suffering is the end result.<BR/><BR/>All I'm asking is that when you form an opinion, you consider the entire picture rather then the distasteful aspects of the situation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30346489.post-71028363691634811062007-03-24T22:16:00.000-04:002007-03-24T22:16:00.000-04:00Stephanie, thanks for the comments. I've not seen...Stephanie, thanks for the comments. I've not seen the documentary, but can well imagine the message - as I share your frustrations. I hope that the largest retailer in the world will become more concerned about the people [consumers and employees] it depends on, and use its size to create positive change. Meanwhile, I'll keep on observing what it and others do in-store.CB Whittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03737846177421292411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30346489.post-55714038038860694862007-03-24T22:04:00.000-04:002007-03-24T22:04:00.000-04:00CB, Great post, and sounds like a great shopping e...CB, Great post, and sounds like a great shopping experience. After seeing the documentary, "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price" (www.walmartmovie.com/) I would never shop in one, however. They keep their employees at the poverty level and encourage them to use Medicaid for health care, their parking lots are extremely dangerous, and they encourage what is basically slave labor in China. Corporate giants need to learn that consumers do care about their behavior.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the great blog!<BR/>Stephanie Weaver<BR/>www.experienceology.comStephanie Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02116304523866425794noreply@blogger.com