WalMart is Pure Evil

Wal-Mart Spreads Like a Virus

2009-01-06T16:53:00.003-08:00

Holy cats, this is both fascinating and frightening. This is a flash-based map showing how Wal-Marts have spread across the nation.

If you don't think the mega-retailer is a virus on the land then this just might change your mind.

More Wal-Mart Workers Joining Forces

2009-01-04T07:25:00.000-08:00

Wal-Mart workers in Canada organize

"From it's support for Communist Chinese unions while opposing independent unions elsewhere, Wal-Mart is on a corporate mission to make sure that workers are not afforded any level of dignity."

What's that? Its the sound of progress, Wally. Get used to more and more of your peons throwing off the chains and banding together to better demand living wages, health coverage and those little things like getting paid for the hours worked.

Suck reality, Wally-world.

Another Drop in the Bucket Loss for Wal-Mart Wage Exploitation

2008-12-28T16:59:00.002-08:00

Wal-Mart to pay up to $54 million to settle wage suit

At what point does the Justice Department look at these many and repeated lawsuits of Wal-Mart's wage exploitation and finally step in and say these are not isolated incidents. Wal-Mart has a corporate philosophy of squeezing its least powerful employees for extra work. Nobody likes being squeezed and, eventually, the squeezees will fight back and win yet another judgment.

Spend your money at Wal-Mart? Then you are supporting an exploitative company that crosses the line so often that it knows the border guards by name and how well their kids did in school this last semester.

Wal-Mart cares not the least about the law, they care about their bottomline regardless. And that is despicable.

Short Answer: No, You Should Not Shop at Wal-Mart

2008-12-27T11:55:00.000-08:00

Kerry Trueman: The Big Box Paradox: Should We Shop At Wal-Mart?

The essay details Wal-Mart's recent and highly publicized efforts to go green only the greenwashing is a business decision rather than a decision to actually improve people's lives.

If you have no choice but to shop at Wal-Mart because your money is very tight then I have truly no issue with you shopping there. If, like my brother, you have plenty of means but still choose to support the goliath then I do have an issue with that. Its supporting a company with a long history of employee abuses and exploitations, of supply chain bullying, of health insurance coverage dodging and willfully charging customers more for items and then making it damned near impossible to get proper compensation.

Wal-Mart sucks, shop there if you must but don't if you have the means not to. Please.

Wal-Mart Loses Another Lawsuit for Off-the-Clock Working

2008-12-10T22:42:00.000-08:00

Wal-Mart to Pay $54 Million to Settle Minnesota Suit

Gee, a mere 2 million times they broke state laws in forcing ~~slaves~~ employees to work off the clock.

It isn't enough to make Wal-Mart change their policies but the more attention that is drawn to how they treat workers, the more likely someone will go and spend their money at a business that isn't in the news constantly for shameless business practices.

Wal-Mart fined for Double Taxing Exchanges

2008-12-07T22:55:00.000-08:00

Wal-Mart fined, fesses up to charging illegal taxes in Connecticut when customers would return an item for an even exchange.

Which is to say, Wal-Mart had to be forced to admit they were double charging people and they even had fake posters up that tried to blame the state of Connecticut for their shysterism.

Yet another reason why I freaking hate Wal-Mart.

D.C. Progressive Examiner: Why I boycott Walmart

2008-11-29T08:07:00.000-08:00

D.C. Progressive Examiner: Why I boycott Walmart: "I know why.

Because Walmart is evil."

An editorial after my own heart that makes a few good points. Some that are overlooked like how Wal-Mart throttles suppliers, forcing them to do business how they want it done, forcing them to sell product to them far cheaper than they can afford and start the supplier into a downward spiral. Once the supplier gets low enough, Wal-Mart will "graciously" offer to buy them out.

The editorial wraps up with: "And so Walmart uses its power to hurt American values, American workers, American business and the American economy. (Even consumers themselves if they’re not careful.)

I waited until after Black Friday to tell this story because I can’t, in good conscience, ask other people not to shop at Walmart. Not in this economy."

Nor can I but it is important to know what you are supporting with your money. If you have no other choice then you have no other choice but if can spend your money somewhere else then please do.

Wal-Mart has Killer Deals

2008-11-28T09:30:00.000-08:00

Wal-Mart worker dies after shoppers knock him down and trample him to death in a mad rush "Black Friday" bargains and deals.

Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with people?

I think people need a refresher course in what Christmas is supposed to be about. Hint, it isn't about bargain hunting and going into debt to buy presents.

I am appalled. And yes, this could have happened at any of a thousand other stores but it didn't, it happened at Wal-Mart.

We Are Under Construction

2008-11-25T06:58:00.002-08:00

Bear with me. Changes are a'coming. The ads don't want to resolve properly yet. And, with Black Friday rapidly approaching, the traffic on this blog is spiking sharply even though there's absolutely zero chance I'd post Wal-Mart Black Friday deals. Maybe people are educating themselves this Christmas and choosing better places to spend what money they do have? That would be nice.

Op-Ed: Wal-Mart is the problem

2008-11-22T21:47:00.000-08:00

Wal-Mart is the problem -- chicagotribune.com:

Are you aware of the hundreds of thousands of jobs that have been sent overseas because of Wal-Mart? Are you aware of the number of bankruptcies Wal-Mart has caused? Did you know that Wal-Mart dictates what it will pay it's vendors for their goods. Did you know that Wal-Mart is the single largest importer of goods from overseas? Can you say Trade Deficit?

Well said, Mr. Charles Thomas, well said.

Welcome to Wallyland

2008-11-21T13:19:00.000-08:00

RealClearPolitics - Wal-Mart Economy Lays Us All Low:

"Here is what Wal-Mart's 2008 annual report says: The company is a defendant in 'numerous cases' for alleged violations of wage and hour laws. Generally, they involve employees who say they were forced to work 'off the clock,' who were denied meal and rest breaks, or who claim the company simply found other ways not to pay them for hours they'd worked.

Wal-Mart also is ensnared in the largest gender-discrimination lawsuit ever, with women claiming they were paid less and denied promotions and transfers that men received. It faces environmental charges from federal and state prosecutors who say Wal-Mart has flouted hazardous waste disposal and other laws."

And yet, they pursue obviously stupid lawsuits (like trying to get sites that link to sites with Black Friday information to remove those links). They continue to send insane amounts of money to China for poisonous toys. The continue to exploit healthcare systems and their employees to squeeze every dime they can for their shareholders.

There are other places to spend your money, places that treat their employees with respect, places that don't even cost more than Wal-Mart (studies have shown that Wal-Mart's prices are no better than Target's) and places that don't sell knockoffs as originals (the recent story of fake Apple Nanos on Wal-Mart shelves comes to mind).

Don't get me wrong, I know the economic downturn hits the poorest folk the hardest. I know because I am in the poorest folk class. And we squeeze every penny as hard as we can get the most out of it. But giving my money to Wal-Mart doesn't enter into the equation because I just can't stomach the idea of giving them money when they behave in such a reprehensible (and codified throughout the company) manner.

Truth in Advertising

2008-11-17T11:07:00.003-08:00

Shanghaiist: Hey Fatso: Buy your boxers at Wal-Mart in Shanghai

They are easy to find, the box says Fatso on it. Nice. I wonder if they have a line of paper bags called Ugly? A line of hats called Baldy?

Feed Test

2008-11-14T23:27:00.000-08:00

This is a test.

The feed should go to http://www.intellectualpoison.com/rss2/WIPE.xml

Site Feed is Changing

2008-11-14T23:12:00.001-08:00

I guess I've gotten tired enough of having my rss feeds crossed and every post going up here on WIPE funneling through my regular blog, Intellectual Poison.

The site feed will be changing shortly.

Sorry if this munges things up on your end, it isn't intentional.

Wal-Mart Exhibits Meta-Stupidity

2008-11-14T22:38:00.000-08:00

Techdirt: Wal-Mart Now Going After Search Engines For Linking To Sites With Black Friday Ads

Note, this isn't sites posting Black Friday ads, these are sites that link to sites that post Black Friday ads. Nevermind the fact that Wal-Mart needs every bit of help it can get in this holiday season that promises to be one of the worst in recent years.

I say, fine. Just don't go to friggin' Wal-Mart and don't spend any of your money there. But I'm sure they are trying to figure out a way to sue people who don't shop there.

All Hail Costco

2008-10-31T10:15:00.003-07:00

The Motley Fool has an interesting article, All Hail CostCo that details some of the sharp differences between Wal-Mart and CostCo.

# CEO Jim Sinegal earns a mere $350,000 per year, with a bonus of as much as $200,000 (and possibly some stock). He aims to earn no more than three or four times what his highest-paid store managers earn. "Having an individual who is making 100 or 200 or 300 times more than the average person working on the floor is wrong," Sinegal has said.
# Costco pays its employees relatively lavishly. Workers reportedly start at $10 or more per hour, considerably more than elsewhere, where minimum wage is the usual starting point. According to a 2008 SmartMoney article, average pay topped $18 an hour, fully 68% more than employees earned at Wal-Mart's (NYSE: WMT) Sam's Club, and more than BJ's Wholesale (NYSE: BJ) employees earn, too. Roughly 85% of Costco's employees had health insurance last year (at fairly cheap rates), versus only about half at Wal-Mart and Target (NYSE: TGT). All this leads to low turnover, saving the company money on recruiting and training new employees, and helping Sinegal argue that it's simply a rational business practice.

How much did the Wal-Mart CEO take home last year? How many hundreds of times was that above the floor level grunt?

I shop at CostCo because the prices are good, the stores are well cared for, the employees are well cared for and it is a company I can feel good about supporting. How many of you shopping at Wallyworld can say the same thing?

Its Beginning to Look a Lot Like Lawsuits

2008-10-06T20:55:00.000-07:00

Wal-Mart Threatens Sites Over Black Friday Ad Deals before those sites have even posted any ads.

That's right, folks. Wally world is now pre-emptively lashing out with its cadre of lawyers and paralegals who gleefully send off threatening letters without a shred of legal merit to them. Why? Because they know ordinary folks, you know, ones without a billion dollars in the bank, can't afford to fight legal actions.

But nevermind the fact that Wal-Mart has been told that they can't do it, they do it anyway. Nevermind the fact that Wal-Mart doesn't own pricing data nor is it copyrightable. Wal-Mart does not care. They only care about getting their slimy hands on every last dime they can.

Don't worry, Wally, your Black Friday ad secrets are safe with me. I wouldn't look at them, let alone publish them online to help drive shoppers to your stores.

Residents battling Wal-Mart win round

2008-10-06T11:14:00.000-07:00

Residents battling Wal-Mart win round by collecting petition signatures and packing the public meetings. The citizens wanted the evaluations of the area's needs to be performed by people selected by city hall rather than the developers.

The issue isn't whether they want a Wal-Mart but whether they want any big box retailers. And they are taking the controls to decide for themselves rather than hoping Wal-Mart will be merciful when they decide to inflict themselves on the town.

"We got exactly what we wanted," resident Peter Meisenheimer said. "This will set a precedent on how the city will deal with (land that can be developed)."

Smart Centres [which builds big-box malls often anchored by Wal-Mart] says other developers won't invest in London if city hall takes over the process midstream.

"It puts many developers in a not-very-happy position," said Peter Nikolakakos of Smart Centres.

And that's just fine by me. I'm all for towns taking back control over development and just saying no to huge box stores that take money out of the local economy and send it to China forever.

Wal-Mart and the Capricious Return Policy

2008-10-06T10:05:00.000-07:00

Walmart: Walmart Refuses To Take Back Air Mattress, Makes Up New Return Policy On The Spot and blames the federal government for a 15 day air mattress return policy based on bed bug infestation. Which was made up on the spot.

The company doesn't care about being fair or honorable, they care about making every last red cent they can, about bleeding people dry and then they'd probably even accept post-dated checks to get your future money too.

You can learn alot about a company by how they treat their employees, how they treat returns and how they treat the localities in which they exist. Wal-Mart fails everytime because Wal-Mart doesn't give a damn about anything but themselves.

Wal-Mart Sells Knockoffs

2008-10-06T09:55:00.000-07:00

Walmart Unwittingly Sells iPod Nano Knockoff as Actual iPod and didn't seem to give a damn when a concerned customer explained to them the differences between an Apple branded iPod Nano and the piece of shit knockoff (I can say this because I have actually tried to help a kid who had one of these things and it was utter crap, I felt bad for the kid).

Wal-Mart doesn't care what they sell just so long as they get their greedy little hands on every last dollar in your wallet or available credit on your account. They'll even sell you a fake iPod Nano and call it real (and probably charge you the full Apple price for the faker while they're at it).

Billionaire Walton Gives Whopping $75k to Anti-Lottery Campaign

2008-10-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

Arkansas News Bureau - Billionaire Jim Walton gives $75,000 to anti-lottery campaign which is to say, he reached into his pocket, pulled out some change and tossed it into the bowl.

Let's be clear, to you and me $75k is alot of money. Okay, to me its a lot of money.

To a billionaire, its almost nothing. Look at it this way. If I make $50k a year and I were to donate the same percentage of my income as Jim Walton gave (for the sake of argument let's consider his fortune at an even billion dollars) then I would be donating an amazingly unimpressive $3.75.

The numbers get much worse if his true wealth is used and not just the handy (and round) 1,000,000,000 number (that's an awful lot of zeroes).

So yeah, what an open and giving guy.

Yet Another Reason Why Wal-Mart Sucks Goat Nuts

2008-09-29T14:07:00.003-07:00

Wal*Mart shutting down DRM server, nuking your music collection if you "bought" it from Wal-Mart.

Which is to say, you didn't buy anything, you rented that music and are about to lose it because Wal-mart decided to.

What does this do to people who wanted to legitimately buy their music? Screws them over. What does this do to people that downloaded music illegally? Not a thing.

Nice work, Wally. Next are you going to demand a quarter from shoppers to keep the lights turned on while they're in your store?

I expect lawsuits over this shutting down of the servers and I expect Wal-Mart to lose, again.

An Excellent Wal-Mart Labor Synopsis

2008-09-16T00:04:00.004-07:00

If you still want to try and defend Wal-Mart, then maybe give a read of Wal-Mart's Labor Problem and think about it.

With the exception of a billion where it should say million (the article states each individual store is worth $204 billion but that's just a little outrageous), the article does a pretty thorough job of exposing just how much Wal-Mart sucks.

From income discrepancies to violations of Fair Labor Standards Act to The Family Medical Leave Act violations to union busting to deplorable health care coverage to discrimination. Its all there with references.

Read it and draw your own conclusions.

How Do You Retain Employee Money? Pay Them With Gift Cards

2008-09-14T21:33:00.000-07:00

Mexican Court Rules Against Wal-Mart for paying a worker in store cards usable only at Wal-Mart.

Which means, of course, that he was paying retail on goods that Wal-Mart got at their strongarm wholesale prices.

Oddly enough, the lawsuit only aids the worker who brought the suit and Walmex (Mexican Wal-Mart) isn't required to stop using the cards with other employees. I hope every single last one of the other employees sues and wins, as they should.

This is the same as company towns that paid workers in money only good at the company store. And that's a solid way to create your own indentured servants. Heck, if Wal-Mex could, they'd probably house their employees and keep every last cent (or peso) they were paid.

Boo, Wal-Mex, Boo Wal-Mart. It is time to join the 21st century and treat your employees with respect and dignity, not BS store cards.

Wal-Mart Fires Woman with Epilepsy

2008-09-14T18:58:00.001-07:00

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission files suit against Wal-Mart for firing a greeter who was having an epileptic seizure and was swearing in a back room.

Nice compassion, Wally.