What's Wrong With Wal-Mart?

Until we moved to California, I was not aware of any significant bad press about Wal-Mart, but here it seems the media goes out of its way to "dis" Sam Walton's dream empire. For example a recent story ran a headline that Wal-Mart was in trouble because it had not paid some levy on pesticides, but further down in the story, we learn that almost every CA retailer who sells these chemicals had the same problem. Why zero in on Wal-Mart?

On my recent trip, I visited my oldest son Norman who made the statement that Wal-Mart didn't pay its female employees as much as the males who did the same work. That's ridiculous! I worked at Wal-Mart in several different capacities and was paid the same wage as males with the same job and time in service, etc. Where do they get this stuff?

We went to Wal-Mart today to get my car serviced -- after my 4200 mile trip, it needed it! We also put two new tires on the car, got groceries and had my hair cut and colored... seemed like a good time to do that while the car was being tended to.

There were lines at the check stands -- not because there weren't enough cashiers, but because there were many, many customers. The reason for so many customers is low prices and good customer service, plain and simple! You see, the very same yogurt I usually buy for 78 cents is 48 cents at Wal-Mart... So, where do you think I want to shop?

Well, who doesn't like Wal-Mart? Unions, for one. Wal-Mart, in spite of what you've heard, pays a competitive wage, offers great benefits (including good affordable health insurance), and listens not only to its customers, but its associates as well. Wal-Mart workers don't need a union!

Competitors don't like Wal-Mart, either, and some have gone under because they could not or would not offer the prices and service found at the "big box" leader. This nation was built on free enterprise and yet I see more and more communities try to block Wal-Mart. Their actions do not truly serve their constituency. Wal-Mart provides good jobs and enables folks to buy more with every dollar, so what's the problem?

If you look at states where Wal-Mart was allowed to compete like any other store, you will clearly see that very few smaller enterprises went under, and of those who did, most would have floundered anyway.

I shop at Wal-Mart. I worked at Wal-Mart... as an entry level floor associate and as a member of the management team. I know whereof I speak, and I believe the media and the body politic are misled, misinformed or just plain dishonest when it comes to the retailing giant. Perhaps the size and success of the company scares them... or is it something else altogether?

Write what you want. People will continue to shop where they get a fair price and great customer service. People will continue to build good careers, and Wal-Mart will continue to grow... because the "masses" want it to. And I will continue to be a fan!