Wal-Mart workers plan Black Friday walkout

[ebacon]

Originally Posted by barbara

Walmart doesn't do anything different than most of the other big box retailers and minimum wage employers, but it seems they are the only ones who take so much bad press over it.

By the way.... It isn't just walmart employees who qualify for aid.... A few years back someone in our sheriff's department realized that the majority of officers qualified for aid based on their income. They came, en masse, to the welfare department and embarrassed the decision makers into giving them a pay increase.

...and folks wonder why the crime is so bad in our county....

Some department stores sell on commission I think. My recollection is that Sears tool dept, appliance dept, sporting goods dept, etc. were staffed by adults that made a living in retail sales.

I don't shop much anymore but I doubt that newer stores like Target, Wal-Mart, uhhh, that's all I know, have professional sales staff like Sears did.

[bhunter]

Originally Posted by ebacon

Some department stores sell on commission I think. My recollection is that Sears tool dept, appliance dept, sporting goods dept, etc. were staffed by adults that made a living in retail sales.

I don't shop much anymore but I doubt that newer stores like Target, Wal-Mart, uhhh, that's all I know, have professional sales staff like Sears did.

From my experience with sales people in big box stores, they are overpaid regardless of whether or not they can survive on their wage. Frankly, I've taken a liking to the automated checkouts at Home Depot.

[ebacon]

Originally Posted by bhunter

From my experience with sales people in big box stores, they are overpaid regardless of whether or not they can survive on their wage. Frankly, I've taken a liking to the automated checkouts at Home Depot.

And if those employees were paid less then what would happen? A greater percentage would go on the welfare dole. Would you be OK with paying increased taxes for that so you could get cheaper boards to nail?

There is no such thring as a free lunch.

[bhunter]

Originally Posted by ebacon

And if those employees were paid less then what would happen? A greater percentage would go on the welfare dole. Would you be OK with paying increased taxes for that so you could get cheaper boards to nail?

There is no such thring as a free lunch.

My point is that they currently get paid what they're worth to those that employ them. Obviously, if they could get a better deal elsewhere they would and Walmart woud be forced to pay more for their services. My preference would be for them to either start a business or get more desirable skills. Unfortunately, our educational system has left a significant proportion of people lacking in rudimentary skills requisite for expanding their skill set. That, combined with a nurtured victim mentality, undermines their chance for occupational growth.

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by bhunter

My point is that they currently get paid what they're worth to those that employ them. Obviously, if they could get a better deal elsewhere they would and Walmart woud be forced to pay more for their services. My preference would be for them to either start a business or get more desirable skills. Unfortunately, our educational system has left a significant proportion of people lacking in rudimentary skills requisite for expanding their skill set. That, combined with a nurtured victim mentality, undermines their chance for occupational growth.

Walmart is and has always been about market power. If you're big enough, you can set your price with wholesalers. If you can use that leverage to undercut the local merchants, and put them out of business, you can have greater control in the local market. If you buy enough sh### from China to suppress the demand for labor, you can pay poverty level wages to your employees. There was a time when Walmart's SOP was considered a violation of the antitrust laws. Unfortunately, those laws have been pushed aside because of a mistaken conception of laissez faire and a lack of will by federal prosecutors.

Regards,

D-Ray

[bobabode]

Home Depot has been using the Wal Mart model for a long time, BH. Too bad that in my line of work the alternatives are few and far between, otherwise I would boycott them as I do Walmart. Yellowdog contracts abound.

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by bobabode

Home Depot has been using the Wal Mart model for a long time, BH. Too bad that in my line of work the alternatives are few and far between, otherwise I would boycott them as I do Walmart. Yellowdog contracts abound.

I bought all the materials for the playroom from Lowes, Home Despot is a last resort.

As to Wally World the only time I ever went into one, the only happy smiling faces were the two older gentlemen greeters at the front door. The rest of the employees had faces as long as ten days of foul weather.

[ebacon]

Originally Posted by bhunter

My point is that they currently get paid what they're worth to those that employ them. Obviously, if they could get a better deal elsewhere they would and Walmart woud be forced to pay more for their services. My preference would be for them to either start a business or get more desirable skills. Unfortunately, our educational system has left a significant proportion of people lacking in rudimentary skills requisite for expanding their skill set. That, combined with a nurtured victim mentality, undermines their chance for occupational growth.

It's unreasonable to expect them to start a business. You know it, I know it, so stop it.

As if they are going to compete with Walmart. Sheesh.

There is a reason those big box stores don't exist in most countries. They make a mess out of the economy. In most countries there is a family owned toy store, a family owned bakery, a family owned barber shop, a family owned shoe store, a family owned . . .

They do not have big giant faceless box stores that ship in giant containers of crap made by slave labor and then dumped on their shores. What is most disgusting about the practice is the dicklicker CEOs at the top think they are great businessmen. Well here is some news. It is pretty darn easy to make money when you use slave labor and pay your stateside help so little that they need welfare. Good grief.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by ebacon

It's unreasonable to expect them to start a business. You know it, I know it, so stop it.

As if they are going to compete with Walmart. Sheesh.

There is a reason those big box stores don't exist in most countries. They make a mess out of the economy. In most countries there is a family owned toy store, a family owned bakery, a family owned barber shop, a family owned shoe store, a family owned . . .

They do not have big giant faceless box stores that ship in giant containers of crap made by slave labor and then dumped on their shores. What is most disgusting about the practice is the dicklicker CEOs at the top think they are great businessmen. Well here is some news. It is pretty darn easy to make money when you use slave labor and pay your stateside help so little that they need welfare. Good grief.

Correct. If you are no longer creating decent jobs for the general populace, then you have become useless to us. No one will give a shit about one mans personal success as they stand in the unemployment line or even worse----spend all their time working for wages they cannot live on.

And to expect that everyone is going to become a "free agent", "independent contractor", or whatever you hairbrained dreamers want to call it, is grotesquely absurd. It isn't going to work. All you are doing with that is sowing the seeds for revolt.

Keep on driving labor cost down and wondering why the economy won't move, genius.
It's kinda like wondering why your car won't run when you refuse to put gas in it.

Regards,
Dave

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by bhunter

From my experience with sales people in big box stores, they are overpaid regardless of whether or not they can survive on their wage. Frankly, I've taken a liking to the automated checkouts at Home Depot.

I would attribute a large portion of that dissatisfaction to management. Salesmanship is not unskilled labor. Proper customer service requires some training and a company philosophy. Moreover, I would expect a workforce that is shown some respect to reflect that attitude in their dealings with customers. If they are treated like low-value chattel, that is also likely to be reflected in their attitude.

Regards,

D-Ray