Ok, I'm jumping into the middle of this Wal-Mart discussion. However, I feel compelled to give my 2 cents as to why I don't shop there.
No special order, just some thoughts as they come to mind.
Wal-Mart marketed itself as the only store that sold 100% made in the US products in the early years. This guarantee to only stock items made in the US allowed the giant retailer to grow rapidly in the US. Citizens felt it was patriot to do so.
A funny thing happened once they got big. In order to beat the competition in retailing they started buying products made outside the US. Suddenly, other companies couldn’t compete with them anymore and most retailers started emulating them in the purchase of non US made goods.
Guess what? Suddenly, manufacturing plants in the US started closing down. Can anyone think of a brand of clothes that is 100% made in the US these days? There might be a couple, but, as a general rule, most US manufacturers making a product that Wal-Mart sells has gone out of business.
We are now a service economy and Wal-Mart shares a huge part of the blame for it. Wages are down too. You can’t knock wages down too far and still expect to have a customer base for your product.
Most Wal-Mart employees make such low wages they qualify for state aid. The exceptions are management types.
I won’t discuss the impact of cheap labour from other countries bringing construction wages down since my focus is on Wal-Mart for the moment.
Something else that has galled me more than the wage issue is how Wal-Mart interfered with birth control for women until when they were forced to stock emergency contraception in 2006. Keep in mind most Wal-Marts used to be primarily outside the large city areas.
Emergency contraception is something women need to use quickly in order for it to be effective. Most women with money weren’t effected. Being turned down by Wal-Mart pharmacies for emergency contraceptives forced a lot of women to become pregnant. Pharmacies should carry all commonly used medicines or be willing to order it for the next day if they are out.
I’m not about to debate the morality of being in the situation. But, I will say that it wasn’t Wal-Marts business to decide about what is morally right or wrong for women wanting emergency contraception. Some will say the women could simply go to another store. What if she only had a 30 minute lunch break? What if she didn’t have a ride to go elsewhere? What if she had to get home immediately due to babysitting issues. There are a lot of reasons someone might not be able to go to another pharmacy in a timely manner. Especially, in rural areas.
This company betrayed the US consumer that built them up under the idea of only selling products made in the US. Wal-Mart then betrayed the US itself by primarily purchasing products made outside the USA. They had a heavy hand in the killing of US manufacturing.
Consumers share part of the blame too. This quest to always get the least expensive goods appears to have been shortsighted in the long run. I make a point to make purchases at some of the small neighborhood shops even knowing it may be costing me more at the moment. But, I feel it is important to do as much business as possible locally.
Going to the local farmers markets is even healthier. I don't get produce that has been sitting in a shipping container for long periods. That produce out of China loses nutritional value with time and who knows what bacteria is allowed to breed as it takes its long journey.
Market Data 
Markets 
AI
