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| Attention shoppers! Wal-Mart is not the nice company that you might think it is. Read on to find out the truth about Wal-Mart and why you should shop at places like Kmart instead. |
| Make sure to check these links out: Kmart Rules Forever I Hate WAL-MART Anal-Mart Kmart's Official Website |
| Wal-Mart is not only the world's largest retailer, but also the world's largest corporation. Wal-Mart is even larger than Kmart, Sears and JC Penney combined!!! Don't you find that more than just a little scary? Here are some facts about Wal-Mart: - 2.3% of the U.S. economy (based on GNP) - $244.5 billion in sales in 2003 - more than 3,390 stores across the U.S. - more than 4,665 stores in total worldwide - employs nearly 1.1 million associates in the U.S. and approximately 300,000 internationally - largest grocer in the U.S. - sales on the day after Thanksgiving in 2002 totaled $1.42 billion, more than the GDPs of 36 countries - biggest employer in the U.S. after the government, more people in uniform than the U.S. Army - it plans to grow this year by the size of Microsoft's revenues - roughly a store a day will be opened this year There are many myths about Wal-Mart including: Wal-Mart has the lowest prices - this is not true: there have been numerous tests conducted and Wal-Mart has actually been found to have higher prices than other retailers on most items. Wal-Mart is a good place to work - this is not true: Wal-Mart is anti-union and therefore they offer their "associates" one of the lowest wage rates in the retail industry. None of Wal-Mart's thousands of stores are unionized and the company has horrible policies that discourage unions. This is how Wal-Mart truly lowers its operating costs although it claims that its advanced technology is the reason it's so effeicient. This is how Wal-Mart competes against the Supermarkets like Kroger, Albertsons and Safeway, who are unionized and offer their employees fair and competitive wages that provide for a high standard of living. "While unions might be appropriate for other companies, they have no place at Wal-Mart" is what a spokesperson told a Texas Observer reporter. Since Wal-Mart is the world's largest company, it sets the standard for workers' earning across the industries. When GM and Exxon Mobil were the largest they paid solidly, good middle-class wages. Wal-Mart cares about the communities it serves - this is not true: When Wal-Mart enters new communities it lowers prices so that the nice local stores can't compete. Once they have killed off all the competition they raise the prices and dominate like a monopoly. Wal-Mart contributes $200 million to support communities and local non-profit organizations, an amount that is less than other major companies. For example, Target Corporation has been said to be one of the most generous, giving back $104 million dollars last year to the communities it serves. Target Corproation only has sales of $43 billion so that means it's more than five and a half times smaller than Wal-Mart in revenues, yet it donates more than half the amount Wal-Mart does. Kmart also gives a lot to communities; over $35 million in 2001, which would be about 1% of their annual revenue, still ahead of Wal Mart. Wal-Mart is a nice family values store - this is not true: Wal-Mart claims that it is a good company and that is maintains corporate responsibility by choosing not to sell music with explicit lyrics and sexual content. What Wal-Mart is really doing is just major censorship, because it's forcing artists to change lyrics and not allowing consumers to use their own discresion. In addition, certain video gams cannot be purchased at Wal-Mart due to their content. It also recently stopped selling three mens' magazine for their racy front covers and began placing plastic covers over the front of four womens' fashion magazines. Despite these attempts to have a clean image, Wal-Mart continues to sell handgun ammunition in addition to similar items, while Kmart no longer does. Since the past few years, Kmart has taken true corporate responsibility by only carrying hunting equipment. So in the end when it comes down to it, Wal-Mart is very hyporcitical, because it's no better than other other company. You probably never realized just how large Wal-Mart really is and here are some facts that will suprise you. Wal-Mart is the largest: Wal-Mart's share of the U.S. economy isn't the largest any company has ever had, but it will be in four years if its current growth rate continues. Five of the 10 richest people in the world are Waltons, the family that owns a large part of Wal Mart. According to London's "Rich List 2003", S. Robson Walton is the richest person in the world, even surpassing Bill Gates, with more than $91 billion in personal wealth. Wal Mart is the largest: - Jewelry retailer, with sales of more than $2.3 billion, surpassing Zales ($2.1 billion) - Grocer, with sales of more than $95 billion, surpassing Kroger ($51 billion) - Toy retailer, with more than 19% of all toy sales in 2001, surpassing Toys R Us (17%) Wal Mart could also become the largest: - Apparel retailer - recently launched George apparel line -Drug store/Pharmacy retailer - 2,977 pharmacies, third largest network behind Walgreen and CVS What Can You Do To Help? - write letters to your local newspaper praising Kmart - let your local government know that you like Kmart and want them to come to your city/town - organize blood donors and food drives at your local Kmart - tell your friends and family the truth about Wal Mart and why they should shop at Kmart |