Wal-Mart, Good or Bad

Generally when you think of a store that sells practically everything you need, and has low prices, Wal-Mart nearly always comes to mind. Just because Wal-Mart has the lowest price tags, it does not mean that it is the store to go to. Wal-Mart offers its employees poor benefits, low wages, and long hours. Wal-Mart also destroys jobs and small downtowns.
Most Wal-Mart stores have everything from clothing to electronics to food to hardware. They offer pretty much everything the people need and want. These items are also at the lowest prices. This price factor is very attractive to most people who need to save money, especially in the economy that we live in today, but saving money is not always positive in the long run. For every Wal-Mart that comes to a community, two supermarkets in the area are forced to close; due to Wal-Mart's overpowering size.
Wal-Mart also forces small clothing stores to close, and it practically destroys small downtowns. In the long-run, Wal-Mart destroys more jobs than it creates. This is a contributing factor to the rising unemployment rates.
Besides harming supermarkets, stores, and the economy, Wal-Mart also harms its own employees. The average Wal-Mart worker earns $2.12 less than that of the average supermarket worker. Wal-Mart workers usually earn $8.32 to the $10.40 that the supermarket workers earn.
Besides the low wages that Wal-Mart workers earn, workers also receive poor benefits and have high premiums. Sometimes, due to bad benefits, workers are forced to get healthcare through the government, or though their husband's or wife's healthcare plan.
As if that is not enough, Wal-Mart also forces workers to work extra long hours. Sometimes the extra hours are worked without receiving any pay. In my opinion, this is shocking, cruel, and unaccaptable.
Wal-Mart is a huge store. It is often crowded and noisy: chaotic. People must walk all over the large store just to pickup a few items. A simple shopping trip turns into a hassle. Some customers get fedup, and decide to go to a different store to do their shopping.
Wal-Marts from around the nation have been known for sloppy customer service. Customers get ignored, or simply receive the phrase "I don't know." Some employees couldn't care less about helping a customer. This factor also causes customers to go to a different store that may be a little bit more expensive, but has better customer service.
Wal-Mart has positives, like its low prices, and the fact that it provides nearly everything needed in only one store. It also has negatives. Wal-Mart destroys downtowns and other supermarkets and stores, has low wages for its workers, provides poor benefits, has extremely chaotic stores, and it destroys more jobs than it creates. In my opinion, the cons outway the pros. By improving customer service Wal-Mart's reputation could improve a small amount, but I think that we should not support Wal-Mart. Next time you need to go shopping, pick a different store besides Wal-Mart.


Sites used:
http:www.house.gov/list/press/ny09_weiner/041612walmart.html
http://goinside.com/99/7/walmart.html