Mike Rowe Supports Walmart In New Initiative And The Haters Go Wild

[HARVEYtheDAMNED]

I think I can count on the fingers of one hand how often I agree with mrjarrell, but he's right on the money with this.

Wal-mart doesn't "underpay" their employees. Their pay is comparable to other warehouse outlets.

Wal-mart doesn't price gouge that I've ever seen. Why do you suppose the damned stores are always full of people? It's not because they don't have anywhere else to go shopping! And have you figured out that there isn't a Wal-mart anywhere near Keystone at the Crossing? People who have bucks to burn don't shop the bargains at Wal-mart, but there are plenty of folks who do.

Are you pissed because Wal-mart stores are ubiquitous? Wish we'd had them in rural Indiana when I was stuck there during summer vacations when I was a kid.

Do you think they're running off "mom and pop" stores? Sorry about that. So are Discount Tire, Target, COSTCO, the Tire Barn, and many other retail outlets. We aren't the area-restricted population we were when the "mom and pop" stores were plentiful and didn't have a bunch of competition.

Manufacturing jobs have left this country because the economic climate and the tax structure makes it more financially responsible to move manufacturing to where costs are less. Yeah, it's unpatriotic and it's not a great strategic move, but it's the way our governments have laid out the ground rules. Make the manufacturing climate more promising back here and manufacturing jobs will return. That's not Wal-mart's fault, nor is it their problem. Their business plan is to provide merchandise at low prices by buying it in volume - any retailer with the economic clout to do the same will have the same success.

So transfer your ire to the governments who are exacerbating the problems in the manufacturing community in this country, rather than venting it on retailers who are trying to make a profit on millions of sales to people like you and me.

These are all fair points. On the assumption you are correct, what would be your specific ire with the government on manufacturing? I have lots of skepticism and dislike for my government (this administration in particular) but nothing specific in regards to manufacturing that I can think of offhand.

Do you personally attempt to buy American if you can? Many items are simply not made here period, like many our medications as pointed out by thej25, in which case you're SOL. I don't specifically buy American and nothing else, if anything it's just a single pro out of many pros and cons I consider when purchasing one product over another, but it's a pro nonetheless.

I feel that shopping at Walmart is not a smart way to spend my money. I feel that my money would do better elsewhere. Even if they're not as bad as I have been led to believe, there are almost always better places to spend my money personally. Not that I speak for anyone but myself.

 

[hondatech2k2]

Good for them. If they hold true to their statements it could be the start of a new trend.

 

[Gadgetmonster]

I have always been a fan of Mike Rowe.. even more after Dirty Jobs was done. He promotes getting over the idea that working with your hands is less than honorable. Here is his web site Profoundly Disconnected

+1 for MR and WM

 

[87iroc]

I liked his response to the haters...he doesn't back down and cower.

My mom works at Walmart. She hates every minute of it. They treat her like crap. Does she make decent money? Yes...she's at the top of their pay scale. She's also constantly watching her back as they are looking for any reason to let her go it seems. She's worked there for 20 some odd years. Seen it go from Sam Walton goodness to current 'maximize the profit' badness. They've cut her hours now and most everyone elses(I blame Obamacare and not Walmart for this) Hopefully they are starting to put initiatives in place to bring back their roots of 'we buy american when we can' and not just cooking the books for a marketing campaign.

I shop elsewhere when I can...but sometimes a good wander of the mega-lo-mart is good therapy just to peruse whats going on and try to become famous on 'people of walmart'.

 

[Bunnykid68]

Does everyone hate Lowes and Home Depot and Menards as much as Walmart then? The economy is going to become more and more of a global economy no matter what we do and people are always going to try and save a buck whenever they can. If Walmart could get .22 bricks from overseas and keep their shelves filled with a price tag of $25 I bet a lot of people would be going and buying it

 

[Classic]

I have been making a real effort during the past several years to buy American made products. Not that easy. it got to be this way because CONSUMERS want the lowest price and generally could care less about the country of origin. Look inside your designer jeans, INGO hat, shoes, hand tools or auto parts before you buy. Not that easy to find US made goods and they are usually more expensive. Put US and Asian goods side by side on the shelf and the lowest price will be gone first EVERY time. It isn't Walmart or (name your favorite retailer) doing the deciding, it's the evil consumer. If any of you owned a store and saw this happening, what would you do? Keep selling higher priced "Made in US" goods while the business across the street gets all the sales on less expensive products?

Great post OP!

 

[ljk]

I don't believe in their sincerity.

If this really works, then I'll be perfectly happy to reverse my longtime position on Wal-mart. As of now, I don't shop Wal-Mart because I don't enjoy my hard earned money going to communists.

I'd like to stop borrowing money from China to pay for our roads, military and pretty much everything else.

 

[Fletch]

I'm a fan of this commercial.

 

[CindyE]

I don't understand all the complaining either. For years, people have griped about WM selling Made in China crap. Now WM claims they are going to do something about that, and people are all in an uproar. I understand being cynical, but let's see what happens.
I try to buy made in USA, but it is difficult. I seem to end up at WM once a week, because they do have some things I cannot find in our other stores.

 

[Expat]

Back in the old days, WM tried to stock as much USA made stuff as they could. The old man wanted it that way and it was one of the things they advertised. Then they got away from it after Sam Walton died. I am glad to see they are returning to making that effort.

 

[HeadlessRoland]

I work for Walmart. Not at the store but a pharmacy DC. I get paid better than most local factories and other warehouses. I have great hours and I love my job. Walmart is made up of many different divisions so if you want to get paid better look to transfer to a different area. We have been hearing about the US jobs initiative for a while now.

Oh and for people who don't want to buy foreign made goods check your meds. Many drugs are foreign manufacturered and just repackaged in the US. One of the largest is in Israel. Plus I have seen Austria, Croatia, Japan for diabetic test strips, and some others I can't think of at the moment.

People who dislike or even rail against Israel would be amazed at how often they imbibe or use Israeli products. Teva is the largest maker of generics in the world, and they're starting to branch into brand-name drugs.

I'm glad to see someone as famous as Rowe champion capitalism. Too many people nowadays seem to champion socialism or something like it. This morning I found out Jim Harrison of the Kentucky Reptile Zoo is anti-capitalism and blames "big tobacco and coal companies" for the "issues" facing states like Kentucky. Mindblowing. So it's nice to see WalMart realize that they need to get back in the good graces of the people who buy their stuff. Even if this is done only as a bottom-line measure - and $250B is crazy money - I still respect the strategy. Good for them.

 

[ashby koss]

If Walmart simply does what it has stated that it will do, They will have done far more for America over 10 years than the"most powerful" man of the free world has done in 8 years... Sad but true.

Then again, one must actually want America to thrive...

 

[HeadlessRoland]

Back in the old days, WM tried to stock as much USA made stuff as they could. The old man wanted it that way and it was one of the things they advertised. Then they got away from it after Sam Walton died. I am glad to see they are returning to making that effort.

They probably had a difficult time keeping the shelves stocked with just USA products. Try to find an American flag - not online but in an actual store - made in America. I looked for one in my last move, and after an hour of shopping in Valpo, and three stores later, I found one. But the pole was made in Taiwan! I couldn't find an all-American American flag porch kit! How embarrassing! How pathetic! How profoundly and truly sad!

 

[Whosyer]

Does everyone hate Lowes and Home Depot and Menards as much as Walmart then? The economy is going to become more and more of a global economy no matter what we do and people are always going to try and save a buck whenever they can. If Walmart could get .22 bricks from overseas and keep their shelves filled with a price tag of $25 I bet a lot of people would be going and buying it

Much of the Walmart hate is based in propaganda pushed by organized labor. The unions, and the left in general, have spent a great deal of time and money to demonize them. I have a friend that is a (union) engineer. He rants about Walmart constantly. He gets real quiet when I ask him if any of the freight on his trains go to Walmart. Or how many of his union brothers on the docks, refuse to unload those ships full of Chinese goods.

 

[Leo]

Back in the old days, WM tried to stock as much USA made stuff as they could. The old man wanted it that way and it was one of the things they advertised. Then they got away from it after Sam Walton died. I am glad to see they are returning to making that effort.

I am also old enough to remember when there was not walmart stores at the edge of every town. Sam Walton made a big annual public push to have American products. He would openly send buyers to factories and tell them what product they wanted to buy at what price point, and work with them to supply the product. He said there was no reason he couldn't make money selling American made products. He understood that wealth exported is gone forever. The early advertizing fliers had American flags with a states name next to each products picture. The pliers on same might be from the Williams forge in Buffalo New York, the dress shirts might be from North Carolina, etc. That was a positive edge over places like SS Kresges (KMART).

After the old man died that ideal when by the wayside and Walmart actually put some of their long term faithful suppliers out of business.

I think it is positive for them to make an effort to have USA made goods in the stores.

I have never minded paying extra for a good USA made product. I have left stores without a purchase because all they has was commie block choices. I figure that buying domestic helps pay a man who might be buying something I make. He for sure is going to be paying taxes that help pay for this country.

 

[Fletch]

I'm glad to see someone as famous as Rowe champion capitalism. Too many people nowadays seem to champion socialism or something like it.

He'll get away with it, IMO, as long as he never specifically labels it capitalism.

 

[Disposable Heart]

If the amount of undecided voters is an indicator of things, I think the strong patriotic feelings that people have when they shop are in the minority. Most folks don't care, just wanting an affordable price for a product that will last them for just long enough to be useful to them.

I've seen American products fail as poorly as imports. In order to match price points, American manufacturing has had to cheapen their materials and methods. American laborers demand a higher wage, that's just the ins and outs of it. But American exceptionalism isn't just in how we build things, it's what we build. Let China destroy her air, water and land making cheap flip flops that will end up in our landfills. America needs to focus on being innovative, building niche and complex technical products and services, rather than trying to keep up by pumping out junk.

Alas, however, the uncaring American majority's appetite for inexpensive and poorly made products continues unsatiated however. We demand higher wages b/c we want more and more, wanting large TVs, huge trucks, 'Murica sized fries. Our nation rests on the laurels of previous generations and have squandered the exceptional advantage given to the nation after WW2 when European and Asian manufacturing lay in ruins. All in the pursuit of having a cheap TV that, while big, is of poor quality and has to be replaced in 5-10 years. To have a big pickup with a MIM filled Mexican made engine that lasts only 100k miles before the rings begin to leak oil. To have nice looking (but poorly made) clothing 7 days a week that unravel after 3 washes. Inexpensive electronics for "convienience" that we don't need and yet, we get mad when we have to speak to a foreign national b/c Americans don't want to take that job for $10 an hour, they want $20. We've become overextended, overstimulated, oversexed and our forefathers would vomit looking at the modern American: Fat, lazy, stubborn, uncompromising to a fault, vain, ignorant, bored and aimless.

 

[Leo]

Disposable heart brings up so many valid points. Some has to do with how we educate our culture. My uneducated immigrant grandfather, NEVER purchased the cheapest. He would not spend money on gimmicks either. He would shop around for the quality and longevity. If he bought fan he would pay the extra for the bigger motor and the sturdier housing. If he bought a knife, he would get the best steel, willingly paying the price. In the long term, he was far better off, because he only bought things ONCE. All the stuff he carefully shopped for was still in operational condition when he died. We do not teach our children that any more.

I would buy USA made uniform shirts from online suppliers. I would wear them for years, most of them never even needed a button sewn on. Others bought the cheapie shirts that would fall apart pretty quick. While my co workers would buy two or three pairs of junk shoes a year (and always complain their feet hurt) I bought three identical pairs of USA made RedWings at $105 each. Rotating a fresh pair every day, I got TWELVE years out of those shoes, far cheaper in the long run. And my feet never hurt.

Unfortunately, most of the people who had that wisdom have died off, and the manufacturers and sellers of the top quality products have gotten squeezed out. So many times now, even if you are willing to walk past the $20 junk and willing to spend $50 for a good one, the $50 one turns out to be the same low quality with a "designer" label, sold in a more trendy store.

Maybe we can start the nation back to the wisdom we had forgotten and reverse the decline

 

[45fan]

Much of the Walmart hate is based in propaganda pushed by organized labor. The unions, and the left in general, have spent a great deal of time and money to demonize them. I have a friend that is a (union) engineer. He rants about Walmart constantly. He gets real quiet when I ask him if any of the freight on his trains go to Walmart. Or how many of his union brothers on the docks, refuse to unload those ships full of Chinese goods.

You can leave Unions out of the Anti Wal-Mart argument. Sure, there is some propaganda from the upper levels in the unions that try to demonize Wal-Mart, but the truth of the matter is, the real power is in the buying power of the union members, and as a Union member myself, I can say that I do shop at Wal-Mart. As a matter of fact, I know a large majority of the people that I work with have shopped at Wal-Mart.

Sure, there are low paying jobs there, and sure there are people that are stuck in those jobs. Do I feel sorry for them? Not really. I know just as many people working for Wal-Mart that make as much or more than I do, so its difficult to stand on a soap box and preach about how the corporation doesnt take care of their employees that work to get ahead.

 

[CathyInBlue]

Seen it go from Sam Walton goodness to current 'maximize the profit' badness. […] Hopefully they are starting to put initiatives in place to bring back their roots of 'we buy american when we can' and not just cooking the books for a marketing campaign.

Wow. Someone else who remembers what Wal-Mart was like back when Sam Walton was still alive and running the place. I remember when the M.O. of WalMart was always gonna be to sell American made goods in preference to foreign made goods. The pledge was that the American made goods would have to be of far inferior quality or non-existent to have Wally World not carry them or to carry a foreign-made equivalent to stock right next to it. Now, you go down any non-grocery aisle in WalMart, and pick up any non-name branded product, turn it over, and you're more likely than not to see "Made in China for WalMart, Inc., Bentonville, AR". I did it in Sam's Club to a set of melamine plates and bowls.

In the most favourable light, they say they're committing $250B over 10 years to buy truly American made products. Someone else mentioned they already claim that 2/3 of their stock is already American made (or sourced). First thing I'd like to know is, is that 2/3 of their stock including or excluding fresh produce, and is it by weight, volume, or number of SKUs? Next thing I'd like to know is what it the amount of $$$$ Walmart spends now per year on American-made stock for their stores. This pledge could truly be a hollow gesture. $250B over 10 years for American made products could be a contraction for an outfit as large as WalMart.

If WalMart Corp wanted to impress me with its commitment to the American economy, just reinstate Sam's pledge. If it's a truly domestic product, that's similar to any other product sold in any WalMart store, stock it. I don't care if it's more expensive than the miles and miles of cheap, Chinese crap WalMart's got in the supply pipeline right now. If there's an American-made widget anywhere in the country that's similar to any of the foreign widgets already on WalMart shelves, stock that American widget as well! Start preferring to stock the American widgets instead of the foreign widgets, even when there's a significant price difference.