What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

#1

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 9:57am

So there's talk about the first Walmart opening here finally and the city is trying to stop it from happening again. I don't ever hear about this kind of opposition when a new Duane Reade opens every five minutes. What exactly does the city have against them?

#2

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 10:17am

Walmart is notorious for decimating local small businesses. A couple of years ago, they were trying to open stores in our town as well as a neighboring town. Their MO is to open two stores near each other, wipe out local competition, then close one of the stores, often crushing the local economy. When they couldn't get the zoning approvals in our town, they abandoned both locations.

Caveat: everything I've written is (at best) second hand info, and I have no evidence with which to back it up.

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"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson

#3

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 10:18am

They're opening a store in my town and I feel like it's the end of civilization. I've been in one Walmart once and it was awful.

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When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

Updated On: 12/15/10 at 10:18 AM

#4

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 10:20am

But can't the same be said about CVS/Walgreens/Duane Reade? They open up stores on every corner eliminating small businesses as well.

And I love a good Walmart. I love the prices and the selection and I don't see anything wrong with that.

Updated On: 12/15/10 at 10:20 AM

#5

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 10:22am

To some extent yes. But they do it by becoming one-stop shopping. Walmart does that too, but they do it by pretty much sourcing everything from China and drastically cutting prices, which smaller stores can't compete with. Also by avoiding nasty expenses like benefits for their employees.

(To put it very, very simply.)

#6

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 10:25am

Wal-Mart Watch

#7

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 10:32am

Walmart is so much larger than those enhanced drug stores you mention, Jordy.

They're massive units. And once they come to an area a lot of the smaller businesses won't be able to compete. Then they'll open another store and so on. So much of what makes NYC a unique shopping destination would be lost.

Plus, they're evil.

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....but the world goes 'round

#8

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 10:39am

Well evil or not, their prices are great an as much as I'd love to shop mom and Pop, I don't live in a world where I can afford it.

#9

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 10:46am

I've always been able to find comparable prices at local stores, especially for groceries. Unless you're shopping to feed a small army and buy everything in bulk.

#10

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 10:47am

No self-respecting New Yorker would want a Wal Mart here.

"Who cares if they're evil, just as long as I get my sh*t cheap" sounds like the stuff of corporate wet dreams.

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"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali

#11

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 10:53am

"I don't live in a world where I can afford it."

Funny I live in a world where I can't afford not to.

#12

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 11:30am

If they put it anywhere, put it in Times Square which has no soul anymore anyways.

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'Take me out tonight where's there's music and there's people and they're young and alive.'

#13

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 11:41am

When it comes, and it will, you'll end up shopping there. Trust me, after MUCH resistance, I have succumbed due to their selection and pricing. My little burg of 1,000 people fought Starbucks from opening for five years and finally caved. Guess where you see all of town council every morning.

#14

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 11:59am

I saw on the news a few weeks ago that more people do their food shopping at Walmart than anywhere else. They are now the leading "food market". I have also noticed over the past few years when I go to Target that the parking lot, while not as full as usual, is pretty full but people aren't buying a lot of merchandise (Clothes, movies, electronics). Everyone is over in the food and drug section shopping.

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Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder

#15

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 12:02pm

To be honest, I've done some comparison shopping and usually WalMart's prices or just a few cents less, or the product is actually smaller than the comparable size you find elsewhere.

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"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert

#16

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 12:21pm

I believe a recent Consumer Reports myth-busted the notion of their prices being appreciably lower than other stores.

#17

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 12:26pm

Jordan, the one and only reason is that Walmart does not hire union employees. That angers liberals for some reason.

Nobody has complained that the economy would be decimated when KMart opened two stores in Manhattan. Target was allowed to open. Bradlees opened (and then closed). Costco, etc. The only difference between these stores and Walmart is union workers.

Rather than allowing free choice about Walmart, liberals make up all sorts of lies about the company and try to get it closed down.

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If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

#18

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 12:29pm

There's your answer, Jordan.

#19

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 12:30pm

Yeah. That must be it. Solely.

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"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali

#20

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 12:34pm

The one (and only) time I ever stepped foot into a Walmart, I couldn't wait to leave. I've never seen so many trashy people who all needed a bath in one store. I don't care if their prices are cheaper, I'd rather spend more and avoid being revolted at every turn of the aisle. Aren't they also known for being anti-gay?

#21

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 12:37pm

Seems an appropriate time to check in on . . .
the people of WalMart.

#22

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 12:38pm

"Rather than allowing free choice about Walmart, liberals make up all sorts of lies about the company and try to get it closed down."

12:26:09...OK, who had 12:26 in the pool?

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"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson

#23

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 12:46pm

Reg and sin, I have noticed that about Target. My best friend goes to Target for all of his personal items. I have compared prices while there with him and some things are only a penny or two less and some are the same price as the market right around the corner from where we both live. I figure for the gas he uses to get to Target, he might as well just walk a block to King Soopers (We call ours Queen Soopers) and get his stuff.

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Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder

#24

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 12:53pm

Q, this one is my favorite:
Maneis?

#25

What The Hell Does NYC Have Against Walmart??

Posted: 12/15/10 at 12:56pm

At least this time there is a grain of truth to Goth's rant in that IF Walmart allowed a union, workers would demand and get health insurance and better working conditions. So in Goth's twisted world, Unions are the problem.

It always amuses me that WalMart is the single most successful retailer in the world and they "can't afford" to offer health benefits to employees. If they can't who can?

I'd think Goth would hate WalMart- rather than provide a decent wage and benefits for their staff, they encourage employees to sign up for government entitlements to make ends meet. That doesn't seem very Tea Party-ish, do it?

Updated On: 12/15/10 at 12:56 PM