It is great to see this. I lived near Waveland before moving to Australia. My children are still in the Bay St Louis/Waveland area, to know they are now able to buy essentials makes me feel better. Thanks. WE have Wal Mart here but it is called Big W.

Though Walmart has its faults.................it has made it possible for the poor man to shop at reasonable prices.............and those that do not have the necessary education needed in job markets, it does provide employment for those that are willing to work even for minimum wages.
Hats off to you in even "operating in a tent".
shirleen godfrey/nassau, bahamas

I'm glad Wal-Mart has helped it's fellow Americans in their time of need. This is still the land of the free and thank GOD we still have our freedom of choice, which includes where we shop.

are they giving stuff away free or just lowering prices?

Wal Mart is great they the most common sense approach to getting things done of any company that i know about. I purchase all of my clothes at wal mart & lots of other items and lots of items at sams
Ronnie

Have you considered that Walmart pays such substandard wages that the US taxpayer subsidizes their employees with Medicaid that averages $900 per year per employee?

...that they sell billions of dollars worth of useless Chinese crap?

...that their employees are demeaned, marginalized and dressed up like clowns?

It's a measure of how low America has fallen.

I am in Waveland, and can assure you that Wal Mart is NOT giving anything away. I was shopping the other day and was looking for a particular item...and it dawned on me that the "necessities" they are providing are mostly the name brand items..i.e. the more expensive, as opposed to the cheaper Wal Mart brands. Example...the only brand of sanitary napkins available were the high priced Always brand, as opposed to the cheaper Equate store brand. Once I realized this, I looked around and saw that this was pretty much across the board. As for praising Wal Mart for providing jobs...may I also point out that they pay low wages, offer part time work so they can get out of offering health benefits, adding a burden on states who have to pick up the tab thru Medicaid. If you are going to praise anyone in Waveland right now...praise the church groups who have also opened tent stores for the people here...the difference is, at their tent stores, they are giving away the products, as opposed to making money. Please...the Wal Mart Tent store is NOT a humanitarian effort..it is yet another example of the Waltons making a quick buck wherever they can.

The low wages and making people pay entirely for healthcare is what makes people so poor that they need to shop there.

It is good to see a big corporation helping to provide the necessities for these poor traumatized Americans!! Many of us do not have the means except a few dollars here or there coupled with our prayers and concern! May more corporations have a heart and follow Walmarts good example. We all know you took a big hit but to get back in there and put up a tent with air conditioning and supplies still at low prices is a corporation with a heart. THANK YOU!

When you have lost everything you have in a house fire and then 2 years later you lose the house you have rebuilt to this storm - well, seeing that Wal-mart tent is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen! It not only gives us a place to buy things that we badly need but also what it represents - such a small thing but such a gesture towards recovery.

Wal-mart has the repsonsibilty to take care of the neighborhoods they operate in. It's great to say that they offer employment to many locals but they also displace most local family owned businesses that thrived in these areas for generations.

I agree with Shirleen of the Bahamas. My wife and I are retired and saving money is important to us. The wages may be low but people are working and I'm saving money.

wal-mart is only still there to make a buck

Interesting how a giant like Wal-mart would make comments about keeping employees to long, having their pay go up and trying to figure out ways to cut 401K and health costs, at employee losses. The only way America can make a statement to Walmart is to stop shopping there and tell the managers to stop buying so much offshore. The real article should be about the reduction of our standard of living brought to you by the low price leader - Walmart. The more they spend offshore, the more they dictate price to their suppliers, the worse we will be. This is not Sam Walton's vision. This is wall street and greed. Let's start thinking about America and the people who live here. We are your customers and more will be looking to others like Target.

Thank God for wal-mart and everyone who has made this possible.It's a blessing to see people helping in a time of need.We all have some faults yet the pure in heart will prevail.And it's pleasing to God for he bless many to help many.

shop at Big W ,and you are all going to live in tent's ,I use to shop at Wallmart ,I find out I did much better in qvalety and price at Target ,and on sale I wish Big W ,will give there workers halth inshurance and not make America 3rd contry .
see if you post this ?

Walmart gets a bad rap for being so huge. What no one ever mentions is Walmart is always the first to step up when a community needs help. Critics will rant about a bog box store in their neighborhood, but will not hesitate to drive across town to shop at one.

Job well done, Ray Cox! I'm impressed with your vision. Your focus and enthusiasm is motivating and refreshing. When are they promoting you to District Mgr???

I used to work for Wal-Mart and still shop there. Best values around and yes, wages were low, but it was a job when I couldn't find one elsewhere. Dressed up like a clown??? Where did anyone get that? I wore a blue vest over regular clothes. Hardly looked like a clown. Insurance could have been better, but still, it was insurance.

WALMART IS FINALLY COMING TO OUR SMALL TOWN AND MOST EVERYONE IS ELATED.THE REASON SOME WALMART EMPLOYEES ARE ON MEDICAID IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOME HANDICAP AND DON'T WANT TO LOSE THERE BENEFITS. THE PAY IS BETTER THAN MOST AND WALMART DOES MUCH CHARITY WORK IN THE COMMUNITIES. THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE HERE WILL STILL SHOP AT THE FEW STORES WE HAVE. WE HAVE ONE GROCERY STORE THAT IS SO CROWDED ALL YEAR AND THE PRICES ARE VERY HIGH. THANK YOU WALMART.

As a former WalMart associate may I say: the hourly wage I earned wasn't the highest in the world, but the benefits made employment there desirable. Unless things have *drastically* changed in the past four years, my benefits now as a health care professional aren't as nice as my Walmart benefits package. My healthcare insurance is extremely more expensive here and covers a *lot* less than Walmart's did (comparing the insurance I started when I was hired at the hospital vs the insurance I left at WalMart). I know of several employees who maintain a part-time job at Walmart as well as a full time job at the hospital just to keep the Walmart benefits package (and these are RNs who can earn up to $50+/hour).
WalMart has its faults, like everything, but people should realize it has major plusses as well.

Walmart pays 10.00 an hour for a lowly night stocker
everyone else pays less,,but do you really want facts,
all you wallyworld haters

Take it from someone who worked for Wal-Mart for ten years, they have their faults, but they do have a lot of good programs. For example the volunteer program, the match grant program. Insurance and low wages yes that is a downfall, but, overall Wal-Mart is a big plus.

It's too bad that some people will complain if they're hung with a new rope! WalMart is a business, these people are customers. Quit dissing Walmart and concede that they are the new wave of supply and demand in the world. How can you complain about a company who set up a tent, for goodness sake, to serve their customers? Many Americans still feel they are owed a lot more - free - than their neighbors.

Sam Walton would be spinning around in his grave if he knew of the proliferation of non-USA manufactured goods being sold in his stores.

I am so sick and tired of people slaming wal-mart for making money. Hello we live in america were the last time i look people started stores to make money!!!
I am happy to see that wal-mart is triing to bring something to those areas that make them feel like AMERICANS again.

Walmart is not a communities friend.. only a clever marketing scheme to appear to care. Low pathetic pay, no insurance for their working poor and hey, lets make a killing on poor folks who have little alternative but to buy of them in hurricane ravaged areas! Yes, our stock will soar! No shopping choices mean record reveneus for Walmart...whoopie. I am disgusted by Walmart. I also encourage the American people to show true support for its working poor and stop buying from these greedy coporations.

Gee! Doesn't anyone remember when "WOOLWORTH & SS Kresge (Later K-mart)were the "bigdogs"? Did America "complain" back then that these 2 "BIG RETAILERS" were destroying the "mom & pop" shops in our country? Looks to me that WalMart is not much different than they were (are). Thank goodness for freedom of speech. Thank-You to WalMart whom chose to come to our little town & offer us a needed place to shop. NOTE: Guess What? The mom & pop stores in our town are still open & providing what WalMart doesn't.

WALMART IS GREAT ! IF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE WORKING THERE LET THEM GO ON WELFARE AND FEEL LIKE BUMS. AT WALMART THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING TO SOCIETY PROPERLY AND THEY ARE WELL TREATED AND PAID ADEQUATELY !!

Walmart and Sams are the only stores that treats its customers like thieves on the way in the store , and on the way out of the store. They check my bags and my reciepts to see if I stole anything. What a slap in the face.

The only reason they have a door greeter is to make sure that you do not steel anything.

No other stores check peoples bags and reciepts.

Walmart and Sams do not know how to treat there customers with respect.

Shop at Target, they have quality products, great employees, great service, and they do not treat there employees like thieves.

Go Target.

In my opinion, because I have that right. If you do not like Walmart then dont shop there it's that easy. There are many people who will still shop there no matter where they get the stuff from. And about the low wages and no health insurance that they offer, well thats a choice the employees took when they were hired.....look at the bright side they at least have a job and not making a line at the unemployment office.

It's amazing to see that the very Americans who benefit most from free trade complain so bitterly about its costs. If Walmart was not selling, then who would be? It seems that some would rather the people living in these hard-hit regions do without rather than purchase from a willing seller. You who sit safe and warm indoors writing, why don't you stop using shampoo and toilet paper this eveing, and see if you would then perhaps like to buy from whomever is selling. Walmart lowers prices because it uses cheaper (i.e. often foreign) labor. Wouldn't it be great if those workers could earn American-level salaries? Of course it would. Of course, to do that, we'd have to double or triple prices across the board for all items, thereby triggering the collapse of our economy (which, as it comprises about 25% of the world economy, would surely bring about a similar collapse the world over). Are we really so short-sighted that we don't think of these things? And the foreign workers that now earn something (albeit to some, not enough), would earn nothing. My, how helpful to them. Dreams are wonderful; idealism carried too far is a nightmare.

My hat is off to Wal-Mart for what it is doing. We still live in a capitalistic society but I am not certain that what Wal-Mart is doing in this area is going to turn them a profit. I feel it is being done more to help and provide the essentials that people need. It also is putting some people back to work and getting the economy rolling this hard hit areas.

Target? Where's Target in any of this. Never saw Target out there. On the other hand Wal-Mart was there helping my organization deliver aid to the folks in Pascagoula, MS. Yes, of course a business is after the buck as someone said. That is what a business does. Walmart is not a humanitarian effort. However, when push comes to shove they do what they can above and beyond reason to help folks in their community. As for globilization issues, as consumers we will have to make our desire known. It will be argued the consumers already are. Where do you spend your money? Do you really put an effort into buying more expensive american goods? Until we all do things wont change.

I like Wal-Mart, there is nothing anti-American about making a profit!

The founder worked 15 hours a day for over 20 years. Many people should emulate his example.

the wider world is watching,how corporate has taken over america and everywhere walmart operates.the are in business not to help u the man with little money .they are there to exploit there workers and make as much money as possibe.so america wake up. why are they rejection unions at there stores ,simple reason they can exploit individual workers

After reading the pros and cons about Walmart.Did any one think what would happen without them.If you do not like Walmart go to K-Mart (That is if you can find one)If you do not like the wages that Walmart pays then do not work for them.Lets ask Walmart to give all employees a $2-3 dollar an hour wage increase,but remember don't complain when thewy have to raise their prices. You cannot have it both ways.

If there is a buck to be made Walmart is there. Putting up a tent.....that sounds about like Wal-Mart it sure doesn't surprise me. They do not give anything away not even praise for their employees. So many other mom and pop stores have gone out of business because of conglomerates like Wal Mart what about those jobs? Wal-Mart should be thanking the people who shop there instead of those people thanking them.

America was built on the dream of being ran by the people...which includes commerce. Now this entire country is ran by corporations such as Walmart. This country is no better or no freer than anywhere else. Facts: AS the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart is setting the standard for America's workplaces and it's a standard of low pay, poor benefits and abuse of workers that working families cannot accept.
Taxpayer burdens: Wal-mart's low wages and poor benefits force many workers to rely on public aid. taxpayers spend about $420,750 a year on public aid programs for EACH Wal-Mart store with 200 workers b/cuz Wal-Mart workers can't afford health insurance or food for their children. (University of California Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education 08/04) So they money you think you are saving you actually make up in raising taxes and promoting poor Americans and globalization. Our country is falling apart at a quick rate due to corporations like Wal-mart...I am sorry who said they shopped at Wal-Mart

I work at a Wal-Mart in Minesota and I use to think that Wal-Mart was the best place in the world to work but I know longer think this is true. A company that rich have such crappy insurance.Myself along with so many co-workers can't afford the insurance.We can't afford to be sick.You have sick time and you can't use it. You have to be off (2) days to get paid for (1)day which I think Sucks!!!!!!!! The only job I know does that.

America was built on the dream of being ran by the people...which includes commerce. Now this entire country is ran by corporations such as Walmart. This country is no better or no freer than anywhere else. Facts: AS the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart is setting the standard for America's workplaces and it's a standard of low pay, poor benefits and abuse of workers that working families cannot accept.
Taxpayer burdens: Wal-mart's low wages and poor benefits force many workers to rely on public aid. taxpayers spend about $420,750 a year on public aid programs for EACH Wal-Mart store with 200 workers b/cuz Wal-Mart workers can't afford health insurance or food for their children. (University of California Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education 08/04) So they money you think you are saving you actually make up in raising taxes and promoting poor Americans and globalization. Our country is falling apart at a quick rate due to corporations like Wal-mart...I am sorry who said they shopped at Wal-Mart

People need to stop complaining about Walmart. I notice the people who pretend not to like Walmart are usually from an upperclass area like the lady from Colorado, where they obviously have all the extra money they need, theorizing about whether the rest of us are being hurt by Walmart. I for one respect Walmart; you can walk into a Target and you always get half the selection of any particular product, usually sold at about twice the price of Walmart. The same is true with food. A pizza that Walmart always sells for $3.00 will be $5.99 at any of the gimmick club-grocery stores that fill states like California like Vons, Ralphs, etc. There are millions of employees who qualify for jobs at Walmart and always will--that's why they are there. When they truly feel underpaid and overqualified, then they can and do go elsewhere and take management positions or other types of careers. Walmart is smart for figuring out how to sell things at low prices. Obviously the benefits aren't that good. It shouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that your job at the Dollar Store is not going to get you a real career, unless and until you make yourself worth being picked for management, etc.
Walmart is just like every other--and I mean EVERY--company who is in business to make profit, and also tries to look as good as possible by being involved charitably to some small extent. There is no such thing as a corporation with a heart, nor should there be, and those who expect this must not understand what a corporation is designed to be. A corporation is like a cooperative--it is a group of people none of whom are individually liable the results (therefore the face of the company will lack emotion) and all of whom benefit (jobs and profit) from its existence.
Go ahead and shop at Vons, get a bag of groceries that Walmart would have sold you for $19, and pay $35 for it. That kind of stupidity and lack of shrewdness is actually what makes the poor poorer. I worked at Walmart for some time. The work was hard and the pay was low. As soon as I was qualified to move on in life, I did. I didn't fault the company for its payrate, I focused on bettering myself so I could move up to a job that required more out of me, and paid more to me. That is called "Capitalism". It is a self-improving cycle that requires planning and sacrifice and pays great rewards. Those who are trying to make a career out of being a cashier and then wonder why it is difficult to raise a family have a flaw in their own strategy. Certain jobs simply are low paying jobs and always will be, because that is the profit margin they demand and that is the employment market they can sustain. Just because one discounter becomes a giant and maintains constant worldwide attention, doesn't mean it's policies are any more evil than any other high-volume, low-margin business that requires minimal skills and pays accordingly!

Walmart is a disgrace to our community. Their store is a hideous sight, and highly visible. The money earned by its empoloyees makes no difference to the local economy. Strongarm tactics regarding buying power, while legal, are disgusting.

The same ideas that others want for WalMart. Is the very reason that auto firms, steel companies are on the ropes.

If one does not like goods made in China then don't buy them. You do have a choice.

If one does not like WalMart shop the others stores.

I did not have a problem with Wal Mart being a regular sized store and it was even better when Sam Walten was alive. However, now we have 2 Super Walmarts and they are Knocking out all of the little buisnesses in town, which is less than 75,000 people. I shop there as little as possible preferring ShopKo.

As a Wal-Mart associate may I say: that after working for 2yrs. at Wal-Mart I am now making $8.55 an hour, not great pay but better than $6.00 an hour which I was making after working at Sears for two years and they gave me a penny raise to bring me up to $6.00. So Wal-Mart isn't any worse than any other corporation. I haven't see or heard any thing about Sears, Target , K-Mart & Etc. helping out the people after Katrina. Also all the managers for Wal-Mart have a certain amount of money taken out of their pay each payday to be put in a fund to help out in emergencies, the managers alone donated $150,000.00 to the Katrina relief. That's more than any other corporation or our president did.

Walmart is in business to make money. It's the American way. For all of the people that say that Wal-mart doesn't pay enough. How much would you pay someone to do an entry level job that requires very little education and training. Not very much if you want to make money. The problem is that everyone wants something for nothing. If you want to make more money and live a comfortable life you have to work hard and get an education. Not work at Walamrt with a 5th grade education. No one forces people to work at Walmart, they choose to. Everyone that feels sorry for the "underpaid employees of Walmart", start a business yourself and pay them $15.00/hr to run a register or stock shelves. People shop Walmart because they have the lowest prices. Walmart get a bad rap because they are the biggest on the block and everyone want to cut them down to bring them down to thier level instead of working to rise up to them. Alot of people complain about them but they all shop thier.

This reads like WalMart propaganda posing as news.

ALL I know that Wallmart took K-Mart a brand new
Store right out with Products made mainly in China.
What ever happen with MADE IN AMERICA????????????

It's not Walmarts fault that retail works the way it does. They didn't set up trade regulations that enable retailers to have everything we want imported from 3rd world countries at half the cost of manufacturing locally; and as long our schools continue to pump out kids who are not sufficiently educated to work above minimum wage Walmart will never want for a work staff.

A Walmart Supercenter is coming to our small town. As a owner of a small business in town, I'm expanding to make room for the extra 100 customers a day that will check me out.They bring shoppers to town!! Have you ever had to take your wife and daughter shopping? I don't know about your family, but mine takes me to more stores than just Walmart. We go to Walmart last, Thats Dads favorite stop!

From Bangkok--one of the things I miss most here is not being able to shop at my Walmart in Virginia. A great company--enough of union badmouths--I have friends shop and bring things to Thailand for me.

Aww - I love WalMart! My family went on a two long road trips around the US and we always shopped at WalMart- they have such awesome prices, and while some of us buy food, the other girls browse for clothes and jewelry! Also, several times when there were no local campgrounds, we camped in the parking lot and shopped in the morning. Pretty nice from my little point of view!

Like the oil companies dont rip off people. Worse than anything Walmart has ever done.

Wal-Mart is a public company like any other, out to make money for itself and shareholders...it has to do whatever it does to make sure prices are low and people, large numbers of them shop there...similarly, the people who work there do so because they want to...they are no more or less altruistic than any other company, but Madison Avenue told them this American flag waving behavior sells cheap stuff, and it apparently does...if you don't like it, don't shop or work there, I rarely do the former and have never done the latter, but I do not bitch about it, I'll pay a bit more to shop elsewhere...that's America...land of free choices...

walmart is just a common sense operated co, without pushing a what the market will bare ,profit first as others do in this country, greed is not a priorty,some just can't get it ,

I wish we had a Walmart here in lowly Nantwich in the UK. Tents are fine; actually I'd be delighted if they set one up in $50 gazebo. Everytime I visit the States I invariably make a beeline for a Walmart. You really don't know how lucky you are.

For the person that complained about the tent only having name-brands available in order to maximize profit: You are dead wrong. Wal-Mart actually makes more (lots more) money on their equate and cheap, knockoff brands than name brands. Please, before you spout off your opinions, get your facts. And to Isaac from Pheonix: Well said.

This is nothing more than feelygood publicity for Wal-Mart. Shame on MSNBC, shame on you. Wal-Mart, destroyer of towns, lives and creater of our "Wal-Mart" economy. Shame on you MSNBC for falling into that other network publicity trap.

If Wal Mart is so bad then there is no reason why people would work there or why anyone would shop at their stores. Obviously, this is not true. There is a Wal Mart and Sams in Scottsdale, AZ - not exactly a poor neighborhood yet it is packed by thousands of people from all income ranges shopping for bargains. Clearly, it is not a store for the poor only.

As to Waveland, what local retailer is up and running, providing goods and services to the local population? For those who hate Wal Mart, shop at another store, pay more for your goods and feel proud that you helped save a job. It is not rocket science - it is just stocking and ringing up the register. How many people move into management at Safeway vs. Wal Mart? Not many!!!

Years before WalMart came into San Diego County, I had my 2 min0or grandsons at Hershey Park. the heavens opened up and we were soaked to the bone. On the drive back to the motel, I saw a WalMart and pulled into the parking lot.
Upon entering the store I explained to the greeter, I would like to purchase dry clothes for the three of us and change into them taking the price tags to the cashier to pay. She led us to the sale cases for boys stuff and took them onto the dressing room suggesting I take care of myself. I was in a dressing room when she came to tell me the boys underwear and socks were also soaked. I told her to go ahead and get them dry.
Tags in hand and the three of us dry, she took us to the cashier and I paid for our purchases. She packaged up the wet clothes and thanked us for shopping WallMart.

I turned the cart back into the store and spent an additional $200. This was my introduction to WalMart. I was long unhappy with kMart's lack of service, and have never since walked into one.

Now that WalMart is here in my hometown, I am a happy camper. They have not yet been allowed to open a super center, political grandstanding.
Now that the parent of Ralphs may be buying Albertsons, I can only see increased prices for groceries. I do hope I will see a super center soon.

I know organized labor is directly behind the negatives thrown at WalMart. With Ford Motors UAW workers getting 48 minutes per shift for toilet time, nothing surprises me.

WalMart is finding a need and fulfilling it. I do believe that is the formula for success. Big labor is working hard to stifle that.

Wal-Mart is just an euphemism for the "company store" once it moves into your town. I refuse to shop there.

Walmart, or Walmart's insurance, took my brother and his wife to Jacksonville,FA(airfare), kept them in a motel for 5 months, gave them a very reasonable food allowance, while my brother received a liver transplant at Mayo clinic. They continue to cover all of his medication and medical not covered elsewhere and have just footed the bill for same things for his 6 month checkup there. These are obviously not benefits covered by BC/BS - Richie says the company themselves covered it.I could not have afforded that trip, a motel for 5 months - nor could Richard. In a very real way, they saved his life. My favorite place to shop - you bet!!!

I'm absolutely shocked! You people blessing and praising Walmart like they are some gift from above! Do you think they are working out of a tent just because they CARE so much? You are speking from emotion. They are a business, they opened a "tent store" to make money - nothing more, nothing less! And all you people raving about shopping at your local walmart to SAVE money... do you ever think beyond your own selfish needs? How about the nummber of your fellow Americans they have put out of work by buying low quality, low cost merchanside from overseas... no wonder everyone NEEDS to SAVE by shopping at Walmart, you've only forced our workforce out of their decent paying jobs so that they have to go work for the sub-standard pay of a Walmart! Can't you people think beyond your own front door?

As a FREE American to make choices as I see fit as they pertain to me I think it sad that the very people that make the choice to or not to shop at ANY perticular store would get on a forum such as this just to bash a coproration NO MATTER which one it is. It is OUR right to shop and work where we please. If we, or our family members are not happy with where we or they work or wages made. Then it's that persons choice to change it or not. Come on people, this is whats wrong with socity today. To much whinning and not enough changing. It's YOUR choice.

When I first arrived home to Waveland three days after the storm, there were Walmart employees handing out food and water from Walmart trucks along side the National Guard. They were here before FEMA or the Red Cross. We are so thankful that they are here so that we have the opportunity to buy things we need. Not to mention the fact that we can keep our tax dollars here, where we really need them.

For those complaining about Wal-Mart, why not start your OWN company and make more money than you / they could make working at Wal-Mart?

Why not buy your own insurance with the money you make from working for yourself?

Why not quit complaining about a company that employs hundreds of thousands of Americans who might otherwise be working in the modern day equivalent of textile mill slave labour type industries?

Better yet, start a company to compete with Wal-Mart and offer your better wages, better healthcare, etc. With all the complainers out there, you should have a large enough clientele to support yourself and your workers, right? Hmmmm...

My guess is that most of the people who are complaining about wal-mart's low-pay haven't actually been in their local wal-mart lately and seen the type of people it has hired. Many of these people should feel LUCKY to have a job at Wal Mart. And their pay level is probably commesurate with their education, experience, and work ethic.

Wouldn't it be something if WalMart decided to go out of business, layoff the hundreds of thousands of employees and give in to the liberal wackos who can't stand the thought of anyone but the government giving them a paycheck.

Take your government paycheck and go to any other store and buy 1/2 the stuff you could buy at Wal Mart. No one is stopping you.

This country was built on innovation, ingenuity, and industry. Not imbiciles, ingrates, and idiotic rantings from those who don't want to actually work hard to get what they want.

Get an education. Get a job. Get a life.

you know what i dis like is no one ever complains about a MALL going in .. aka speaking of california ppl.. i was born and raised in calif. but they are a no to wal mart and i dont understand as older stores or businesses sooner or later close out as ppl running them age etc. but a mall come in and no one complains.. now wal mart super centers are a little mall in its self but california ppl are so rude in life that they think they are higher then ppl in the usa.. get a life and join the rest of the world.. wal mart does not under pay and does pay health cost speak to the company for yourself do not listen to those other companies that are trying to turn you from them.. as they feel threat. only cause they simple minded as if any store in your neighborhood that treats you right and has what you want will always maintain.. GROW UP IS what ever the ppl want

Why is it that Wal-Mart is so heavily picked on, and Target gets a free pass? I suspect the reason has to do with politics. If Wal-Mart donated to liberal/socialist charities, promoted abortion clinics, and banned Salvation Army bellringers from their properties, there would be no complaints about their profits.

Kevin is exactly right. People simply like to complain for no apparently reason. I haven't seen those complaining note the low wages Target, KMart, Shopko, etc pays. Or the fact that they typically have a less comprehensive benefits package. I know people with degrees that are getting paid the same amount or people working in a more professional capacity that are making just a mite more with horrendous medical coverage. If you want that to change I suggest you talk to your representatives about lifting unrealistic and insane regulation on all business...or talk to them about stopping the insurance lobbies from chipping away at healthcare which can only come from restricting insane lawsuit rewards.
And what used to be "Mom and Pop" stores pay less with absolutely no benefits at all. And believe me, they also sell MANY products not made in the USA. Interestingly that does not seem to increase the ire of those complaining.
As I said, Kevin is simply correct on many fronts. WalMart is a jumping off point for many young adults starting in to the work force, or a place for those who (for whatever reason) didn't achieve a higher education...not that necessarily would get them an awful lot more pay, or retired/elderly/handicapped persons wanting to supplement their income. What in the world is there to complain about that? Many of those people resent the WalMart-haters trying to play fast and loose with their incomes.
Simply stated, it's the mentality that anyone or anything that succeeds is the 'enemy'. Instead of finding pride in that they look to disparage anyone who excels, outside themselves, to strip people of pride and achievement. It's a sad state of affairs when a person has to beat someone down to make themselves feel better. Perhaps if those that complain find real value and appreciation for people from all walks of life they would have a clearer understanding of the importance all business brings to a community. Yes, even those 'lowly' cashiers deserve your respect and kindness. And all the district managers live within the communities their stores are located, yet complainers expect us to believe these people want to harm the community and schools their own children go to. It's just ridiculous.
Oh and by the way, Boston Stores, JC Penny, Carsons...they all sell 'third world' products...so stick your nose up somewhere else...or do something productive like opening a business in your community, make something useful, employ people, and make it economical for your customers. Of course with all the government regulation 'progressive thinkers' have forced on the 'evil' business in this country your chances of failing are quite high. But hey, I guess the complainers think the 'poor' should simply sit around and wait for the government to hand out some moldy cheese. How nice.

All that doesn't change the fact that they're the 5th largest trading partner with the entire COUNTRY of China... and that they've done huge damage the the USA in spite of their ocasional public relations stunts.

WalMart or any other business has the right to sell their merchantise at what ever price they choose. If they pay a low wage, why is anyone working for them? Because they can't get another job paying a zillion bucks an hour. These employees are happy to work for whatever pay they can get as for the most part they can only get this type of work. Many are retired, and don't want to work 40 hrs. I shop WalMart because they sell at a low price. If you want to pay more, shop Macy's.

There was a time when I thought Wal Mart was indeed responsible for keeping grocery prices from sky-rocketing at other grocery stores. It didn't take long to realize that their prices really aren't that much lower and they never have any sales, not to mention the "buy one get one free" sales that other super market's have. Also, if you purchase a food item at Wal Mart, don't expect it to be there the next visit you make. If they don't sell a "truck load" of an item, they will discontinue it. On drugs, check your local drug stores. You will be supprised how often they will be cheaper than Wal Mart. Most folks think just because it is Wal Mart, it's cheaper and never compare prices. They are becoming more in line with their competitor's prices every day. Well, they were before their way of doing business has made headlines recently. I'm sure there are huge discounts looming in the "board room" for Christmas shoppers. Has anyone ever noticed how many "shipping containers" are in the parking areas-straight from China. No middle man, no distribution center. This company is getting rich from Chinese goods and they aren't going to have competitive wages and benefits and will continue hiring the less fortunate folks who can barely make ends meet. I'm happy that a lot of folks have finally realized what this company has been doing for so long.

We,and I include myself in this, lamblast Wal_mart for their substandard employment practices. Then we drive to the nearest Wal-Mart Supercenter and purchase items we need, because they are cheaper and we all want to save a buck. So how hypocritcal can we be by slamming Wal-Mart every chance we get?

I would really be interested to know what the goods that Wal-Mart sells would cost the consumer if they were to purchase virtually everything they sell from manufacturers in the United States, exclusively, and pay above minimum wage, full time employees, all the benefits that so many of us enjoy from our employers such as paid medical, paid sick leave, paid vacations, 401K, pension funds, etc. How much more woudl the products they sell cost us? 25%, 35%, 50% 100% more? Would you be willing to pay those prices?

My perception of Walmart: endless rows of garbagy sugar items for sale, great stuff for kids and parents who cannot differentiate between nutritious food choices and what's in front of them on the shelves.

Women often grossly overweight in those same aisles, with shopping carts full of junk foods

clothes so poorly made that they actually are on the rack with seams coming out, some were dirty, some on the floor.

Cheap, useless merchandise that given its true value was grossly overpriced and marketed to the poor shoppers who cannot afford better.

As for Walmart as an employer, if you live anywhere but in the south, they will never be an employer of choice, low wages, mistreatment of employees, very dubious employee practices.

thanks,
but no thanks.

Sam Walton built the WalMart name as, BUY & SELL AMERICAN. Remember those commercials! Well, now as everyone *complains* that jobs are going overseas and that manufacturing is no longer viable employment in the US:how could this be happening? I personally try to purchase everything from local businesses. These Mom & Pop stores are the places that support the local little leagues, support and sponser local causes. From what I have heard, once the Walmarts corner the market in particular areas, prices rise. I have also heard in some areas, crime is increased in areas where Walmarts have gone in. Everyone wants cheaper products made in China, where employees(slave laborers) get paid pennies. America will be next!

This is America people. You have the right to shop or not anywhere you choose. I am not a huge fan of Wal Mart, not for the reasons most have given but because I personally find them to be dirty and most of the emplyees are incredibly rude. I however am not offended by the fact that they exist because they do serve a purpose. I simply do my shopping elsewhere.

Whatever. I hope that every one of you that is happy to shop at Walmart is also happy footing the bill for their employees, who don't make enough to survive without welfare. Shop locally, people!!!!

I want to thank those of you who appreciate what Wal-mart does for the communities it serves. I have worked for this company for 8 years and have witnessed unbelievable acts of kindness and generosity that never get noticed/mentioned in the news or by it's critics. Many associates stay working for Wal-mart because they offer flexiblity in scheduling, good/competitive pay and benefits that are also competitive. Wal-mart continues to admit it's faults and is willing to listen/debate with critics who want to pack their Union coffers with initiation fees and bi-monthly dues. . .yes it is all about money isn't it??? Congratulations to all of the supporters of Wal-mart who vote weekly with their pocketbooks and leave the useless political jockeying to the few who need to find a real job. Thank you Wal-mart for all that you do that goes unnoticed and continuing the Sam Walton dream of providing goods at the lowest prices possible for the 100,000,000+ customers/week that shop your stores.

If you eliminated all of the Walmart jobs and replaced them with the previously displaced mom and pop company jobs you would end up with a huge net loss in jobs and probably even have a net loss in pay.

If any government money is actually spent for Medicaid because of poor Walmart benefits it would pail in comparison to the benefits needed to offset the net loss of jobs which would result if Walmart were eliminated.

I think we all have to choose between the Marxist philosophy (espoused by some who knock Walmart)that government should decide what we should be paid based on fairness and the Capitalist (Walmart) philosophy that each individual has the opportunity to go as far as he can in life based on his abilities combined with his willingness to work hard and make sacrifices (i.e. finish school, stay off of drugs, delay children until you can afford them, start at the bottom and work you way up, etc. etc. etc.). Marxist philosophy sounds good and is very seductive. Unfortunately, it rarely if ever works. Capitalism sounds harsh but offers everyone willing to work hard at least a reasonably good life.

I'd much rather have numerous modest paying Walmart jobs for all the people who need them then a few modest paying mom and pop jobs with the same number of people vying for them.

Go Walmart!

The people there are earning money, and from what others have already posted, they get decent benefits too.

You know, we hear a lot of people talk about "privacy" and "choice" and how we should let people do what they want.

These are some of the same jokers that are telling people that they shouldn't work or shop at Walmart.

If you don't like Walmart, then don't work or shop there. That's your right. Quit trying to stomp on other people's right to make that same choice. It's their decision, it's none of your damn business.

WELL I WORK FOR WALMART AND I THINK ITS THE BEST WE HAVE ALL SUPER MGRS AND THERES MORE WARE THAT COMES FROM EVERYONE HAS A BITCH ABOUT THERE WORK BUT ILL TELL YOU ALL THE WAL MART I WORK FOR IS GOT TO BE ONE OF A FEW THEN BECAUSE THERE NICE THEY GIVE TO THERE PEOPLE AND OTHERS IM SORRY IM NOT BYEING FROM OTHER STORES OR FROM SOME OFF THE WALL PLACE YEA ILL GIVE YOU ALL MORE MONEY BUT ISNT THAT EVERY WARE MMMMMMMMMMM WEVE GOT 2 MGR S AT MINE AND IF YOU NEED SOME ONE TO HEAR YOU THEY DO AND THEY KNOW IT THERE THE BEAT JOHN AND BRIAN GOOD JOB THATS ALL IVE GOT TO SAY MEDINA

No matter what education level or social level a person is at Walmart is a dependable, economical store. I love my name brands as much as the next person, but if there was a prada gallon of milk I still would buy the walmart brand. It is just plain practical. So lighten up on Walmart. I dont see anything wrong with people who work there; so get off your high horses people.

Apparently the "editors" of this blog are ALSO paid by Wal-Mart. Wake up America! Wal-Mart feeds on the very thing you all are writing about to defend. They want to squash small business - and have. They want to "confine" their employees so they have no choice but to stay - and they have. In every state they have opened up shop, the rate of citizens relying on public assistance for food stamps and free health care has risen dramatically. Lest we forget that as taxpayers, WE pay for that. Wal-Mart is making out like bandits. They also force their vendors to such price restrictions and bully them into lowering their prices that many of them don't even make a profit when they sell to Wal-Mart, but do, for fear of being "black-balled" by the Great and Powerful OZ. A publicity stunt like this is clearly going to work in Wal-Mart's favor. They didn't set up shop in a tent because they had the best interest of the American consumer in mind. They did it because they need good press right now and they will make money hand over fist. One day when we all have no choice about where to shop because Wal-Mart has monopolized the mass merchandising arena, see what a woeful tune you people will be singing because once they have American shoppers caught in their web of low prices without an option in sight --- up, up, up go the prices. Then where do we go? We have shopped our way right into a monopoly. Ahhh, the power of industrialism and corporate greed - isn't it Grand!!!!!

First, kudos to Isaac for his intelligent, thoughtful, and valid comments. Secondly, kudos to Walmart for their assistance to the post hurricane victims. Most of the negative comments about the motives for their assistance boggle my mind. Assistance is assistance, no matter what the underlying motive (if there is one) may be. I seriously doubt if the people impacted by the devastating hurricanes give a hoot about whether the products are made in the USA or not. I frequently shop at Walmart for certain items, because if I bought them at a strictly "made in the USA" store, there would be a serious dent in my budget. Whether one likes or hates Walmart, the bottom line is they employ thousands of workers, and pay them a wage that is commensurate with their skill level. Do away with Walmart and other similar corporations that collectively employ hundreds of thousands of Americans, and we might compete with France's unemployment rate which currently is 23 per cent. I wish everyone would re-read Isaac's comments. His diligence, not a government handout, kept him moving ahead and upward. That is, or should be, the American way. And again, congratulations to Walmart for their tent store!!

if it wasnt for walmart youd be stuck at the mercy of mom & pop stores that dont have what you need when you need it.

For all you people who complain about Wal-Mart and it's uneducated workers, would you rather they sit at home and live off state ade which you have to pay for or work for Wal-Mart? Also tell me of any other company you know of who predicts what their sales will be for the year and then takes everything the make over that and gives it to their employes as a bonus, in our store each employe gets any where from $600.00 to a $1000.00 bonus a year. I think that is very nice of the company.

Anything that helps Waveland and Bay Saint Louis people,is OK with me. My favorite part of the country, along the Miss. coast, with the great People, and the beautiful landscapes/homes is now gone! Our winter home in Chokoloskee, Fl got hit by Wilma. I think the people there would LOVE to have a Walmart Tent to get their needs taken care of. We're lucky, a insured RV, the local people, fishmen, mainly couldn't afford the insurance. I call it Our Poor Island. Small, compaired to Miss. and LA, but 50 people homeless. Same pain.

I am not saying that Walmart is a bad store,(they have decent products at a great price) however I worked for Target for 5 years and went from making $8.00 per hour to $12.35 per hour. I looked into Walmart when they came to my area and for the same job I was working at Target, they were only paying $10.50 per hour. At Target we had great medical benefits that only cost the employee $21.00 per month and matched up to 6% for our 401k. I will never say that Target was a great employer ( we worked long hard hours ) but you got great benefits and overtime. Tell me does Walmart have that ??? No all they care about is building bigger everytime .

If you dislike Wal-mart, then don't spend your hard-earned money there. We all have a choice and can determine the next path we take. Wal-mart is simply a beacon of capitalism and a free market economy, taking advantage of their resources, business savvy, and immense size. While you all continue bickering over this giant company, I'll be at Wal-mart stocking my home with the best China has to offer.

In Arkansas, Walmart is actually trying to get the minimum wage in this state increased. I have also heard about all the good that they do when anything happens. From Iraq to New Orleans to Mississippi to Alabama, Walmart is always trying to help people out. My husband works for a major grocery chain here and I can tell you that Walmart's pay is a little better and the healthcare is the same if not better.

The arguments posted before indicated that the WalMart tent store was providing the more expensive items over the cheaper items. The person who provided this tidbit also praised church groups, who were giving stuff out gratuit.

A more recent post indicates that Walmart "got there first" but provided no information. Were they selling stuff first or giving it away? I doubt they're still giving it away if they have a sales force in place.

All companies are built to make money. Walmart is no exception. Here in California (oh noes, evil Californians!) K-Mart is cheaper than Walmart. While it has less business, it's still cheaper if you want to compete on the basis of price.

You can argue that Walmart creates jobs. It also displaces other stores that lack the purchasing power to purchase items in bulk like Wal-Mart, along with the attracting power of a giant megastore with an optometrist, a McDonald's and a car maintainence place. Net it probably creates more jobs, but a bunch of little stores are likely to burn more cash on redundant things than a Wal-Mart store.

I don't work at Walmart and thus cannot comment on pay issues. But the news tidbits indicate that Walmart has subcontractors that are illegal aliens (not Wal-Mart's fault, or is it?), has had managers that forced workers to work overtime off the clock and hates unions to the core (namely closing a store in Canada that unionized, and resisting unionization efforts here). From the perspective of a cynical bystander the job of the union is to raise wages of it's workers. For obvious reasons any corporation will not like such a thing.

As for healthcare, Walmart has announced a "account" system where you can invest the money that goes towards your healthcare. It's probably cost-effective, at least.

The attitude of what an American company ought to give it's American workers is probably based on the car industry of America's peak years. Waybackwhen, GM and Ford were giving out pensions, a decent wage for skilled work and good health benefits.

The question everyone engaged in this Wal-Mart debate should answer is this: Should we be expecting a lot out of a company in the first place? Is a company's first duty to it's workers or to keeping the company operational to give those people a job, by various cost-optimizing means?

Excellent posts. Walmart is a God-send - Literally. Or at least the founder was. The recent hint by Corporate in the last few weeks suggesting maybe to start to hire younger and healthier workers. Well guess what? Figure out where a lot of those Walmart workers might end up back on? That's right. Probably back on State and Federal aid. Attn: Department Of Labor! Please take note. Places like Walmart have given a lot of people a second and third chance of being a productive member of society. And they have done a very good job of it. - In a way, this reminds me of a similar, or maybe different, kind of argument for not wanting Indian Casinos in some nearby communities. While at the same time, most of those communities could probably really use the jobs. But, criticism can also be a good thing. It helps to make the product that much better.

I would appreciate the walmart haters to stay out of walmart. Its too crowded as it is. I wonder why??? If all the shoppers are idiots for shopping there, and all the workers idiots for working there.... my town must be 100% idiots!

Wow, that is great. I am not a big Walmart fan but they have truly done something great here. A little something can make a person feel good and this is what Walmart is providing. Those people need help. Now, you got to wonder, why hasn't FEMA set something up like this to help the victims?

Wal-Mart set up shop in a tent because their store has been destroyed by the hurricane like everything else. It's not a publicity stunt it's temporary headquarters for the local wal-mart. It's not a conspiracy, there are no aliens of men in black. It's just a business doing what businesses do - operating the best it can under the circumstances. Lay off the crystals and the ouija boards and at least congratulate them for their initiative. 'Nuff said.

I have never read so much drivel in all my life as is generated about Walmart. Let's get it straight. Walmart is in the business of making money ; that's the way it should be. They have absolutely NO RESPONSIBILITY to take care of you or me. 100% of all employees work there voluntarily. Remember too that governments demand full time workers get certain benefits not Walmart. If these work rules were not placed on employers like Walmart they could afford to pay much higher wages and benefits as wellt. Just remember Walmart is not a government agency and no one who shops or works there does so by force but rather by choice; including me. l

maybe Walmart could teach the government something about setting up "help" for the victims.. Way to go Walmart - and thank you for being there.....

The manager of the store featured in this video is real living proof of the brainwashing that Wal-Mart is often said to be engaging in on employees and customers.

Good God, get a clue to life!

Do yourself a favor people and pick up a copy of Bill Quinn's excellent book, "How Wal-Mart is Destroying America."

CHOICE It's all about choice. Don't like it? Don't shop there! Don't like the pay? Don't work there! Don't want overseas goods? Don't buy them. (If you can even find American made products) Freedom of choice. STOP COMPLAINING

I have 2 sisters in Biloxi Mississippi. My Sister who lived on the North Shore of BackBay, lost everything. Where could they buy supplies after Katrina? Walmart. The first day Walmart opened the lines were a couple of miles long, but they were there, and they served the people. So quit knocking Walmart. They were there when needed.

Walmart, love it, hate it, it's your choice...but understand one thing, walmart is in the process of approaching the federal government regarding labor policies on hiring the elderly, people with possible chronicle health issues, etc., they want the laws relaxed so they can legally deny them a job without having to face legal repercussions for discrimination, & in the same stroke reducing their costs on any health insurance expenses, no matter how meager thgeir current coverage may be...be assured you have a jackass driving a BMW to his corporate job in bentonville, arkansas for this....walmart cares? yes, but the question is about what??

Thanks to Wal Mart for opening a tent where people of that neighborhood can buy goods... For all those complaining against Wal Mart... they may be offering low wages and low insurance, but does any grocery store, Kmart or Sears do better??? NO!!! And Wal Mart sell cheaper than these... So thanks to Wal MArt to helping me saving my money, and yours.

I don't agree with all Walmart policies but to those who criticize, Walmart was there helping BEFORE FEMA and the Red Cross, which has continued to do almost nothing with $1+ BILLION. Thanks Walmart

One thing, say what you will about walmart. But leave Ray Cox alone, that store manager is not serving his business in that tent, he is serving his community. Anyone who takes the initiative displayed by that man is concerned with the wellbeing of others -- he would have done the same thing if he worked for kmart, albertsons or the local lumber yard -- congratulations Ray Cox on your humanity !!

Perhaps people should remember that when Katrina hit, WalMart donated $17 million and had truckloads of water, food and other supplies at the edge of New Orleans before the first federal response had even begun.

A recent study showed that while WalMart does push down wages, does result in an average of 16 new Medicaid cases in each county in which they operate, and does cause the failure of some small businesses, the lower prices, increased employment and expanded buying power of the community as a whole results in about a one percent positive economic impact on every community they touch.

Yes, WalMart is a mixed bag, but in the small community in which I live, WalMart has dramatically changed the lives of everyone. Prior to its arrival, a regular two-hour trip was necessary to buy anything except staples. What little was available in town was often priced at levels that residents, many of whom are on fixed incomes or working at low wages, could not afford.

I support area small businesses whenever possible, but sometimes WallyWorld seems like a miracle. Keep up the good work.