Gould 0738 wrote:

Our jobs are going overseas because
our politicians have no interest in fighting corporations from sending
jobs overseas.



Our jobs are going overseas faster than they would have partially because
WALMART is so super aggressive in their buying. When they want to carry
toasters, for example, they invite all the major manufacturers of toasters down
to Arkansas and pit them against one another. During the last cost cutting
cycle, everybody who wanted to sell anyhing to WALMART *had* to go to China for
labor or lose out.

Welcome to free market 101. Competition is what sets prices.


WALMART doesn't tell a mfg that they *must* build in China- only that if they
can't meet or beat the price of those who do they are, effectively, out of
business starting next month.

They can always sell to Sears, Or any of the other thriving store
chains.



What will the next sacrifice be? Quality?

Probably. Quality is usually the first thing trimmed when further costs
reductions become impractical.


Or, when WALMART can no longer increase profits by forcing suppliers to cheaper
sources of labor, will WALMART raise prices? Will we soon be paying as much as
we used to pay for a US built, item but buying stuff from China instead?

That's the way the market works.



WALMART's vision for America is a place where a $9 an hour job, with no
benefits, is a *great* opportunity. They envision a country where obedient
workers volunteer
to work off the clock every week, and where all will shop a the "company
store."

In Walmart's world, there is no middle class. Unless $9 an hour, with a few
extra hours thrown in unpaid every week, is going to be the new "middle class."

The problem is that this "model" will not support continued consumption
of their store goods. $9 an hour people are not buying home theatre
systems, DVD's, big screen TV's, major appliances, electronic widgets
etc. If this truly becomes the new "middle class", then Wal-Mart is in
for a shock, and will be forced to cut prices further.


In Walmart's World, there are some opportunities for better income. If you're
willing to work 50-51 weeks a year, 12-18 hours a day, 6-7 days a week, you can
eventually rise to "store manager" and approach 6-figures a year. :-(

Welcome to retail. This is nothing new. Why treat it as such?


One of the great hypocrisies of the WalMart culture is the great emphasis on
quality "family" experiences. How many of the managers working 80 hours a week
or more have any quality time left to spend with the family? How many of the
people earing $9 an hour get to go home after work, rather than to the
second,part time job they need to pay basic living expenses?

So how many Wal-Mart managers do you know?

Dave