Wow. I never thought I’d say this: I’m sticking with Blockbuster and not going back to Netflix. I have a hard-core boycott of Wal-Mart going on, and I refuse to support a business which gets such a boost from the most unethical large corporation in the world…
Maybe you don’t think it’s a big deal. Maybe you’re one of the people who say, “All big companies would have something we don’t like about them…”
Wal-Mart is the largest employer in some states (and I think in the United States as a whole), yet they refuse to pay living wages and have shut down entire departments if they get close or succeed in unionizing. They twist and manipulate their vendors after they purchase such large amounts of product they become the largest buyer. That’s a good thing, right? Not when they come back and renegotiate after the smaller companies’ balls are in Wal-Marts grasp. By placing such large orders, Wal-Mart forces smaller companies to dramatically expand their production capabilities. After overextending these smaller companies, Wal-Mart demands lower and lower prices, which means the companies would either have to absorb huge losses or succumb to their unfair demands. They’ve bankrupted more than one company, but of course vlasic comes to mind as the quintessential example of Wal-Mart’s corporate bullying.
Target doesn’t do it. K-Mart doesn’t do it. You don’t save that much going to Wal-Mart. Not so much you can justify supporting a company which I believe to be truly practicing evil in the marketplace.
I am in complete agreement with you. many years ago, I was hired at Wal-mart, and when I went to orientation on day 1, the VERY first thing they did (I’m not kidding you, it was right after “hello.”) was to show us a 20 minute video on how bad unions are and how good Wal-mart is and why we don’t need unions here at Wal-mart, so don’t even think anout it…20 minutes, of anti-union ranting. As I watches the video, I wondered to myself what kind of company was this that was so adamant and so afraid of their workers that they must make this the VERY first thing they did. When the video was over and the lights came back on, I walked out and went across the street and got a job at Target. No union, but I was paid decently and treated well, and never subjected to propoganda. I ended up working for Target for a few years before I moved on, and found it a very good company to work for. I would work there again if I had to. I won’t darken the door of a Wal-mart.
A
May 19th, 2005
To be fair… my roommate went to work for Kmart a while back and had to watch a similar anti-union video.
However, he more or less enjoyed working at Kmart. Most of the people I know who’ve worked for Wal-Mart have left in frustration. Especially when they have that “CRM” position, which amounts to being a mini-manager for $6.50/hr.
After living in Oklahoma for a while and having to drink water polluted by Tyson Chicken (Wal-Mart’s evil NW Arkansas cousin), I can say that I really don’t care for Wally World all that much. (Which doesn’t make much of a difference now that I’ve moved to Maryland where they’re fewer and further between.)
Joseph LeBlanc
May 20th, 2005
hmmmm. i needed to cancel netflix last month, since i sorta moved to europe with my 3 dvds in tow… perhaps i can ship them back overseas and use this opportunity to send a more justice-related message?
“hi, netflix, i’d like to cancel. your partnership with wal-mart is inherently evil and marks the coming of the apocalypse. but you don’t have to worry, just accept jesus into your heart and you will be saved from impending dooooooom.”
there. political/social boycotting and saving souls. two birds with one stone. until the operator asks why the returned dvds are postmarked from england.
“um… escaping the apocalypse has sent me on a world-wide journey…?”
suzanne
May 20th, 2005