As if you need another reason to boycott Wal-Mart, in addition to how it treats its employees, what it does to local businesses, etc. we now have a new reason:
Wal-Mart is going to be the exclusive seller for Garth Brooks albums.
On the positive side you might see and hear Brooks less, which I think is definitely a good thing.
On the negative side, this seems unfair to other music retailers, like those which are not global companies that fight unionizing attempts.
Oh and reason #4,923 - This story, in which Wal-Mart complains about a competing business getting too big.
The start of the story captures the irony perfectly:
"Stones. Glass houses. Yadda yadda yadda. You're not allowed to throw them if you live in one, so sayeth the proverb. But if others are giving their two cents' worth, who's going to stop the world's largest retailer from joining in? "
Article comments
1 - DJRadiohead
I boycott Wal-Mart because they insist on selling identical products cheaper than all of their competitors.
2 - JELIEL
Wal Mart is killing labor in North America.
But I boycott Wal-Mart if only because of the way people act in the Wal-Mart, running around like brain-dead "looters" and bumping people and running down kids with the cart, because they have to get the special, before they run out of stock (which they never do) I'm not big on crowds, but the crowds at WM make my blood boil. They are animals.
3 - Matt
Wal-Mart treats those people so badly...it gives them jobs. We would so much rather have them receiving unemployment, wouldn't we?
It raises everyone's standard of living by selling at lower prices than other stores...couldn't have that either, could we?
4 - DrPat
LOL, Scott! But the downside of WalMart carrying Garth Brooks exclusively is that they'll be more likely to play his stuff on the Muzak.
You thought the crowds behaved badly when the background sounds were overhead pings and specials announcements? Wait until they start with "American Honky-Tonk Bar Association" and "We Shall Be Free"!!
5 - Brian Sorrell
Deep irony:
Some years ago, Wal-Mart stopped selling Sheryl Crow CDs in response to a line in one of her songs. One day, I dared darken the door of the place and what was music was playing on their PA? Yep, the very song that got Sheryl banned ("Love Is A Good Thing").
And yes, they are destroying the American labor market. They are the most un-American place in America, I'd say.
Brian.
6 - Rob
A company that makes Billions a year in profits and can't pay their employees much more then minimum wage or offer a comprehensive health benefits package is bullshit as far as I'm concerned. Well, they do offer annual profit sharing to the the tune of maybe $500 after taxes and Garth is exclusive to their store, so that makes up for things a bit.
Gotta go. I need to get some cheap razor blades and cookies at Walmart!
7 - Laurel
I don't shop at Wal-Mart because they got into legal trouble for forcing employees to stay late and work off the clock for no pay. Like Rob said, they're a very profitable company (understatement!). They don't need to cheat their workers.
I also don't like Wal-Mart because I once bought some shoes there and they fell apart within days.
8 - Temple Stark
The argument that if Wal-Mart wasn't around people wouldn't be employed elsewhere doesn't fly.
A Wal-Mart presence closes many stores when it comes.
A Wal-Mart's presence prevents many other stores from opening up and cuts into the choices for American workers, and into the entrepreneurial drive of Americans to be their own bosses in their own town/city.
The idea that if you sell a CD with swear words on it somehow makes you less family-oriented is also a misnomer.
And lastly, you would think Wal-Mart would be above the pettiness of banning an artist / (A customer????) who says bad things about its stores.
9 - Tom Johnson
I don't shop at Walmart because nearly every store smells like they vent the sewer into the air conditioning system and it looks like the employees unloaded the delivery trucks directly into the aisles.
10 - DJRadiohead
Temple, I hope this does not put me on your shit list forever but I do disagree with you a little even if it is just semantics.
A Wal-Mart presence closes many stores when it comes.
No, it doesn't. Wal-Mart opening does not necessitate another store has to close. Where I live there are a lot of stores that sell Wal-Mart-stocked items and they are still in business. It is about competition and business models. Price is not the only aspect that drives customers into stores.
If price is a consumer's number one concern (and I think it is a valid concern), Wal-Mart will win that customer's business.
Tom values his shopping experience more than price. A lot of people do. Some people don't like that Wal-Mart cuts corners to give the best price and they shop elsewhere.
A Wal-Mart's presence prevents many other stores from opening up and cuts into the choices for American workers, and into the entrepreneurial drive of Americans to be their own bosses in their own town/city.
The only way Wal-Mart stops other stores from opening in a market is by physically taking up space another store could have occupied. We have had 2 Target stores open in this town in the past few years when for several years Wal-Mart was by far the biggest game in town. Other stores open here everyday. Wal-Mart makes it tough for proposed new stores to compete on price but again- price is not the only factor in a business model. I also don't think a business is responsible to make sure that people in a city have plentiful employment opportunities.
Having said all of this I understand why some people don't like Wal-Mart and respect their decision to shop elsewhere. I think that is a beauty of our society- choice. People on this thread are expressing their freedom of choice everyday and it is fantastic. And if you think I am missing your point or am incorrect, by all means have at me.
11 - Tan The Man
"On the positive side you might see and hear Brooks less, which I think is definitely a good thing."
I see you too haven't been able to be moved by the magic of Garth.
12 - L. Cue aka Q.Rock639
thanks for giving me my next post topic guys...not the Garth Brooks angle, just the Wal-mart is the devil angle...
Wal-Mart is creepy! check my spot later for the proof!
13 - DrPat
DJRH: Boy, have you got that right! The Wal-Mart here is 8 miles out of town. A neighbor who works there said they've had to lay off a couple of employees this week, due to loss of business following the rise in gas prices...
Their business model is predicated on minimum cost, minimum price, and that drives employment decisions like paying overtime and hiring permanent staff.
14 - L. Cue aka Q.Rock639
more info..
"Wal-Mart's power and influence are awesome," Smith says. "By figuring out how to exploit two powerful forces that converged in the 1990s -- the rise of information technology and the explosion of the global economy -- Wal-Mart has dramatically changed the balance of power in the world of business. Retailers are now more powerful than manufacturers, and they are forcing the decision to move production offshore."
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/etc/synopsis.html
15 - Timmy
It's not Wal-Mart that's killing North American labor, it's China. And it will get worse.
16 - Scott Butki
There are several blogs and Web sites devoted entirely to fighting Wal-Mart and its draconian labor policies.
The director/producer of Outfoxed is making his next movie about Wal-Mart.
Details here:
http://www.walmartmovie.com/help.php
If Garth is magical than I'm Michael Jackson.
No, wait.. .scratch that, if Wal-Mart is poor than Garth Brooks is magical.
What do you guys think of the second link - the one about Wal-Mart complaining about other monopolies?
17 - Temple Stark
I wish I had such a list.
I know I presented a simplistic version of events.
Still do we really want the big chains fighting it out do every city around the country looks the same. That's come up before and it's a serious reality we'll face and already face.
18 - Scott Butki
What list?
Did you guys see South Park's take on Wal-Mart this week? It's pretty funny.
19 - Jim
Anyone who thinks that Wal-Mart is a great thing because they create jobs and sell things cheaper needs to educate themselves.
As one with a degree in Business, I can say with authority there are hidden costs of any business.
Wal-Mart is a classic example of a parasitic company. With a government that allows huge disparities in our trade with third-word Nations giving Wal-Mart access to slave labor, the true cost of that Digital Camera from Wal-Mart is much greater than the bar-code would indicate.
In the business world it’s called:
OPPORTUNITY COST
The true cost of something is what you give up to get it. This includes not only the money spent in buying (or doing) the something, but also the economic benefits.
Sure, Wal-Mart employees are not on Welfare or unemployment, but they are not on benefits either. The fastest growing expense to our Nation. And with the low wages, that does not feed the Social Security money pit very well, does it? That cost is being transferred to our next generations.
Can you afford a home on a Wal-Mart wage? No? Then I guess we will lay-off the construction workers. But wait, they would be on unemployment!
That’s Opportunity Cost. It can be on an individual level, or a societal level.
Those Garth Brook’s CD’s cost more than the list price. And Mr. Brooks has sold his soul out. He sings of family values?
I’m sickened by Wal-Mart and Mr. Brooks.
20 - Scott Butki
Great post. Thanks, Jim.
21 - Henry
blah