PATRIOTIC SEARS

[Gary Fowler]

DiamondPilot: I almost never shop Best Buy anymore. They are reluctant to take any returns and per their new return policy will charge you a restocking fee for up to 15% of the cost. It has to be a darn good sale on an item for me to set foot in the BestBuy store. I have been reluctant to shop there for a couple of years After I bought a Sony Laptop and got it home and it wouldnt boot up. Took it back, the Geek Squad worked on it for a couple of hours and couldnt get it to work. Then when I said give me another computer, they didnt have one in that model and wanted to send that one in for repair. I told them totally unacceptable as I bought it to take to Peru where I was working and needed it NOW. I had to get the manager to call headquarters or something in order to approve return of my money even though I had agreed to take a different computer. Kinda spoiled me on Best Buy. That was before their restocking fee for returned goods policy.

 

[BethesdaEC]

My daughter takes music lessons next door to a Sears Grand, so every week for a half hour or so I am a captive audience there. I have pickup many spur of the moment items. Gymnastics is even better, they have a wine bar next door.

 

[chopped]

You"d think with things the way they are now these companies would be finding ways to get back to the basics of customer care and service.I simply dont get it. What are they thinking these days?
And the way you were treated witht he new laptop...grr

 

[Porkie]

Walmart is a Godless monopoly and should be regulated by the Federal Trade Commission for their business practices.

They have convinced the consumer that "cheap" is a virtue and that quality means nothing.

The way they treat their employees is heartless and borders on criminal.

Being an IT pro, let me tell you that Best Buy is a rip off. The "Geek Squad" is inept and grossly expensive.

I also worked at Sears when I was in college and it was a very nice place to work. The Manager was the Chairman of the local Christian Business men's association and it showed in his leadership.

These views are just my very humble opinion.

Sam

 

[Bird]

The way they treat their employees is heartless and borders on criminal.

I don't know what you base that kind of a statement on, but being a very frequent (almost daily) customer of Walmart, I've spent quite a bit of time visiting with some of the employees and have never heard one complain. I know Walmart does some things I don't like; don't all companies? But for one thing, one of the greeters has told me what a great place it is to work; decent salary for what he does and great health insurance.

 

[Bird]

You rarely see any stand alone, off the main, Sears stores with large stocks of ready for sale items. They're either large and stocked.......in a mall..........or small and local..........where you have to place an order and wait a bit to get your stuff delivered unseen.

I guess I've just not seen that as a problem. When we lived way out in the country, even the little "franchise" outlet in Corsicana had the TV, dishwasher, and tiller I wanted and bought. I did go 50 miles to Waco for the radial arm saw, a lawn tractor, and I don't remember what else.

We don't normally buy electronics and dry goods at Sears anymore, but we have big stores in malls both north and south of us within a dozen miles, so we have 2 refrigerators, washer & dryer, table saw, bench grinder, shop vac, recumbent exercise bike, portable fan, roll away tool box, 1/2" hammer drill, battery charger, and a few hand tools from those two. And I undoubtedly left off some things.:laughing:

So, yep, I kinda like Sears.

 

[rjkobbeman]

I don't know what you base that kind of a statement on, but being a very frequent (almost daily) customer of Walmart, I've spent quite a bit of time visiting with some of the employees and have never heard one complain. I know Walmart does some things I don't like; don't all companies? But for one thing, one of the greeters has told me what a great place it is to work; decent salary for what he does and great health insurance.

I agree 100%. Most of the anti-wal-mart statements I hear are just passing along heresay. I shop at walmart a lot and think they provide a great service. A lot of their products are cheaper stuff, but some of it is just fine by me. Depending on what you are buying, the cheap stuff serves its purpose. As to their treatment of employees, well, I know a few people that work there and they are just fine with their jobs.

For those that say they don't pay very much, well, they aren't building rockets there. No disrespect to walmart employees.

I will also add that other than heresay, a lot of negative wal-mart statements I hear come from union supporters. Walmart get badmouthed a lot because they are not union.

 

[Porkie]

Google: Walmart employee problems.

Also Google: Charitable contribution by Walmart heirs.

Sam Walton is probably sick as a dog looking at what his dream has become.

Be prepared to read FOREVER. Only a person with their head in the sand wouldn't be aware of their historic poor treatment of employees.

It's funny that on this site we try to steer people away from "Grey market" cheap junk because we know how important "Quality" is---but when it comes to Walmart, people tow the company line and follow in lockstep to the beat of their drum. "Walmart-Walmart-Walmart!!!"

Not only do they have a monopoly in the market place but they have a psychological monopoly on the minds of "Flea market" (sorry, I'm not Politically correct) type shoppers that view WM as the Holy Grail.

A recent comment by one of my "relatives," went something like this: "Ifin Walmarts don't has id, Is done need it."

By the way, "Target" stores, a French company, NEVER contributes ANYTHING to Veteran's groups.

Sam

 

[rjkobbeman]

Google: Walmart employee problems.

Also Google: Charitable contribution by Walmart heirs.

Sam Walton is probably sick as a dog looking at what his dream has become.

Be prepared to read FOREVER. Only a person with their head in the sand wouldn't be aware of their historic poor treatment of employees.

It's funny that on this site we try to steer people away from "Grey market" cheap junk because we know how important "Quality" is---but when it comes to Walmart, people tow the company line and follow in lockstep to the beat of their drum. "Walmart-Walmart-Walmart!!!"

Not only do they have a monopoly in the market place but they have a psychological monopoly on the minds of "Flea market" (sorry, I'm not Politically correct) type shoppers that view WM as the Holy Grail.

A recent comment by one of my "relatives," went something like this: "Ifin Walmarts don't has id, Is done need it."

By the way, "Target" stores, a French company, NEVER contributes ANYTHING to Veteran's groups.

Sam

I guess the way I see it is I KNOW people who work there. They like their jobs. Google isn't going to change what I know first hand.

As far as "flea market" mentality? Well, I take that comment to be just a flame. You obviously don't like walmart so you will say anything to anger walmart shoppers. Walmarts goods are new and are lower cost. Lower quality comes with that. Some people don't make a lot of money and are able to have a higher quality of life by shopping at walmart. I can shop anywhere, but see no reason to spend more money on some items. A lot of stuff you can buy at walmart is no different than anywhere else. Some of it is junk. The buyer gets to choose what they want to spend their money on.

Also, Walmart can't have a monopoly if there are other stores that you can shop. Walmart's competitiveness may be brutal, but they aren't the only store out there.

 

[smstonypoint]

As to their treatment of employees, well, I know a few people that work there and they are just fine with their jobs.

<snip>

I will also add that other than heresay, a lot of negative wal-mart statements I hear come from union supporters. Walmart get badmouthed a lot because they are not union.

I've read stories about very high employee turnover rates at Wal-Mart stores, but haven't observed that to be the case at the store that the Missus and I frequent.


There appear to be a fair number of Web sites devoted to bashing Wal-Mart. As with most Web sites, their claims should not go unquestioned as the gospel truth.

Steve