After all is said and done, Wal-Mart in general is just handling business the way that's best for them. If it wasn't for the American public, Wal-Mart couldn't do what they've done already, and are doing now, to their suppliers, employees and to their customers.
I'm not defending Wal-Mart, just merely stating the American way of free enterprize! When you become the largest retailer in the world, you definitely gain barganing power over your suppliers. Your suppliers either do what's required or they don't and are no longer on Wal-Mart shelves.
Years ago, Wal-Mart was a big client/customer of mine, back in the early 90's. Even back then they were a huge entity to deal with and had vendors clamering to do business with them. They were so big that they limited "vendor days" to only Tues and Thursday. That was a sight on Tues and Thursday too! All the vendors they dealt with had either one of those two days to call on their particular, assigned Wal-Mart buyer. The room where the vendors waited to see someone was crowded and no sitting room left. More and more oriental salespeople, representing foreign copmpanys were seen as the months rolled on. The handwriting was on the wall at that point, and the foreign vendors did what Wal-Mart demanded too! The Americans had no choice but then to fall in line too.
Is Wal-Mart a good or bad thing? I think Wal-Mart is both but there's no stopping them now unless the American public revolts and I don't see that happening. Wal-Mart gives the American public what they want and the American public has responded accordingly.
Many a good company has been put out of business because of Wal-Mart simply because they cannot compete price wise. That's the advantage to the huge buying power Wal-Mart has. Personally, I shop at Wal-Mart for certain things, but I will also try to shop and buy at local businesses too whenever I can.
