Never have considered Wally as a truck stop, cuz most don't sell diesel and I don't feel right supporting the Communist Chinese. Wally is the largest purchaser of their goods and in large part responsible for our huge foreign trade deficit.

The Super Wally near where I live is trying to get gas pumps added onto their lot, but running into a lot of local opposition. We already have 15 gas stations in a town of 8,500. One more station isn't going to make that much difference, one way or the other.

This one has signs posted that overnight parking is illegal, yet every weekend during the season, there are several Prevosts and 5ers parked there, with slides out and actually camping. This doesn't happen at the Big K or the Albertsons, the IGA or Smiths grocery stores, only at Wally. And, every morning they receive $50 tickets. The campgrounds that surround this Superstore charge less than $25 for an overnight. So, let's see, $25 for an overnight or $50 for a ticket. I think it's a no-brainer.

The Billings (MT) City Council is trying to enforce it's code violations, but running into massive rv opposition. You should hear the crap those people pump out about how they won't stop in Billings if the city council doesn't reverse itself. Well, it's their town and it's ok with me if they want to enforce their rules. I don't sleep there and probably wouldn't even if there wasn't an ordinance. I prefer boondocking in the National Forest and BLM.

 

At many places, the overnight stopper such as Pompano has been replaced by the weekender setting up camp. At the Grand Rapids (MN) WM it got so bad the camp groups were blocking off traffic in their area of the lot.

Truck stops aren't always safe, either with the amount of drug and prostitution trafficking.

 

Al,
If more people would stop supporting them they might not build so many of them. The way they do business is unfair to small places that have been in the are for years. Getting tax abatements for their meg million dollar stores that force the little guys out when they come in since they undercut their prices and make up the tax lose when walmart comes in. Typical politicians selling out is all it is. It's a been proven over and over the for each new job they bring in two are lost. Seems whereever they build one it draws a rather unsavory crowd to say the least. Here in Ohio I hear that the local campgrounds have won a fight to stop camping in Flying J also.

 

Never quite thought of myself that way. Oh well, I learn something new every day. Just kidding, I know what you meant.

 

Hey John, did you hear Jerry got G&F employee of the year?

 

Ron;
Didn't hear about that. Thanks
-John

 

I have no problems with Wally World. I have heard complains about everything from paying their help too little (if they don't like the pay, work elsewhere) to the cheap products (many people can't afford to shop at Tiffanys). If I can find the same item cheaper at WalMart, then I'm going to shop there. Sorry for the little guy, but I'm not going to pay them more for the same thing just so his family can have an extra week of vacation a year. In the real world, things aren't always fair, and if the "little guy" can't keep up, then I guess he has a problem.

Are we losing some jobs to overseas manufacturing? Sure. On the other hand, if the only things available were overpriced American made products, many people wouldn't be able to afford them. If I have the choice of a $20 WalMart toaster or a $50 American made one, I will choose the $20 one, and use the other $30 to feed my family, put fuel in my truck, or pay the bills.

This is the real world, and things aren't always fair. As for camping at Wally World, I sure wouldn't call that camping. I've been known to get a few hours of quick sleep at all kinds of places, and doing it in a Wal Mart parking lot wouldn't bother me. I would prefer a truck stop though, since I grew up around trucks, and like Hyspeed, I feel comfortable at a truck stop.

Jim

 

After Wally destroys or weakens all the little businesses we had here, there's no place else to go to work. The tire shop used to pay $10/hr + benefits.
Wally pays min wage and no benefits.

Those people you are referring to are my neighbors. Most work two jobs to support their families. Hardly any of them takes an extra week of vacation. It's nose to the grindstone for most all of us here.

The "little guy" which is most of us, has a problem. We want a better world for our children, that's why we live where we do. I can live anywhere and have done so for most of my life. I prefer to be here. I didn't want the original Wally store and lobbied against the building permit. I knew what they did to small towns.

That's your choice. Isn't it nice to be a Free American?

 

Valid points by Induchman. Good thing for Wal-Mart, China and India. Now our children can have 90 different toys for a total of under $300.00.
By next year we will have either broken or thrown away all those toys and we can re-up with more Junk!

Slippery Slope, it didn't start that long ago either. When I was a kid (not that long ago, back in the late 70's early 80's time were a little different. Everything wasn't disposable and unusually cheap. (Not quality, but price).
Look at computers, who the heck needs a computer for $450.00? Used to be you had to drop $1,500 to start!

How abut this, I'd be willing to pay $2,500 for my next computer, camera or television if I knew it was made right here in the U.S.A by my family, friends, neighbors, associates. The ackbasswards logic is that we can't afford to buy things if they are made here in the states, I say who needs these tech product so cheap anyway? When did it become necessary for a 12 year old to have a mobile phone?

Sorry to be so off topic, I'm sure Wal-Mart is nice place to hang out for the night with your RV, but they are just so dangerous and people refuse to understand that.

 

I too have always heard that Walmart's were RV friendly and have overnighted at them a few times with absolutely no problems.

The difference in price over mom and pop owned stores isn't usually due to the products' origin (every retailer buys from Taiwan, Korea and China), the price difference can be attributed to the volume with which Walmart deals; higher quantity = lower per unit price.

Also, in regards to the argument about pay, displaced workers and the effect on the community... which is better? 1 person being employed for $10/hour and 4 other people collecting unemployment or 5 people making $6.50/hour? There is also a trickle down effect for those individuals gainfully employed elsewhere in the community (besides Walmart). If you are able to buy necessities (food, hygiene products, etc.) at a lower price, it allows for more disposable income to be spent elsewhere.

And just look at what the evil Walmart Empire is doing now:

Wal-Mart's response to Katrina -- an unrivaled $20 million in cash donations, 1,500 truckloads of free merchandise, food for 100,000 meals and the promise of a job for every one of its displaced workers

 

MmmHuh, they are going to employ Every one of the displaced workers?

Well, now that I think about it, 98% of Americans live withing 10 miles of two WalMart's, so....

 

In my area, WalMart is one of the higher paying jobs. I make a whopping $12 an hour as the one and only maintenance person at a steel building fabricating shop. I have to provide my own tools, use my own vehicle for any job-related travelling (no mileage pay or fuel reimbursement), and I have quite a bit of responsibility...no insurance, no other benefits. I used to work at the local Dodge dealer for a big $10 an hour. Thats as an ASE certified technician with over $30,000 worth of tools, and a degree in Automotive technology. In comparison, I could work as a cashier at WalMart for $8 an hour, not have to pay for tools, not lose sleep worrying about job-related stress, and GET BENEFITS! I am strongly considering working nights (I work nights now) unloading trucks at Walmart, again with benefits, for the same $12 an hour I get now. So, I'm still trying to see just how WalMart is screwing over their employees. I have a couple friends who work there, and their benefits are great. Good health coverage, life insurance, tuition assistance, vacation pay, relocation assistance for their employees who move, etc.

Also keep in mind that one WalMart will employ more people than 5 little mom and pop stores. They pay more taxes back into the community.

As for paying more, I guess if you make enough to be able to pay more, then thats your choice. Right now my wife and I are trying to scratch up enough money to repair her son's car as a Christmas present. It will probably be a $200 repair bill, and to pay for it, neither of us are getting each other anything. I don't think he would understand if we told him that we don't have the $200 because we decided to buy all of our groceries at the local country store, where a box of cereal is $4.50 instead of at Walmart, where the same box is under $2.50. (If I still had a garage, tools, and it wasn't 10 degrees and snowing, I'd do the work myself)

Jim

 

At one time (in town) there were fifteen gas stations and five auto body & tire shops. After the Super Wally arrived, there are still fifteen gas stations, but only one big rig tire shop.

he $10/hr job at the tire shop was a 40 hr job, 1.5x for weekends and 2x for Sundays/holidays + 2 wks vacation. No medical, couldn't afford the premiums. The comparable big rig tire shops in the cities pay $18 - 24/hr for same workweek + commission + 2 weeks vacation + major medical benefits.

Super Wally pays $5.25-6.50/hr and no benefits whatsoever. I'd like to find out what Wally pays their otr drivers, but none of them will talk for fear of losing their jobs.

 

Drivers are probably in the $13-$15 range for a $19.00 an hour job.

 

Hello All
I know we are all in different situations but I am grateful to have a good paying job! And I go the extra mile to buy American made because thats another persons job I hope we can keep in America! When everything is made overseas there will be nothing but WM jobs left and we will be begging for them at even lower pay because they will have the only game in town! And I would like us to have more skills than that for are future!!!! IMO


Don Hammond