Evil because they shut down small competitors, eliminate choice not only of stores but brand names and products, you end up having to buy what they choose to stock, mostly made in China. Hilary Clinton was on the board of directors at the same time all the smalltown liberals and hippies were railing against Wal-Mart. I'd rather buy American products, if you can any anymore, even if a little more expensive. If WE don't save our own country, who will?

walmart's prices can't be beat however their employee policies are another issue
they change shifts of employees and if they adjust to their schedule they fire them-what is a mother or father to do when there are children need to be taken care of and then you suddenly get your shift changed? they have an 'open door' policy but it is not kept quiet - u find then you are demoted- I could go on and on-they don't take care of their employees

Source(s)

a former Walmart employee

once they move to a new small town they close down small companys and mom and pop stores. they give low prices by paying there employees very little and off crappy; if no benefits. and the reason why the people work there is because walmart shut down all there other oppertunities.

Mexicans

Actually, it is hurting Wal-Mart, it has been reported that Wal-Mart sales have been declining for months, and it's about time! Stores like Wal-Mart have been ruining towns for years now. Lots of small specialty stores have gone out of business because of Wal-Mart with all of its departments and everything under one roof. There are also reports that Wal-Mart has been treating their employees badly, cutting retirement and not giving raises when they are due. I know I try my hardest not to shop there!

I don't believe that many people really hate Wal-Mart, if you go by the amount of sales that they've had in recent history.

I suppose there will always be some people who will not shop there because of this reason for that reason or whatever.

I don't think those few people who don't shop there are going to make much of an impact.

And I believe that this is going to be true of practically all the retail stores. Every one of them are in the business of trying to outdo the other, by trying to be bigger better faster more service oriented etc. etc..

The one thing that I believe Wal-Mart is going to do that will probably really hurt their future business is that they are going to do away with layaway after this year. They may reconsider this move before next year, but the bottom line has always been the money. And it isn't cost efficient, they probably will not ever have layaway again.

they are a controversial company for many reasons. first of all they are monopolistic and destroy local shops. they buy chinese products at dirt cheap prices and american companies cant compete with them. They also have a history of exploiting workers. Ive heard of studies that say that walmart employees cant afford to shop at walmart.

I wonder.

There are many reasons. Here are several:

* Attack the front runner. Wal-Mart is out in front of their competition and growing, so they make a big target. Just like McDonalds may not have the most fattening food but because your arguments have more significance if you attack the front runner.

* Non-union workforce. Many major grocery chains and retailers (such as K-Mart) are unionized, but Wal-Mart is not.

* Low wages / low benefits. The Wal-Mart system is based on deliverying low prices by driving down costs in all parts of their business. This includes lower wages and benefits than many other retailers. People complain about this, but ignore the fact that people are not forced to work at Wal-Mart. If people can find a better paying job elsewhere, they will take it.

* More Wal-Mart market share means less for someone else. Wal-Mart is a big and growing business because they have a system for delivering low prices. Smaller stores cannot negotiate the same volume discounts with suppliers. People go where the prices are low - and over time the smaller competitors may be forced out of business. When a new big Wal-Mart goes into a town, all the stores that go out of business will blame their failure on Wal-Mart, even though some of them would have gone out of business anyway.

* Snobery: Big Wal-Marts have a blue-collar feel to them. Some people prefer the smaller more sophisticated specialty shops.

* Very competitive business practices. Part of the Wal-Mart system is negotiating very low prices from their suppliers. This puts pressure on their suppliers and sometimes hurts them.

The act tantamount to unfair competition and business malpractice, that only the moneyed can do business because Wal-Mart has the right to dictate prices without hurting much his business and its losses due to lowering of prices could easily be recovered. It has money too for costly advertisement which small business can afford to spend.

"But you're not hurting Wal-Mart any."

Is that why sales are down for the last several months?

The people who have been hurt by Wal-Mart are a identifiable group with injuries that can easily be pointed out. (I.E. X shops went out of business and Y people lost their jobs, creating $Z in lost wages)

The benefits, on the other hand, tend to be spread out over a broader group of people. (People went to work for Wal-Mart making $.25 an hour more and families saved $5/week on their basics) It takes an in-depth economic analysis to see the full benefits provided

Whether or not the Wal-Mart effect is positive, the PR battle will pit personal stories against data. I don't like the data's odds...

People don't care as long as they can get, CHEAP PRICES!