Today's Walmart Letter--Doing a good job Walmart.

I have shopped at Wal-Mart in the past and can't say I had too many
unpleasant experiences with them regarding customer service or
returns. However, I completely boycotted them and haven't stepped
inside a Wal-Mart for years now. Why?

Each year, Wal-Mart continues to make the list of top corporate human
rights violations. Here's a brief summary of 2005:

In September 2005, the International Labor Rights Fund filed a lawsuit
on behalf of Wal-Mart supplier sweatshop workers in China, Indonesia,
Bangladesh, Nicaragua and Swaziland. The workers were denied minimum
wages, forced to work overtime without compensation, and were denied
legally mandated health care. Other worker rights violations that have
been found in foreign factories that produce goods for Wal-Mart
include locked bathrooms, starvation wages, pregnancy tests, denial of
access to health care, and workers being fired and blacklisted if they
try to defend their rights.--http://www.globalexchange.org

That kind of makes that whole Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays "scandal"
look a lot less important now, doesn't it?

SZ- I hope you enjoy the long lines at Walmart SZ. Ken V and I both
have class and would rather spend a few extra cents shopping at
respectable stores rather than trashy stores like Walmart. Big Lots
is a discount store unlike Walmart. Nobody can beat their prices on
soap including Walmart. Walmart is very high on most of their
produce. Do the research if you don't believe me.

Gosh I've missed Ken and Brian! I've enjoyed watching the venom drip
from their lips. :)

I have four WalMart stores in my area. They're all terrific places to
shop because I realize they're a *discount* store. I know I can't
expect to find electronic geniuses at this store, nor truly certified
mechanics, but I know where to shop when I need this type help. I
have one complaint about WalMart: The nearest Super Center to me is 40
miles away. Even so, I make at least one trip a month to this
location and find it worth my while. Long live WalMart--I like their
low prices.

I'm glad you had a pleasant shopping experience at your Walmart in
Kentucky, Charlotte.
However, not all Walmart stores are as well run as you say.
I've seen Walmart really run their stores to the ground in Colorado,
especially their super stores. Over the past few years, I've noticed
very rude employees; filfthy stores, lousy produce; extremely long
lines and increased prices. This can be attributed to the greed of
the "Beasts of Bentonville."
For a pleasant shopping experience, I advise people to shop anywhere
BUT Walmart!!

It is always good to hear a customer's compliment. I hope you told
the manager at that store what you just said here. As an employee at
Wal-Mart who hears nothing but complaints, I can tell you that your
compliment would be GREATLY appreciated. :-)

Ken, I kinda figured that you would be the first to comment on this
letter. I have 5 Walmarts around me and I have been to all of them,
and I still haven't found a rude/nasty employee yet. This also
includes some in MD,PA and some in between.. Granted, there are some
bad employees but doesn't all stores have them. Walmart is the
biggest retail store/chain, and of course it will have more complaints
that others, you can't please everyone.

I don't need to see your links to other Walmart news, cause it doesn't
matter what I say, you will find a way to turn it around. I know your
views on Walmart, I have been reading your comments for a loong time.
I don't mean no disrespect here, but you seem like a very, very bitter
man to me. I don't let Walmart rule my life. Maybe I have been
fortunate or lucky, but it also has a lot to do with the attitude that
you walk into the store with. If you are in a foul mood then the
associate will be in a foul mood also.

I am sorry that I made this comment so long. I didn't mean to take up
so much room, but you are letting your bitterness blind you to the
good that some or most of the stores have. You can comment or you
don't have to comment, that is your 'choice', but I have better things
to do.

A shiny new Wal-Mart is always a consumer's delight, Charlotte, but if
you'll read a few of the letters posted here you'll see that not "all
Walmart stores in general" are as pleasant.

I generally shop at Wal-mart, but only because it is the only store in
our area, having driven off all other department stores. I went down
last Saturday to pick up general stuff. They had the restrooms
blocked off in the front of the store. I spoke to an associate there
(a relative of mine) and she told me that the reason they had the
restrooms blocked off was because they had raw sewage running out of
the restrooms and it was all the way over in the Pharmacy area. But,
they did not want to close the store because they would loose sales.
That is not only disgusting, it is a health hazard. The only reason I
didn't call the health department was because I didn't want my
relative to lose her job by me being the one to turn them in.
Apparently, it was like that all weekend, they didn't call anyone to
fix it or close the store. Having a relative work there has opened my
eyes to a lot of things about Wal-mart. I hate that it is the only
place in town to shop, and that my relative has no choice but to work
there. They are horrible to their employees. I will stop now, or
I'll be on here all day.