Goomba > wrote:
> The UnInmate wrote:
>
> > It's cheap, and some people have to shop cheap. Even if you have a
> > social conscience, it doesn't help anyone if you go personally
> > bankrupt over a matter of principle. And for some people $7.50 for
> > a pair of brand new jeans that look decent, fit well, and last
> > three years is just too tempting because no other retailer even
> > comes close.
> Sure there are. Consignment shops probably sell better brands for
> that. A lot of lower end stores exist, or better department stores
> with unsually good sale events.
>
Couldn't agree more. Even those dreaded dollar stores (LOL) sell decent
inexpensive clothing. I got a couple pair of shorts there for $5 each.
There's a thrift shop near Mom's doctor's office. We were way early for her
appointment one day so we browsed in there and I picked up two (looked like
new) brand-name tops for $3. Tell me Wal*Mart can beat that?

Even in an area as small (population wise) as Beaufort and the many small
towns around it there are numerous thrift shops. Consignment shops, too,
although I find those are more suited to looking for something a little more
dressy (like office clothes).

> I couldn't care less about the union issues at Walmart. Unions have
> their own issues I dislike.
>
Unions had their place, at one time.

But I do worry about the trade deficit,
> the questionable quality of goods from China, the way local Mom &
> Pops are squeezed out of business when tacky Walmart comes to town.
> In particular with grocery items-I also worry about the homogenization
> of America's eating based on the way Walmart sells only the very top 6
> or 7 sellers of any one item. I think it will encourage the loss of
> regional differences or "personality" down the road.
>

I agree about the Mom & Pop places. Fortunately there are still plenty of
them around here; there's even a couple of hardware stores although how they
compete is beyond me. This isn't the case back in Memphis where they've
been forced out of business by Super Wal*Mart, Super Target, Lowe's, Home
Depot.

When Wal*Mart tried to get approval to build a second store here on Ladys
Island there was a hew and cry from local residents for various reasons.
They were shot down. There's already a Wal*Mart in Beaufort which is only
10 miles from the proposed new one. As one objector noted, when ALL the
check-out stands at the existing Wal*Mart are open at the same time and
people are still standing in line to check out, you can build another
Wal*Mart. LOL

Jill