The UnInmate > wrote:
> "Goomba" > wrote in message
> ...
> > 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.
>
> Don't know of any consignment shops around here, and am not even sure
> what they are.
>
Consignment shops are places where you take "gently worn" clothing (or in
some cases, clothing you've never worn) to be sold. The shop sets a price
and gets a cut if the item sells.

> By lower end do you mean stuff like Zellers? If so,
> Wal-Mart is actually cheaper here more often, which is why Zellers
> stores are folding.

Where's here? Never heard of Zellers.

> The department stores here rarely have anything
> near as good as a $7.50 pair of decent jeans.

I just did a quick search online and found ONE pair of jeans at Wal*Mart for
$8. Since I don't wear men's clothing doesn't do me any good Most of
the (adult) jeans are $14-$25.

> > I couldn't care less about the union issues at Walmart. Unions have
> > their own issues I dislike. 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.
>
> All good points, but Wal-Mart is not alone in this. Around here the
> chain donut shops have forced every single mom and pop coffee place
> out of business. Half the old houses and businesses have been torn
> down to put up condos. Etc. etc. It's a society-wide issue, and
> singling out Wal-Mart only distracts people from addressing it, IMO.

Perhaps. But Wal*Mart is an easy target because they're (attempting to)
force themselves into communities where they aren't needed or wanted. They
are far more aggressive about it than some of the other chains. When their
building permit in Lady's Island, SC (a "suburb" of Beaufort) was denied for
numerous reasons they appealed. Note: there's already a Super Wal*Mart only
10 miles from the proposed new location. When the appeal was denied they
threatened to sue, as if it's their god given right to build a Wal*Mart
anywhere they damn well please. That's what ticks people off.

Jill