re: #1004 razorbacker

You know, Wal-Mart is a huge company, and they don’t need me to defend them.

But really, when you look at retail wages in general, and bring in time with the employer, Wal-Mart’s wages are in line with other retailers.

They sell a lot of foreign-made goods. They buy where ever the cheapest supplier resides. As do all big-box retailers that I know of. Wander through Lowes or Home Depot and look at the labels to see the country of origin. I noticed the other day that they are importing some funiture from Vietnam, of all places. Back in the 70’s Wal-Mart imported form Taiwan, before China became the big guy. The clothes come from Mexico, Indonesian, China, even some from Africa.

Sam Walton is dead. His old ‘buy American’ philosophy died with him.

Americans don’t manufacture much anymore. Sam Waltons philosophy on pricing has a lot to do with that IMHO. Walmart beats their suppliers down like no other company that I have ever dealt with and the suppliers, afraid to lose a monster like Walmart, capitulate.