I understand that consumers are looking to save money these days but they must also understand the true cost of shopping at Wal-Mart and its affiliate companies. The prices there are lower because of the bullying tactics of the retail giant. Manufactures make cheaper versions of there products to lower the price and in some cases lose money on Wal-Mart orders. Many U.S. companies have closed because of this so Wal-Mart imports products, giving business to other countries and depleting our economy. I also read data from studies stating that for every 1 job Wal-Mart provides, 1.5 are lost from small businesses closing. And, the jobs are substandard pay with out benefits. So I urge you all, try to save a buck elsewhere because shopping at Wal-Mart costs so much more than the total on your register receipt.

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I completely agree Robin. You said everything which was on my mind while reading this article. There are so many people who are looking to save a buck or two by going to Walmart but they don't realize that in the long run, Walmart's business tactics are a large part of our economical woes. Along with not providing crucial benefits such as health insurance, which dumps that strain on government assistance programs (which our tax dollars ergo WE end up paying for) or no healthcare at all, studies have also found in counties with Walmarts the unemployment rate has increased due to competing smaller businesses closing. Although the unemployment rate is slight, approximately 0.4%, if you add up all the counties across the country with Walmarts the accumulative amount is significant.

One of the east coast states, I can't remember which - Maryland or Mass I think - tried to pass legislation which any major corporation who didn't provide healthcare insurance to a certain percentage of their employees would be fined by the State in order to help offset the State's burden of healthcare costs for the uninsured. There were only a few corporations which would have fallen into the category which the law would affect - Walmart being one of them. The bill was vetoed by the Governor and there in a newspaper with the article about the veto was a picture of the Governor signing the veto along with a few others by his side, one of those being a top executive from Walmart. How very sad.

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Amen Robin!!!! Too bad so many people realize this.

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This so-called article is just a thinly veiled shill piece for Wal-Mart. I'm glad we don't have them in NYC, except for Staten Island, which could secede as far as I'm concerned, and I wouldn't shop in it if they did.

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Wal-Mart has monopolized the US. I love my Dollar General, and if they sold fresh produce, I doubt that I would ever shop any where else, but DG. I hate having to go into Wal-Mart(when you sometimes have too), because there are about 25 registers with about 3 or 4 open. You can't find something?, well don't try to find someone to help you. They are probably in some other dept, because this is how Wal-Mart works.. You as an employee, do not have just one dept, but you must float in 3 or more, depending on how few employees they have. Don't look for management on the week ends, because evidently they don't work. Wal-Mart comes into a town, and runs all the other dept stores out of business, they pay their employees, barely above minimum wage, give them less than 35(full-time) hours, so they don't have to pay the benefits. I, for one, would like to see a stop put on them, but evidentlly the government offices(mayor onr up the ladder) are getting so much of a kick back from them, that they turn a blind eye.

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I'd like to know where the Walmart is that sells a case of 24 bottles for $2.65. At my Walmart it cost $4.00

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Sorry folks. I don't have the money to care about Wal-Mart's "bullying" tactics. I'll buy the cheapest goods I can find. If Wal-Mart is a tough competitor, then so much the better for my wallet. I'll shop there if they can give me cheap prices.

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That bill in Maryland was aimed only at Walmart, which is why the governor did the right thing by vetoeing it. Thats an unfair business practice, and its none of the governments business to force a company to offer health insurance, and no one else. Either the law is in effect for EVERYONE, or NO ONE, not just Walmart. Thats called a WITCH HUNT. No one is forced to work for Walmart. Health benefits are just that....a BENEFIT, its not a right. Companies offer health benefits to draw better employees. You dont force them to offer it to just anyone, especially part time workers.

The ignorance of people astounds me. Go start your own business and see for yourself what it takes to run a business. Too many people who have only seen one side of the story their entire lives. I have owned a restaurant, and I would never want to own a business again unless I am self employed by myself. Dealing with payroll taxes, scheduling, hiring, and covering when people call in sick (which is all the time) is a major headache. You people should be happy an American company is so successful...but yet you want to crucify them, tax them to death, and force them to pay for benefits no other company is required to pay for. And then you all sit and wonder why American companies are leaving this country. Unions are Liberals are driving them out. Pat yourselves on the back.

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100% of bottled water is ACIDIC. That water has probably been sitting in that plastic leaching smells and worse for up to two years before you buy it. On top of that...it's probably RO water or distilled, which leaches minerals from your body when you drink it. Avoid all bottled water. Period.

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Here is how it works. Big companies (Wal Mart is not alone), are very good at it. We buy all you can make for awhile, until WE are your only customer. You let all your other customers go because they won't pay what the big guys wiill, or they are just "too much trouble" when you have a BIG account. After awhile, the big guy sees that they are the only account you have. It is then that they tell you to cut your price. You can't cut it to where they want it so you say "Well, I guess I will have to go back to my old customers". Guess what. THEY ARE GONE. You either meet the BIG GUY's price or go out of business. I have several friends who were put out of business by Wal Mart, Sears, and the like. Unfortunately, their own greed was also responsible for this happening.

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Most bottled water companies are using tap water unless it clearly says "Purified" or "Distilled". Even then there is bacteria in the water that will multiply over time so don't buy dollar store water because it's probably "Old Water"!!

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Up Yours AOL

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I pride myself in stating that I have been to Wal Mart less than 5 times in my life. In the first place they bragged that ALL their merchandise was made in the USA and got busted importing from China. The Waltons are just a greedy bunch of Chinese importers like all the rest of the retailers in the US.

But my tyrade today isnt about Wal Mart. It is about people buying water in plastic containers. ONE USE containers. The advertisement for Brita states: "One hour with a book (a run, a sporting event) forever in the landfill." Buy yourself some kind of thermos container, and a Brita. Fill the Brita up every night before you go to bed. Fill up the thermos container every morning before you start your day. If you usually drink more than one bottle of water a day, get more thermos containers. Let's say you drink 3 a day...that is 90 bottles you have saved the landfill in a month. I dont know about you but I am sick of people dirtying up our planet. Cigarette smokers, the earth is not your ashtray, keep your butt til you can dispose of it in a trash container. I used to punish my kids for littering. Now its just too much trouble for parents to parent.

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