WAL-MART BS THREAD

Not really.

 

One of the major beneficiaries of the nation's food-stamp program is actually a hugely profitable company: Walmart.

Americans spend about 18 percent of all food stamp dollars at Walmart, according to company estimates told to the Wall Street Journal and confirmed by The Huffington Post. That's about $14 billion of the $80 billion Congress set aside for food stamps last year. The company's total profits for 2013 were $17 billion.

The news comes just as food-stamp benefits are about to be cut for 47 million Americans. On Friday, a key provision boosting the program is set to expire.

After that, 47 million Americans will struggle even more than usual to afford the basics. Walmart isn't too concerned: When shoppers become more concerned about price, they’re more likely to turn to Walmart, Bill Simon, the retailer’s U.S. CEO, said at an analyst meeting earlier this month.

"I would say we're cautious but modestly optimistic," Simon said. "When the [food-stamp] benefits expanded, our market share actually went down."

Still, as the nation's largest low-cost retailer, the company has close ties to the food-stamp economy. Walmart has historically lobbied around food stamps, according to a report from Eat Drink Politics, an advocacy group. In addition, the company also worked with First Lady Michelle Obama in 2011 on the Great American Family Dinner Challenge, a push to get families to eat healthy on a food-stamp budget.

“A significant percentage of all SNAP dollars are spent in our stores, and they are used to buy items like bananas, whole milk, Ramen noodles, and hot dogs,” then-Walmart executive Leslie Dach said at a conference in 2011, where he discussed the retailer's plans to help shoppers buy healthier meals on food stamps.

 

Speaking of the EBT/SNAP program, I was doing some minor shopping yesterday, I was in line right behind a family (Latino with two young kids)....their bill was around $100, not out of the ordinary....wife whips out an EBT card, pays for most of the stuff, the remainder was a cash payment for stuff not covered by the program....her wallet was full of cash....anyway, to my point, after I paid for my stuff I proceed to my vehicle, lo and behold, they were parked right next to me...they had a very nice newer SUV and I am thinking WTF? I struggle to budget my retirement, have NO food stamps and unexpected emergencies can really hurt the pocketbook....I just shook my head, got in my old Tacoma and drove off wondering how do they pull this off cause I sure would like some of what they have....it doesn't pay to be white and retired living on a fixed income. I do make some extra cash every once and awhile doing odd jobs, still not a guarantee, those funds go to pay for the 'emergencies'...

Sorry world we live in....

 

She probably had her whole month's money in her wallet, since banking is hard for folks on the low end of things, and could it be that someone was giving her a ride to walmart in THEIR car to do her monthly shopping? Or could it be that this car is on the new end of the cycle and they will be driving it for the next ten years?

I think food stamps and EBT programs do more to keep folks out of food supply issues that anything else. The farmers benefit, the stores benefit and the people benefit. Tell me what you think is wrong with food stamps for the low income? Are you on social security? why should YOU receive a monthly government check and they NOT?

Not to hijack this tread, but my local walmart, at 12 miles, is the nearest pay at the pump gasoline and is one of TWO grocery stores in the COUNTY, with the other being a rather faded looking food lion. I probably shop there once a month or so, preferring the Food City, in the next county which is a traditional full service supermarket.

 

Sorry, but they were on their own, not driven by someone else....you may have a point on the cash in her wallet....yes, I am on SS bene's, the family was in their 30's, the two kids under 10 years old, certainly not old enough to be on the government dole...I paid all my life into the SS system, whatever I get in monthly benefits I earned....

I am not saying the food stamp program is bad, but, plainly it is being 'used'....I could not afford the payment and insurance on that 'newer' SUV I mentioned....one has to wonder how they can afford to make the payments, even used it had to be a $15,000 to $20,000 vehicle, I seriously doubt they paid cash for the vehicle, yet still be on the SNAP program? Come on.....

Just for point of reference, I live way out in the country, we have a Food Lyon like you, the closest WallyMart is a 36 mile drive one way, I can pull into the local gas station, fill my truck up first, then pay....there are few places in the USA where you can do that....the town has one stop light, you blink and you are in the country again....

Just sayin'...

 

My biggest issue with Wally World is the fact you can't even get through the isles either because of pallets of product in the way or the rude ass employees coming through with them and act as if I have to get out of their way! I'm the customer, they should be stocking at late hrs imo and be curtious to the customers. Plus the fact that at our local wm's it's so packed you can't move, at least on the grocery side. So I avoid the grocery side at all cost.

Now to rant about Black Friday!
Last year I decided to go for the 65 inch Vizio. I normally don't do bf shopping but wanted this tv and because of the way they do their bf now I decided to go for it. Got in line and got my voucher with no problem and was told I wouldn't get my tv that night as I was too late in line that they only had like 20 in stock and I was like 25th I line. That's fine, I didn't have a problem with that since I only got in line about an hr before it started. Wasn't about to camp out for it.

So at check out again was told they'd contact me by email when it was ready to pick up.

Then when leaving the store the security and wm employee checking receipts informed me to drive around back to p/u my tv. I told them I wasn't to get mine that night so they went to talk to the manager and confirmed I could go pick it up. Against my better judgement I went and sat in line that went around the back of the store. Once I reached a point there was no getting out of line. Then I reached a point where I could see people getting pissed off and driving out mad so I knew what was going on and sure enough I didn't get the tv that night after waiting for about an hr in the pick up line.

I could've been in and out in about an hr total but because the right hand didn't know what the left was doing I got tied up along with a whole lot of others making the pick up line longer than it should have causing everybody involved to get ill, including the employees.

Now to the day I get the email to pick up my tv. Email says it's ready for pu. So I head up there that night only to be told I can't pick up that the tvs are indeed there but they haven't been checked into the system yet and the person that does this is gone for the day! Wtf? Then why send me the email saying " my item is available for pick up"? So I had to go back the following day and they still acted like nobody knew what the hell they were doing. After looking at my receipt they asked "so you are picking up the 50" whatever brand it was? Hello! It's right there on the receipt! 65" Vizio! So at that pint I was afraid they were going to give me anything. But they did finally come out with the correct model.

Their whole Black Friday scheme is indeed better than the others imo but needs to be ran better. But their employees are worthless and not managed worth a crap imo. Not saying I wouldn't do it again but it is a pita.

With that said my sister works for another Wal-Mart, but she is a pharmacy tech though.

 

And then there's this.

 

Welcome Neighbor, I see that Floyd also sit in the hills, I live on Unaka Mountain, in Unicoi, County, very close to the NC line and the Applachian Trail. I respect your strong sense of independence and the desire to see we all earn what we get. I suspect you dislike seeing people who should be working or working harder getting the same check that you have earned.

BTW, my town doesn't have a stop light yet, but has already banned red light cameras...

But social security has the goal of keeping the elderly, infirmed and disabled from proverty, SNAP has the goal of avoiding malnurtition in children. There is good data that says SNAP has a tremedous payback in the development of the maturity of the recipients, making them more productive workers. While politics is not allowed here, I just wanted to add is that I respect your views and we can talk about the hills we live in or the trucks we drive, but not politics.

Howard

 

there was stories circulating around here last year where ebt cards were being used at the package stores and at strip clubs and bars.

 

But no one could show any actual proof...so an unverified rumor is just that...

 

They won't even entertain the idea of installing tires if they are not the correct size...

 

Neither will Costco. Sears probably doesn't either. It's a liability thing.

 

I was speaking more to to they don't make extra money off of people using EBT. I personally don't really care if 70% of their items are EBT approved. My corner gas station has similar rates of approval.

Low income and Walmart are on the same team, they offer reasonable quality stuff for reasonably low prices, so it attracts people without much money to burn or who don't want to spend a lot on some things.

Why would it bother you that so much of the store is EBT approved? I don't get how that matters in any way.

 

This. If you're on a limited income (as those who get food stamps are) it's smart of them to buy the items they want at the lowest price point.

I find it humorous when people rave about harbor freight and put down walmart.

 

I buy shit there cuz they have everything in one building, and my Nature Valley bars that are $4.99 at the grocery store near my house are $2.49 at Walmart every day, always. It makes zero sense to spend double on the same product, regardless of where I buy it or where the money goes.

 

I dunno. We don't have Sam's Clubs out here atleast not that I have ever seen.

Walmart got rich selling what the majority of the population needs - lower cost food and clothing, electronics and home goods at very competitive pricing. It has nothing to do with EBT cards, outside of the fact that much of their merchandise is EBT approved. This is a day where you can go buy Rockstar energy drinks with EBT, so it is more an issue with questionable approvals than anything to do with Walmart.

 

Can you? In every state? I was on EBT for 6 weeks in NC when I lost my job and had no money, changed my opinion on things. It was only able to be used as a credit card, no cash back.

I wonder if that cash back option isn't something store owners do on their own as opposed to it being a completely okay way to do things with the state regulations.

 

Gotcha. I don't recall mine being affiliated with an actual bank. It was a card with an American flag and eagle on the front and a mag stripe on the back. I think it was a Visa but it had zero ATM access.

 

Thst goal was destroyed when the elected progressives raided the fund to pay for their social engineering...

 

It does make a difference, UI and SNAP are very different program and different goals. UI replaces wages, all types of expenses are permitted. SNAP has significant limitations on how the money can be spent to ensure it goes towards food.

I am not sure how all of this applies to walmart, but I am starting to see some political bias here.

Howard

ps: I would like to declare that my brother is on Social Security Disability Insurance, and I intend to retire and accept social security to supplement my income.