What do you guys think? Has Walmart become the Microsoft of the department store world? Trying to strangle the competition by convincing consumers that they don’t need to go anywhere else for all their needs?
No. Considering that we don’t have every single possible item you’ll buy. I often have to redirect people to EB or Audiotronix or The Source. M.S. doesn’t do that. They don’t say “make a linux partition, a bsd partition, a unix partition, and use whatever programs you feel are better”, it’s “If you aren’t using windows, you’re part of the problem. If the software doesn’t exist on Windows, it’s because it’s evil”
Its true, I grew up near Ashland Kentucky, one of the most useless ass-in-the-wall places in America. But all of the townsfolk near my hometown are all very “excited” because the new big thing coming to town is the worlds 2nd largest Super Walmart.
I personally think that it is terribly appropriate for our shitty little town to get somthing so stupid, as a monument to the redneck community that many people are proud to be a part of. (I hate this god forsaken place)
Considering many of the complaints lobbied against Microsoft (or comparable ones) were lobbied against Walmart 15 years ago, if not even before then, there could be some validity to the claim. After all, Walmart financially ruined the pickle market thanks to its gallon o’ pickles jars.
many pickle farmers died, to bring us this information.
Yee-haw. Let’s bring our 2.5 children and drive to Walmart in our jacked-up pickup plastered with AMERICAN flags and with the tailgate down, while listening to Toby Keith, and buy NASCAR memorabilia.
…I wish I were joking. 
I think the bigger problem here is Viacom/ClearChannel/Altria, considering Viacom and ClearChannel own almost all media in the country (including print stuff, AND billboards) and Altria (which i think is owned by viacom or CC) owns pretty much all of the foodstuffs in the United States, and a bunch of shoe and clothing companies.
Am I the only person who’s never had a major problem with either Microsoft OR Walmart? The only problems I’ve encountered with Windows have been due to viruses, which exist for every OS out there. I had difficulties with my Wireless router, but they gave me a free replacement, despite having no warranty.
I don’t use Walmart much, but when I do go, I’ve had no difficulties with either their service, or their products, or anything for that matter.
In other words, either I’m the luckiest guy in the universe, or the problems everyone’s been shouting about are nowhere near as severe as they are made out to be. Or I’m completely misunderstanding the problem; that happens, too.
Much like Microsoft, Wal-Mart is responsible for many smaller companies closing down. I don’t think they’re doing it to be evil, though. Either one of them, I mean. They just think that it’s progress that people can get everything under one roof.
Xelo: You must be the exception. The Wal-Marts around here believe that if they don’t have something, it doesn’t exist. And, if you try to go somewhere else to get something, then the terrorists win.
Am I the only person who’s never had a major problem with either Microsoft OR Walmart?
no when i go to wallmart i can find most everything i want/need, and windows never gave me problems apart from having a few useless background tasks, and being more susceptible to virus cuz everyone uses it.
I haven’t had much problems with Windows either. I almost never go to Walmart to shop so, other than the time I heard Walmart was going to build over some Mayan ruins or something, I haven’t had any problems with them.
I never had any problems with Microsoft. MS even gave me Office 2003 and Visual Studio .NET in their boxes for free recently. Due to an agreement between Microsoft and my college, I have access to ANY Microsoft software (but the games) for free. I have all the licenses for all of them. I’m not sharing it though XD
I’ve also never had problems with Wal Mart, because there is no Wal Mart here.
Yea, but their effect is felt in your country, i’ll bet I’m sure your farmers and laborers LOVE wal-mart.
I don’t see the connection with laborers in general, but as for the farmers, I know that some ofthem like selling their crop to Wal Mart indeed. WM pays better than european chains of commerce, that’s why.
True. Having some understanding of economics, however, I really don’t like the thought of monopolies, whatever their intentions.
I agree with you, but as a consumer, would you rather go to Wal-Mart and buy some paper towels for $0.78, or go to Kroger and spend $1.19? 40 cents may not seem like much, but when you’re buying $200 worth of groceries, 40 cents per item makes a huge difference. I may not like Wal-Mart, but based on my current salary, I have no other option.
Let’s all bite the hand that feeds us.
Shame about those pickle farmers, though. Pickles are one of my favourite foods, especially polski ogorkis. Mmm mm.
I’ve been in 3-4 Walmarts in my life and every single one has felt utterly trashy. The prodcts were strewn in the walk way, the floor looked like it only got mopped once a year and poorly by someone who was brain dead and had no arms. There would be like a shiny stripe with just dirt on either side. A lot of the products had so much dust and dirt on them that I would leave a hand print and have a dirty hand after. They also had like 30 check out lines and 1 checker and the line took a good hour to get through, and the checkrs at each one was utterly incomopent. I am glad the nearest one to me is 50-75 miles away and I hope to never shop at another one again. I would rather pay the little bit extra to shop somewhere clean than save a few dollars.
No, we have Microsoft in Europe but no Walmart.
I love walmart -
Lan party nights come, and were 1 PC short cause someone’s video card is old… go to walmart, buy a nice one, use it, take it back the next day! No questions! Woo!