[Vision2020] Wal-Mart Supercenter Opposition

Thu Mar 10 10:33:35 PST 2005

(Sorry if this shows up twice -- I originally sent it 3+ hours ago and it
seems to have disappeared into cyber-space as it's still not shown up in the
V2020 archives as of 10:33 AM.)

Hi,

Thanks for the opportunity to discuss this  :-)  And, thanks for your honest
disclosure that you work for Wal-Mart.

Since you've asked the questions, I'll answer them.  I'll preface my remarks
by saying that on the Wal-Mart issue, I consider myself to be kind of an
averagely (is that even a word?) informed *Moscow* resident.  I know there
are a fair number of Moscow folks who know more about the issues than I, and
I know there area also a fair number who know less about it.  So, I think
I'm average  :-)

I'll also disclose that I'm currently boycotting Wal-Mart, but *not* because
of the Super Center issue.  I was absolutely horrified at the cat killing
(NOT local -- I think maybe it was in MI) that hit the national news shortly
after Christmas, and that's not the first report of animal abuse/cruelty
I've read associated with Wal-Mart  :-(  Those allegedly involved (I believe
there were at least three management-level employees) were facing (felony)
criminal charges but hadn't been fired yet.  So, I wrote the national
headquarters expressing my concerns and explained that I'd be boycotting
Wal-Mart until the employees were fired *and* Wal-Mart took steps to educate
their employees that animal cruelty by employees at any level wouldn't be
tolerated.

I never received a response . . . so I'm still boycotting.  LOL -- not that
Wal-Mart cares, but . . . 

I understand that the "official" line is that the Moscow store will remain
open even with a Super Center in Pullman.  Frankly, I don't believe it:  I
do not believe this area can support two Wal-Marts, particularly when one
will be a Super Center.

And, whether I shop there or not, I believe now that Moscow has lost some
smaller stores, Wal-Mart is important to Moscow's economy, tax base, etc.  I
believe that closure of the Moscow store (which I believe would be
inevitable should a Super Center open in Pullman) would hurt the Moscow
community.

Yes, I agree with you that if a Super Center opens in Pullman, the tax
money, convenience, etc for Pullman would be good.  But, at what cost?  How
many smaller businesses would Pullman lose?

I was not in favor of Wal-Mart coming to Moscow although I didn't actively
oppose it.  And, Moscow has lost a number of smaller locally owned stores --
I don't know how many were due directly to Wal-Mart, but I do know that
Wal-Mart was a contributing factor in the death of a few local businesses.
Personally, I'd prefer to shop at five locally owned smaller businesses than
I would at one Wal-Mart, convenience be d*mned.

So, as a Moscow resident, I don't want a Super Center in Pullman because I
think it will be the beginning of the end for the Moscow Wal-Mart.

And, if I was a Pullman resident, I wouldn't want a Super Center because of
the harmful effect it will undoubtedly have on existing local businesses.
I'd have other objections, too, but that would be the deal-breaker for me.

I want to add, though, that when I did shop at the Moscow Wal-Mart, I found
the employees to be good.  I *hated* having to go to Wal-Mart because it was
always frustrating -- it seemed like 1/4 of the stuff on my long list was
out-of-stock (or had suddenly stopped being stocked), but that wasn't the
employees' fault.  As a consumer, I guess the thing I *liked* about shopping
at Wal-Mart was the employees (except in Electronics where if you needed a
case unlocked, it often took an act of God to find someone --- grrr!).

So, I don't want my comments in *any way* to reflect negatively on the local
people who work at Wal-Mart.

I'm curious to see what others have to write, so thanks again for asking the
questions!

Saundra Lund
Moscow, ID

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
nothing.
Edmund Burke

-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Storla, Robbie
Sent: Thursday, 10 March 2005 12:40 AM
To: Tim Lohrmann; vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Wal-Mart Supercenter Opposition

I would like to take a moment to introduce my self and let you know that i
am currently a Wal-Mart Associate...  I respect everyones views on this
issue and really don't know where I stand on it.  But I would like some
input from people as to why people are for or against the supercenter going
into Pullman.  Granted everything that I have been told is that we will
continue to operate stores in Lewiston and Moscow if the super center goes
into Pullman.  My views on it is why wouldn't people want it, to be able to
do all there shopping at one stop instead of going to one or more stop to
complete shopping that could be done in one store.  and wouldn't it mean
some pretty good tax money to the city of Pullman?  

Are people against the Super Center because of its location or simply
because it is walmart?  

I would also like to draw your attention to a web site that has been very
informative to me.  www.walmartfacts.com <http://www.walmartfacts.com/> 

thanks for listening to me and i look forward to hearing from you.  please
excuse the spelling and grammer, it is late at night. :)

Robbie

Regards,

Robbie E. K. Storla

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