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Checkers and shelf stockers at supermarkets in California are unionized, and the prices at those stores are cheaper than at Whole Foods. Wal-Mart has literally closed stores rather than allow them to unionize.
Checkers and shelf stockers at supermarkets in California are unionized, and the prices at those stores are cheaper than at Whole Foods. Wal-Mart has literally closed stores rather than allow them to unionize.
Most supermarkets in NY state (at least downstate) are unionized as well, including the ones that are "budget" oriented.
Whole Foods is a specialty store. Their premium prices doesn't undercut their competitors. Most of the specialty stuff at Whole Foods aren't sold at regular grocery stores anyway. They don't have much union labor, but their non-union wages are much higher then at Walmart's. Maybe not as good as union wages but still competitive.
Excuses, excuses! I actually hate WF and won't go in there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nei
Most supermarkets in NY state (at least downstate) are unionized as well, including the ones that are "budget" oriented.
The three mainstream chains here in metro Denver, Safeway, King Sooper's (Kroger) and Albertson's, are unionized. I don't know about Sunflower (which I do patronize), and Sprouts. Both the latter are similar to WF but don't have their 'polish' or something.
Union labor in supermarkets makes a difference in service quality IMHO.
One of my favorite things about where I live is that I'm 6 or so miles from a wal mart. Having previously lived in a rural area, I found that not setting foot in one avoids a good amoount of despair. Pallid people, harsh lighting. Like watching characters from Pink Floyd's "the wall"
Anyway they're coming in soon with one of these urban stores about 1 mile away and I'm less than happy. I don't see any net benefit to my community.
Why do so many people scream bloody murder every time Walmart shows an interest in Boulder? The most common response is because it is a national chain with unfairly low prices that will hurt local merchants.
Why are low prices such a great virtue when they come from a hip California grocery store, but they are distasteful and even dangerous coming from Walmart?
Eh, he's leaving out some pertinent details. Trader Joe's is a small specialty chain of grocery stores with 300 or so locations. Half of those are in California, compared to thousands of Walmarts all over the place. They're not trying to monopolize the US market like Walmart. And they specialize in groceries. They don't try to sell you everything and the kitchen sink like Walmart does. Their wages are also well above industry average.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Katiana
Interesting article about Trader Joe's coming to my area, vs WalMart:
Why do so many people scream bloody murder every time Walmart shows an interest in Boulder? The most common response is because it is a national chain with unfairly low prices that will hurt local merchants.
Why are low prices such a great virtue when they come from a hip California grocery store, but they are distasteful and even dangerous coming from Walmart?
Why do so many people scream bloody murder every time Walmart shows an interest in Boulder? The most common response is because it is a national chain with unfairly low prices that will hurt local merchants.
Why are low prices such a great virtue when they come from a hip California grocery store, but they are distasteful and even dangerous coming from Walmart?
Chill, Boulder.
I worked at Trader Joe's in High School in the 90s and I was paid more then as a 20 hour a week employee than most Wal Mart employees make now. They treat their staff very well and as a result they have great employees. You don't hear about TJ's skirting labor laws or hiring illegal labor.
Eh, he's leaving out some pertinent details. Trader Joe's is a small specialty chain of grocery stores with 300 or so locations. Half of those are in California, compared to thousands of Walmarts all over the place. They're not trying to monopolize the US market like Walmart. And they specialize in groceries. They don't try to sell you everything and the kitchen sink like Walmart does. Their wages are also well above industry average.
So freaking what? It's a chain. 300 stores is a lot. Grocery stores certainly sell more than groceries these days. TJ's, so I hear, sells wine. What about the "mom and pop" liquor stores, of which there are a lot here in CO?
I worked at Trader Joe's in High School in the 90s and I was paid more then as a 20 hour a week employee than most Wal Mart employees make now. They treat their staff very well and as a result they have great employees. You don't hear about TJ's skirting labor laws or hiring illegal labor.
I don't think that was the point of the article, which was an opinion piece. The point was hypocrisy. If you read the article itself, you saw the part about how REI located in Boulder and two local sporting goods stores went out of business. It's just that Wal Mart is held up as this "bete noire" of retail, when it's really not.
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