posted
Barry said "Where will the world put another 3-4 BILLION people? There are only 2 conclusions: 1. Spacefaring technology MUST advance to such a degree that offworld colonization becomes a possibility. 2. Some World gov't(s) will take it upon themselves to alleviate the stress by war." ---------------------- There are a couple other alternatives:
Humans will evolve into social creatures who are perfectly happy living on top of each other, with annual rent hikes. We already see how harmoniously they get along in New York, New Dehli, Beijing, Caracas, any large city you care to name.
And then there's the prospect of Solipcism. It will need a prettier-sounding name, but it means essentially "brains in a vat." The physical world exists because we perceive it with our senses; what we don't perceive does not exist, as far as we know. A dream is reality, as long as you don't wake up.If the brain receives sufficient nutrition to do that, there is no need for arms, legs and moving around. Think of the space that would save! Everybody could star in his own movie, or video game, for eternity. It would be like the "feelies" that Huxley describes in _Brave New World_, except that you wouldn't have to get up and go back some boring job.
-------------------- Bruce Williams Lexington KY Posts: 945 | From: Lexington, KY, USA | Registered: Mar 1999
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Donch'a know the world will annihilate itself by then?? You know....it's along the lines of 'too many cooks in the kitchen'. . .
Besides, many people now believe abortion, aparthiyd, euthenasia and the starvation of those in 'vegetative states', as well as various forms of communist population control is now just fine...
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
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"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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Besides, many people now believe abortion, aparthiyd, euthenasia and the starvation of those in 'vegetative states', as well as various forms of communist population control is now just fine... sheila do you not understand the "word" communisum or is just something you use to lable everything that isnt in agreement with your "misinformed" beliefs? you need to read about the original 13 colinies that made up this counrty in the begining. marxist/lenin/stalin/chinese communisium now is a form of govt....that you must be refering to. as for abortion,euthinasia, starvation.....the 1st 2 are ok to me, as for the starvation....it only happened once...so it dont count. in any large population birth control and elimination of the old have many ways of being delt with. the eskimos put their old out on the ice ..to be polar bear food. the hawwian people used to put children that were deformed or sickly into a canoe and send them off to their death. trying to keep all the people alive is a western notion brought on by religious/political belives created in this country. people have been born & dying for millions of years....and to think your gona change that is with any beliefs is a fantasy. as for wally world...my parents had a "general store 1950-57. grocery's meat, some produce when it was available. we got run outa business by IGA's INDEPENTANT GROCERY'S ASSOCOATION. this was the beginning of the "quantity buying power" those who joined in this got better prices, and sold for less then my parents could. so my parents cloesed the store...and opened a BAR!!! all cash money.
[ June 19, 2005, 05:07 PM: Message edited by: old paint ]
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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Opie, I just used communism as ONE of the many examples of ways that human life is not esteemed in many places on the globe. There are even more ways I did'nt mention.
While I may not agree with every single tenet of the U.S. government & our business market, I always say to anyone who basically gripes, whines and complains and does'nt appreciate or value our economy, government, capitalism, entrepeneurship, or anything else that contributes to what makes the U.S. the greatest country on earth:
PICK A BETTER COUNTRY.
As for Wal-Mart, Todd makes perfect sense.
When you get right down to brass tacks . . . it's a big ol' department store that was the capitalist genius of someone who said, "Hey, why don't we combine a full grocery store with regular merchandise? It'll be like a giant convenience store!"
Since the frontier days, there have always been bigger & better stores that displaced those merchants who were unwilling to change or grow with the needs . . . .
It's in every area of business.
I still, hate Wal-mart because it's gotten so big it's really inconvenient . . .
(Before they built the 'super' one) I remember the first Wal-Mart and how much more stuff it had than our most-loved 'Gibsons', Kress and 'Masons'. Wal-Mart just had more stuff. They did'nt come in and take over all at once with a super store . . .they just had a more stuff.
Hey, the other dept. stores had a fighting chnace to get a little more stuff too...
Why did'nt those Department stores take out a loan and compete??? What was stopping them??
K-Mart did. Target did.
C'mon.
It's a free country . . . .
(at present)
Don't cry in your cereal because someone decided to pout and give up, or were too small to hang with the program or meet the demand . . . . . .
The consumer 'voted' with their choice of consumption location.
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
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"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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don't pick another country... continue to believe that what made this country (I know Letterville is global... but this thread is about America) great was that if the people pay-the-fuk-attention... we can spot problems on the horizon & that we, as a group, can solve or avoid & therefore evolve through the democratic (as in democracy... not the party )steering this great country on the paths of rightousness, (not your rightousness, my rightousness, or so&so's rightousness... but the true right path... that stands apart from the wrong path to the majority of the people who bother to pay attention... who bother to formulate their own opinion, & who bother to have a say in where this country is headed. If you don't like it... don't let anyone tel you to leave... read, study, THINK... & vote (with your dollars & your ballots)
Speaking of paying attention... & of reading... (& of thinking for yourselves) ...the transcript of the PBS documentary of what this thread is really about has been posted... is anyone bothering to read it before hijacking this into a discusion about weather or not Todd should boycott goods from China... or weather Walmart has effeciant business practices that are currently legal & acceptable & therefore beyond reproach & everyone else should follow their business model or go bankrupt & quit complaining because they didn't copy Walmart...
Like Bob Rochon said "It's not JUST about chinese goods it's about Walmart's business practices. Read the story or view it online."
If anyone who didn't read the transcripts from this recent show & wants to reply to the original topic instead of burying it in meaningless meanderings of mental mania... here is another LINK
posted
Sheila ---but how do we know that'll be the way it'll happen? Annhilation I mean? With that you are alluding to the second coming of ****edited for content per BB rules**** followed by ****** millennial reign?
Ah but therein lies my own (and others I am sure) crisis of *****....HOW MANY GENERATIONS have thought the same thing?
and they were wrong? Who knows what *** will do? Or won't?
If this world has taught any lesson, it is this cruel and bitter though it is, nonetheles the truth: "The rain falls on the Just and unjust alike (and who is who anyway?)"
No. the fact is the world may JUST go on for hundreds of years more...we DO NOT know. And if it does, the problems I mentioned will be factors in the next global conflict....or we will create an alternative focus for our frustration and anxiety.
But I doubt it. the human race just ain't that creative. and while I believe in the ****, I no longer presume to know his timetable.
*sigh*
[ June 19, 2005, 08:24 PM: Message edited by: Barry Branscum ]
posted
Bob...PBS doesn't top my list as an unbiased newsworthy agency...not with the likes of Bill Moyers working for them....
In any event, like I mentioned before....I focus on buying American made products and food from them....and if everybody did the same they'd be sending a message to any "Chinese" manufacturing connection they might have.
Like any store, if a product isn't selling, they'll replace it with one that is....and if enough people quit buying China's crap...eventually it would be replaced with something worthy of our dollars.
I went to Walmart last night and spent $94 on food - - none of which was produced by Walmart in China.
David Wright has it right in my opinion.
I hope everyone who has been interested in this thread and following each post realizes that I am a selective shopper at Wally World....I'm not into buying fake woodgrain laminated over chipboard furniture made in China....I'm looking for reasonably priced American made name brand products .
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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Good point Doug, (about not leaving but stay and learn...) I'm just observing that it seems like the biggest complainers are the most clueless and have no aptitude, and if they hate it here SO bad, why not move out?
Yes I read the stuff about Wal-Mart and yeh, so we ventured off onto a little side discussion. No biggie, and no silly 'fights' too, yay!. We simply had a discussion and it was really fun and interesting to me. I learnt somethin'. We've once again proven that people can conduct themselves in logical and cognizant adult discussions which is even complete with many disagreements maintained respectfully.
For that I say, Thank you all.
Of course, did'nt we know all along that the entire thread would either roll off into oblivion or pick back up on, and continue the topic?
Why, yeh.
*Barry ...let me see if I can decipher this 'Bible code' . . . (yeh book plug too, lol) um, Yes **** is the ONLY one who knows when the ******** will happen . . .(By the way, had all those previous generations done some serious studying of the *****, they would have discovered that the 6 day war and the re-establishing of Israel as a nation (1948-49) were 2 major prohecies yet to be fulfilled . . . . there are no major prohecies left to be fulfilled except the completion of the ten horns (I think we are at 9 now-league of nations, one-world gov, blah-blah-blah-let's not go there on this post) and a majorly huge war . . . .
Hey, you can gauge impending stormy weather by the clouds and scent of wet earth, and you can read the signs of spring approaching by buds on the branches, and . . . .blast the code, I'm really just saying LOOK UP for our redemption draweth nigh, is all..
I'm lookin' forward to it? Ain'chu?
(Sistah Love steps away from the pulpit)
No tomatoes please or love offerings. Sermon's over.
*Politically correct disclaimer: This breif mention of religion, certain books, and a certain God, was a short-answer reply to one individual's comments and is no way intended to offend anyone nor incite a riot of arguments about beliefs. Should the person who initiated these specific comments, (or other people), care to delve further into the discussion, feel free to contact someone privately, as I would hate to see such an interesting topic be shredded in debate, or cause the entire thread locked-down or deleted.
Thanx.
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
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"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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which god you talkin bout mama? jeohva, budda, vishnu, mohamad....rain god, or the one you sacrifice virgins to.....or the god of the pagans, santa maria, voodoo, the same one they worshiped at machupucu, or the norse god of fire, the jewish god, the luthernes, mehodists, pentacostals, baptist, the orthadox, or american indian gods? see...how one word can mean so many things.....to so many differnt people.....this is why it not usually a discussionable subject here...
[ June 20, 2005, 12:56 AM: Message edited by: old paint ]
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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Gee whiz Opie. I wish you'da read the PC disclaimer.
EAT A STEAK!
Had a thought about Wal-Mart VS Mom-&-Pop joints. . . .ha...that could be a pun . . .'joints' . . . artritis . . .stiff? ANYWAY....
You hardly ever hear anyone look at the idea that mabey, might, quite possibley, it could be, that the only reaason people shopped Mom & Pop shops in the first place is 'cause that's ALL there WAS before large dept. stores. Otherwise, they'd STILL be satisfied with shopping mom & pop's in spite of larger stores . . . I mean, I just get tired of hearing one side of the idea constantly 'Oh big biz ran poor ol' mom & pop out'a biz blah-blah-blah' being spouted as if it makes one the epitome of compassion to keep reiterating that.
posted
Yesterday, my kids (God love 'em ) decided, last minute, to throw me a barbecue on the deck, complete with guests. This, of course, meant that I had to scramble, not only to clean house & deck, but to restore the ol' Char-Broil to a working status (new burner,etc).
Long story short; I gave the local mom&pop hardware the first pitch, and they whiffed. So, I then made the half-hour run to Hyannis, thru Sunday afternoon tourist traffic, to the big box store.
Not only did they have what I needed (made in USA, btw), but because it was the LAST ONE, and had been opened, they took 50% off their price, saving me twenty bux.
My take on this? It's our own lazy, cheap, wasteful habits that close the mom&pops, not the machination of an "evil corporate empire".
**spelling**
[ June 20, 2005, 10:04 PM: Message edited by: Steve Purcell ]
-------------------- Steve Purcell Purcell Woodcarving & Signmaking Cape Cod, MA
************************** Intelligent Design Is No Accident Posts: 900 | From: Cape Cod, MA | Registered: Oct 1999
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People sit on their "made in Taiwan" couches watching their Samsung TV, blabbing on their Nokia cell phones, eating junk food and complaining about how crappy everything is in the United States.
We drive SUV's that get less MPG than my '66 Chevy Impala, fire shot's into oil producing nations and wonder why gas prices have gone up. DUH!
We go to Wal-Mart looking for low prices always, forgetting the old adage "you get what you pay for", then complain that they are costing us jobs in this country.
What was once know as "reperesentation of the people" has turned into a bunch of "smile-look-good-on-camera, 60-second-sound-bite-spouting, sell-my-memoirs-when-I'm-not-reelected-for-a-20th-term' bunch of unmotivated shysters.
Criminals go free because we don't have enough room to lock them up, and then we complain that our taxes are raised because the police force in town needs more money to combat crime...BECAUSE OF ALL THE REPEAT OFFENDERS ON THE STREETS! Then to add insult to injury, we make the criminals rich buying books full of THEIR MEMOIRS!
Complain all we want, if you want to "know whos doing this to the US", just look at the question. The answer's right there at the end..US!
Mini Gavin
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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After my dad passed away, I went thru a huge box of pictures and letters and discovered lots of old news-paper articles that my parents had tucked away.
Here's a cute "Dear Abby" article, No date, but it's brown from age. It's one of several that my Dad saved. . .;
________________________________________________ DEAR ABBY: Some time ago you had an article in your column titled "Only in America". It poked fun at Americans who buy everything they wear and use from some foreign country. I think Americans need to be reminded to BUY AMERICAN. Thanks - PATRIOTIC IN MAINE
DEAR PATRIOTIC: Once my readers see the following, I'm sure many of them will agree with you. ONLY IN AMERICA
"He drove his German car made of Swedish steel and interior of Argentine leather to a gasoline station where he filled up with Arab oil shipped in a Liberian tanker and bought two French tires composed of rubber from Sri Lanka.
At home, he dropped his Moroccan breif case, hung up his Scottich tweed-wool coat, removed his Italian shoes, and Egyptian cotton shirt, then donned a Hong Kong robe and matching slippers from Taiwan.
More comfortable now, he poured a cup of hot Brazilian coffee in an English coffee mug, set a Mexcian placemat on an Irish linen tablecloth atop a Danish table varnished with linseed oil from India. Then he filled his Austrian pipe with Turkish tobacco, lit it, and picked up a Japanese ballpoint pen with which he wrote a letter to his congressman demanding to know why the United States has an unfavorable balance of trade..."
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
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"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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Sheila - excellent...that says it all....nothing wrong with competitive shopping...but, we cannot gripe if we're willing to buy everything from outside the country to save even more....again, that's why I try and buy USA whenever I can whether it's at Walmart or anywhere else.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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America decided that looking good was the same as being good. Style over substance. Image is everything. oBEY YOUR THIRST. JUST DO IT. And so on.....point is we have forgotten what it is to be American, and we are too PC to find it.
but does anyone remember having, or buying a foreign-made, imported item when it was a sign of classiness, wealth, or prestige as it was often a very beautiful and rare item??
Now we 'brag' . . ."THIS is an AMERICAN made item!" . . .right here in our own country.
lol.
In all actuality, I never pay attention to where something is made. I suppose I am a bad girl . . . spoiled & insensitive...
I buy what I like or need where ever it's at.
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
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"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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Shelia, you might get tired of it, but it'll still be said. Small local grocers, etc. cant compete with large corporations like Wal-Mart cause Wal-Mart buys in bulk and in very large quantities. Where a small grocer might pay 5.00 for an item, wal-mart will pay 2.00 or even cheaper, therefore they can offer the item at a large savings to the customer. My dad ran a small grocery business for 16 years and did well, until the larger stores like Food City, Kroger, etc. came into town. One thing about people is they'll drive wherever the savings are. Even if its just a penny. My dad had everything in his store, food, drink, hardware, toys, music,fresh meats, etc. He had this saying,"If we dont got it, you dont need it." But having it is one thing, being able to sell it at a profit is another. Myself, I hate to see the small, conveinent general stores go away. You could go inside and sit with friends, enjoy good food, and get what you need for home. At least you could in my dads store. The big stores and corporations eat up the small business man and woman. Its a sad fact for sure. Ive seen it firsthand. And I dont think its a copout to say that this happens, because it does.
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
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Smartest thing said in this thread, said by someone who actually thinks for himself.
quote:Originally posted by Jon Aston: Does Wal*Mart buy signs from any of you? Will they ever? Support your local merchants whenever possible. It's in your own best interest. Worth alot more than the money you think you're saving.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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I think John Deaton just made a very eloquent, insightful counterpoint...and I think he thinks for himself.
There is without a doubt a certain meloncholy, nostalgic longing for slower, simpler, more neighborly times that have been displaced by modern conveniences. No denying that.
On the other hand....I'd be curious as to what computer everyone is using to compose their opinions on the evils of Walmart; HP, Dell, Toshiba, Sony, Gateway, Compaq (God forbid Compaq)?
These are all mass produced computers that sell at competitive prices that no small town local computer shop can touch. Many small towns or small towns near you most likely have a little local computer shop that custom makes cloned computers.
What kept you from buying from them? Please don't tell me price wasn't a factor in your computer buying decision?
Please tell me that the buying power of any of these mega computer builders and the warranties, support, and 24/7 service they can afford to offer as a RESULT of their huge buying power wasn't the reason from keeping you from buying from the local guy.
I am Todd Gill - I own a Gateway, Dell, Toshiba, and two home brew...er home built computers...and I actually do think for myself.
John has a personal experience that is the factual basis for his comment. Who thought that up for him?
Everyone of my statements came from questioning, listening, respecting others opinions, reasoning, thinking, and forming not just opinions, but my own convictions.
For that matter, what adult thinks for anybody and how would you be able to tell if someone was thinking for someone else . . . 'specially on a written forum??
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
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"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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Stayed out of this one up to now---for no particularly good reason. Probably as much as anything is the doubt I have about being able to think for myself.
Oh, well.
On the computer question raised---there are three in this household. My wife's is a three year old Dell. The one for the shop and internet is the oldest of the bunch, and locally put together. The third is also locally built, and only used for photo storage/editing, and the flight sims. Lots of flight sims, and lots of add-on aircraft and scenery. Two out of three for local service and upgrades as needed.
The components in each, though, are from mass-producing companies i.e. Intel, Sony, etc.and most of these are offshore companies.
The point is, there is no point. I already said I have doubts about my ability to think for myself.
As far as Wally-World---it's presence is a fact of life---get used to it. Has it been good for the country? Hard to say. Good points and bad. The same is true for 'most any biz. All the posts here aren't going to make an ounce of difference one way or another.
bill preston
-------------------- Bill Preston Fly Creek, N.Y. USA Posts: 943 | From: Fly Creek, N.Y. USA | Registered: Jan 2000
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John, thank you for sharing your family's experience. Sadly, some people will never be able to see past their own noses to see how that could be prevented, nor will they ever see the ripple effect of their actions.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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quote:On the other hand....I'd be curious as to what computer everyone is using to compose their opinions on the evils of Walmart; HP, Dell, Toshiba, Sony, Gateway, Compaq (God forbid Compaq)?
I had mine built for me by a LETTERHEAD.
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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Originally posted by Jon Aston: Does Wal*Mart buy signs from any of you? Will they ever? Support your local merchants whenever possible. It's in your own best interest. Worth alot more than the money you think you're saving.
Well they haven't bought any signs from me but I do some work for them at their distribution center replacing stripes on trucks and logos on trailers when they are wrecked and repaired. They are the only customer of mine who hasn't had a fit about me charging travel time, and they pay me well to install their graphics. What is so strange when working at their truck shop is that everyone from the guy sweeping the floor to the mechanics to the supervisors all say that working for wal mart is the best job they have ever had. They don't have to advertise for truck drivers because they have a long list of people waiting....why? Good pay, decent hours and fairly nice trucks. I used to be a trucker and know two guys who sold their own trucks to go drive for wal mart
That said I'll buy from our local hardware store or grocery before I would wal mart.
The wal mart in our lil town may soon be replaced by a super wal mart.....I say may because they are dealing with a friend of mines dad to buy his property....picture this a 70 something year old cajun farmer who doesn't need to sell that land and he knows he has wal mart by the balls lol when they were close to closing on the property he tells them.......well I want my cousin Joe to get all the dirt work.....ohh we don't work that way says wal mart......go build somewhere else says the farmer ha ha cousin Joe ended up with the dirt work. But I guess the wal mart lawyers aren't too swift they didn't realize that after they bought said property from the farmer he then told them about the ten feet of property he owned under a company name thats inbetween the highway and the land they bought...he's got them by the balls again
-------------------- Mark Perkins Performance Signs & Graphics Eunice, Louisiana "The heart of Cajun Country" Posts: 506 | From: Eunice Louisiana 70535 | Registered: Nov 1998
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Chris...I am sorry you took offense to me defending my (and everyone else who contributed to this 100+ post minus Jon Aston)ability to think for myself....and decided to send me a private message calling me a "ranting freeloader."
And as long as you feel it's ok to broadly make comments such as this:
quote:Smartest thing said in this thread, said by someone who actually thinks for himself.
Then I will most definately address you by name.
According to this site...there have been 41,164 distinct IP's that have visited this site since 1997. I find it hard to believe that each one has become a "member" of this club....which means that there are literally thousands of us "free-loaders" who poke in here.
Just when I think I might throw the 50 bucks in the kitty, some nasty, evil remarks like yours make me decide otherwise.
There's no use in hiding your nastiness in personal messages....I don't think your image could suffer if you kept them public. Rudeness goes two ways.
In any event, like I mentioned before....I focus on buying American made products and food from them....
Unfortunately it's not that cut and dry. We're in a Global Economy now so even though something is "Made in USA" it doesn't mean components of it weren't manufacturered elsewhere... but you do what you can despite the level of control you really don't have over its origin.
As far as computers.. I'm using an Apple, why didn't you put them on your list?? There aren't any local options for getting a Mac so I had to order it from California. Most of my customers are in Cali so I guess it all evens out.
Dell, Sony, compaq etc etc are not the low price bidders, just the low quality ones. In most cases local mom and pop computer places CAN beat the "big box computer" guys' pricing - they can provide a higher quality machine at the same price, or equivalent quality at a lower price. Mom and Pop just lack in the marketing department, they rely on word of mouth which is fine for most, but the general populous doesn't realize what they can really get for their money. They go for the convenient option of configuring a system online from a name they see slathered everywhere.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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I watched all five of the pieces from the link posted by Bob Rochon.
The bottom line is this: unless everybody is willing to boycott Wal*Mart, they will continue to dominate their market. So, if you can't beat em - join em! Say what you will about their tactics, but, millions go there every day. Even those who lost their jobs!
How ironic that they are building a store next to a factory that they ran out of business. You can bet that that town will in fact support Wal*Mart.
What are the chances that you can get even 100 people to support a Wal*Mart boycott?
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3489 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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Mike - you make some great points....especially about the marketing.
I've built a couple machines myself and have discovered that they cost me a bit more than the biggies...and although I can muddle my way through assembling them and getting them running....I don't have any kind of tech support or hassle-free warranty replacement....
but you're right...the mom and pop's don't have the marketing clout of the large companies and that is a disadvantage to them for sure.
A very talented Novell certified buddy of mine had a computer shop called PC Complete in town...he lasted 2 1/2 years before having to close the doors.
It was very hard to compete.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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Some friends of mine opened a computer store a couple years after I opened my shop. They started with financing solely on CREDIT CARDS to get started. Imagine that, over 50 grand in high interest credit cards. At first they offered computers upgrades and training, then an opportunity came to offer dial up, and now they make nearly a quarter million a year in internet service alone. These days they have diversified to offer video games and sattelite systems. The sattelite installs some times net them 4 grand a week.
I said all that to say it CAN be done, little fish competing in big ponds...it just takes some thinking, some luck and a little brass in the undies.
I think even in the walmart world people can become successful, but to do that they have to become innovators.
Sorry to take their names in vain, but look at Ricky Jackson with his successes on the "dark side", as well as Mike Lavalee...with his high profile and innovative work. And those folks are just within our industry.
Granted, I can't say I have succeeded to the degree of either of them, or my computer store buddies...but I will say that I started out borrowing my rent money from my dad, and grossing a whopping 753.00 the first month we were in business. My "shop" was my living room and gravel carport, my "equipment" was four dry windsor and newton 580's. That first year we got by on food stamps, frankly...but we kept plugging. Now we have a 3600 square foot facility with everything we need but a versacamm(I'm working on it). Last year was our first to do six figures, and this year is looking even better.
I ain't getting rich (yet), nor am I living up to the successes of some others here, but dang it, its mine! ANd I built it IN the walmart world.
Could it be that all the blah blahs about folks being raped by the "BIG FISH" might cover the fact that they like the conveniences that being "screwed" affords them, more than they desire to do anything personally about it?
I don't care what you do....to a big degree, personal, financial and business success or failure is up to the individual, isn't it?
[ June 21, 2005, 09:26 PM: Message edited by: Barry Branscum ]
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Strange, by comparison, how many times I've seen people here (& elsewhere)complaining about M$ & Bill Gates... He was going whole hog for more of the share of pie then some thought was legal, & in fact some legal decisions were made to curb that. A lot of legal decisions that were already in place were put there because of situations that occured in an earlier time. I don't claim to know enough to speak intelligently about those laws, or when, & under what circumstances, they came to be... but I think when a business practice grows to a point that it may be doing more harm then good (even if it is doing both).. it doesn't matter if it was built up on good legal practices... or efficient business strategies... or somewhat acceptable power plays over those entities beholden to it... eventually the laws we have were written because as times change, & situations occur... decisions are made by the majority after weighing the cost/benefit ratios. The question to me is less about if Wal Mart's practices are legitimate & more about if they should be... & what risk's they present if they continue unchecked.
On the topic of right/wrong business practices, from a global standpoint, other countries are already being investigated for creating ficticious currency valuations solely for the purpose of making huge illicit gains through the imbalance of trade with the US. If the mega retailers here are in some small way contributing to that, this is another reason to take notice. I don't want my government wiping my azz for me, but I have no problem for expert economists & foriegn trade analysts figuring out problems that our ever changing world may be creating & legislating new checks & balances to address them before they get out of hand. I've never in this thread or anywhere claimed to boycott WM, foriegn goods or any other mega retailers... but the various documentaries that I've seen or read transcripts have got my attention enough to believe that the short answer to the question posed in this threads topic is NO!
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well at least the products I've designed, built and sold were made in the good ol'USA from American steel and will last forever, those of you who bought my products could attest to that.
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
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Other than to say I have not been in a WalMart but twice on the general principle that I just don't want to support a store that takes up the size of a small village and puts local stores out of business -----
I can only contribute here that I have been watching this thread grow, and have not taken the time to read it, yet. Being ever curious I still look forward to learning about you'all's opionions, and I also have printed out the transcript of the CBS show, which turned into a quarter ream of paper, and have it on my porch waiting.
This morning this showed up in my email. I will post it, because it pertains to the topic.
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Walmart isn't perfect...so I buy as much US and friendly nation merchandise from them as possible...avoiding Chinese crap...hopefully if enough people figure out that the trade deficit with China is killing us in more than one way...and boycott their junk....we can send a message and affect change.
Trust me...our [nations] love of cheap Chinese goods will be our undoing if we aren't careful....and it WILL come down to a China/Taiwan/USA showdown in most of our lifestimes.
We're helping build China up against ourselves and that's no paranoia talking:
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) decided, last minute, to throw me a barbecue on the deck, complete with guests.
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