Discussion
  • Read More
    kate_smashHamilton Nolan
    2/13/14 2:35pm

    Oh god damn it, Mike Rowe. You were my favorite.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      burntbunnzkate_smash
      2/13/14 2:41pm

      I hope you and all of the people shitting on Mike have never in your life bought anything at walmart. Because if you have, you're not only a hypocrite, but also a bigger influence on walmart's decisions that Mike could ever be.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      KellyWellykate_smash
      2/13/14 2:57pm

      I know! He is dead to me now.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    filmgirlHamilton Nolan
    2/13/14 2:25pm

    "Walmart does not exist for the purpose of employing people."

    Excuse me but without workers there would be no customers.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      burntbunnzfilmgirl
      2/13/14 2:47pm

      Without sales there are no employees.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      filmgirlburntbunnz
      2/13/14 2:54pm

      Without employees to make or in Amazon's case to ship the products to the customers who would not be customers without said items.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    Montauk MonsterHamilton Nolan
    2/13/14 2:26pm

    Walmart's first order of business is to serve their customer.

    bzzz WRONG. Their first order of business is to make money. Come the fuck on.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      J DTZRMontauk Monster
      2/13/14 2:39pm

      This actually made me angry when I read it. "First order of business is to serve customers?" Go fuck yourself, Mike Rowe (or whichever Walmart PR flack wrote that tripe).

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      Leopold B. ScotchMontauk Monster
      2/13/14 4:28pm

      No doubt. But you're all yin and no yang. Any company can forget profits if they stop providing some value to their customer base and their investors will move elsewhere. this is not a "chicken and egg". It is the difference between a viable business and, say, a government run operation or some kind of corporate fascism where by law all customers must buy from a provider — sorta like the once very protected (and consequently, very crappy product-wise) U.S. auto industry.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    ThidrekrHamilton Nolan
    2/13/14 2:29pm

    The biggest challenge of running a business was finding people who were willing to learn a new skill and work hard.

    While paying near minimum wage with no benefits, I'm sure. Pro-tip: you get what you pay for.

    I'm also skeptical that they're really interested in teaching anyone anything; most job postings I've seen demand candidates have years of experience first.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      BlatheringThidrekr
      2/13/14 2:42pm

      But...Job Creators!

      I'd say you're 100% right. I've never seen or worked any sort of labor job that had "training" beyond "this is your shovel." (Referencing the "Dirty Jobs" aspect of places Rowe goes.)

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      Dear ZeusThidrekr
      2/13/14 2:44pm

      Training is pretty much gone. If they can't hire a person someone else paid to train they don't want you.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    GazesAtShoesHamilton Nolan
    2/13/14 2:22pm

    Rowe is a grade A douche and RMoney peddler in the 2012 election. As far as I'm concerned he and his show can eat a dick.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      Sock KittyGazesAtShoes
      2/13/14 2:30pm

      Careful now, that might become an actual episode.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      MuscatoGazesAtShoes
      2/13/14 2:42pm

      As far as I'm concerned he and his show can eat a dick

      You say that like it's a bad thing. As long as we're still using "eat" in the right sort of way, that's something I might pay good money to see...

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    LuminosityHamilton Nolan
    2/13/14 2:34pm

    Well, Mike. Who is America if not the American Worker? How does Wal-Mart serve its most important element if they don't have Workers to do it? How many Help Wanted signs were offering minimum wage/part time/temporary/no benefits to learn a new skill? Thought so.

    /also it's "its," not "it's."

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      Tyrant BigglesLuminosity
      2/13/14 3:08pm

      Workers are just a happy consequence of the Free Market. The Walton family would happily operate each WalMart store personally but they believe strongly in spreading the joy.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      SnagglepussLuminosity
      2/13/14 3:42pm

      If somebody could point me in the direction of a job for which I have no experience in and pays a liveable wage, I'd sure love for him to send me an email letting me know what it is.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    AliHajiSheikHamilton Nolan
    2/13/14 2:56pm

    And they all told me the same thing - the biggest challenge of running a business was finding people who were willing to learn a new skill and work hard for almost no money.

    Left out an important bit Mike. Hard work should have rewards, which don't include having to also take welfare to make ends meet.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      Leopold B. ScotchAliHajiSheik
      2/13/14 4:56pm

      Blame the crappy business environment in the U.S. where the consumer can be best served to make it paycheck to paycheck via the Wal-Mart model, one that vastly favors mega billion behemoths with massive compliance departments, fleets of attorneys with global tax expertise, experts in global labor regulations, international palm greasers, etc. all of which you local mom and pop store could not compete with.

      More plainly put, our tangle of government-created complexity in the U.S. benefits the largest players the most, and your politicians are to blame. Wal-Mart is just a symptom, and frankly a guide for how to structure a business that helps its consumer maximize their paychecks.

      Hate them all you want. They're just the messenger.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      AliHajiSheikLeopold B. Scotch
      2/13/14 5:21pm

      counterpoint - Costco is a global, efficiently run business that sells globally sourced products at rock bottom prices. It is also a company takes great care of its employees and provides generous benefits without hurting its profitability.

      I also think you are overstating the role of international tax planning in Walmart's business model.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    OMG!PONIES!Hamilton Nolan
    2/13/14 2:35pm

    "the biggest challenge of running a business was finding people who were willing to learn a new skill and work hard."

    "the biggest challenge of running a business was finding people who were willing to work long hours for shit pay in violation of numerous federal, state, and local labor laws and regulations while having abuse heaped upon them by managers, coworkers, and customers."

    There. I fixed it.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      MuscatoHamilton Nolan
      2/13/14 2:23pm

      Ugh. One so many fronts. The topper? He can't even use "it's" correctly.

      Reply
      <
      • Read More
        Strider2Muscato
        2/13/14 2:26pm

        Well, at least you used pedantry correctly.

        Reply
        <
      • Read More
        Wendel Clark BarMuscato
        2/13/14 2:33pm

        Says the guy who can't spell "on" ...

        Reply
        <
    • Read More
      toothpetardHamilton Nolan
      2/13/14 2:28pm

      I bet they paid him 8.80$/hr for his work.

      Reply
      <
      • Read More
        PseudoHermestoothpetard
        2/13/14 3:41pm

        Oh man. If Walmart paid ALL their employees, including management, $8.80 an hour, I'd hate them approximately 30% less.

        Reply
        <