I think what bothered me most is as I saw the “coming soon” sign I realized that when the new Tim’s location is finished one can very easily see both the mall location and the Trans Canada Way location across the parking lot at the same time. I almost feel the need to remind everyone that we are not in New York City, this is not a place where Starbucks inhabits every corner of every street. With that being said, I believe this phenomena can be known as an epidemic.

Although I don’t drink coffee, I still enjoy the great value Tim’s has to offer. I will never understand the people waiting in a six car line at 8 in the morning but other than that I think Tim Hortons is great. However, I don’t think Medicine Hat needs one in the mall, or anywhere else. A new restaurant that is legitimately new to the city would be much more welcome in my eyes.

As the new Super Walmart was opened, the pre-existing Walmart was closed. The new store boasts a  complete grocery section and many expanded departments such as electronics, clothing, home decor, and more. McDonalds and Tim Hortons restaurants are also included in the new Supercenter. The grand opening featured over $15,000 in donations to local charities and singing of the Canadian National Anthem before the ribbon was cut to officially open the store. One would think Walmart is a caring corporation and a welcome addition to Medicine Hat, but what do the citizens think? And how does Walmart maintain such low prices?

Walmart Logo. Image courtesy of Walmart.

While overhearing many people at work discussing the new store, most people seemed to have mixed feelings about what the store had to offer, but mostly they all agreed on the same thing: that the store, overall, was a nuisance. It seems that it is too big for most people to relish shopping at (despite the new Canadian Tire and current Superstore being of a comparable size overall). The concrete floor is a main dislike for people. Lineups are another common criticism. Apparently, much of the time the Interact machines do not work, which are not depicted before entering the checkout lanes, resulting in people just leaving the groceries and the store.

The only good thing it seems is the parking issue. In the previous Walmart, to get out of the store, you would have to often times drive in front of the building doors, where many pedestrians emerged from before walking across the road to get to their vehicles. Now there is a more spacious parking lot and two entrances and exits between the main facade.

With www.walmart.com’s title saying: “Save money. Live Better” and the yellow smiley face flying around television commercials knocking prices down, one might wonder: How do they get the prices so low?

In some cases, for food products or non-clothing goods, Walmart basically sets a price on the goods for the manufacturers to either agree to or reject. For popular products, Walmart allows them to sell at that price in certain parts of the stores (bins in the middle of aisles, end caps, etc.) If the providers do not agree, they do not get the spot. In this case, it is all about numbers and how much the products move, which manufacturer’s desire. If the product does not sell in large quantities, it gets bumped back into more remote sections of the store. However, if a product is appealing to customers, it might earn a place right near the doorway.

Conversely, regarding clothing, a few years ago, as many people should remember, there was an outbreak of Child Labour laws. While it was widely broadcast and publicized and even headed by Kathie Lee Gifford, who beforehand did not know her name and photograph was being used for such purposes, not many people seemed aware of it. People either draw the line between “It is either slave/child labour or it is not.” But they do not look in depth to the matter.

Kathie Lee Gifford tag. Image courtesy of NLCNet.

Foreign workers in foreign factories do not have, as research suggests, comparable wages to our own in North America, so they work for very cheap wages and work long hours, often averaging up to 13 or 14 hours per day. This seems like slave labour when compared to our own standards, but because the cost of living in other countries vary, it is essential to work that much. It is not helped by the fact that in other countries, some corporations calculate wage based on one-one thousands of a second. It might not technically be slave labour, but more than technically, it is quite unfair to the workers to make like 9 cents for a jacket that takes 3.76 minutes to make.

What is more, many shirts and apparel before the outbreak, and some even now, might promote clothing with photographs of celebrities or statements such as: “A portion of the sale of this article of clothing will go to help some foundation” But how much of the portion? An eighth of a cent? As stated before, the company might pay 9 cents to a worker who made the shirt in a matter of minutes, materials to make them are fairly inexpensive as well when bought in bulk, and the rest probably goes into the pockets of shareholders. Ever wonder how Walmart has become the largest and wealthiest retailer in the world?

The grip of Walmart. Image courtesy of The Inkwell Bookstore Blog.

Of course I could go into a huge rant about Corporations controlling the world, but it is better explained in the Canadian created Documentary entitled “The Corporation.” Fortunately, you can see the full length film online for free. The film explores what really goes on behind the scenes of corporations that the masses do not know about, what many people do not want to know about. Ignorance is bliss, as they say. Remember, Walmart is a corporation, their products and supplies all come relatively from the same places, no matter what Walmart around the world you buy it from.

I personally do not shop at Walmart, and not just because of everything stated above, but because of the fact that it is inconvenient. I do not like to wait in lines for forever or have low-grade food provided by the cheapest manufacturer. I would rather shop somewhere like Sobey’s, which is locally owned and operated. Their business depends on healthy relationships with their customers, and in return, they provide excellent groceries.

Kathie Lee Gifford against children exploited by Walmart

http://www.thecorporation.com/

The Corporation Film: Part 1 | Part 2

Walmart Grand Opening in Medicine Hat

The High Cost of Low Price

Walmart Website

Wal-Mart worker dies after shoppers knock him down for post-Thanksgiving Black Friday deals.