Fires create Walmart-Love..(actually with good reason)

[SoCalDem]

I admit it, I have a friend who is a manager at a Walmart.. He's a good guy..

Tonight he was telling me about what they have done this week..

His store sent to the evac centers:

20 pallets of water
20 pallets of food
clothing, toys, shoes, jackets, toiletries
400 pillows, blankets, sleeping bags etc.

They had three semis full of stuff in all, and HQ has authorized them to "send whatever is needed"..

He said that they delivered a check for $300,000.00 to the red cross..

The also have a program that management is required to fund that is a disaster/catastrophic fund for store employees.. Here's how it works...

any Walmart employee who lost their house will have walmart give them a check for whatever their insurance did not cover.. if they are uninsured, they will receive the whole appraised value..


I know we all love to hate walmart (and I NEVER shop there), but in this particular case they have done a good thing..

[leetrisck]

1. Wal Mart handles these things

very well and often. They are also usually very supportive of organizatios in their communities.

[R Hickey]

2. Glad to hear that about WalMart

But what California really should do, is spend some money on airplanes that can drop water on the fires. Those helocopters just aren't doing the job.

[Le Taz Hot]

6. We have planes

they've been forced to refuel in Porterville (Central Valley) because of the smoke problem in So. Cal. Just thought I'd throw that in there as it was on our local news last night. They did say the pilots are EXHAUSTED, as are the firefighters and helicopter pilots.

[0rganism]

3. That's exceptionally good PR for them right now

I'm impressed that they're going out on a limb to give uninsured homeowners a break, but are they doing the same for renters?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Wal-Mart

has always had this plantation boss attitude. After all, the Massah took care of his slaves, right? And Wal-Marts do some things for each community where they are located in the form of supporting charities. But that has to be balanced with what they take from the communities in the form of decimation of downtowns, the ruin of local businesses, and the degrading of salaries. Wal-Mart now is the nation's second largest employer, after McDonald's (which tells you something about the state of our economy), and the average salary at a Wal-Mart is $7.50 an hour. Here in NW AR, that is almost a living wage if you live out of town, haul your own water, have composting toilets and a wood stove for heat. But I don't know how it can be a living wage for folks who live in the city.

BTW, on local news the other day-Bentonville HQ said they were GLAD the news got out about the illegal aliens working as cleanup crews. They said that anytime Wal-Mart's name got in the news, it was good publicity. Wonder if the Waltons have sent some of their execs to the White House to help Chimpy with his statements on Iraq?

[el_gato]

5. PR plain and simple

don't be fooled
they are fighting a backlash against predatory business style
and they need some good press

[JBolt]

10. I guess you would prefer

if they didn't donate this much needed help. The people receiving the supplies are not concerned about Wal-Mart PR. They are concerned about getting what is needed.

[Misinformed01]

13. Get a grip

if you are old enough to be on the computer during school hours, then you are old enough to realize that this is going to be written off their taxes too.

BTW..hell yes, I would take whatever they handed me...and then continue shopping somewhere else.

Screw em.

[Ellen Forradalom]

14. welcome to DU JBolt!

:hi:

[MrPrax]

7. I guess it would be cynical to suggest

that Wal-Mart has a vested interest in long-term prospects of it's regional market (like not having burn down!)

There are a lot of folks/businesses pitching in help out in what is turning into a very very bad situation...

But Wal-Mart should help out since their almost natural monopolies in some areas means they are the ONLY one with readily available supplies that are desparately needed.

Hopefully the insurance companies will follow at least Wal-Mart's example and cut the checks post haste and not try to nickel and dime frustrated and despairing homeowners...

Kudos to Wallyworld

[MadHound]

8. So, at most they're giving away 1/10-2/10 of 1% of their yearly profits

And then they'll be able to turn around and write that "charity" off of their taxes. Ooo, that mean that you and I as taxpayers get to pick up the tab for WalMart's largesse next year. How fucking generous of them.

Sorry folks, most corporate philanthropy is bogus bullshit that you and I fund as taxpayers. I've been in business for myself and know what the tax cutting schemes are. This is one of the older ones in the book. I'll be colored impressed if and when WalMart gives out say ten percent of their yearly profits(you know, the old tithing thing), and doesn't write it off their taxes. Until then simply write this off as WalMart looking for good press and letting you and I pay for it.

[JBolt]

12. If you ever find yourself

in the situation the people of California are in, be sure and hold to your convictions and refuse any supplies and help from Wal-Mart that they donate.

[MadHound]

15. LOL!!

I've been in a situation similar to the people of CA, and guess what? WalMart was no where around to offer supplies and help. Went through a tornado, and the only help WalMart was doling out was to its store down the road. My help came from genuine charitties, the Red Cross, Salvation Army, and all of us in the neighborhood pitching in together. And no, we didn't get our supplies and tools from WalMart.

The only reason WalMart does these big giveaways is to garner the free good press that comes along with it. Wally World is taking a beating in CA right now do to the grocery strike, where management and workers alike are (correctly)pointing their finger at them and their predatory business practices. Also Wally World is trying to drown out the recent illegal immigrant worker scandal. And gee, since this "charity" gets to be written off of their taxes, you and I get to pick up the tab for it next year. Enjoy!

And no, I wouldn't take this kind of "charity" from Wally World even if I was dead broke and homeless. Having been in that situation once in my life, I know how strong my convictions and conscience are. I hope yours is just as clean. If you shop at WalMart, somehow I doubt it.

[Misinformed01]

16. I was just getting ready to ask if you were in MO

When I noticed the big red "KC."

I don't know if you read my post below this or not, but I know exactly how Walmart acts when they don't need good press.

Sad, isn't it?

[MadHound]

17. Yeppers, I'm a Missourian

My big tornado wasn't last spring, but about twenty years ago when one came through and ripped apart southern Sprinfield. I hope you came through Pierce City OK(or at least as good as can be expected after a tornado).

And yes, if they don't need the press, WalMart is no where to be found. Very sad.

Hope you are getting back on your feet, I did donate some supplies and food that went down your way. If you're ever up in the Columbia/MidMo area, give me a PM and perhaps get together and commiserate about tornadoes:toast:

[Misinformed01]

19. Former Ozark resident here

I was a student/paramedic there--

I am back home in NC now, but I also donated to the folks in Pierce City--I wanted to go help them clean up too, and this is probably horrible, but I decided I wanted to go see JanMichael in FL instead!

Stephanie

[Misinformed01]

9. Please don't be fooled by this marketing stunt, SoCal

When Pierce City, MO was leveled by the tornado in May of this year, the local Walmart charged the county for bottled water and tarps.

Walmart is trying to come across as a "good guy" in California because of the grocery store strikes, and troubles with the union--this doesn't have a damned thing to do with what they are really like.

I know it looks and feels all good, warm, and fuzzy...and it is a stunt that is going to fool a ton of people--including their management team.

[Tansy_Gold]

18. Please note that their largesse is directed. . . .

mostly at their associates. No one speaks louder or better than people who have a vested interest. Wal-Mart employees who receive huge benefits in the form of funds that make up for insurance shortfalls could end up having this counted as direct income and be taxed on it. These working people are not tax-exempt charities; what they receive in cash from their employer is a bonus, not a gift. They could find out at the end of the year that they are liable for a huge tax bill.

Non-employees will not benefit from this.

This is a tiny tiny tiny price to pay for some HUGE PR when the corporation is coming under fire.

Wal-Mart does do some genuine community service work, but much of it is funded by the associates themselves, NOT the corporation.


Tansy Gold, former Wal-Mart slave, er, associate

[w4rma]

11. I am extremely impressed by Wal-Mart's public relations. Absolutely

brilliant.