Comments on: Wal-Mart Misleading Consumers? http://www.thehealthblog.com/wal-mart-misleading-consumers/ A blog about proper health and nutrition habits Fri, 17 Jun 2011 04:45:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Kelly@dietFacts.com http://www.thehealthblog.com/wal-mart-misleading-consumers/#comment-160 Kelly@dietFacts.com Tue, 30 Jan 2007 18:29:21 +0000 http://thehealthblog.com/index.php/2007/01/21/wal-mart-misleading-consumers/#comment-160 I'm with Ryan in that I avoid Wal-mart at all costs. (Pardon the pun.) In fact I can't even remember the last time I stepped foot inside a Wal-mart store. Even then, it was never for food products. I remember a short time ago when they spent millions of dollars advertising that all of their products were made in the U.S.A.; now nearly none of their products are made in the U.S.A. and yet most customers are unaware of the switch. This reminds me of when McDonald's loudly announced their plan to remove trans fat from their fries; then quietly did not. How many millions of McD fans believe the fries are healthier than before? Answer: a LOT! Unfortunately I've never had the pleasure of visiting a Whole Foods market or any of the other large natural foods chains. They just don't have them here in our small Midwestern towns. The nearest Whole Foods is about 3 hours away, in St. Louis. Fortunately we do have lots of Farmers' Markets and roadside produce stands during the warmer months. I really like being able to shake the hand of the person who worked on the farm that grew the vegetables, to ask him/her questions and to learn more about how to properly store my produce. The rest of the time, we just have to make due with the scant offerings at the local grocer. I’m with Ryan in that I avoid Wal-mart at all costs. (Pardon the pun.) In fact I can’t even remember the last time I stepped foot inside a Wal-mart store. Even then, it was never for food products. I remember a short time ago when they spent millions of dollars advertising that all of their products were made in the U.S.A.; now nearly none of their products are made in the U.S.A. and yet most customers are unaware of the switch. This reminds me of when McDonald’s loudly announced their plan to remove trans fat from their fries; then quietly did not. How many millions of McD fans believe the fries are healthier than before? Answer: a LOT!

Unfortunately I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting a Whole Foods market or any of the other large natural foods chains. They just don’t have them here in our small Midwestern towns. The nearest Whole Foods is about 3 hours away, in St. Louis. Fortunately we do have lots of Farmers’ Markets and roadside produce stands during the warmer months. I really like being able to shake the hand of the person who worked on the farm that grew the vegetables, to ask him/her questions and to learn more about how to properly store my produce. The rest of the time, we just have to make due with the scant offerings at the local grocer.

]]> By: Jill http://www.thehealthblog.com/wal-mart-misleading-consumers/#comment-159 Jill Tue, 23 Jan 2007 17:13:49 +0000 http://thehealthblog.com/index.php/2007/01/21/wal-mart-misleading-consumers/#comment-159 I actually have been very impressed with the amount of Organic items at Walmart. And these are things that are actually packaged that way and come from reputable companies. I can get everything from beans, tomato sauce, lettuce, grapes, potatoes etc. And I am finding I save so much more money. In fact, the rice milk we buy (the refigerated kind) is a whole dollar cheaper than my health food store. Now, don't get my wrong I also love Whole Foods, but it is further away for me, and is always understocked on items (which can be so frustrating when you make that drive and they don't have everything you need). So, all that to say...I would tend to agree with your generalized statement about the average Walmart customer. But I love the fact that Walmart is offering more Organic things - one, so I can afford it more and two, because maybe the people that don't normally consider healthy alternatives will branch out and try it because it is in a store they frequent and they realize it is not that much more expensive. And as a result, maybe in the future, we will have a healthier society! I actually have been very impressed with the amount of Organic items at Walmart. And these are things that are actually packaged that way and come from reputable companies. I can get everything from beans, tomato sauce, lettuce, grapes, potatoes etc. And I am finding I save so much more money. In fact, the rice milk we buy (the refigerated kind) is a whole dollar cheaper than my health food store. Now, don’t get my wrong I also love Whole Foods, but it is further away for me, and is always understocked on items (which can be so frustrating when you make that drive and they don’t have everything you need).
So, all that to say…I would tend to agree with your generalized statement about the average Walmart customer. But I love the fact that Walmart is offering more Organic things – one, so I can afford it more and two, because maybe the people that don’t normally consider healthy alternatives will branch out and try it because it is in a store they frequent and they realize it is not that much more expensive. And as a result, maybe in the future, we will have a healthier society!

]]> By: Ryan http://www.thehealthblog.com/wal-mart-misleading-consumers/#comment-158 Ryan Tue, 23 Jan 2007 16:16:54 +0000 http://thehealthblog.com/index.php/2007/01/21/wal-mart-misleading-consumers/#comment-158 I sometimes take for granted how many options we have near my house: King Soopers (four locations within 10 minutes), Safeway, Target, Wal-Mart, Super Target, Super Wal-Mart, Vitamin Cottage, Whole Foods, Albertson's (going out of business), Vitamin Shoppe, and on and on and on. I have bought diapers at Wal-Mart before. I've since encouraged my wife to get the new diapers by Seventh Generation. In general, I like their products. They're more expensive, but far better for the environment--not to mention your baby's skin. (I've heard the chlorine in normal diapers is rough on skin.) I sometimes take for granted how many options we have near my house: King Soopers (four locations within 10 minutes), Safeway, Target, Wal-Mart, Super Target, Super Wal-Mart, Vitamin Cottage, Whole Foods, Albertson’s (going out of business), Vitamin Shoppe, and on and on and on.

I have bought diapers at Wal-Mart before. I’ve since encouraged my wife to get the new diapers by Seventh Generation. In general, I like their products. They’re more expensive, but far better for the environment–not to mention your baby’s skin. (I’ve heard the chlorine in normal diapers is rough on skin.)

]]> By: Sarah http://www.thehealthblog.com/wal-mart-misleading-consumers/#comment-157 Sarah Tue, 23 Jan 2007 01:56:34 +0000 http://thehealthblog.com/index.php/2007/01/21/wal-mart-misleading-consumers/#comment-157 Oh - don't feel bad - it's just one of those things I haven't thought about much and should probably think about more! The only things we really buy there on a regular basis are produce and diapers. It's just so convenient that they're very close to my house! I'll definitely research this issue more...thanks for bringing it up. Oh – don’t feel bad – it’s just one of those things I haven’t thought about much and should probably think about more! The only things we really buy there on a regular basis are produce and diapers. It’s just so convenient that they’re very close to my house!

I’ll definitely research this issue more…thanks for bringing it up.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.thehealthblog.com/wal-mart-misleading-consumers/#comment-156 Ryan Mon, 22 Jan 2007 23:54:46 +0000 http://thehealthblog.com/index.php/2007/01/21/wal-mart-misleading-consumers/#comment-156 Well now I feel bad... A couple tidbits about Wal-Mart: 1. They sometimes manufacture products that look the same, but are actually inferior to "the real thing." So sometimes what seems cheaper (in cost) really is cheaper (in quality). 2. Wal-Mart actively teaches employees how to "game the system" in order to get money out of the government. This is discussed on the DVD mentioned above, along with many other issues. The bottom line on low prices is that the cost has to be accounted for somewhere. Wal-Mart is excellent at externalizing costs onto the government, environment, other countries, etc. The costs are there. You just don't see or feel them directly. Well now I feel bad…

A couple tidbits about Wal-Mart:

1. They sometimes manufacture products that look the same, but are actually inferior to “the real thing.” So sometimes what seems cheaper (in cost) really is cheaper (in quality).

2. Wal-Mart actively teaches employees how to “game the system” in order to get money out of the government. This is discussed on the DVD mentioned above, along with many other issues.

The bottom line on low prices is that the cost has to be accounted for somewhere. Wal-Mart is excellent at externalizing costs onto the government, environment, other countries, etc.

The costs are there. You just don’t see or feel them directly.

]]>