The assertion that these are "anti-union" cameras seems far from proven. It appears to originate from one anti-Walmart movie which attributes it to one source. I've never seen any picketing at the Aberdeen WalMart.
I suspect the cameras are just part of what a deep-pockets corporation has to do to protect itself from bogus slip-and-fall claims. The video probably comes in handy for sorting out fender benders in the parking lot.

I very seldom set foot in a WalMart. It's probably been three years since I have been in the Aberdeen Store. Of course, I rarely shop in any store -- my better half does enough of that for both of us, and I hate shopping.

As far as how WalMart treats its employess, all I can say is that I have a relative who has worked for WalMart, JC Penney, and RiteAid, and WalMart wasn't any worse than the other two. All chain stores seem to treat their employees about the same. WalMart is no better or worse. Her benefits were not great at any of the three, but WalMart actually offered the best benefits.

If people think that WalMart is so bad for the community, why do they continue to shop there? It's because they think they can save a buck. Pure and simple. If saving small local businesses is that important to people, they should be willing to pay a little more. Personally, I would rather pay a little more for a cheeseburger at Humdinger, than I would at McDonald's (for one thing, it tastes better)

you ought to try the burgers at the lighthouse, wow.

Lighthouse burgers are just dandy. Humdinger burgers tip their hat and say, "Well done, kid. Keep it up and you will be a big leaguer someday, too."

I'm proudly WalMart free for 5 years, 3 months. It's been surprisingly easy. Although I do have to admit that it would be much harder if I still had small children to buy for.

As for the "can't afford to shop elsewhere" argument. Sorry, I don't buy it. I spend far less by not shopping at WalMart. One of the reasons is that I'm not immune to good marketing. Most people aren't. I challenge people to look at their receipts from WalMart and I bet there's a lot of things purchased that weren't on their list because it was cute, cheap, and, well, you just gotta have it. It adds up. I do a heckuva lot less impulse buying which makes the total dollars spent much less. And it's amazing how I don't miss buying all those things I didn't really need anyway.

We used to have a locally owned craft store in downtown Aberdeen. I remember going in there when it was closing and was told it was directly because of loss of sales due to WalMart. Too bad that local crafters didn't continue to support it.

Everything we do has an impact. Spending money in locally-owned stores keeps more money in our community to support other businesses, make charitable contributions, etc. Spending money in union shops helps maintain family-wage jobs which, in turn, help feed our local economy. Buying less "junk" due to impulse buying means less crap that will eventually just end up in a landfill.

While I don't always agree with Icky, I was impressed with her food-shopping habits in another thread. She has obviously done some research and made some conscious decisions. I respect that.

I guess, in a nutshell, I don't understand how people can say that they want our community (this could be our local area and our greater country) to have family-wage jobs so people will have options and be able to thrive but not be willing to make conscious choices that will, in a small way, contribute to making this happen. I just think we should all do our part.

I'm not saying I'm perfect in this regard but I do make more deliberate choices in this regard than not. And it all adds up.

I have my own personal opinions about the WalMart Corporation but those aside I have to ask this question about those who advocate boycotting the Aberdeen WalMart:

Do you also advocate the boycotting of JCPenny (competes with local clothing stores such as Waughs), Home Depot (competes with Dennis Company, various carpet stores, etc), Rite Aid (competes with local drug stores), Safeway(national chain that competes with Swansons) and America's Diner (though a small chain is a chain none the less and competes with locally owned restaurants)?

You can bitch and moan about WalMart's treatment of employees and being anti-union, etc and you would be right BUT I guarantee that FUBAR hit the nail on the head that most other corporations have been guilty of the same things some of which are national stores located in our county. But since it is on a smaller scale you never hear about it.

In the end I understand the point but if your going to complain you need to include all not just one. Most that complain are hypocrites without even realizing it. (BTW not directed at Funky, her's was just the last post so I hit reply on that one)

None of the other chains have any comparison to the tactics used by Wal~Mart. The issue is not "competing with local stores". The issue is the tactics used on employees, unions, competition (preditory pricing), and manufacturers (forcing lower wages and less benefits.

Waughs can and does compete with Penney's just fine. Dennis company competes with Home Depot. No one can compete with Wal~Mart if Wal~Mart want you out.

Well, I'll respond anyway, even if not directed at me.

I said I'm not perfect but I have also said that I try my best to avoid chains, with the exception of Ross as my weakness. While I don't go there often and don't spend much when I do, it is just about the only place I've bought clothes since they opened. If a locally-owned store had clothes I liked, I'd go there first. No offense to any of them but most have selections too matronly or too young. Not much for us in-betweeners.

I do shop locally-owned Ace in Hoquiam or Levee Lumber before Home Depot. We tend to shop Dennis Company more for sporting/camping goods than home repair/household items because we live in Hoquiam and prefer to keep our dollars there. Hoquiam's Harbor Drug is our drug store of choice. If they weren't available, I'd use Crown Drug (I just avoid crossing the bridge, whenever possible...and not just because of the bridge work.) I do buy my hair dye at RiteAid and will enjoy it more when it finally crosses Myrtle Street. I only go into Safeway if I can't find something specific at Hoquiam's Swanson. (I do have to admit going to Grocery Outlet a bit, too.) And I rarely eat at any chain restaurant, except for when my mom would insist on Denny's (a long story I don't need to repeat here). However, I do have to confess to an occasional stop at a fastfood burger joint when in a big hurry and I'm starving and other options aren't easily available or quick enough. Even when traveling out of town, I usually try to find a local diner, for example, over any blah chain.

So, yeah, I try to do a personal boycott of most of those stores when feasible. Not always possible but I make an effort, for the most part.

But, as Stash said, the economic impact, both in what they do to local economies and what they have done to our domestic manufacturing base, among other issues, is not at all in the same league as WalMart. They are as big as the next 15 biggest retailers combined and they drive the market.

no way can Wal Mart compete the reincarnation of the 2nd hand store on B Street, that place has everything and always on sale!!

check it out on a Sunday and/or holiday! you won't be sorry.

I just heard about this a couple days ago. I thought it had closed a long time ago. I'll do that. Thanks!