Boycotting Wal-Mart? Why not K-Mart too?

[NewJeffCT]

I understand boycotting Wal-Mart - the reason I hear is that so the workers can spend time with their families over the holiday. I think Wal-Mart is opening late Thursday night (8pm locally where I am) and then re-opening very early on Friday.

But, if people are concerned about Wal-Mart opening late Thursday night, what about K-Mart? They're opening Thursday morning at 6am and staying open all day Thursday - Thanksgiving Day - and then opening again Friday morning at 4am. That's even worse.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Rec

Because I honestly wasn't aware that K-Mart was still open. I haven't seen one around me in six years . . . But if they are doing this? Not cool.

[quinnox]

2. I also thought K-Mart had gone out of business

They must have a small amount of stores left, I don't see their stores anywhere anymore.

[NewJeffCT]

4. they merged with Sears several years back

though, Sears does not have the crazy hours like that.

[RockaFowler]

13. They kind of do

They open at 8p Thanksgiving and KMart is open all day Thanksgiving

[NewJeffCT]

18. 8pm is a lot different than 6am

If they open at 8pm, you can at least spend your day with your family and then work at night. If you have to get up early to go in for a 6am opening, you're probably tired after your 6-8 hour shift.

[Drunken Irishman]

28. Yes.

[Jennicut]

3. I think K-mart has a lot less power.

My brother and sister in law used to work at one 9 years ago in Wallingford but it closed down and became a Walmart of all things. They filed for bankruptcy then merged with Sears and their sales are still not good.

[NewJeffCT]

7. True - they're a lot smaller than Wal-Mart

there are several K-Marts still in CT - Watertown, Torrington, Waterbury, Cromwell, Vernon, Milford and a few others.

[earthside]

5. Pick your battles.

I certainly support boycotting any and all retail businesses that are going to be open on Thanksgiving Day ... including Big Lots which I noticed yesterday is open tomorrow from 7AM to 9PM.

But Walmart is the biggest problem, the leader, the trendsetter -- that is where it is most effective (in my estimation) to focus attention.

Sadly, K-Mart is being destroyed by its owners and I suspect will be lucky to even be around five years from now (if not sooner). So, Walmart will have even less competition.

[NewJeffCT]

8. I'm sure the executives at K-Mart

will pay themselves some nice huge bonuses before filing for bankruptcy or selling off the company.

[Honeycombe8]

6. If one does it, they all have to do it, for competitiveness. It's a bad trend.

I will NOT go shopping on Thanksgiving. That sucks!

There are shopaholics, though...buy buy buy. They'll be there. So sad.

[tosh]

9. This is not the reason

that I boycott Squal-Mart...though it certainly reinforces my attitude.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Final goal is not a mere boycott

But unionizing the largest retailer in the world.

[obamanut2012]

24. This

And, if WM can be forced to have unions, most other retailers and food service businesses will fall like dominoes.

[nadinbrzezinski]

31. And the ones that still do, Ralph's...errr Kroegers

Will stop some of the bs.

[FarCenter]

11. Holiday Hours:

November 22, 2012: 6:00 am - 4:00 pm
November 23, 2012: 5:00 am - 11:00 pm
November 24, 2012: 6:00 am - 11:00 pm
November 25, 2012: 7:00 am - 10:00 pm

For the local Kmart. Presumably they are closing at 4pm on Turkey Day, so their employees can have time to shop at Walmart and Target.

[backscatter712]

12. Strategy. We're concentrating our efforts on Walmart.

No, as a matter of fact, we don't have to treat all our enemies equally. It's more strategic to not do so and concentrate our firepower.

[1-Old-Man]

14. It has been my understanding that K-Mart treats its people fairly, or at least reasonably well

I believe I read somewhere that when the company made the decision to get out of the low-cost retail trade they began to offer their long term employees training in the jobs that the company expected to require as it changed direction. It may have been misreported but that is the story that I recall.

[Freddie]

32. My local Kmart

Seems to have the same employees all the time so they must treat people pretty decently.
We have Walmart and Kmart across the street from each other (and Target down the road) and I much prefer shopping at Kmart. Easy parking, no lines, easy in and out...it's amazing they stay in business.

[SoCalDem]

15. I've been "boycotting" both for a decade or more

Large, dirty stores.......aisles blocked with "stuff" have never been my cup of tea..no matter the prices.

[Initech]

16. Pretty much all the K Marts in Southern California have gone out of business.

Last edited Wed Nov 21, 2012, 05:22 PM - Edit history (1)

[mitchtv]

27. still one in Desert Hot Springs

is it the only one?

[99Forever]

17. Consider it done.

Since I haven't been inside of a Kmart for 2 or 3 decades and well over a decade for Wallyworld, I completely agree with you. In fact, I doubt I'll go into any store on Thursday, at all.

[jody]

19. Better still, boycott all retail businesses that employ more than 25 people. nt

[tokenlib]

20. Walmart is the largest corporation in America..get them to change....

...and others will follow.
If Walmart doesn't change..others who have to compete with them will not...

[jeff47]

21. K-Mart isn't staying open all day. They're closing early. (nt)

[obamanut2012]

22. KMart/Sears matches the difference between military pay

And KMart/Sears pay for any employee called up. They also keep the positions, and give aid to the service member's family if needed.

They do a decent amount of charity stuff.

They are not the supermajority of the 20 Richest People In America. They are not a market leader, they do not dictate the market.

Except for Costco, IKEA, and Starbucks, almost all food and retail service employees in the US are treated horribly, but Wal-Mart is just the worst of the worst.

I don't think any retail places should be open on holidays, except a few pharmacies.

[Sadiedog]

23. I think that it has more to do with labor practices than Thanksgiving

at least that has been my understanding. When I was a waitress I worked many a Thanksgiving and Christmas. Actually we were not very busy on Thanksgiving but I was glad to be working for a few of the regulars who had no family to spend the holiday with. It was sad for some.

[musical_soul]

35. But Wal-Mart really isn't much worse on labor practices.

All retailers pay low. All retailers are reluctant to hire full time. All retailers are important goods, often from areas where they should not. All retailers are sorry on the insurance subject. Heck, Sears just dropped insurance on thousands of employees.

I'd like to see a return to small businesses in retail.

[AsahinaKimi]

25. Is Walgreens related to Walmart?

I do love Walgreens out here... that "drugstore" seems to be everywhere in the city.

[Freddie]

33. Don't think so

Walgreens is originally from Chicago (I think).

[musical_soul]

36. I don't think so....

but I will say Walgreens is open on Christmas. Talk about a war on Christmas.

[davidn3600]

37. Walgreens is a different company

Founded in Chicago in 1901 by Charles Walgreen, who was a pharmacist.

Funny fact many don't know is that many of the stores were involved in bootlegging back during the prohibition period. They used to stockpile alcohol and sell it under the counter.

[obamanut2012]

26. Wal Mart employees are striking in certain stores on Friday

I personally feel like, because of this, ALL Wal Marts Friday will have a picket line. Wal Mart are notorious union busters, and have threatened employees who strike Friday.

THIS is why they should be boycotted, especially, Thursday through Sunday (imo).

Liberals shouldn't cross picket lines.

[Warpy]

29. Because as Walmart goes, so goes the industry

They're the big bully on the block who keeps everybody else in line.

If they can't get away with shit wages and shit working conditions, no one else will. They won't be able to find enough people willing to work for them.

[progressoid]

30. It's not just about the hours.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/11/20/pf/walmart-black-friday/

http://www.wnyc.org/blogs/its-free-blog/2012/nov/21/opinion-why-we-should-support-walmart-workers-striking-black-friday/

[musical_soul]

34. Exactly.

For some reason, Wal-Mart has always been targeted by the left on this stuff.

I just signed a petition a while back asking Target not to do this to their employees. Target is supposed to be the progressive alternative to Wal-Mart, but there they are.

Nearly every criticism ever made about Wal-Mart can also be made about K-Mart, Target, and other places, so I don't think it's fair that they're singled out.

[Kitobyki]

38. Kmart is just as bad if not worse than walmart in some ways

I think Kmart should be boycotted as well, they have had a wage freeze for serveral years now so the only way their employees get raises is if the minimum wage is raised. Walmart doesn't treat their employees well but they do at least get yearly raises. I know a overnight stock person that makes 11.00 an hour working there. I also don't think the boycott should be based on the hours they are opened for the holiday season I think they should both be boycotted for getting rich off of treating their employees so poorly.