Wal-Mart: Chapter 2

[mel]

Here's another bone for you guys to pick:

WalMart may build a new store in Kapolei. (http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Sep/02/bz/bz02a.html)

From this morning's Advertiser article:

The world's largest retailer is part of one of several competing plans to develop a commercial complex on 25 acres across from Kapolei Shopping Center next to H-1 Freeway.

Go for it girls and guys. More reasons to shoot down one of America's great success stories.

[admin]

Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart everywhere! Thanks for the update, Mel. Let's pick up the colorful debate (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=2394) on a fresh page here in "Chapter 2."

[Karen]

Kapolei has plenty of room, and the population there is growing a lot, bring on the Walmart! the bottom line about Walmart is they are good for the consumer. This is one of, if not THE most expensive state to live in, and Walmart can sell some things even cheaper than our military exchange system, so why would anyone oppose a Walmart Kapolei?

[craigwatanabe]

Why don't we just do a poll like the Mountain Dew and the Mayoral race? Who likes Wal-Mart and who doesn't.

[admin]

Ask and you shall receive.

[Konaguy]

Hold your horses Big KMart has evidently has competition related covenants
that may restrict where or when a Wal-Mart could open in Kapolei
according to the Honolulu Advertiser.

Secondly I don't see Wal-Mart an American sucess story.
Especially when its sucess shouldered on their mistreated
employees.

[helen]

I'm going to hold off answering the poll since the Wal-Mart closes to me isn't open yet.

[mel]

Secondly I don't see Wal-Mart an American sucess story.
Especially when its sucess shouldered on their mistreated
employees.

Geeesh.. can we bring up something new to hate about WalMart. We are only repeating what was said in the old thread. Next thing you know we're at 230 posts again.

I love WalMart and it is good for consumers. As I mentioned before, no one is forcing anyone to shop at WalMart. If you all hate WalMart that much, never go there. It is that simple.

A retailer's success is ultimately measured into how many consumers want to empty their wallets there.

No consumers, no wallets = no money. You choose. Shop or drop.

[Konaguy]

Mel, you obvious do not care about anyone besides yourself
it appears..no offense. Workers have rights too, but your
conservative republican capitalistic ideals blind you.
As long as you can get your toliet paper cheaply that is
all that matters.

The only reason why I shop at Wal-Mart is because they have the only
decent electronics/computer selection here in Kona. If we had CompUSA
here I would not shop at Wal-Mart plain and simple.

[kimo55]

oooh walmart thread resurrected!
found dis. seen it yet?

http://www.honoluluweekly.com/cover/detail.php?id=21

[craigwatanabe]

The only reason why I shop at Wal-Mart is because they have the only decent electronics/computer selection here in Kona. If we had CompUSA here I would not shop at Wal-Mart plain and simple.Geez Aaron, you're just as bad as the rest of us Capitalist Pigs! If you really hated WalMart you wouldn't shop there PERIOD! But you go because it offers decent electronic and computer selections (I agree there). I shop there (in Hilo) because it offers cheaper prices than KTA! What's the difference? We both shop there and stuff WalMarts pockets with the money we spend there.

Yes WalMart treats their employees like slaves (gross exageration) but wake up man, there are a lot of companies that do as well, including the Mom and Pop stores that WalMart is accused of burying into the ground. Try work at a radio station, to keep you from qualifying for benefits, they limit your work hours to just under 29 per week. Even though you hit your max hours for the week if you still have production work to do, guess what, it's on your own time or take a hike pal.

If you want justice in employment join a union where the rules are black and white. Any other kind non-contractual jobs require you to take the burden when the boss hints at you to do so or face the unemployment line.

But I'm a shopper and not a WalMart employee. My problem is making my dollar stretch as far as it can go, and the solution is in fact WalMart. Your problem is not being able to find decent electronics or computer items in Kona. You do have options available to you yet you said it yourself, "The only reason why I shop at Wal-Mart is because they have the only decent electronics/computer selection here in Kona. If we had CompUSA here I would not shop at Wal-Mart plain and simple."

Well guess what there's always mail order or a ticket to Honolulu for shopping. It seems you choose convience over employee plight too. Just like Mel, me and everyone else who shops at WalMart including WalMart employees. Yes they shop there too.

By the way have you researched the way CompUSA treats their employees?

[kimo55]

By the way have you researched the way CompUSA treats their employees?


what!?
THEY have "employees"?!
erry time i go in there and attempt to try to think of maybe start to get a lil help, some assistance... NO ONE is around. Then IF.. you have an actual live person come by to assist you, and provided you haven't fallen over in a dead faint from shock and surprise, this person now, tells you something completely wrong or nothing at all. Either they no nothing and fake it with a fabrication of they know nuthing and tellya so.
they are universally known as having the worst service.

[craigwatanabe]

And Aaron's complaining about the poor employees? Since, if bargains are what WalMart is all about then hunting for them makes it greater!

Actually I go to WalMart so often to just to piss people off so much I kinda know where everything is already.

One thing Aaron said is true however. WalMart does stock their electronics and computer items better than anything here on the Big Island. And I truly wish CompUSA and Circuit City come to the Big Island, man we're so technology deprived here. I was so used to going to CompUSA minutes before closing to pick up a USB cable.

Whoops sorry I thought you were talking about Walmart employees. Yeah CompUSA employees are kinda in the dark however there was this one young Japanese salesperson who really knew what there was to know about printers. I was amazed at her knowledge. But try go to a CompUSA will call. They treat you like crap. No customer service skills whatsoever. They know you will wait to pick up your item you already paid for so no smile for you! :mad:

[Ailina]

Granted, WalMart-in-Hawai'i is a totally different issue than WalMart-in-Louisiana, but I think there's a couple things about our WalMart situation here that may duplicate there.

If we didn't have WalMart here in Lafayette, a lot of us paycheck-to-paycheck'rs with big families wouldn't fare as well. We shop there because it's affordable, and they have a big enough selection that--even though we're relatively broke, we still have the power of consumer choice.

On the downside, it seems everybody else around here feels the same way about WalMart, so traffic and overcrowded parking lot, aisles, and checkout is a HUGE problem. Customer service is not necessarily readily available, but when they are there, they're usually courteous and kind (I think that may vary from region to region, too).

No matter where WalMart is, they're going to become something of a retail king. I think any time a company has consumers by the b*lls and knows it, bad things will eventually happen. Look at BlockBuster.

Just my knee-jerk opinion...

[Albert]

Sheez, if you don't like Wal-Mart, don't work there, don't shop there.

What is all this fuss???

[kimo55]

Sheez, if you don't like Wal-Mart, don't work there, don't shop there.

What is all this fuss???


whats the fuss...
what IS the fuss?!

Albert! wheah you been, bowah!?

[Konaguy]

There is certain things I cannot wait electronics wise to have shipped here to Kona. Plus have you seen how expensive it is to fly interisland ....guess not ? I try my hardest to avoid shopping
at Wal-Mart, but lI cannot wait around for something to be shipped or whatever. My point is even though I sometimes shop at Wal-Mart I can still have a opinion about them.

[Glen Miyashiro]

Here's a Wal-Mart related comic strip. Beware, the rest of this guy's strips (http://www.somethingpositive.net/index.html) are rude, profane, blasphemous, and worst of all, funny. :D


http://www.somethingpositive.net/arch/sp09082004.gif

[craigwatanabe]

There is certain things I cannot wait electronics wise to have shipped here to Kona. Plus have you seen how expensive it is to fly interisland ....guess not ? I try my hardest to avoid shopping
at Wal-Mart, but lI cannot wait around for something to be shipped or whatever. My point is even though I sometimes shop at Wal-Mart I can still have a opinion about them.

Aaron yes you still can have an opinion, so can Mel! The problem I see is that you fault Mel for his opinion yet you shop at WalMart and subsequently become just as guilty as Mel. Your opinion and stance against WalMart falls a dead second when it comes to convenience. Where's your priorities man!

WalMart provides a wider selection of electronic and computer goods for you to acquire when you want it. What's the problem here? WalMart is providing for your needs and wants yet you still bite the hand that feeds you. You should be thankful WalMart is there to satisfy your instant gratification desires.

Like Albert said...if you don't like WalMart don't shop or work there. I hate KTA because they gave me a bad time once so I don't shop there. I drive across the street to Safeway to buy my groceries.

And you're so impatient you cannot wait a few days for mail order? Geez I bought a remote control for my TV set directly from Panasonic online on a Tuesday morning, and I got it delivered by DHL Wednesday late afternoon. And I live in Kea'au deep in the boonies where there's no Cable, Water and sporadic digital cell service! BOONIES Man yet I still get things in the mail quickly enough.

You should be so lucky to even have most of the big box outlets in Kona. This past Labor day weekend I drove all the way there from Kea'au and picked up a 10 x 20 canopy for my car from Costco because guess what...WalMart didn't have any in stock! Noooo one this side of the Big Island had any in stock. I drive all the way to Lowe's or Home Depot in Kona for house doors because HPM literally has you by the balls on their limited price and selection. I can't wait until December when Home Depot opens up behind...WalMart! DOH :eek:

Anyway Aaron it seems you're a computer fanatic, next time you're in Kea'au look me up because I'd gladly pay you to help set up my Netgear wireless LAN that decided not to work anymore after packing up on Oahu and moving to the Big Island. :)

[kimo55]

because HPM literally has you by the balls


waiddaminute!
this can't be.

[craigwatanabe]

yep sad but true, talk around here (in Hilo) is that there will be massive celebration when HD opens up. HPM is not consumer friendly, their existance in Hilo seems to be only for building contractors who probably get pricing at the jobber rate. HD is geared more for the homeowner deciding on doing their own home improvement.

There was a time when WalMart first set eyes on Hilo that it was this massive evil coming to this sleepy town. When Hiloans saw how much less the prices were than anything else they were accustomed to in Hilo their eyes suddenly opened up to the reality of pricing.

There was also a time when Mom and Pop corner stores were vital to small communities where walking was the mainstay for getting around town. Now people live not in small communities but in urban cores where surviving sundry stores do little but satisfy those walk in customers who simply need a soft drink and chips or maybe a six-pack and a skin magazine. Sadly it is some of these small corner stores that are the only places where minors can buy cigarettes or alcohol or where those EBT cards can be used for buying unscheduled items instead of foodstock.

The sad truth is in this online poll! If that many people are for Mom and Pop stores their numbers should be enough to sustain them. But those who vote against WalMart are either closet WalMart shoppers or somebody's lying and skewing the poll results.

Either way as our society grows, it requires an infrastructure that can meet it's demands. I'm sorry but the quaint corner store simply cannot handle that load. WalMart is there because the market allows for it. Who's the market? We are, the consumer and anybody who is against WalMart but shops there only fuels it's existance.

[Konaguy]

Your opinion and stance against WalMart falls a dead second when it comes to convenience. Where's your priorities man!


For the record I do 80% of my shopping at my workplace, not at Wal-Mart or
Costco..the other big box retailer in Kona. At least how I see things I can
still have opinion about Wal-Mart and still ocassionally shop there.If thats
a big problem....tough. I call it as I see it.


Man yet I still get things in the mail quickly enough.


Well unlike you I cannot sit around and wait for most things I need
electronically. I'll give you an example. My computer died, I needed
a computer ASAP. The cheapest computer at Costco was around 620.00.
I bought one at Wal-Mart for 598.00 + tax. I was in no position to
wait around for a computer to be shipped here.



Anyway Aaron it seems you're a computer fanatic, next time you're in Kea'au look me up because I'd gladly pay you to help set up my Netgear wireless LAN that decided not to work anymore after packing up on Oahu and moving to the Big Island. :)

Taking into account my work schedule, I hardly get over that side.
I might be over there in October though......

[Konaguy]

yep sad but true, talk around here (in Hilo) is that there will be massive celebration when HD opens up.


Well as far as I understand there is going to be delay for the HD opening.
Evidently the County Council needs to approve HD sewer line hookup.

[craigwatanabe]

Aaron, you went to WalMart despite your stance against them to save a lousy $22 as opposed to going to Costco? Even if you argued the fact that Costco may have been closed in your dire moment of needing a computer and WalMart was the only thing open, that still proves my point...that WalMart is more convenient even than Costco because of it's hours of operation, never mind the computer you bought was $22 cheaper to boot!

Your arguement holds validity only if Costco was closed when you desperately needed that computer because for $22 I would have waited until the next day and gone to Costco. Price and hours of operation meant a lot to you enough to cross that line and succumb to the dark side of WalMart and for that, you sold your soul to that devil like the rest of us WalMart junkies.

Enough already, you hate it but shop there, I love it and shop there, bottom line is that we both shop there and we both made WalMart the more richer. That's the sad fact.

Now where's a good pet store in Hilo? Haven't seen a single gold fish for sale yet since I've been up here. When in October will you be in this area? :)

[Konaguy]

I don't have a Costco membership. That is part of the reason why I
didn't buy the computer at Costco. The other reason is because
I would NEVER by a E-Machine....but that is another story.

Sometime in early October I'll be over in Hilo. It depends if my
week vacation comes through.

[craigwatanabe]

Oh. I guess not having a membership does make it hard to go there. But Cosco sells more than just E-Machines (which I wouldn't buy either).

Too bad, at least if your WalMart computer goes south, you can go to their customer service counter and get better service than CompUSA.

[Miulang]

OK, so I'm on Maui this past week. Like a lolohead, I put my prepaid cell phone on top of the car and then drove off. Thought I had lost that sucker forever. Went to the local OfficeMax in Kahului, looked for a replacement. All out of stock. Where else can I find a prepaid cell phone? WALMART down the road. Go to WalMart. They were having a sale on Motorolas and Nokias for $49.95. All sold out. But wait! On the bottom shelf were other Motorolas...not on sale...$69.95 + airtime. Bought one.

Turns out some very honest person found the original on the side of the road and tracked me down. I am now the proud owner of 2 prepaid cell phones.

I can fully understand where there are times when people within a community will be forced to shop at a big box retailer like WalMart and not because they really want to. But I think since I live in a fairly large city with lots of retail choices, my first choice would never be WalMart anyway (besides the only WalMarts out here are in the suburbs, so I'd have to drive a long distance to get to one).

I giggled when I saw the headlines about Walmart wanting to build in Kapolei last week. Before you know it, you'll have Walmarts and KMarts sprouting up all over Oahu, much like we have Starbucks stores on just about every corner here in Seattle.

On Maui, the Kahului Walmart is sort of an ad hoc community center; the public bus line has one of its main hubs in front of the store (probably why we had to drive around and around looking for a parking space last week).

I really don't have a problem with WalMart as long as they give back to the community some of the bucks they're making off the backs of their employees.

Miulang

[kimo55]

Before you know it, you'll have Walmarts and KMarts sprouting up all over Oahu, much like we have Starbucks stores on just about every corner here in Seattle. Miulang

we here on the islands are not exempt from this scourge.

this is unfortunately getting to be a universal plague on the land.

[Konaguy]

Oh. I guess not having a membership does make it hard to go there. But Cosco sells more than just E-Machines (which I wouldn't buy either).

Too bad, at least if your WalMart computer goes south, you can go to their customer service counter and get better service than CompUSA.


I know Costco sells more than E-Machines.But I did not want to spent more than 700.00 on a computer. Incidentally Wal-Mart only covers the computer for
15 days. After that you have deal with the OEM.

[craigwatanabe]

15-days! That's about as long as the trial period for most shareware applications!

Boy you really go for the bargain basement deals. There you go, can't beat WalMart...not the best but boy what a bargain. :eek:

So do you still have it or did you do the smart thing by returning it after receiving the mail-order from Dell?

Hey so what about the petstores? No one has come up with a decent one in Hilo yet! :mad:

[Konaguy]

15-days! That's about as long as the trial period for most shareware applications!

Boy you really go for the bargain basement deals. There you go, can't beat WalMart...not the best but boy what a bargain. :eek:

So do you still have it or did you do the smart thing by returning it after receiving the mail-order from Dell?

Hey so what about the petstores? No one has come up with a decent one in Hilo yet! :mad:

I would not get a Dell either...personal preference. I still
have the computer I bought at Wal-Mart.It works fine
so I have no reason to. Unlike most people I cannot afford
a top of the mega thousand dollar computer.

Try looking in the phone book. There used to be a pet store
in Prince Kuhio Plaza, but they relocated elsewhere. I believe
the name of it was Stacy's Pets.

[eyoung45]

Hi,

Knda off topic, does anyone know if there was an incentive about getting a membership at sam's club keeaumoku before they open up? I know they will have a membership desk open before the store opens to alleviate some traffic for new members sign up on the opening day, but I thought there was a discout or something. TIA.

ey

[Miulang]

We only have one Sam's Club here in Seattle (it's mostly Costcomania for us up here) but every now and then, we do get 30-day free membership offers in the mail from Sam's Club. No doubt they will start doing campaigns like that in Hawaii too eventually.

Having shopped at both, I personally like the merchandise selection at Costco better than that at Sam's Club. Prices are comparable, though.

Miulang

P.S. They're going to have a Sam's Club and a regular retail store at Keeaumoku??

[Konaguy]

P.S. They're going to have a Sam's Club and a regular retail store at Keeaumoku??

As far as I understand it will be a Wal-Mart Super Center [First for Hawaii]
and a Sams Club. I went into a Wal-Mart Super Center up at Quilceda
Creek north of Everett and it blew me away.

[helen]

They're going to have a Sam's Club and a regular retail store at Keeaumoku??

Yes they will. If I am not mistaken the 1st floor is Sam's Club, the 2nd floor is Wal-Mart. Also on the 1st floor on the Makaloa/Keeaumoku side of the block will be some smaller shops like Starbucks, Jamba Juice and a few others.

[Kalihiboy]

Well you guys are spared a very long-winded essay I wrote on why I hate Walmart because my pc froze up and I lost everything.

I hope the rumors of Walmart expansion on Oahu ends in Kapolei. The fact we no longer have JC Penney's and Woolworths; Kmart and Tower Records are in bankruptcy protection right now, Daiei is in a shaky financial situation as well scares me that there will be no place else to shop but Longs and Walmart.

Where are you Target when we need you? Quite frankly I think they are scared to come here and build one store because they cant compete with the existing Walmart stores and the stores yet to be built.

Walmart I believe wants to build 7 or 8 stores on Oahu. Dont be surprised if
Daiei in Waipahu and Kailua turns into Walmart after they buy the company and they might also expand at Pearlridge and Hawaii Kai as well.

I also predict Walmart will buy a major grocery chain in the future, possibly Safeway so they can take over all those stores as well.

I hope Tower Records sticks around and doesnt go out of business, if they do where will I go buy my Maxim Magazines and explicit-lyrics CD's. >;-0

Makiki Boy

[Miulang]

I also predict Walmart will buy a major grocery chain in the future, possibly Safeway so they can take over all those stores as well.


I think a Daiei buyout is very possible because the yen is still pretty shaky but I doubt you'll see Safeway knuckling under to Walmart. See the link below for the locations of all the Safeway markets throughout N. America:
http://www.safeway.com/Investor_Relations/

Maybe Kroger (a Cincinnati, OH based company) will want to put its toe into your Hawaii market too. They also own a slew of differently branded megamarkets throughout the country.

Miulang

[Mocha]

In answering eyoung45...we just received an invite to a one-day preview pass to Sam's Club. The pass is issued by Discover Card and expires on Sept. 19th. Guess Discover card is what they use at Sam's club. We are not members of Sam's Club and it offers membership at $35. I've heard from Sam's Club members that unlike Costco (which we are members of) Sam's offers smaller amounts...rather than "bulk" purchases.

[craigwatanabe]

Well you guys are spared a very long-winded essay I wrote on why I hate Walmart because my pc froze up and I lost everything.



See...! God doesn't like those who mock WalMart! :D Nah you probably bought your computer from WalMart, you see they have this little chip inside that determines if you stay talk stink about it and it shuts you down as soon as it picks up on the words "hate" and WalMart" in the same sentence.

Aaron better take note if you don't want that same fate happening to your WalMart computer. Now that's conspiracy! :eek:

[Miulang]

Yes they will. If I am not mistaken the 1st floor is Sam's Club, the 2nd floor is Wal-Mart. Also on the 1st floor on the Makaloa/Keeaumoku side of the block will be some smaller shops like Starbucks, Jamba Juice and a few others.

Geez. What idiot at Walmart thought of this scheme? You put the "elitist" (membership only") Sam's Club on the first floor with all the other yup establishments and you make the peons who can't or won't pay the membership fee go upstairs to do their discount shopping at Walmart? In real estate, they say location is everything. Do they really think people don't know that Sam's Club is also Walmart?

Miulang

[craigwatanabe]

Ummmm... I thought being an elitist was being on the top! But then again most upper management types are idiots anyway.

I think the reason why they put WalMart on top is simply because they need the floor space for more goods than what Sams Club can provide for. Remember Sam's Club must share the same ground floor space as Starbucks and the rest. I really don't think this is an "Elitist" issue here.

[kimo55]

See...! God doesn't like those who mock WalMart! :D Nah you probably bought your computer from WalMart, you see they have this little chip inside that determines if you stay talk stink about it and it shuts you down as soon as it picks up on the words "hate" and WalMart" in the same sentence.



see; thats a true PC in action;
he actually said;
"I dont hate walmart, I love it"
THEN it crashed and burned. NOW he hates walmart.

[Miulang]

Ummmm... I thought being an elitist was being on the top! But then again most upper management types are idiots anyway. .

It's just curious that they didn't plan to put the Walmart on the ground level where more people would notice it. That, and making the retail mix on that 1st floor be one that has mostly "yuppie" type outlets just had me musing about the logistical decision that was made. (Either that, or SBUX and Jamba don't want to be associated--by virtue of location--with price cutter Walmart!)

Miulang

[kimo55]

or SBUX and Jamba don't want to be associated--by virtue of location--with price cutter Walmart!)

Miulang

yea that struck me as odd:
didnt think the crowd who would swarm to walmart would be attracted to 20 cents worth of coffee vended to you at 2 dollars.
or a buncha fruit blended for 4 bux.

[craigwatanabe]

yea that struck me as odd:
didnt think the crowd who would swarm to walmart would be attracted to 20 cents worth of coffee vended to you at 2 dollars.
or a buncha fruit blended for 4 bux.

And don't forget most young people who admire SBUX don't even know what a good cup of Java is supposed to taste like because they've never had a good cup of perked coffee (really the only way to make a good cup) or they drown it in cream making it coffee-flavored cream. Starbucks burns their coffee.

[kimo55]

Ummmm... I thought being an elitist was being on the top! But then again most upper management types are idiots anyway.

I really don't think this is an "Elitist" issue here.


Right! cuz 'elitist' is a snob

and elite is the best of a class. and Walmart and sams club is most definitely not the best. (its cheap and mass)

and walmart shopping requires the reverse of snobbery.

[Miulang]

Right! cuz 'elitist' is a snob

and elite is the best of a class. and Walmart and sams club is most definitely not the best. (its cheap and mass)

and walmart shopping requires the reverse of snobbery.

Eh, Kimo: you going get in one beef wit da peepo who tink Sam's Club mo betta den Walmart and den! :D

Heh. Checked in the MW Thesaurus for the antonym of "elite". Some of the opposite words are: commoners, plebians, rabble and riffraff! Extrapolating that then, would that mean Walmart/Sam's Club shoppers are commoners, plebians, rabble and riffraff????

Miulang

P.S. to Craig: And I no care if da keeds like SBUX coffee...as long as dey buy, my stock going go up!

[craigwatanabe]

you no kea okay den I no kea too den you capitalist pig. :D So if you're not a capitalist reaping in the virtues of capitalism, then what does that make the opposition...communist? :eek:

[Miulang]

you no kea okay den I no kea too den you capitalist pig. :D So if you're not a capitalist reaping in the virtues of capitalism, then what does that make the opposition...communist? :eek:
Nope. I stay be one "pragmatic realist". I trying to provide foa myself and my retirement. I no going trust da government foa have Social Security available to me when I really makule, because SS not going be around afta about 2010. ;)

Miulang

[kimo55]

I no going trust da government foa have Social Security available to me when I really makule, because SS not going be around afta about 2010. ;)

Miulang

as mark victor hansen usta say;
"social security is very social buy not very secure..."

[craigwatanabe]

Social Security is my icing on the cake...not necessary but nice to have if it's available.

I don't believe it'll be around that's why I decided when I buy a house my monthly mortgage shouldn't be more than my monthly pension. Thankfully I have no mortgage because I bought my house cash. But it's like that rule: If you can't pay off that new car within three years, then it's too expensive.

My social security is knowing I'll be debt free by the time I'm 65 and I've reached that goal already at 44.

[Kalihiboy]

I'll snicker when it says Wal-Mart: Chapter 11 in the subject heading if we ever get that far with this topic.

No, I did not buy my computer at Walmart, I would never buy something like that at Walmart.

I wont refuse to shop at Walmart but I avoid it all all costs, my aunt gave me a few gift cards and since I cant buy something and return it and get cash back I have to use it as credit there. In my opinion Walmart wants to dominate the world's landscape so much that there will no longer be any other option to shop but at their store.

I wonder if Theresa Heinz Kerry owned Walmart would Mel shop there?

Makiki Boy

[Miulang]

I wonder if Theresa Heinz Kerry owned Walmart would Mel shop there?


Speaking of Mel...where the hecuba is he, anyway? Laying low, on guard for incoming projectiles or just on vacation (I hope for the latter)?

Miulang

[Kalihiboy]

Someone in an earlier post mentioned that they could shop at Wal-Mart in the middle of the night, not this one that is going to open in a few weeks, they already released the hours and I think they close by 11pm at the latest.

Perhaps Wal-Mart wants to give its customers a break by closing early so they can go spend some money at the various strip joints/XXX video/peep show places.

Makiki Boy

[Miulang]

Someone in an earlier post mentioned that they could shop at Wal-Mart in the middle of the night, not this one that is going to open in a few weeks, they already released the hours and I think they close by 11pm at the latest.

Perhaps Wal-Mart wants to give its customers a break by closing early so they can go spend some money at the various strip joints/XXX video/peep show places.

Makiki Boy

Jeez. Talk about spoilers! You mean the good folk of Honolulu won't be able to rush down to WM at 3 a.m. for that "gottahaveitrightnow" roll of masking tape? Most suburban WM's are open 24x7 (them's that are in the boonies with no other real competition around). Hmmmm...wonder if that means that WM acknowledges that it would be too expensive for them to keep 24x7 hours in Honolulu? I think you guys should demand that the Keeaumoku St. branch stay open 24x7 so us touristas can wander in there at any time of day to take advantage of all the neato-frito genuine Hawaiian souvenirs this store will carry!

Miulang

[pzarquon]

That is interesting, if true. Wal-Mart's other stores in Hawaii are 24 hours, aren't they? And the Mililani location is literally across the street from residential homes. Of all places where a 24-hour operation would make sense, it's in the decidedly urban setting along Keeaumoku. After all, you can go to Sorabol up the street at 3 a.m., and other sketchier businesses operate all over that neighborhood straight through 'til dawn!

Come to think of it, I have realized after midnight that I could really use some plumbing tape... ;)

[Kalihiboy]

No serious they close by 11pm is what I heard, maybe its because Sam's Club obviously isnt a 24 hours store and some of the other establishments wont be open as well. For now Walmart might be testing things and see how many customers they still have at 10pm or so and then they will decide to keep it open later or not. Yeah, the other Walmart stores are open 24 hours I agree it is strange to close so early. Perhaps someone could provide a link to the story in which they told of their hours it was in the Star Bulletin or Advertiser a few weeks ago.

Makiki Boy

[Kalihiboy]

This link says tentative hours are closing at midnight, however I swear I had read a more recent article that said it was 11pm.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Aug/20/bz/bz04a.html

Makiki Boy

[kimo55]

No serious they close by 11pm is what I heard, maybe its because Sam's Club obviously isnt a 24 hours..........


clip, clip.
Makiki Boy


gawd!
modern multinational corps really have us by the shorthairs; we are now spending our valuable time hashing out on a daily basis, what their hours are.


*****

Initial phase of Brainwash process complete, sir!


good.
now, initate and instill savings over quality mental implants!

[helen]

Lihue's Wal-Mart is not a 24 hour operation. As far as Keeaumoku's Wal-Mart, I don't know but Daiei is open 24 hours, so if someone needed to get something late night then that is available.

[Miulang]

Lihue's Wal-Mart is not a 24 hour operation. As far as Keeaumoku's Wal-Mart, I don't know but Daiei is open 24 hours, so if someone needed to get something late night then that is available.
But if Daiei leaves town because of competition from WM, what will those townies who reallygottahaveit going to do? Drive to Mililani?

That's also why I asked the question about why Sam's Club is on the 1st floor and WM on top? If they were positioning that WM to be open 24x7, wouldn't it have made more sense to put it on the bottom so it would be easier to secure the Sam's Club and the yup retail outlets from the ruffians and hoodlums who prowl Keeaumoku late at night? Duuuuuhhhh...

Miulang

[Kalihiboy]

Kimo, I despise Walmart and everything it stands for, but your right, by myself hating them so much and mentioning them alot in discussions it gives them free publicity. Oh well.

Makiki Boy

[Miulang]

Kimo, I despise Walmart and everything it stands for, but your right, by myself hating them so much and mentioning them alot in discussions it gives them free publicity. Oh well.

Makiki Boy
Hui Makiki Boy! No worry, get plenty kine people who feel da same way as you. But gotta talk about dis stuff so da people who still like shop ova dea undastand da tradeoffs dey stay be making wen dey make dat choice to shop at WM.

If everyting go hangamajang, it won't be because you and da oddas neva say anyting. ;) "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem."

Miulang

[pzarquon]

If the megaplex indeed isn't 24 hours, then it leaves some breathing room for other all-night businesses, from Daiei up the street to the Pali Longs Drugs store.

Trust me, forget rabid "gottahaveitrightnow" consumerism... especially if you have kids, I think, you know that there are still those occasional moments when you really need to shop at 3 a.m. for some ridiculous household item. That Pali Longs saved me more than a few late nights when I lived in town.

I suspect, depending on the returns at the megaplex and the volume of folks they have to herd out the door at closing time, there's still a decent chance they can go around the clock. Hell, of all neighborhoods, Keeaumoku is one of the few places where there's pedestrian traffic all hours of the day.

Whether they're pedestrians you want in your store is another matter, of course!

[Miulang]

I dunno if people rememba small keed time wen da stores no stay open 24x7. In fact, most stores neva stay open on Sundays, eitha! So wat did we and our parents do if we wen run short of something??? We wen wait until da store open up again next day or Monday! Somehow or odda, we survived!

Das why Moloka'i life is soooooo cool (and why I tink Craig stay so blissed out in Keaau). If no moa da kine, den you going make do wit wat you got. Neva mine da convenience factor. Why city peeps stay all stressed out is because dey tink dey gotta live lidat--da "gottahaveitnow" factor and da "if it's broken we go out and buy one moa...no need try fix" (me included). Ho! Da peeps on Moloka'i may be poorer den da rest of us in material goods, but dey get sooooo much more in da way of values and time wit ohana.

Like Lilo and Stitch say, "Ohana means no one gets left behind."

Miulang

[craigwatanabe]

At first my wife was so disappointed that supermarkets weren't 24-hours like Safeway in Manoa or Longs in McCully. She said, "what am I going to do?"

Now she's fine with the basicness of living in the rural sense. We appreciate the simple things in life, like lots of rain to fill our two 5,000 gallon catchment tanks with water, fresh air to breathe selfishly and lots of space to clear the mind!

[Miulang]

Gawd, not even devastating hurricanes in the Southeast US slow down the WM juggernaut! (see here: http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?x203752334).
And the Keeaumoku store opening (I assume that'll still happen in Oct.) will fit in nicely with WM's next quarterly earnings report. (Nice that you Honolulu-ans---or is that Honolulu-ites?-- will be sending your hard-earned kala to the money making machinery in Bensonville, AR.

Miulang

[kimo55]

Like Lilo and Stitch say, "Ohana means no one gets left behind."

Miulang


isnt that appropriately haole and outdizzylandish!?


ohana does NOT mean "a left behind."



defining a Hawaiian word with negatives;
no one.
left.
behind...

[helen]

will be sending your hard-earned kala to the money making machinery in Bensonville, AR.

I don't have a problem this. Sometimes my money goes to Japan (Daiei), other times to Chicago (Sears), sometimes to California (Longs Drugs), other times it's Kirkland, WA (Costco) and sometimes it ends up in some locally owned stores ever mind the fact that they bought their stuff that they sold to me from places like Costco or maybe Sam's Club.

[Miulang]

isnt that appropriately haole and outdizzylandish!?


ohana does NOT mean "a left behind."



defining a Hawaiian word with negatives;
no one.
left.
behind...

Kden. If not da left okole, den da right okole! :p Actually, here is a definition of ohana that's a little less simplistic than the Lilo'nStitch version. Afta all, Lilo'nStitch was supposed to be a tale meant for da keiki. Much less dizzyland but something worth emulating, I think is da definition below:

Ohana is defined as a group of both closely and distantly related people who share nearly everything, from land and food to children and status. Sharing is central to this value since it prevents individual decline.

Dis from "Alternative-Hawaii" (http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/hacul/beliefs.htm). So in dis case, if you talking about perpetuating righteousness in da 'aina, da common thread is that you all gotta live on one pakanini lido island dat running out of everyting! :eek:

Miulang

[craigwatanabe]

I think the saying went like, "Ohana is Family where no one is left behind" The key word is Family because families tend to stick together yeah?

[Miulang]

I think the saying went like, "Ohana is Family where no one is left behind" The key word is Family because families tend to stick together yeah?
Yeah, but what constitutes a family ? Just your blood relatives, or anyone who has something in common with you? You know that in the Hawaiian culture, you can hanai people who aren't related to you. That's why everyone is either "Uncle" or "Aunty" or "Bruddah" or "Tita" or "Calabash cousin." And I think that's very very cool.

Miulang :cool:

[craigwatanabe]

I guess family in the local sense is whomever you'd trust taking care of your children for free when you want to go holo holo to the R-rated movies with your honey. :rolleyes:

[Miulang]

I guess family in the local sense is whomever you'd trust taking care of your children for free when you want to go holo holo to the R-rated movies with your honey. :rolleyes:

that too! :D

[pzarquon]

Like Lilo and Stitch say, "Ohana means no one gets left behind."Continuing this non-WM tangent, I think it bears noting that Disney didn't say exactly that. The specific definition was, "Ohana means family, and family means nobody gets left behind." It seemed like they knew enough not to try and attach that whole phrase to the word "ohana," and snuck in the "left behind" with some creative sentence parsing.

As for what "ohana" means to a local, the question reminds me a bit of the "uncles and aunties (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=2523)" thread. Cue Sister Sledge... We! Are! Family!

[Miulang]

Continuing this non-WM tangent, I think it bears noting that Disney didn't say exactly that. The specific definition was, "Ohana means family, and family means nobody gets left behind." It seemed like they knew enough not to try and attach that whole phrase to the word "ohana," and snuck in the "left behind" with some creative sentence parsing.


I wonder if Eisner's folk used fuzzy logic to come up with Lilo'nStitch's definition.

if a) Ohana=family; and
b) family=nobody gets left behind

then a=b? (Nobody ever said I was good at math or logic) :p

Miulang

[Miulang]

Here's a cautionary tale about the impact of WM (both good and bad) on small towns in Colorado. I really hope the smaller businesses will be able to survive with the arrival of all the national chains...

More here: http://www.vaildaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040918/NEWS/109180002&rs=2

Miulang :cool:

[Kalihiboy]

Oh no we go from Walmart to Disney, now there is a whole other thread I can talk about the greed of Disney, I cant stand them either.

Makiki Boy

[kimo55]

Oh no we go from Walmart to Disney, now there is a whole other thread I can talk about the greed of Disney, I cant stand them either.

Makiki Boy

ya think abouddit, there's really not a far stretch between the two.

[Miulang]

soooo...here we go! Now I know what happened to the ancient bones that were unearthed at the WM Keeaumoku site. They're still in boxes waiting for reburial.

Now the Hawaiian Native Legal Corp, which represents the kanaka maoli interests has finally decided to formally request that WM delay the planned Oct. 13 opening of the store.

Geez...too little, too late, methinks. I seriously doubt the WM juggernaut (or the pent up retailing demands from Mel and others :p ) is going to prevent the ribbon cutting from happening in a couple of weeks.

We've got a similar situation in Honolulu to one in Mexico City where a pre-Hispanic altar was unearthed and the agreed upon solution was to put the thing under plexiglass in the middle of the parking lot. In Honolulu, they were going to rebury the bones in the corner of the WM parking lot! This is honoring the kanaka maoli? Gimme a break. If they bury the bones at the edge of the parking lot, were they planning to erect some kind of monument? What's to prevent the bones from being dug up by someone with less than honorable intentions and then trying to sell them on eBay?

The fight is not over yet, it appears. Not by a longshot.

More here: http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Oct/03/ln/ln15a.html

Miulang

[adrian]

so, when is it opening?

[Konaguy]

It seems unless NHLC can go to court and seek an injunction to delay the opening of the project.It seems it will be smooth sailing for the October 13 opening.

[kimo55]

there is an intrinsic problem in this kind of poll:

"View Poll Results: All things considered, Wal-Mart is:

A Good Thing.

A Bad Thing."

most people do NOT consider "all things".
(which obviously means; review all facts and info available on WM)

so how can a poll be conducted based on "all things considered"?!

[craigwatanabe]

Easy...Look at NPR's All Things Considered. They look at the whole picture but still come out with a slanted viewpoint. :D

[Karen]

I suspect that Walmart will be fought till it has been open a few weeks, and even the most staunch opponents find themselves shopping there more than anywhere, saving a lot of their hard-earned money, and things will quieten down about this.

[pzarquon]

Keeping things local, and specific to the store opening on Keeaumoku, someone who says he/she is an employee at the new location recently posted a comment to a Wal-Mart thread (http://www.hawaiistories.com/archives/004854.shtml) at sister site HawaiiStories. I thought it provided an interesting insider's perspective, so I'll repost it (with minor edits) here:
Aloha Hawaii... I'm a proud new employee of Walmart. Just to give the 411 (info) to all of Honolulu, Hawaii... Walmart Ke'eaumoku will be opening in 12 days... thats 10/13/04 to the public, Sam's club will open one week later. The hours for Walmart will be 6am-12am and I believe it's daily. Good god... isn't that gonna be FUN the first day... we're gonna buss our butts... I love my Walmart... so all who plan to shop or just to check out the newest store in Hawaii, please be respectful to all... other customers, all associates and management... lets have fun.

Trivia questions:

1) How much was the Ke'eaumoku land brought for? 35 million just for the land.

2) Is Walmart Ke'eaumoku a "Super Center"? NO NO NO... Hawaii, most likely won't get a Super Center here. Why? It takes too long for perishables to arrive in Honolulu, Hawaii, and then, if need, to send to inner island.

3) How much did the Ke'eaumoku store cost? The store alone, just to build cost - ready - 100 million U.S. dollars. And remember the land cost 35 million.

Walmart Ke'eaumoku (I luv my Walmart) is the most expensive Walmart ever built.

This store alone currently has over 800 employees... & still hiring. This store was heaven sent, for many many people/families... most of the 800-plus hired got full time... and believe me awesome benefits... medical dental life insurance is awesome... company always rewards its employees... I love my Ke'eaumoku Walmart (#3478)...

Remember safety fellow associates, inventory control, loss prevention....we get a beauty of a stake-holders bonus check.

[Miulang]

Whoever sent that post, I hope the bloom stays on the rose. It would be interesting if the person would check in with us again in about a year, after the dust has settled. If the person is a male, then he'll probably say everything's hunky dory-peachy keen and he's been promoted to department manager, or some other lofty position. If the employee is a woman, I'd really be interested in hearing if she has had promotional opporunities.

I am certainly willing to keep an open mind about WM as an employer, but based on what I have read in reports all over the world, I am still a little dubious if touting how much money WM spent to acquire the land (no mention of tax breaks here) or put up the building that that's supposed to impress us or what. Can WM make an exception for Honolulu? Dunno.

Miulang

P.S. since there is no attribution (like, Ryan, do you even know a screen name of the submitter?), the cynic in me says it's a PR piece from the company itself to try to dispell some of the criticism here and on other boards and in the press about its building on Keeaumoku.

[pzarquon]

P.S. since there is no attribution (like, Ryan, do you even know a screen name of the submitter?), the cynic in me says it's a PR piece from the company itself to try to dispell some of the criticism here and on other boards and in the press about its building on Keeaumoku.I have a cynical streak that'd bleach your hair white, so I know where you're coming from. Even if there was a screen name, there'd no authentication as to its owner. This is a random comment from a random person, so the opinions - like used cars - must be taken and evaluated "as-is."

That said, most of the information seems credible (i.e. what might be provided at a new employee orientation). I didn't know the store had been assigned its number in the WalMart store network, for example (#3478). That should be easy enough to confirm next week. And - with all due respect to the author - I would hope that a "PR plant" would be able to express himself or herself just a little more clearly. :)

I agree, though, the rush of a new job will quickly fade to dealing with more practical realities. I wish there was a way to ask for an update a few months from now.

Sadly, considering Walmart's overall policies, I think it'd be pretty unlikely we'll see a "from the inside" blog of a Walmart employee. Now that would be interesting reading!

[Miulang]

Looks like the people in Waikele are going to have a new kind of Sears store in their neighborhood: one that will sell durable goods as well as groceries. It seems Sears is taking a page from WM SuperStores. It will be interesting to see if that part of town will be able to support both big box retail outlets and how Sears will differentiate itself from WM (will it be on the basis of quality and variety or something else?)

Here: http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Oct/05/bz/bz02p.html


Miulang

[pzarquon]

See also this thread (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=2875) on the Sears move (which impacts local KMart stores). I posted the same link there.

[Konaguy]

http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2004/10/04/daily36.html

Wal-Mart firm on Oct. 13 grand opening

Despite the requests for a delay by a Native Hawaiian group, Wal-Mart said it plans to go ahead with its scheduled Wednesday, Oct. 13 grand opening on Keeaumoku Street.

Wal-Mart Inc. also has scheduled the grand opening for its new Keeaumoku Sam's Club on Thursday, Oct. 21.

Altogether, the project measures about 300,000 square feet, with four levels of parking, and is close to completion.

"We are, quite frankly, surprised by the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp.'s sudden demand that we delay the opening of the Wal-Mart project," said Wal-Mart spokeswoman Cynthia Lin. "The October grand opening was announced months ago. To wait until just before the opening to suddenly make this demand is simply unreasonable."

[helen]

Got a flyer in the mail today from Sams Club annoucing the grand openning on Oct 21.

[helen]

Walked by the area on Saturday evening. The new traffic lights are flashing.

[mel]

Passer bys at the new WalMart shopping complex got a treat this afternoon as Cold Stone Creamery celebrated their pre-grand opening by giving away free ice cream this evening between 5 and 8 p.m. I went on a walk just to take some photos of the area before the store opens tomorrow and was suprised by the commotion and the short line fronting the ice cream place with workers outside asking if we want free ice cream. How can anyone refuse a free ice cream.

Picture of my free ice cream (http://macpro.buzznet.com/user/)
NOTE: The URL will expire after I upload new photos later in the week of other things

Besides the ice cream place, Starbucks was also open as well as the Super Cuts place. I have some photos posted at this link. (http://macpro-neighborhood.buzznet.com/user/)

Naysayers and WalMart bashers can stay home, post your endless rants on this board. The majority of the shoppers will care less (most do not even visit this site anyway so why bother).

[helen]

I was walking by Wal-Mart today. Didn't go all the way so I missed the free ice cream. At least the traffic lights are working now.

[kimo55]

I was walking by Wal-Mart today. Didn't go all the way so I missed the free ice cream. At least the traffic lights are working now. ya know,
working traffic lights...
free ice cream...
sound like a toss up to me.
yer day was not wasted!

Naysayers and WalMart bashers can stay home, post your endless rants on this board. The majority of the shoppers will care less (most do not even visit this site anyway so why bother). uh, as the moderator, shouldn't
"endless rants"
be something like
"occasional discussions" ?

[Konaguy]

uh, as the moderator, shouldn't
endless rants" be something like "occasional discussions" ?





Chaos reigns within.
Reflect, repent, and reboot.
Order shall return.
:) :D

[admin]

With the store's long anticipated/dreaded opening on Oct. 13, let's roll this thread (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?p=12441). Talk about the Keeaumoku Wal-Mart there; talk about Wal-Mart in general here (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=2601).