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On Mon, 23 May 2005 04:09:52 GMT, Trevor Smithson
<trevor_smithson@yahoo.com> wrote:

>At my local Wal-Mart SuperCenter within the last week, I have:
>
>--grocery shopped
>--clothes shopped
>--housewares shopped
>--got an oil change for my car
>--opened an account at my bank
>--saw a pharmacist
>--ate at the in-store McDonald's (while waiting on the pharmacy)
>--bought gasoline at their attached Murphy gas station (also waiting
>for the pharmacist)
>
>You can also:
>
>--check out and bag your own purchases, if you want
>--get a haircut
>--have many other minor maintenance/repair jobs done to your car
>--see an optometrist
>--visit an arcade
>--have photos developed
>--get cash from an ATM
>--have your kid ride one of their mini-amusement rides
>--have their deli and bakery departments cater a party
>--win various contests (radio stations and other various businesses
>constantly have promos there)
>--cash payroll checks
>--buy money orders
>--buy stamps
>--send moneygrams to foreign countries
>--get a drink from their water fountain
>--buy guns and ammo
>--buy hunting and fiishing licenses
>--buy plants from their greenhouse
>--buy electronics
>--buy books and magazines 
>--buy almost anything else
>--talk to a cop; the local police have a substation there
>--ride two different bus lines there; they both have stops that are
>specifically for Wal-Mart.
>--work there, as they are always hiring
>--park your RV/semi in their parking lot
>--and, naturally, use one of their three sets of restrooms (a set for
>the McDonald's, service station, and front of the store)
>
>It's like they are a small city now.  A bank, cops, groceries, gas, a
>restaurant...if only they sold liquor!  Only state law prevents that.
>
>I will say I don't always shop there...Aldi is cheaper for groceries.
>Target has better housewares, usually.  This store is, I think, one of
>their stores that they try out new ideas on.  For awhile you could buy
>large appliances there.  Then large pieces of furniture.  They also
>have had a little bargain area where they resold some of the more
>expensive returned merchandise from many other area Wal-marts at low
>prices.  Lots of TVs, electronics, power tools, etc...
>
>I also got to thinking about also of the permits that are required for
>the place...the pharmacist is licensed.  The bank is licensed.  The
>gas station's tanks and pumps are regulated.  The optometrist is
>licensed.  The car service center is required, by state law, to
>recycle used batteries, tires, and oil.  The gun and ammunition
>operation are regulated and licensed.  Of course the police are
>govenment employees.  Even the barber/stylist has a license.  Their
>was an big fight a few years ago fighting the initial real estate
>permitting process.
>
>I worked part-time at a Wal-Mart DC (warehouse) back when I was in
>college.  That particular job paid fairly well but they worked you
>pretty damn hard.  The only job where I've been lectured about the
>evils of unions (one manager, no joke, said "unions nest with
>socialists") Some of my fellow "associates" regularly helped
>contribute to what Wal-Mart calls "shrinkage" (ie theft).  I think
>this is a problem in their stores too since they often pay low wages;
>the employees resent it, or just need the money,  and tend to help
>themselves...
>
>I'd like to know the GDP for just this one store.  It must be bigger
>than some poorer, smaller countries...
>
>