Walmart CEO warns company will close stores if theft doesn't slow down

[F1fan]

Your "class warfare" explanation is false. That isn't the cause. People didn't resort to rampant stealing in the Depression. Stop with the spreading of divisiveness.

I didn't say "class warfare", I said racism, which exists in the USA despite slavery being outlawed. Look at the right wing's nonsense attack on CRT, which they claim should not be taught to children. Guess what, it isn't. the right's claim and 'argument" is invalid. CRT is part of some college degrees that look at racism and the social problems that follow from racism. Many oor, minority communities do not have the resources that middle class communities do, and these poor citizens have more hurdles to jump just to get to a level that middle class citizens take for granted.

I understand you are a conservative and think in idealistic ways, and this is one major flaw in how conservatves critque these kinds of problems, and offer harsh solutions like more police and more jails. These do nothing the solve the underlying disadvantage of the impoverished.

But there's no real "justice" in it, even if they may gain some (very) temporary instant gratification for getting one over on the Man. The people who end up suffering are those who work in these stores and the people who live in the community.

That's why I said in an abstract way there is a justice in theft by the poor. The poor do live with a certain set of rules that the middle class doesn't have to. The wealthy get to live with a set of rules the middle class and poor can't access, like hiring tax lawyers so their tax burden is a fraction of what everyone else faces. Laws are supposed to be blind to class and wealth, but it clearly isn't. Look at how Trump has not been indicted on his theft of government documents. He has avoided accountability thus far due to his status and wealth, and no ordinary citizen would have such advantages.

It is easy for we middle class people to judge those below us. But just as we middle class folks are outraged that Trump has avoided legal accounatbility, those in poverty who see the middle class have a fairly easy and comfortable life due to the access to opportunities feel greivance. We all seek justice in our own minds and circumstances. Theft is a way to ease the injustice in a society stacked against the poor. I don't condone it, I am just offering my view on how the poor could justify theft from wealthy compaines.

Reparations and bias.

Where is my eyes-rolled- heavenward- in- mock-
resignation emoji thing?

Good heavens, I hope your poor eyeballs are OK.

 

[Audie]

Demonize the victim so that it's
always the victim's fault, ain't it.

Yup.

I've had personal experience in it.

 

[Audie]

I didn't say "class warfare", I said racism, which exists in the USA despite slavery being outlawed. Look at the right wing's nonsense attack on CRT, which they claim should not be taught to children. Guess what, it isn't. the right's claim and 'argument" is invalid. CRT is part of some college degrees that look at racism and the social problems that follow from racism. Many oor, minority communities do not have the resources that middle class communities do, and these poor citizens have more hurdles to jump just to get to a level that middle class citizens take for granted.

I understand you are a conservative and think in idealistic ways, and this is one major flaw in how conservatves critque these kinds of problems, and offer harsh solutions like more police and more jails. These do nothing the solve the underlying disadvantage of the impoverished.


That's why I said in an abstract way there is a justice in theft by the poor. The poor do live with a certain set of rules that the middle class doesn't have to. The wealthy get to live with a set of rules the middle class and poor can't access, like hiring tax lawyers so their tax burden is a fraction of what everyone else faces. Laws are supposed to be blind to class and wealth, but it clearly isn't. Look at how Trump has not been indicted on his theft of government documents. He has avoided accountability thus far due to his status and wealth, and no ordinary citizen would have such advantages.

It is easy for we middle class people to judge those below us. But just as we middle class folks are outraged that Trump has avoided legal accounatbility, those in poverty who see the middle class have a fairly easy and comfortable life due to the access to opportunities feel greivance. We all seek justice in our own minds and circumstances. Theft is a way to ease the injustice in a society stacked against the poor. I don't condone it, I am just offering my view on how the poor could justify theft from wealthy compaines.

Race issues are " class warfare"

Likewise your Iib v con. And
rich v poor.

 

[sun rise]

Let's see what the poor are shoplifting from Walmart.
List of Most Shoplifted Items from Walmart Store - The Superficial
In among the sporting goods, cosmetics, booze, jewelry,
etc is baby formula.
One might be able to say this last item was stolen for survival.

As well as packed meats.

 

[Alien826]

During the Great Depression we were all in the same situation, together. Today is nothing like the great Depression. Today we have a very good economy and lifestyle for the "haves". While we are driving the "have-nots" deeper and deeper into poverty. To the point where they become broken. They become drug addicts and drunks and dope dealers and criminal thugs. They lose all respect for the social systems that didn't want them, didn't care about them, and that shut them out. Left them to die in the streets.

I probably shouldn't introduce humor into such a serious subject, but I'm so reminded of this ....

Dear kindly Sergeant Krupke, You gotta understand, It's just our bringin' up-ke That gets us out of hand. Our mothers all are junkies, Our fathers all are drunks. Golly Moses, natcherly we're punks! ACTION AND JETS Gee, Officer Krupke, we're very upset; We never had the love that ev'ry child oughta get. We ain't no delinquents, We're misunderstood. Deep down inside us there is good! ACTION There is good! ALL There is good, there is good, There is untapped good! Like inside, the worst of us is good! SNOWBOY: (Spoken) That's a touchin' good story.ACTION: (Spoken) Lemme tell it to the world! SNOWBOY: Just tell it to the judge. ACTION Dear kindly Judge, your Honor, My parents treat me rough. With all their marijuana, They won't give me a puff. They didn't wanna have me, But somehow I was had. Leapin' lizards! That's why I'm so bad! DIESEL: (As Judge) Right! Officer Krupke, you're really a square; This boy don't need a judge, he needs an analyst's care! It's just his neurosis that oughta be curbed. He's psychologic'ly disturbed!

And so on.

 

[Heyo]

I would ask why are they stealing? Is there any way to get to the root of the problem? If so, what needs to actually happen to make stealing and gang violence unnecessary?

I remember a study about why people are stealing at certain stores. Turned out it was the employees. Not only did they steal themselves (to a lesser extend) but that they didn't mind if customers stole. The rate was loosely connected to the turn over in staff. The turn over was connected to payment and working conditions.

 

[YoursTrue]

Walmart CEO warns company will close stores if theft doesn't slow down (msn.com)



The theft rate is on the rise at Walmart.







The article also mentioned that Target is getting hit with heavy losses due to theft.

I've seen it happen where some stores have to shut down just because of theft. It's happened in some of the lower-income areas where crime is typically higher, but the impact of these stores shutting down creates problems for people who have to travel further to get food and other necessities. The thieves create problems for others, more than just the storeowners. It can affect entire neighborhoods and communities.

I saw another article this morning about an elderly worker at Home Depot who was killed trying to stop a shoplifter (Death of elderly Home Depot worker who tried to stop robbery sparks outrage: 'Where are the reparations?' (msn.com)).

It's not that I have any real sympathy for the corporate executives who run these Big Box enterprises, but I also have no sympathy for thieves. In the end, it's the ordinary honest working people who live in these communities are the ones who suffer.

You bring out reasons why I am so glad to know and understand more about Jesus Christ's model prayer, also called the "Lord's Prayer" -- in which he said, "Let your kingdom come."
Also his prophecy about the "last days," prior to Armageddon. (Matthew chapters 24 & 25) Wonderful to know and understand as far as I am concerned.

 

[YoursTrue]

I probably shouldn't introduce humor into such a serious subject, but I'm so reminded of this ....

Dear kindly Sergeant Krupke, You gotta understand, It's just our bringin' up-ke That gets us out of hand. Our mothers all are junkies, Our fathers all are drunks. Golly Moses, natcherly we're punks! ACTION AND JETS Gee, Officer Krupke, we're very upset; We never had the love that ev'ry child oughta get. We ain't no delinquents, We're misunderstood. Deep down inside us there is good! ACTION There is good! ALL There is good, there is good, There is untapped good! Like inside, the worst of us is good! SNOWBOY: (Spoken) That's a touchin' good story.ACTION: (Spoken) Lemme tell it to the world! SNOWBOY: Just tell it to the judge. ACTION Dear kindly Judge, your Honor, My parents treat me rough. With all their marijuana, They won't give me a puff. They didn't wanna have me, But somehow I was had. Leapin' lizards! That's why I'm so bad! DIESEL: (As Judge) Right! Officer Krupke, you're really a square; This boy don't need a judge, he needs an analyst's care! It's just his neurosis that oughta be curbed. He's psychologic'ly disturbed!

And so on.

Oh boy! I loved that song! KINDLY Sgt. Krupke -- wonderful! Thanks for sharing. I saw the original Broadway show twice when I was a music student in NYC. Studied with an original cast member. AND I am looking forward to meeting Leonard Bernstein & others who have died, if God permits.

"We are sick, we are sick
We are sick, sick, sick
Like we're sociologically sick"

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

I'm not so pessimistic that it can NEVER be solved. We just need the right people in the right positions with enough concerned citizen backing them.

Sure, but what are the chances of that? Much of what typical Americans call problems are by design. There is no lack of solutions, just an inability to implement them in the face of monied interests attempting to concentrate wealth, power, and privilege for themselves at the expense of those with the "problems."

You say you want gun control? No. You want abortion rights? No. You want clean drinking water? Not if comes at the expense of tax dollars that could have been diverted to the wealthy. You want fair elections? No if the powers that be can control them. You don't want people subjected to conservative indoctrination all day such that they don't even have minds of their own anymore? No. You want something done about greenhouse gas emissions. Not if industry can help it. You say you like democracy? There's a whole party dedicated to dismantling it. You want public health care? No. The Republicans don't approve. At every turn, we find these "problems" are somebody else's goals, and that somebody seems to be calling the shots through the Republican party. Everything is a fight against these powerful and selfish people.

Like I said, there is no shortage of ideas what to do. We know the answers to all of these issues. The western Europeans have shown us the way. But Americans can't have those things, in part because so many of them support their oppressors. Unless America can solve its Republican problem, it can't solve any other problem. Can it do that? Maybe, but it had better act quickly if it is to do that.

poverty is not the primary cause of today's thiever

Not white-collar thievery, no. That's pure greed and lawlessness.

But yes, poverty alone doesn't make people criminal. People just need to see that they have less than others and believe that the playing field isn't level. As others have mentioned, people feel left behind and they're angry, so they act out. I completely understand. It's not having little. It's having less that the other guy, and knowing that it is by design.

This quote states the problem and offers a solution that won't play in modern America:

"How can you have order in a state without religion? For, when one man is dying of hunger near another who is ill of surfeit, he cannot resign himself to this difference unless there is an authority which declares 'God wills it thus.' Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet." - Napoleon Bonaparte

A general breaking down of society due to corruption, lawlessness, and divisiveness.

Yes, but I think you're looking at the wrong demographic for the root cause of that.

And there's one of those unnecessary "ness" words that arise when a noun goes to an adjective and then back to a "ness" noun: division -> divisive -> divisiveness. These words are accumulating and appearing in dictionaries, words like speediness and responsibleness.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

It's easy to be middle class folks and think idealistically about theft at stores like this. Over the years it is apparent that these thefts happen in places of lower income, and communities with less opportunities. The poor want the American Dream, too, but have vastly more hurdles to get there than the middle class who take opportuniy as a given. Theft is illegal and morally wrong, but i can see how theft from super wealthy businesses as a sort of reparations from slavery and the ongoing racism against minorities and the poor. Abstractly there is a sort of justice in theft.

I expect the RF conservatives to condemn this as a blanket ideal, only assessing this problem from their narrow, personal perspective, and find another example to support their subtle bias against minorities and the poor.

Not just the conservatives...seeing this as a blanket ideal is something I'd condemn too.

If you're talking about specific instances of people taking things, it might be a different conversation. But high incidence of theft in the way you seem to be at least tacitly supporting has negative impacts on those same poor communities. The high incidence of petty theft and the reduced action being taken in regards to it has not been beneficial to anyone as near as I can tell, but if you have information to the contrary, let me know.

 

[Revoltingest]

That wasn't really the point I was addressing, although looking over that link with the list of items, some of them might qualify, such as meat and baby formula. Some of the items on the list I might question, since access is controlled to some of them, such as cigarettes. Even razor blades are now kept in locked cabinets, along with many over the counter drugs, portable electronics, accessories. I don't think the average customer would be able to easily lift some of these items, so it could be employees doing it.

Yeah....the poor stealing food for survival,
& the rest by employees.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Meanwhile in Philadelphia....

Philly gas station owner hires security guards armed with AR-15s and dressed in kevlar vests | Daily Mail Online

So it isn't unique to Walmart.

Indeed not. I've heard similar things in relation to New York bodegas on a couple of podcasts I listen to.
I've grabbed a story that seems to support that here, since linking to entire podcasts seems unhelpful.

More NYC bodega workers could kill to protect as store crime up 70%: expert

 

[Revoltingest]

It moves into a market with multiple large stores, selling almost everything in one place, with low prices and 24 hour service.

Damn their hides!
Low prices, convenience, service....the fiends!

 

[Revoltingest]

Have you noticed that most of this "competition" consists of specialty chain stores -- monopolies themselves?

Yes....which is generally true of shopping centers without Walmarts too.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

I worked for a company that sort of sounds rather similiar
It was a giant supermarket conglomerate that also owns a bunch of different companies. Like alcohol stores, taverns/pubs, variety stores etc

The CEOs would pay lip service to how awful theft was (and indeed the consequences for employee theft were fairly harsh.)
But the silent truth that they didn’t admit was, they didn’t actually care as theft gave them a lot of tax breaks and actually increased their profit in some areas. Through various technicalities.

Surprised that’s not the case for Walmart as Oz typically has far more restrictions on massive corporations by comparison (on a federal level anyway. )

My guess is that there are levels.
They'd factor in certain amounts of theft to their pricing, security, insurances, etc.

An upward trend in theft is something they wouldn't have accounted for, and would impact on margin. Whilst it might have positive tax implications it's likely to be having very negative cashflow implications.

 

[Revoltingest]

As well as packed meats.

Why is it that the poor aren't vegetarians,
& instead go for spendy processed meat?
They never steal broccoli or kale.

 

[Audie]

I probably shouldn't introduce humor into such a serious subject, but I'm so reminded of this ....

Dear kindly Sergeant Krupke, You gotta understand, It's just our bringin' up-ke That gets us out of hand. Our mothers all are junkies, Our fathers all are drunks. Golly Moses, natcherly we're punks! ACTION AND JETS Gee, Officer Krupke, we're very upset; We never had the love that ev'ry child oughta get. We ain't no delinquents, We're misunderstood. Deep down inside us there is good! ACTION There is good! ALL There is good, there is good, There is untapped good! Like inside, the worst of us is good! SNOWBOY: (Spoken) That's a touchin' good story.ACTION: (Spoken) Lemme tell it to the world! SNOWBOY: Just tell it to the judge. ACTION Dear kindly Judge, your Honor, My parents treat me rough. With all their marijuana, They won't give me a puff. They didn't wanna have me, But somehow I was had. Leapin' lizards! That's why I'm so bad! DIESEL: (As Judge) Right! Officer Krupke, you're really a square; This boy don't need a judge, he needs an analyst's care! It's just his neurosis that oughta be curbed. He's psychologic'ly disturbed!

And so on.

It takes a little humor to clear the
stench of the class warfare / evil
Capitalists screeds.

 

[Revoltingest]

Whilst it might have positive tax implications....

It's like the positive tax implications of a
worker getting a cut in pay. Taxes go down,
but the net effect is pretty darn negative.

 

[Audie]

Why is it that the poor aren't vegetarians,
& instead go for spendy processed meat?
They never steal broccoli or kale.

Let them eat Chanel

Google Image Result for https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/new-york-looting-mo_hpEmbed_20200602-232652_3x2_992.jpg

 

[lewisnotmiller]

It's like the positive tax implications of a
worker getting a cut in pay. Taxes go down,
but the net effect is pretty darn negative.

Yup. I'm often a little bemused by what see as positive impacts in reducing taxation.
It is entirely contextual on why your tax bill is reduced.