Diabetic finally gets tax relief from Wal-Mart
Henry Hutchmacher Jr.'s 11-year-old daughter has diabetes. Every day, she goes through a handful of alcohol swabs, lancets and glucose strips.
The Post and Courier
Henry Hutchmacher Jr. and his daughter, Ashley, go over her shot log.
Those diabetic supplies are exempt from sales tax, according to state law, yet Hutchmacher said he had a hard time convincing the Wal-Mart in Goose Creek to give the break to his daughter, Ashley.
Most of what a diabetic patient needs can be prescribed, said Wayne Weart, professor of pharmacy and family medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina, including items that do not necessarily require a prescription, such as alcohol swabs and glucose strips.
A patient may seek a prescription for items that don't require one in order to receive coverage under an insurance plan, he said. Another benefit is that all prescriptions are exempt from sales tax.
Hutchmacher pointed to the title, chapter and section of the law that proclaims a sales tax exemption for "diabetic supplies sold to diabetics under the authorization and direction of a physician." It doesn't say prescription.
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Hutchmacher has a letter from his daughter's endocrinologist explaining that she has diabetes and lists her necessary supplies. That letter, he said, should constitute "authorization and direction of a physician."
The S.C. Department of Revenue agreed with Hutchmacher's interpretation of the law. Public Information Director Adrienne Fairwell wrote in an e-mail, "A prescription is not required, just some written authorization from a doctor."
Twice, Hutchmacher presented Ashley's letter from her endocrinologist to Wal-Mart's pharmacist and management, he said, but he still did not receive the exemption.
"I gave a copy of the tax code to two managers. I've called 1-800-Walmart and never heard back," he said. "After numerous times of going down there, I threatened media intervention."
On Dec. 17, Chris Neeley, a Columbia-based spokesman for Wal-Mart, said, "South Carolina exempts these items only when purchased with a prescription."
The Post and Courier
Ashley Hutchmacher, preparing to give herself an insulin shot, buys many of the supplies she needs to treat her diabetes without a prescription, and now Wal-Mart is giving her a lawful sales-tax exemption on those supplies.
Target and CVS honored the sales tax exemption with the letter and did not need a prescription, Hutchmacher said. Target spokesperson Michaela Gleason confirmed, "You do not need a prescription from a doctor to get the sales tax exemption."
On Thursday, following more inquiries from The Post and Courier, Wal-Mart changed its position: "A letter is acceptable as long as it is 'under the authorization and direction of a physician.' Wal-Mart has always understood that to mean a 'prescription,' since that is the formal method or requesting pharmaceuticals," Neeley said.
"Wal-Mart apologizes to the customer for applying the law too strictly. We have immediately changed the way we handle tax exemptions on diabetic supplies at our Goose Creek store. Additionally, every store manager and pharmacy manager in the state of South Carolina is being notified (Thursday) of this opinion."
Neeley also said he has appealed to the state Legislature to make a technical correction to the statute to clarify the law.
The amount of money in question is not large, Hutchmacher said. A 50-count box of test strips can range in price from $20 to $60, depending on the brand and type of glucose meter.
With sales tax in Berkeley County at 7 percent, savings can range from $1.40 to $4.20. People with diabetes who monitor their glucose might test their blood between three and seven times a day.
It's the principle that sticks in his craw. "This is a lifetime condition for my daughter," he said.
Reach Jill Coley at 937-5719 or jcoley@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
postman01 (anonymous) says...
Very simple observations:
We all sympathize with and understand how this man feels. He loves his daughter and nothing can be more painful to a parent than to have a child who has a serious medical problem. It is a tragedy and only a heartless person would not feel for this man and his daughter.
The amount of money is petty. For this man's sake, I hope such a small amount is not the issue. In fact, he said so in the article. He has an understandable desire to make a point for understandable and highly emotional reasons that I understand and agree with.
The only reason that this is "news" is because of the left wing press's absurd obsession with disliking Wal-Mart, even though overall it is one of the best things to happen for people of limited means. It is the same as the media obsession with hating SUVs. Anyone who believes that sympathy for this child is the main motivation for this article is naive. The current state of journalism in this country (which is beyond sad) makes the odds sky high that the primary motivation of this article was and is to go after Wal-Mart at the first excuse.
Having said that, Wal-Mart's behavior here was less than ideal. What we need to remember is that Wal-Mart is a huge company and it's employees have to abide by corporate policy. Most are probably scared of rocking the boat, especially in the current economic climate. Because Wal-Mart is such a target of absurd left-wing media ire and also TRIAL LAWYERS because it is so rich, it has to be rigorously LEGALISTIC in order to protect itself. Thus, we can safely assume that this was an honest mistake on Wal-Mart's part. We can safely bet the farm that it took "media attention" (even though a call from a retained lawyer would have achieved the same thing) to motivate Wal-Mart to have it's in-house lawyers review the SC statute and conclude that the company's policy was legally erroneous. It can be very hard to get the attention of the top brass at a company that size and I am sure there was no "evil design" here, just an honest mistake on Wal-Mart's part. In other words, unlike what the paper is attempting to imply, their are no villains here.
Of course, Mr. Hutchmacher had no operational need to do this, since he could get the sales tax exemption at CVS and Target. My guess is that he was simply a man on a mission that is entirely understandable and that his motivation was to right an unintentional wrong.
So, in sum, the paper gets its story and gets to engage in its puerile Wal-Mart bashing, this man achieves his goal, we get to read about it and comment on it, and the greater good of no one else in SC with a similar circumstance getting turned down by Wally World has been accomplished.
Interesting how the world really works, isn't it?
January 9, 2009 at 2:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cwmcpa (anonymous) says...
having been through a sales tax audit with SCDOR and counties I can understand Wal Marts hesitation. Any amount placed on line 2, that is exempt from sales tax, had better have detailed substantiation to convince the auditor of its exemption. Do not think that SCDOR follows or cares what the Code or Statute says. For 2 years now it has required a check the box on the income tax Form 1040 for opting out of electronic filing. For 2 years it has not been there, the reason SCDOR states is there is not enough room. The law is for thee and not for me.
January 9, 2009 at 6:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
karmann (anonymous) says...
Walmart is really getting bad about things like this.
January 9, 2009 at 6:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
postman01, what a great comment. I've been there as the father of a Type I diabetic child and a manager in a multi-national corporation. I fully understand both positions as you explained so well. However, I do not see the clues to the PnC's intent to do harm to Wal*Mart.
January 9, 2009 at 7:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chucktonian (anonymous) says...
there's no big conspiracy here. the problem is the unclear policy. problem fixed, this is not news
January 9, 2009 at 7:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suec (anonymous) says...
I don't see how this is news either. Just another oppotunity for someone to slam WalMart.
January 9, 2009 at 8:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...
...this would have never happened at a locally owned Pharmacy, oops I almost forgot, they are really hard to find these days.
January 9, 2009 at 8:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...
BTW WalMart deserves to be slammed! They are not the same store ole Sam invisioned or ran!
January 9, 2009 at 9:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
postman01 - very nice and informative post, and Wal-mart is great, and of course, leave it to the little lefty guided to slam Wal-Mart, typical.
If it were not for Wal-Mart, many hundreds of thousands of people would be out of jobs and many everyday items needed for life, would cost much more and this would impact the "poor" that the lefties like guided and the democrats pretend to care so much about!
January 9, 2009 at 9:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...
Believe it or not I actually agree with guidedbystewart's post(don't pass out guidedby-lol) Yet I also agree with B_Fwanks post. Walmart does offer things at a low price for people on a budget. On the other side of the coin, I don't pity Walmart one single bit. Make no mistake about it, Walmart is out to make a butt ton of money. They could give a crap less about the people.
January 9, 2009 at 9:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
postman01 (anonymous) says...
theronce, all you need to do is perform research on Media Bias and you will find that Wal-Mart, SUVs and a number of other things are Left Wing media whipping boys both on the national and local level. I can assure you that my observation was and is factual. I did not stray off the reservation and actually wish we did not have to concern ourselves with the motivations and biases of the MSM. Unfortunately, if we want to understand the world acccurately through the all to often distorted filter of the MSM, we have to.
January 9, 2009 at 9:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
postman01 (anonymous) says...
That's right, coolfreaknbeans. This is a classic exmaple of Adam Smith's invisible hand at work. Essentially, a cornerstone of capitalism is that people working in their own self interest will ultimately produce the best collective results for society. We should not expect Wal-Mart or any other business to have the primary goal of "caring about the people". Like you and me, the people that work there have the primary motivation of making money and it is hypocritical to demand that others ascribe OPERATIONALLY to an ideal to which most people can not because such behavior will harm them enormously financially. If we stop to think about it, since this matter has been settled in the manner described and this resolution is beneficial to individuals and society as a whole, it is actually irrelevant that "Wal-Mart" and its employees don't sit around doing NOTHING except trying to figure out how to improve the "world". It's much better and far more beneficial for them to concentrate on running and maintaining their business model which also benefits US. In short, this is a very good example of win-win.
January 9, 2009 at 9:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OverHere (anonymous) says...
Good for them. Someone who fights the system rather than be swept away with the as one of the sheep. I wish more people cared about these "petty" details.
Boo Wal-Mart.
January 9, 2009 at 9:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
LOL coolfreaknbeans, Making money is what is all about. Making money keeps people employed! The thing I dont like about Wal-Mart, is there is so many "made in china" products that they now sell. But in reality, thats about all there is to buy in quantity anymore.
January 9, 2009 at 9:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
Another point to be taken from the article is that persistence plus knowledge of the facts/laws does, ON OCCASION, produce results in bureaucracy cluster--uh,hum..."messes".
January 9, 2009 at 9:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...
"Essentially, a cornerstone of capitalism is that people working in their own self interest will ultimately produce the best collective results for society."
There are so many flaws in this particular statement I do not know where to begin.
I am sure that the "robber barons" had their own self interest in mind when they had children working in their factories.
Businesses are in it to make money and for the most part, this is a good thing. Yet there are ways to make money that are not good or at least not beneficial to society.
There are concepts such as exploitation that can enable businesses to make tons of money, and even some of these are completely legal (thanks to the republicans).
I personally do not like Wal-Mart and choose not to shop there because I feel that many businesses practices are unethical at best. I could go into a long list to why, and yes, some of these unethical practices allow Wal-Mart to be very profitable. Wal-Mart used to be a great company when Sam Walton ran it, and somehow he still was able to turn quite a profit! I am aware that some people do not have any alternative but to shop at Wal-Mart, and because of this I can not condemn them. But for me, a person that financially has other options, walking into Wal-Mart just turns my stomach.
January 9, 2009 at 10:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
majorjohnson (anonymous) says...
I don't blame walmart one bit for going by the letter of the tax law. It's a few cents to this guy, but with the bulk that walmart sells you're talking about a huge tax hit if they don't charge the tax and then find out they have to pay it themselves. The law should have been clear to begin with. This is just one problem with our hodgepodge of tax laws. I can't imagine how many tax professionals a grocery store has to keep hired just to figure out what is taxable and what is not.
It would be very simple for the doctor to write a prescription too, but once you get past the writing of the prescription now the doctor has the major headache of documenting the prescription for the federal government. He has a staff he has to pay to attend to that as well. You want to know why health care is expensive? Here's part of it. Government protecting/taxing us.
January 9, 2009 at 10:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lowcountrygirl2 (anonymous) says...
I agree with the numerous comments that the media always seems to find the negative aspects and smear WalMart's name. Maybe it is because WalMart MIGHT be the only business whose sales have not been greatly impacted by the current economic situation? Maybe they have something against paying a cheaper price for the same thing you can find at other stores? I don't know.
Personally, I could not live without WalMart. I have thought before that if I could count up all of the money I have spent at WalMart in my lifetime, it would astound me. :) The naysayers who say they have never stepped foot in a WalMart have to be deranged. While I do not agree with all of their business decisions, they are a retail giant - deal with it!
Don't get me wrong, my experiences with them are not always positive (like this man's experience was not positive), but they seem to want to rectify situations, and frankly, I can't live without them, so I can forgive those occassions when things don't always go right. I do want to point out that they need more lines open! Everytime I go in there, I notice that over half of the lines are closed and multitudes of people are trying to check out. Its nuts.
January 9, 2009 at 11:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
Democrats across-the-board are demonizing America's greatest success story. But why? Walmart provides more jobs for people who otherwise would be forced to look to government for assistance. That's why liberals hate it so! Precisely because it takes a constituency and makes government assistance unnecessary-- and liberal, Democratic power resides in dependence on government. That's how Democrats get their votes from that constituency. By employing more people than most government agencies, Walmart proves the efficacy of the free market over the Nanny state.
Thus, Walmart stands in the way of Democratic power. For liberals, it has become the "other". Something to be feared by those who derive their power from the unemployed, the poorer classes. It must be brought down. But how? By demonizing it. Unfortunately, more times than not, liberal demonization has indeed worked and has toppled the intended people and entities.
Walmart provides millions of Americans, through its lower prices, a chance to live a better life and have a taste of consumer goods otherwise beyond the reach of many. That matters not to liberals who only want that better life to come through more dependency on them, in otherwords, bigger government: a socialism through higher taxation and redistribution of wealth.
Why should the average liberal, especially those wealthy ones, be so incensed about Walmart?. Why is their vehemence against Walmart so personal? Because in September of 2006, the new qualification of being a member of The Club is castigation of Walmart. It is the fashion of the day for the "enlightened." Being an "insider" is, for many, personal.
http://www.caucusforamerica.com/blog....
January 9, 2009 at 11:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
Well, johnny & some others...I happen to be in agreement w/ you on this. I don't go to Wal-Mart & I look for the made in USA stamp on everything I buy at a retail store. Only time "made in China" does not bother me is if I pick something up at a thrift store.
Walmart has demonstrated a lack of integrity in a number of various types of cases involving employees. I have to find the cases again to report details, but a belief in the capitalistic way does not excuse their behavior in many of these cases, at least, in my not so important opinion.
January 9, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
I've only got 1 problem with WM. I can't seem to get out of there...a hundred cash registers and 1 open register with a line extending to the shoe department. I really do not like to work for them without getting paid at the self-check lines.
January 9, 2009 at 11:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...
Mr. Fwank,
You are so full of it! Getting more post from another propaganda site stating why liberals hate Wal-Mart, total BS. As a fellow liberal, I always LMAO when a right wing site spins the way we liberals' think.
As if they have a clue! If you want to know why liberals have a disdain for Wal-Mart, why don't you ask one? While I can not read the minds of other liberal and state the reason why they dislike Wal-Mart, I can very state why I dislike Wal-Mart. Well I didn't want to get into it why (because I'm busy, not because I do not have a problem expressing my opinion), but here is a couple of personal reasons, I, a liberal, do not like Wal-Mart.
1. Wal-Mart tends to hire most people part-time, just in order to not pay benefits, such as health insurance.
2. Wal-Mart has put tons mom and pops stores out of business, leading to the diminished character of the small town, and contributing to the "genericafication" of the US, in other words welcome to Mc World.
3. Wal-Mart, instead of adding on to current stores, just abandon the old box store, to build another ugly big box store, even if the current store is only five years old and in perfect shape. This practice adds to suburban blight and environmental degradation.
4. Rarely if anything sold at Wal-Mart is made in this country, how about that for jobs.
5. Wal-Mart has regularly practiced, as johnnyholmes mentioned, the practice of working workers off the clock and many other unethical labor practices.
6. Every time I go into Wal-Mart, it is a hassle; beside not to mention buying the steroid induced meat or anything else that lacks quality. While their prices are cheap, the quality is also generally poor.
I could go on and on, but why bother. Either you like Wally World or you don't. I for one, can not stand them, do not need, and can definitely live without it! Yet, I, for one know the reasons why and not some right winged propaganda site!
January 9, 2009 at 12:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
affy01 (anonymous) says...
I just don't get this. I'm a diabetic and I have PRESCRIPTIONS!
Oh yeah, right wing - left wing - blah blah blah. Who gives a damn.
January 9, 2009 at 12:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
postman01 (anonymous) says...
Guidedbystewart is probably a well intentioned, nice person who is misguided. No other nation on Earth possesses the freedom and financial/material wealth we have here in America. Any objective comaparison shows almost any other country coming up short, whether it's Europe where people are stifled by institutionalized jealousy and envy or any country where we would have to be seriously concerned about a "knock in the night" simply for saying what we think. Most people such as the poster I am referring to are reasonably smart and well-meaning. They just lack the light (i.e., the KNOWLEDGE and EXPERIENTIAL base) to show them the way and enable them to correctly process the massive evidence supporting my contention that this poster criticized. He even has the freedom NOT TO SHOP AT AND DISLIKE Wal-Mart and apparently doesn't understand the full implications of this kind of freedom and the material wealth and comfort it produces. It's OK. Those of us who do understand this kind of thing should engage in tirelessly explaining this kind of thing to him and others like him. It's called CIVIC DUTY and, as long as he and other "liberals" do not succeed in compromising our freedom or hurting us materially, it's fine for him to think what he wants. The problem arises when people of his persuasion attempt, under any guise, to hurt us under any rubric and that is the rub not in just the USA but the entire history of the human race. One things for certain: Left Wingers and Liberals are not and never will be as charitable or understanding towards us as we are towards them, which demolishes their absurd and patently false pretense of moral superiority.
January 9, 2009 at 12:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
postman01 (anonymous) says...
MajorJohnson is extremely astute.
January 9, 2009 at 12:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
Walmart should have interepreted it in favor of the customer. Slightly ambiguous? Yeah. COmmon sense and a true caring for folks might have made this issue different. As the corporate entity, they have an unwritten or sometimes it is policy, corporate social responsibility, which covers all "stakeholders" including this man and his daughter, to take care/address their concerns. This act was a no brainer, take care of them and get some good press. Wally world failed yet again in the PR department. It showed the almighty dinero and fear of the Feds trumped a common sense act of smarts.
January 9, 2009 at 1:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
Miss Guided,
All great leftist talking points and all points that support the reasons that the liberals hate Wal-Mart.
Bottom line, Wal-Mart is so successful, that they are able to help so many with things like prescription drugs.
Again, don't waste your time, I already know why you and the left hate Wal-Mart, they are able to make a profit and do not need, unionization, government bailouts.
As far as "made in china", as I posted earlier, I don't like that either, however, due to the high cost of making anything in this nation because of all the over the top government regulations and unions, Made in the USA, sadly, is a thing of the past.
Wal-Mart offers many the ability to work and provide for themselves. If one wants to work there while obtaining a technical skill in an institute of higher education, than Wal-Mart, provides that oppurtunity.
I dont shop that often at Wal-Mart, because I dont shop that much. But if I want something, I will go there to get it simply because I know they will have it.
Is Wal-mart laying anyone off?
Guided, tell me you do not own one pair of tennis shoes that are not made by slave labor in Vietnam or China. Tell me you dont have a cell phone, TV, DVD player, microwave oven, or computer that has the majority of its parts made in China.
Come on miss guided, we all are aware of how self righteous you seem to think you are.
Spare us the BS.
January 9, 2009 at 1:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
UrGatorbait, I think the latter is more the case - "...and fear of the Feds trumped a common sense act of smarts."
Wal-Mart has to watch every move they make because there are so many groups and government agencies out to get them.
"diabetic supplies sold to diabetics under the authorization and direction of a physician." <---how would you interepret that? Especially being aware of possible liability issues and lawsuits.
They thought they were acting on the letter of the law. It would be great if every act that we take based on emotion were the right thing to do, but it doesnt always work that way.
Thats why many states have to have the "Good Samaritan Protection Act".
January 9, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
Local Wal-Mart associates and SAM'S CLUB partners helped raise and contribute $170 million to local charitable organizations in 2004.
Some giving achievements for last year include:
- More than $61 million in community grants.
- More than $300 million in 18 years for Children's Miracle Network.
- More than $170 million in 18 years to United Way chapters.
- $91 million in scholarships since 1979.
- $5 million in Volunteerism Always Pays grants.
- $20 million raised and contributed during the 2001 holidays.
- Nearly $16 million given in response to the events of September 11.
With more than 1.5 million associates, Wal-Mart is the largest private employer in the world. To attract and keep the very best people, we offer competitive pay and benefits for both full-time and part-time associates.
Specifically, Wal-Mart offers:
- Competitive wages
- Profit sharing
- A 401(k) plan
- Stock ownership/stock loan program
- Paid vacation and holidays
- A discount card
- Medical and dental coverage
- Life insurance
- Accidental death and dismemberment coverage
- Short- and long-term disability insurance
- Free confidential professional counseling and assistance
- Scholarship bonuses
- Child-care discounts
By the end of 2009, Walmart's food donation program will roll out to all Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets, allowing us to donate 90 million pounds of food -- the equivalent of 70 million meals to families in need.
By giving nutritious produce, meat and other groceries, we'll become one of Feeding America's largest food donors. Additionally, the Wal-Mart Foundation is donating $2.5 million in cash to the organization. Feeding America will use the money to increase its food banks' warehouse capacity and purchase 20 new refrigerated trucks, which will transport food from Walmart stores to food pantries, soup kitchens and other partner agencies across the country.
January 9, 2009 at 1:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
While the Wal-Mart Foundation makes many donations at the local level, we also support many national organizations and causes. The following list of contributions includes some examples of the Wal-Mart Foundation's recent grants of $250,000 and above.
$1 Million and Above
American Council on Education
American Association of Community Colleges
American Cancer Society
American Heart Association
American National Red Cross
Boys and Girls Club of America
Children's Miracle Network
Council of Independent Colleges
Excelencia in Education
Facing History and Ourselves
Feeding America (formerly America's Second Harvest)
Gateway to College Network
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Institute for Higher Education Policy
Jobs for the Future
Meharry Medical College
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Salvation Army National Corp
The United Way
YouthBuild USA
2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games
$500,000 - $999,999
American Diabetes Association
Big Brothers and Big Sisters
Clinton Global Initiative
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Inc.
Corporation for Enterprise Development
Foundation for Independent Higher Education
March of Dimes National Foundation
Meals on Wheels Association of America
NAACP
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
National Center on Education and the Economy
National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship
Scholarship America (Dreamkeepers Program)
United Negro College Fund
$250,000 - $499,999
Center for Financial Services Innovation
Corporation for Enterprise Development
Doorway to Dreams
Fisher House
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Museum of African American History
National Center for Family Homelessness
National Council of La Raza
National Guard Youth Challenge/Foundation
Rocky Mountain Institute
Students in Free Enterprise
Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
January 9, 2009 at 1:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mrjm (anonymous) says...
guidedbystewart is so right.
B_Fwank, what a load of propaganda. Why don't you address how Walmart makes a ton of money selling moneygrams that they won't redeem if unused? Or how they let criminals cash stolen ones without any identification? Or, all the illegals they let cash manufactured/altered checks at their stores? They are just a bunch of criminal money launderers....Walmart doesn't care what these criminals do, they just want their fee out of it.
All Walmart cares about is the almighty $$ - just ask their employees. BTW, ever notice how miserable their employees are? Not the bright, shiny faces on the commercials, I can tell ya that!!
January 9, 2009 at 2:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
"diabetic supplies sold to diabetics under the authorization and direction of a physician." <---how would you interepret that?"
B-Fwank--Anyone dealing in medical/pharmaceutical issues would understand that a physician has the "authority" to give advice/directions to a patient & that much of this is not in the form of a "legal"/literal prescription.
The folks at Wal-Mart & their medical-legal team should have known this. A standard legal prescription is written so the pharmacist knows how to prepare a certain medicine or treatment for the patient to take. If a medicine/needed supplies are available OTC, there is no need for a Rx. If the government needs proof that the Dr. directed the patient to use a certain OTC med or supply, a letter from the Dr. would suffice.
January 9, 2009 at 2:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...
postman01
Your pedantic rambling comment shows little substance besides your own arrogance. So what is your point, other than just being patronizing? Why don't you enlighten me? What is the evidence, statistical, empirical or otherwise that backs your claims. True, people in our nation have more cheap plastic crap made in some foreign land by slave labor provided to us by big box stores, employing people that barely earn (if they do) a livable wage so that the consumers can fill their McMansions. So, if you think that this is a good thing for our society, you are intitled your opinion, but personally I don't.
Do I not have cheap plastic crap made in foreign land by slave labor? Of course, but I have little option since we rarely make anything in this country anymore, but Wal-Mart surely hurt more than help this situation.
While I can not change the way the United States is, I at least have the freedom to stand by my principles, not shop at Wal-Mart and then comment on this board on my reasons.
January 9, 2009 at 2:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
mrjm-I am not a fan of Wal-Mart, but I fail to see how the information provided by B_Fwank is propaganda if what he presented is true. Do you have evidence that it is not?
Why don't you refer us to actual facts to back up what you have said?
(I'm still looking for a particular case to support what I said in one of my earlier posts & when I find it I will cite it.)
January 9, 2009 at 2:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
Look up the case of Deborah Shank vs. Wal-Mart.
January 9, 2009 at 3:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
Miss Guided, tell me you do not own one pair of tennis shoes that are not made by slave labor in Vietnam or China. Tell me you dont have a cell phone, TV, DVD player, microwave oven, or computer that has the majority of its parts made in China.
Come on miss guided, we all are aware of how self righteous you seem to think you are.
January 9, 2009 at 3:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
oAKY b_Fwank
"diabetic supplies sold to diabetics under the authorization and direction of a physician." <---how would you interepret that? Especially being aware of possible liability issues and lawsuits."
Under the care of a Physician? Gee, another no brainer, authorized by the physician and under care of the physician. When alcohol swabs and diabetic needles become liability issues, because they are "experimental" alcohol wipes", then Wally world might have something to worry about.
They are quite capable of multi-tasking on this non-issue. Under care of a physician, gee, prescription maybe? The family should have gone elsewhere and sought out some common sense types. People/businesses are afraid of the Feds? Not good especially with this big ol' handout on the way. They are going to try and reap every cent they can. Wally world was built on the reputation of helping people. The "fear" of the Feds is a convenient excuse IMO.
How others can stick up for the low prices to justify the crap treatment the family received is not surprising nowadays. The ends justify the means. Sad group of people.
January 9, 2009 at 4:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
They are going to try and reap every cent they can. Wally world was built on the reputation of helping people. The "fear" of the Feds is a convenient excuse IMO to deny.
Watch the DVD "The high cost of low prices" propaganda-ish? yes. Informative and thought provoking? yes
January 9, 2009 at 4:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
The philanthropy is great propaganda also B_fwank but when they sue their own employees, kinda gives them a black eye. THe folks that pay attention are on notice and you, well you don't give a toss. As long as you can get cheap stuff, than I'm glad your consciousness is clear.
January 9, 2009 at 4:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Chicago_Thug (anonymous) says...
I have yet to understand why people work at Walmart, if it is such a terrible place as so many of you have posted. It is called a JOB. If you work there and dont like it, go find another one.
Walmart may not be perfect or what Sam Walton would like if he were around, but it is a company that has share holders that invest in it. They are expecting a profit. Most investers in Walmart as well as other big chain stores or not a bunch of rich people , but everyday people trying to put away for retirement.
Walmart provides jobs and value. It is that simple. I wont go there because it is just to much of a hassle, parking, crowds and soon. But this is still a free country, and many people shop there form all types of backgrounds. So many that Walmart is a huge success. If it were not popular, it would be going out of business.
Anyway, in this particular incident, the store was a little to strict about the law. But these days, who can blame them. Fear of the federal and state governments taking some kind of punitive action against any company is enough to make them cautious.
I think that if this were not big bad walmart, it wouldnt even have been news.
January 9, 2009 at 4:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
UrGatorbait - whatever. You are way off and like many others have an axe to grind with wal-mart.
Wal-mart has every reason to protect themselves, the lawsuit lotto is manifest across this country.
And I could really careless what you think. This seems to be another oh woe is me the little guy battling the big evil corporation story.
I am sure that you go way out of your way to purchase only those products made in the USA. You make sure to spend as much as possible so you don't get "cheap stuff".
LMAO what a joke. Your just another self-righteous phony.
January 9, 2009 at 4:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
Here is more so called propaganda;
Business notes: Wal-Mart is the world's #1 retailer, with about 6,500 stores in 14 countries and with 1.8 million employees
Takeaway Notes: ~ A little amount to nearly everyone ~ In-store fundraising opportunities ~ Education, children, recreation ~ The largest cheerleading team funder in the world. ~ Retail Industry ~
Giving by Interest Area:
Education - 33 %
United Ways - 20 %
Health Care (esp Childrens Miracle Network) - 20 %
Human Services - 10 %
Other (incl. sports, civic, religion, environment, international) - 7 %
Public Affairs (including military support) - 5 %
Civil Rights - 5 %
What Wal-Mart Funds
1. Community Grants: In 2004, the Wal-Mart & SAM'S CLUB Foundation matched $61 million in grants for organizations in 3,500 communities, helping to support organizations large and small, from local schools, YMCA and other youth programs, fire departments, libraries and more.
2. Education: In 2004, 3,500 teachers and schools were honored through the Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year Program recognized as the largest teacher recognition program in the U.S. In excess of $4 million was given to schools in Wal-Mart communities through local, state and national teacher of the year awards. In addition to assisting teachers last year, Wal-Mart provided through its Sam Walton Community Scholarship program $6 million in scholarships to 6,000 high school seniors who began college in 2004.
January 9, 2009 at 4:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
3. Military Support: Last year, Wal-Mart partnered with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation (VFW) to provide 900,000 Communications Kits to servicemen and women that included free phone cards, stationery and envelopes to help them stay in touch with loved ones. The Company also made it possible for customers nationwide to send messages through Wal-Mart in-store kiosks in support of our military men and women.
4. Disaster Relief: Communities in need can't wait. That is why Wal-Mart has given millions each year to cities and small towns needing help due to unforeseen tragedies. Last fall, more than $7 million was given to assist communities and associates in hurricane ravaged areas of Florida and Alabama.
5. The World Of Medicine: Children's Miracle Network (CMN), a national organization that directs funding to children's hospitals across the country, has always been one of the greatest benefactors of Wal-Mart giving. Last year the Wal-Mart & SAM'S CLUB Foundation's provided $3.9 million in direct support of the Children's Miracle Network. In addition to this support, grants and donations raised through Wal-Mart and SAM'S CLUB stores nationwide gave $30 million to CMN in 2004.
5. Child Safety & Missing Children: Last year marked a milestone of 120 children being recovered as a direct result of Wal-Mart's Missing Children Boards. Since this partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children began in 1996, Wal-Mart stores have posted the pictures of more than 6,500 missing children, of which three out of four have been recovered. Wal-Mart also continues to promote Code Adam, a program created by Wal-Mart 10 years ago and used today by other businesses. The Code Adam procedure immediately alerts all employees to assist in finding children that are separated from their parents in a Wal-Mart or SAM'S CLUB.
6. Volunteerism Always Pays: As Wal-Mart grows into new markets, so does one of the largest volunteer programs in the U.S. Wal-Mart's associate volunteer program, Volunteerism Always Pays (V.A.P.), recorded 800,000 hours volunteered by associates in 2004. As a result of this volunteer activity, the program gave $5 million to organizations where Wal-Mart and SAM'S CLUB associates volunteered.
http://www.accessphilanthropy.com/fun...
January 9, 2009 at 4:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bflosue (anonymous) says...
Walmart had a contract with Rubbermaid to sell Rubbermaid's products. Walmart then told Rubbermaid it would only renew its contract if Rubbermaid sold its products to Walmart for less than what it cost Rubbermaid to make them. Rubbermaid needed the contract so they were forced to accept Walmart's terms. The result? Rubbermaid closed a plant in the US, laying off 1000 workers, and imported product from China just so it could meet Walmart's demands. And Rubbermaid isn't the only company that Walmart has done this to. That is why you won't find "Made in USA" on its inventory.
So don't go around claiming that Walmart is good for American jobs. It isn't.
January 9, 2009 at 4:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
As Frontline showed, when WalMart first expanded through America as the low cost big-box store, it was a good partner with its (American) suppliers. In 1994, RubberMaid had a great relationship with WalMart because RubberMaid provided excellent quality, high valued items for a reasonable price and much of its product was sold through WalMart. Back then, RubberMaid was rated the #1 company in the US because it was able to compete on efficient, yet high quality products for the American marketplace - and WalMart helped as the largest retail outlet for RubberMaid products. Yet, when RubberMaid was forced to increase their prices due to the costs of their basic supplies, WalMart refused to accept the new prices and dropped many of the RubberMaid products from their stores. In a fairly short time the loss of WalMart as an outlet led to the demise of RubberMaid.
"Anyone whose stocks rose in the late 1990s owes Wal-Mart, the world's biggest company. It alone accounted for as much as 25% of the U.S. productivity gains from 1995-99, says consultant McKinsey & Co. Such gains drove corporate profits, thus stock prices. Wages in retailing, one of the biggest sources of new jobs in the '90s and current decade, are also affected by Wal-Mart. With 1.3 million workers, it is the world's largest private employer. It employs one of every 123 U.S. workers and nearly one of every 20 retail employees.
Employment. Wal-Mart's impact on wages was first felt in rural towns in the South and Midwest where Wal-Mart got its start. Often, it became the biggest employer overnight, setting wage rates for all retailers, experts say.
Now, its impact on retail employment has spread nationwide, contributing to slower wage growth throughout the sector, economist Zandi says.
Pay for retail workers rose 43% from 1990 to 2001, vs. 50% for non-retail workers, according to Bureau of Economic Analysis data. No one knows exactly how big a part Wal-Mart played, Zandi says. But its influence is "undeniable" because it created more jobs in the 1990s than any other company, he says."
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industr...
January 9, 2009 at 4:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
majorjohnson (anonymous) says...
Don't bother frank. Like someone said earlier, walmart hires people. That makes them an enemy of the democratic party's plan to make everyone dependent on government. It's like with President Bush, if he found a cure for prostate cancer they'd still want to tar and feather him for not finding a cure for lung cancer.
I don't like President Bush at all, I do go to Walmart sometimes but not on a regular basis, but the sheer irrational, foam-at-the-mouth hatred, not just of them but of anything that even briefly touches them, just completely amazes me. Sometimes I think if a monarch butterfly landed on the Presidents sleeve some people would advocate wholesale slaughter of monarch butterflies.
January 9, 2009 at 6:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
Yep major, the lefts hatred is demented and can only be described as irrational rage and psychotic paranoia.
It is very disturbing how much the left are filled with hate. They are never happy and always rabid. No logic to their maddness. Self-loathing and bitter, tormented souls. Pathetic. It is almost as if they survive on anger and hatred.
They remind me of the "living dead" in the movie 28 weeks later. Zombies looking to feed on the good and innocent.
Poor Obama, has no clue the hate that is coming his way when he cant deliver all his promises.
January 9, 2009 at 7 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
I am far from what anyone would consider a "leftie".
I support capitalism.
While I am not a big rah rah fan/supporter of Wal-Mart, I do not "hate" it either.
I do not believe, w/out some credible proof, all the little "nasties" that get said about this company. I am perfectly aware that people w/ agendas have a way of spreading falsehoods. (that is why I asked another poster to provide facts about his/her allegations)
However, I have read about a # of actual cases where their actions were less than honorable.
While I understand that those cases, in & of themselves, do not totally define the entire entity that Wal-Mart is, they have given me a perspective that shows all is not rosy- peachy-keen w/ this company.
January 9, 2009 at 7:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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