Show how you feel about Wal-mart?

[cmayer31]

For some reason the line "It's just a store" made me think of a generic line of buildings all with various names on them, but all looking the same. Like a row of warehouse buildings with one of them having a wal-mart name on it, but not standing out. It's hard to explain...I almost picture a bland strip mall with one building having wal-mart on it...just another store in a line of many.

Also, be careful taking pictures in the store, some managers will freak out and most large companies have a corporate policy against taking pictures inside. Then again, I don't think anyone would notice a quick picture with a small camera.

[dukedogsmom]

As long as it's public property like that, I don't know why someone wouldn't be allowed to take pics. Doesn't matter if the manager likes it or not.

[Corinna]

If it's just a store how about a collage of major store fronts .

[cmayer31]

Outside pictures are fine. Pictures taken inside the store are typically not allowed by companies.

[sparks19]

I don't why people say walmart pays too low.

I used to work at walmart and I made MORE than minimum wage. i worked in fast food restaurants and BUSTED my hump everyday for less than I made to stand around at walmart and stock some shelves.

Walmart does not pay that low and they have everything you need in one place at a reasonable price.

i love Walmart except for how busy it is all the time

Perhaps you could use pictures depicting a few shoppers. That will show that you feel it is just a shopping center.

[Karen]

Outside pictures are fine. Pictures taken inside the store are typically not allowed by companies.

But Wal*Marts are often too big and busy to notice anyone, so she should be okay.

[cyber-sibes]

As long as it's public property like that, I don't know why someone wouldn't be allowed to take pics. Doesn't matter if the manager likes it or not.

sometimes it's hard to remember that Walmart is not public property, it's a private business property (at least as far as I know). They're so big, it seems like they should be publicly owned! I suppose they wouldn't mind outdoor pics.
I have mixed feelings about Walmart too. On one hand, I like the low prices and all the stuff, on the other hand, I don't like seeing small businesses driven out of business by megastores like Walmart. If this was my project, I would go in and discreetly take photos of some of the weird/interesting/cheesy stuff they have.

[dukedogsmom]

Speaking of cheesy stuff, I've got a video I need to put up over the weekend. Actually, it's a cute Halloween thing.

[wolf_Q]

Thanks for the ideas everyone. To answer some questions, it is just one photo. It can't be a collage, can't be manipulated, etc. It's a photo taken with an old SLR and will be developed by yours truly. It's doubtful I will print this one (just have to do 8x10 prints of two out of all of them) but it has to be on my contact sheet.

I do believe you are not supposed to take photos inside of the store (I know the managers have got after some people in Petco) but it is very busy maybe nobody would notice.......well except for the fact that its a frickin gigantic camera (compared to a normal sized digital at least) and it takes me a while to get the light meter right, focus, etc.... We're supposed to use a gray card for all pics too so I can just picture myself holding the gray card up to random objects with my huge camera trying to not be noticed lol.

[Sevaede]

I'll never shop at Wal-Mart if I can help it. Lower prices by a few dollars isn't worth it for the way they get it.

Same for myself and my husband. Besides... I can find stuff cheaper at our local stores, in any case!

They are building their fifth super wal mart here. Oh joy.

[Sevaede]

I don't why people say walmart pays too low.

I used to work at walmart and I made MORE than minimum wage. i worked in fast food restaurants and BUSTED my hump everyday for less than I made to stand around at walmart and stock some shelves.

Walmart does not pay that low and they have everything you need in one place at a reasonable price.

i love Walmart except for how busy it is all the time

Perhaps you could use pictures depicting a few shoppers. That will show that you feel it is just a shopping center.

The Wal Marts here aren't that much higher than minimum wage with their pay. I guess some of it may have to do with experience, too.

In any case, if I was single and working all by myself, there is no way I'd be able to live on what Wal Mart pays.

[trayi52]

I love shopping at Walmart! It has a little bit of everything I need. It is true about the checkouts though, they don't have enough of them open to suit me.

Willie

[sparks19]

The Wal Marts here aren't that much higher than minimum wage with their pay. I guess some of it may have to do with experience, too.

In any case, if I was single and working all by myself, there is no way I'd be able to live on what Wal Mart pays.

so why just boycott walmart?

You should boycott any fast food places, in fact most restaurants pay less than minimum wage + tips. I know any pet store I have worked at also started out at minimum wage.

It's not just walmart that pays low, it's everywhere. Lots of people are single and live on their minimum wage.

I was a collection agent and I only made 7.50 to start (I think our minimum wage is 7.15 but I am not sure it might actually be 7.50 now) and then went up to 8 dollars an hour. I brought in thousands of dollars a month but I didn't even make $1000 a month.

LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of places pay crap wages and LOTS and LOTS of big stores put little local stores out of business. LOL I will never understand why it's just walmart people boycott.


Did you come up with an idea for a photo yet?

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Walmart is about our only choice here. When it came in, lots of our local shops closed. To be fair, part of that was the fault of the owners of the buildings down town. They charged horribly high rent so the business owners couldn't affort to pay it with Walmart sucking off some of their business. Why the building owner would rather have their buildings sit there empty rather than lower the rent and make it affordable, is a mystery to me. We look like a ghost town of the old west now!!! Well, down town does anyway!!!

I too, do not like Walmart's treatment of fish, specially the Betas. I have complained about every time I go in there to no avail. They tell me the fish like being cramped up in a little bit of water like that. I suggested they try it and see how they liked it and got accused of having a "bad attitude".
Yep, old "bad attitude" that's me!!!

[Edwina's Secretary]

Perhaps you could take a photo of shuttered US factories as the manufacturing of goods moves to China....so Walmart can offer such low prices....or a line of attorneys ...defending Walmart against the many employment lawsuits...or Walmart employees getting government medical coverage instead of company medical ... all so they can offer low prices....

but of course...if you are indifferent....does Walmart ever close? IF so, you could take a photo of the building with no cars or people around.....

p.s. most stores and malls have no photo policies....to protect themselves against people planning buglaries...I would get permission before photographing inside.