Welcoming Wal-Mart's Withdrawal from Germany
The following comments reflect the views of our readers. Not all reader comments have been published. DW-WORLD.DE reserves the right to edit for length and appropriateness of content.
Since I live in the US, I see many Wal-Marts (from the outside). I do not shop there due to the junk that they basically sell. I think that the German shopper is more concerned with quality over price. Here in the US, price seems to be the only thing people care and know about. In the long run it costs more buying Wal-Mart's junky items and having to replace them more often than a higher price quality item. Also the workers are paid so bad that that many of them have to receive assistance from the local governments for medical benefits that the stores are located in. -- Karl F. Schil, US
It's an example of a predatory, profit-at-all-cost operation. Its presence has obliterated the commercial centers of many rural communities. Worse -- the traffic and trash its centers create in rural acres has a profound negative impact on the equity value of the single family homes along the traffic corridor. Its labor practices make the sweat-shop owners of the 19th century look enlightened. To achieve its end of having the cheapest possible labor costs, it has funded the political campaigns of those in favor of continued illegal immigration, most recently in the state of Utah and it coerces manufactures to off-shore production. -- W. Mooney, US
The article explained better than I can why Wal-Mart failed in Germany. The company became the victim of its own limited mind and stupidity. Wal-Mart deserved the failure, they should learn how to treat people a decent way. -- Arpad Szasz, from Hungary
I am a resident of the United States and I refuse to shop at Wal-Mart. They are a company that cares not about its employees. Germans should be proud they got this corporation out of their country. If only American employees of Wal-Mart would stand up to their management. My city has been fighting plans for a Wal-Mart. We don't want it, and we don't shop there. But in spite of the fight, Wal-Mart will be building a store in our community. -- Christopher Bernard, US
The German government is cradle to grave socialism. Wal-Mart offered Adam Smith hope and prosperity. The German people would rather have total security. The Germans never heard of Adam Smith. -- Jim Gray
You are surprised by some of Wal-Mart's work rules? In the US, we have laws prohibiting sexual harassment of subordinates. In order to avoid lawsuits and large monetary judgments against the company, corporations develop policies prohibiting the type of conduct that is actionable: sexual harassment, discrimination, bullying, and harassment based upon gender, race, ethnic background, religion and other characteristics. Public displays of affecting and flirting between employees may be a precursor to harassment and may offend some customers. Video surveillance of workers, particularly those who handle money, is common. The video record has often been useful in solving crimes committed against the store and its employees -- and video surveillance of the entire store may help deter shoplifting and other crimes. -- Anonymous, US
Wal-Mart didn't succeed in Germany because of German labor laws, Wal-Mart's insistence on being overbearing and mistreating their employees and suppliers (same behavior in the US), and trying to push their model in Germany. Germany has overbearing labor laws and labor expectations. At the same time, Wal-Mart is abusive to their employees and suppliers. -- ChadLeigh, US
