Just what is it that makes these stores "EVIL"? You've got to explain yourself a little bit. I realize that Chris, on "Family Guy", has an evil monkey in his closet - but that's just common knowledge!
Well I don't wanna go on a whole diatribe and hijack the poor man's thread. After all, it is for a noble cause
However, there are many serious problems with these big box stores. Basically, in their quest to offer the lowest possible prices, they gut and destroy local economies, putting locally owned family stores out of business and essentially laying waste to downtowns across america. They also hasten globalization and promote sweatshop labor because of the way in which they relate to their suppliers. Why do you think walmart is so much cheaper than anyone else? It' because they have so much clout n the retail world, so much market share and buying power, that they can just muscle their way around among suppliers and wholesalers and force them to sell at ridiculously low prices. For example, the rubbermaid plant in Wooster Ohio, which had been the main employer in the town and the center of community life, was famously forced to shut down and offshore or outsource to china because of walmart's threats to cease relations with them unless the slashed their prices to a ridiculous extent.
Additionally, because of the way walmart treats and underpays its employees, American taxpayers currently pay more more towards welfare and medicaid programs to support these impoverished mistreated workers than the amount they collectively save by shopping at Walmarts. These are somewhat difficult computations and I'd have to quite a bit of back-research to source these quotes, but rest assured they are attributable to a reputable source.
Check out the great documentary film Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price. It will make you think twice about your choice to shop at walmart.
Although walmart has become the poster child for this kind of irresponsible retail strategy, and a target for much consumer ire and vitriol, the other box stores you mentioned are not much better, and engage in many of the same nefarious and avaricious practices.
Hey, you asked, so that's just a run down. Let me say, I have had to go to walmart once in my quest for grow supplies, but it was only because I had absolutely no other choice. And why did I have no other choice? Because the introduction of walmart in my area has forced my local hardware store to stop carrying items and product lines which they can't hope to sell at a price competitive with that of walmart. Believe me, it's worth spend a few extra bucks to maintain your freedom from these 'free' market bohemoths.
Thanks for reading, and "have a nice day' kiss-ass