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"Virus Hoax:
Urband Legend Example"
Virus Hoax Warnings: Page 38
of 57
Walmart Flags Hoax
Febuary 2002
The snopes site checked with Walmart on this one and found that Walmart
does budget flags for each of their stores. There could be a lot of
reasons a store didn't have a flag. For example, the store might have
used up its budget on more important things, such as lighting in the
parking lot. Making choices like this are a normal part of corporate
life. The manager of the store might then have asked the employees if
they would be willing to chip in to get a flag now, as opposed to
waiting until next year. Whatever the reason, this rant shows a lack of
understanding of corporate politics and budget management, and it is
also wrong.
In terms of policies, the writer should have asked Walmart Corporate
what their policies are, not some clerk who isn't even involved in the
budgeting and policy decisions. I am constantly amazed at how many
people claim "That's corporate policy" or "That's a board policy" when
trying to either deflect the blame for something they have done or when
trying to force you to do it their way. In all, this is another one for
the trash can.
Quite honestly, I had not noticed that Wal-mart does not fly our flag.
What a surprise. I have run across a situation that I think should be
changed; it upset me and so I decided to put it out on the Internet. If
you decide to forward this note to your friends, that's fine-if not,
that's okay, too.
Maybe I'm wrong in feeling this way, but this is what I found on Friday,
October 12, 2001.
I ran to our local Wal-Mart store before I went to work. I needed a
couple of items before we left at noon for a short vacation. While I was
being checked out at the counter, I realized that I had not noticed an
American Flag flying outside and asked the clerk why there wasn't one.
I was told that the policy is that Wal-Mart does not provide flags to
their stores- rather, each store must provide their own-at this store,
the employees would have to take up a collection among themselves to
make the purchase of the flag, pole & flood light.
I was sure there was a misunderstanding in that policy somewhere, but
needed to hurry off to work, so I didn't pursue the problem. As I drove
to work I became more and more upset to think that the Company "seems"
to encourage patriotism and "Buy American" won't even, in these days of
horror and heroism and war on terrorism, provide their stores with flags
to show their support!! When I got to work I told my co-employees what I
had found that morning and they agreed that I must be mistaken-Wal-Mart
would not have a policy that made individual stores/employees purchase
their own flag, "for heavens sake"!!
My co-employees suggested I just call Wal-Marts corporate offices and
there I would discover the truth to this misunderstanding. So, I did. I
called the Corporate office and spoke to their representative.
By the way, their number is 1-800-Wal-Mart.
Do you know what I was told? I wasn't misunderstanding their policy!
Each store must provide their own flag-if the store can't fit the
expense into their budget, then the employees have to take up a
collection.
Now, I find this a disgrace. I have always noticed the large flags
flying at every Perkins Pancake House-they always fly the flag, even
when there isn't a National Emergency. But here's Wal-Mart, the company
who has become wealthy beyond measure in this great Country of ours; who
claims to be "one big happy family", who recommends we "Buy American",
but who cannot/will not provide a flag pole/flag and light to each of
their stores wherever they are.
Would this be expensive? Oh, somewhat, I agree, but I hear that Wal-Mart
is planning to build many new stores in the near future and that,
possibly, they will make every existing store into a "super-store". Now,
I realize that expanding like that will bring in more money and make
them wealthier still- where providing flags to all their stores would
only COST money and not add money to their fortune. Maybe, just maybe,
not providing flags to their stores and not flying the flag in support
of our Country will start costing them more money-maybe I will start
looking more closely for the flag before I shop and begin supporting the
smaller stores who don't worry so much about the "bottom line", but
rather are happy to spend some money to show they really love America.
Do you think I am really way off base on this, or do you feel the same.
Thanks for taking the time to think about this with me-if you feel the
same, forward this on to your address list - if not, that's what your
"Delete" is for.
Copyright 2004 by Jay Jennings
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