It is not in the best interest of Wal-Mart to purchase differently. Think about it, if Wal-Mart makes a full court press to do this, the Wall Street analysts would see this with potential profit warnings while many of those same analysts would avoid this toys at Wal-mart.

This is an opportunity for small companies to address and thus create scale with an entirely new DNA for doing business. Check out http://toysnotmadeinchina.org which is the first phase of proving a new business model.

The orgenal owner would roll over in his grave as they don't carry just american made products

Why are you singeling out WalMart? If you know anything about retail all of these issues are true for all of them? I have a daughter who works for Wal Mart and her pay is above minimum wage starting out and they are very safety conscious. My husband is in the manufacturing buisness and China has shut out his company but they sell to all the major retailers in the US not just WAl Mart.

I bet CEO Lee H Scott ship America store to China to make lead posion in China to ship to America Wal Mart to sell lead posion Toy to Childern for Chrismas

I think you guys are like racist or something. I mean yeah, China has given us disese-ridden toys, but if you went into your closet right now, more than "70%" of your stuff is made in China. I believe that the people that made this blog have a small toy shop, and all of their cumstomers are going to Wal-Mart. They want publicity-- and i don't blame them, they are true Americans. In conclusion, stop hating on Wal-mart. It's like the true symbol of our country... it should be a quarter!!!!

The real racists are the people who exploit poor, powerless workers in china, so they can make higher profits from cheaper products. Last time I checked, America was all about individual human rights, not making a quick buck through exploitation.

CLEAN UP the shops in china, PAY the chinese workers, or STOP BUYING CHINESE PRODUCTS!

The funniest thing about this socialist piece of garbage that it was created by a computer that has 70% of its parts that also come from communist China. Why are the socialist unions tauting the communist point anyway? Socialism is the road to communism you idiots!

The real root of your plight is the fact your socialism is the reason a person gets $36 an hour to do the job a high school dropout can do for $10 an hour in the first place.

Right on Albert! The lower classes have way too much power in this country. That is exactly why all of America's wealth is at the bottom, while billionaires like Rob Walton are begging in the street.

Why is this even a big issue? Why can't we just forget China and make our own products in the USA? This would provide jobs for Americans and not to mention help our own economy and look out for the safety of our own citizens.

That's what I'm talkin' about, Santa!

It's interesting that only now are people in general not down with Wal-Mart's made in China policy and only because of the whole lead paint "thing." Before that, it was all wine-n-roses...because, after all, we're getting our electronics for a buck-o-five.

Free trade my ass. I avoid Wal-Mart at all costs (pun intended) and I avoid "Made in China" as well; the two are directly proportional. But it is darkly humorous that most people didn't give a flip about our country's "Made in China" doctrine before this lead paint hoo haw. Nor did they care about Red China's human rights record. They (China) make The Marque de Saddam look like a freakin' altar boy. Poor Saddam, if he'd only known about about America's "I want it cheap and I don't care who gets screwed in the process, as long as it ain't me" mentality. He could've had his yellow cake and eaten it too...along with a nice side helping of "Most Favored Nation Status." Get a clue Kelly, Susan, and any of you other Kool-Aid drinking Zagnuts out there: Free Trade Ain't Free!

I just want to say that what Walmart does with its employees is nothing new and all retail establishments pay poorly and most do not work enough hours to qualify for benefits. All stores are also selling products made in China. There is no way that a retail establishment would be able to stay in business right now if they did not because most of our products are made in China. The answer here is to change the rules about products made overseas. Its certainly not Walmart's fault that the Government has failed to pass bills that would give ins. coverage to all Americans and that they allow foreign products to flood our markets without proper inspections.

Actually Pat, it IS to a large extent Wal-Mart's fault that the government hasn't passed bills to limit foreign goods coming into America. Wal-Mart spends more than any other retailer on lobbying the government to keep our borders as open as possible. This, by the way, included lobbying against a bill that would require inspections of every container ship that came in to our ports.

In addition to lobbying, Wal-Mart DEMANDS that their suppliers sell to them for cheap (and they can, since they're the biggest corporation in the U.S.) and this forces manufacturer to go to places like China where labor is cheap. It also forces the manufacturer to cut corners to save money so they can earn a profit.

So yes, it IS Wal-Mart's fault that we have unsafe chinese products here.

Here is an article from New York times:
December 12, 2007, 2:07 pm
Report Cites Labor Infractions by Wal-Mart Supplier in China.Wal-Mart Stores said today that it would begin an investigation into labor conditions at a Chinese factory that supplies Wal-Mart with Christmas ornaments, after the National Labor Committee released a report asserting that Chinese teenagers at the factory worked for less than the legal minimum wage. The National Labor Committee — citing interviews, wage records and cellphone pictures smuggled out by teenage workers — said that the employees were being paid at less than Guangzhou’s legal minimum of 55 cents per hour and are being forced to work excessive amounts of overtime. Workers were paid by a piecemeal basis, according to the committee, with some earning as little as 26 cents per hour. The wage records, which were from a 10-day period from June 21 to 30 of this year, show a median wage of 49 cents per hour. By law, the employees should have been earning a median of 68 cents per hour because of overtime regulations.
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Why can't we make the dam lights right here in the USA!!
When Hillary moves into the White House next year, I hope she goes after Wal-mart and pummels wal-mart into submission.

Chad, I (literally) couldn't have said it better myself. So, I won't bother.

Great comment, I agree wholeheartedly.

First of all…WAY TO GO CHAD!

Susan, Even McDonalds and my local grocery store pay slightly above minimum wage, so that point is moot. Let me tell you also what I heard on a CNN report of Wal-Mart’s employees. When Wal-Mart hires a person they take out what is called “'Dead Peasant’s Insurance”. What this insurance does is pay’s Wal-Mart over ½ million dollars if that employee dies, yet the family of this employee gets nothing, nada, zip! It is just another greedy moneymaking scheme of theirs! Since I watched that about 5 years ago I completely stopped buying anything in Wal-Mart. I think it’s disgusting…peasants insurance! That’s how highly they think of their employees! Pat…do you know of any other company that does that?
Here is another “GREAT” thing Wal-Mart does. They will buy a new product made in the USA, sell it in their store for a year or so to see how it sells then send a prototype of it to China and have it made for much less then sell it in their stores, cutting out the USA maker, generally putting them out of business. I have a friend that this happened to about three years ago. I guess you think that’s great too!
I am sorry but the answer is not to change rules about overseas, it’s time for the USA to get back in the business of making their own products! No more overseas junk! I can tell you My husband and I go out of our way not to buy anything made in China, tools, food, toys, camera’s, electrical equipment, etc. and defiantly NO WAL-MART!

Here’s the info:
Right now, your company could have a life insurance policy on you that you know nothing about. When you die -- perhaps years after you leave your employer -- the tax-free proceeds from this policy wouldn’t go to your family. The money would go to the company.
What’s more, the company might use this policy to pay for retirement benefits and other perks not for you or your fellow workers, but for your company’s top executives.
Sound outrageous? Such corporate-owned life insurance is also big business:
· Companies pay a whopping $8 billion in premiums each year for such coverage, according to the American Council of Life Insurers, a trade group.
· The policies make up more than 20% of the all the life insurance sold each year.
· Companies expect to reap more than $9 billion in tax breaks from these policies over the next five years. The policies are treated as whole life policies. So, companies can borrow against the policies (though the IRS won't let them write off the interest). And the death benefits are tax-free

I have avoided Wal-Mart like the plague for years... fortunatly my husband feels the same way...... I think Wal-Mart is the evil of all the world and when I saw the TV Comercial for this site I was over joyed and had to check it out.

I think you're missing the real point in all this Pat. It's not safer products (although that is a concern). The real issue or issues are self sufficiency, national security, and our way of life. While it is true that Wal-Mart ain't the only game in town, our government's removal of protectionist tariffs has largely created this mess in tandem with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Also, bear in mind that B.S.L. is right on the money (if I may say) when he/she posits that our government (write that as our duly elected representatives) has allowed itself to be coerced by powerful lobbies like Wal-Mart . In addition, they are in bed with manufacturers who have moved their operations overseas (or south of the border) that they (manufacturers) may exploit, and, therefore profit from the substandard labor practices of those countries. As far as your comment about national health care. I agree that it's not Wal-Mart's responsibility to provide decent health care coverage for their employees. But neither is it the Federal Government's responsibility to provide you with health care. That's another debate, which goes beyond the scope of this thread, so I won't badger that topic any further.

Chad, I agree with you wholeheartedly !! I rarely shop in Wal-Mart ( if I do it is for detergent or something of that nature ) My last visit there left me complaining LOUDLY to checkout clerks that I absolutely could not find anything that I wanted that wasn't "Made in China". When I saw the commercial tonight on channel 9 for this site I HAD to check it out !! in the movie Rainman he says "K-Mart sucks" well, I think Wal-Mart sucks !!! Kate

I think that walmart should stay der because walmart is better then yall sto yall some haters walmart is da bestn white people

It's not Walmart's fault at all. China is deliberately poisoning our children, and Walmart and the rest of the country is the victim. We banned lead in 1978, and cases of poisoning fell, until recently. This is a case of "retail terrorism". China found a way to sneak attack us. Nobody was keeping an eye on them and they got away with it. Now we're blaming ourselves instead of the terrorists. Call your congressmen and tell them to stop China from poisoning our children.

why walmart what about k mart ,target ,kbee toys.dollar stores! they all sell this crap ,why not stop buying this crap pour little johnny just have too do with out this year. wake up people!

Get your facts straight. There is no other company out there that puts there products through more testing. Walmart will recall any item that may have the slightest inclination of a problem. i challenge any of you to walk into any retail chain and try to find more US made products than Chinese made. And lets not even focus on what walmart gives back to the communities that there stores are in. According to a majority of you walmart is the devil.

Doug....

REALLY?!? Do you REALLY believe that China is purposely sending toys with lead in them as a terrorist attack? I find it hard to believe that people are that paranoid and xenophobic. Wal-Mart is the victim here? Come on, you're talking about a massive corporation raking in billions of dollars. They have more money than a lot of countries in this world.

The real reason we're seeing all sorts of lead in our toys is because Wal-Mart demands that their manufacturers sell to them at very cheap prices. To try to keep up with Wal-Mart they cut corners when making products so product safety flies out the window (or would if the window didn't have bars on it to keep the workers in the factory for their 24 hour shift).

George,

First off...what facts do you have to back up the claim that "There is no other company out there that puts there products through more testing" ? I'm relatively certain there are LOTS more companies who product test more than Wal-Mart.

Also, if you read more of this blog, you'll see that Wal-Mart isn't great about getting recalled items off their shelves, and was down right nasty to a customer who saw a dangerous product on a shelf. This customer told the manager about how dangerous the product was and the manager told him he was probably wrong, and that he couldn't do anything anyway because it wasn't on a list from headquarters.

Lastly, I could go in to American Apparel today and find that 100% of their goods are made right here in the USA.

Wal-Mart is not the devil, but it's doing dome evil things, and we want to change them!

A few things:
1) I agree wih Doug, do you honestly think that China is purposely putting lead in their toys? Better not buy that blouse from China as it may contain Anthrax
2) How is this WalMarts fault? I was reading that other places were buying their LEGOs from Denmark or Germany. Again, please read this, why is Walmart to blame? Why isn't LEGOs to blame or Mattel, or Fisher Price? Those are the manufacturing companies people are blaming for lead based toys. Why aren't they getting the criticism? Why haven't they stopped the toys being made in China. Besides, like Hmmmm said, LEGOs and all those other manufacturers should bring jobs here instead of overseas.

I went to Kaybee toy store this past weekend and found those Elmo playing cards that are supposedly linked with having lead in them and you know what, they were on there shelf and I asked why and they simply said "Because we need to make money and someone will buy it." WTF!!! Why aren't you out protesting this store?

It seems to me people are out to blame Walmart for their unhappiness. If you are over worked, QUIT..Under paid, QUIT..Don't like their product, DON"T SHOP THERE..That easy..
775,000 employees with NO health insurance? How many of those employees are full time, because only full time employees are eligible, whether or not that is because Walmart allows them to work 32 hours a week or not..
I worked at McDonald's for 2 years and I can first hand tell you that my pay sucked (a manager barely making more then minimum wage for the person who said McDonald's pays better), hours sucked, and I was treated like crap. So was everyone else who worked there. And I didn't get health benefits while I was there..Why isn't McDonald's under the microscope? I am not trying to defend Walmart, but jesus, people are out bashing one company of MANY that do this, just like Susan said above. I bet you could go anywhere in the US and find a major fast food joint or retailer who under pay, treat employees crappy, and over work the staff. Also, in regards to Walmart under paying employees..Yes, that is true, but most Walmart's don't exist in high priced and fancy areas, so the cost of living isn't as expensive either

Many people go to Walmart because they can't afford to go to nicer places to buy more Chinese made toys or clothes. So, whether they like going there or not, the fact remains that Walmart is cheaper for them to shop at.

Last thought: With all that said, I agree that we really should start getting products made here in the USA and not overseas. Walmart is not the only player in town to blame. ALL companies of ALL natures are. You can't buy a Ford car that is 100% American as most of the parts are bought overseas. Nike has sweat shops all over Asia and sell their stuff for way more then their competitors, so they are making huge profits. Tech companies go to India for employment because it is way cheaper then a US based employee (and they work more hours and don't receive benefits). IE, I worked for a company that paid India's employee's 750 a MONTH, where as their counterpart was making 150% of that a WEEK and we buy this technology and keep these companies in business and you herar nothing about it.. Walmart may do some shady things, but so does every other corporation type company. Fighting Walmart isn't the answer, fighting the cause is. I am in full agreeance to close the borders down to goods and making any corporation, like Walmart or Nike, pay HUGE taxes to import goods into the country and give those taxes to the USA companies producing the same product.

And while you sit and stew over this in your nice big house, think about who built that house for you. NOT Americans, likely illegal immigrants who worked 80 hour work weeks and got paid under the table low wages.

BackStage...
China hates us with a passion. So do the Arabs. It's not paranoia, and it's not that I hate anyone. They hate everything we stand for. That's a fact. And as long as we don't tell our government what we want, they'll just keep catering to big business.

This is the stupidest site I have ever visited. Walmart, like ALL major retailers, obtain products from China. Wages are low because, hello, they are low-skill jobs. Walmart also not only encourages meal breaks, they enforce policies that make them mandatory. I know people who have been terminated for repeatedly not taking thier meal breaks. If you really want to change Walmart, then take the iniative to mass produce cheaper, safer, better toys yourself and provide them to Walmart a lower price. But then, you're probably more concerned about making yourselves feel like heroes and martyrs fighting against "the establishment."

No Dave, it has been proven time and again in court that Wal-Mart has pressured thousands of associates to skip breaks. That's why Wal-Mart has lost hundreds of millions of dollars in class action suits.

That's very nice that your Wal-Mart does not follow that policy. Unfortunately, it's just not the case overall. Get the facts, guy.

"This is the stupidest site I have ever visited"? Really, Dave...you must not get out much. Listen, I'm not yer average idiot savant; I get around, okay. And this site freakin' rules. Not only are most of the regulars well informed, but the site is second to none at tracking, compiling, collating, and disseminating accurate information on the evil corporate empire we know as Wal-Mart, henceforth surnamed, Hu Jintau-Mart. If you bothered to check the data, which you obviously didn't, you wouldn't be making lame assertions like the ones you puked out in your comments. You're going to have to do better than that if you want to be taken seriously.

First of all dave is right. You know how i know that? I WORK THERE!!! if you do not take at least one half hourwith in 6 hours you will be terminated. So now maybe if you are talking about six years ago i dont know what the policy was but i KNOW its not as bad as you are making it out to be... I have alot of family who work there and have for about 5 years. So please dont tell him to learn the facts... cuz he was the one who was right.

Chad...
Evil corporate empire? Walmart isn't evil. Talk about paranoia. They give the people what they want. People just happen to want cheap shet. China is the evil one here. They're poisoning our children from every angle possible, not just Walmart. K Mart, Big Lots, Target and all the dollar stores have had recalled items. I shopped in a hospital gift shop that had hand painted figurines "made in China" in it. When I asked the clerk if they were tested for lead, she said "just dont stick them in your mouth". Retailers don't even have to test for lead. Walmart does from what I hear.

Doug, we don't care about what Wal-Mart HAS to do, or DOESNT HAVE to do.

We care about what Wal-Mart SHOULD do, and so should every responsible consumer in America.

If you KNOW that a corporation is knowingly importing inferior, even dangerous, products from China, it is your duty to a) shop elsewhere, or b) pressure the company until it changes.

This foundation is a pure piece of crap. Why do you pick on Walmart about the toys- Toy's-R-Us gets the same toys from the same damned place! I DON'T see the Union hipocrites going after Meijers, GayMart and the rest of the low cost companies.
I spent 12 years as a member of AFGE and 4 years as chief steward defending employees who were trodden upon. GET A FRICKIN CLUE- others are either just as bad as Walmart, if not worse. You need to quit running the crybaby ads, and help people. The only reason this organization is picking on Walmart is solely because Walmart is NOT a union company, while Meijers, GayMart and the rest are!

I'd like to know who gave my PHONE NUMBER and ADDRESS to this group of people. I was called very early this morning by some guy from india telling me where I should shop for x-mas. Who do you people think you are? Do you think Im not smart enough to look at something and see if made in china is on it? I don't need some group of people(most likely with an agenda against WalMart) to bother me, go eff yourselves. Take me off your list!

Blaming Walmart for what the Chinese are doing to our children is like blaming Oprah for what the South Africans did to the children at her school. Yes, I agree we shouldn't buy Chinese products. From Walmart or anywhere else. If you must have a product "made in China" steal it!

walmart is not the only store that sell stuff from china .so i say if you don.t like walmart DON'T SHOP THERE. There not much you can buy in this country that isn't made in china the only thing different is its cheaper at walmat then the other stores. IF YOU LOOK EVEN OUR AMERICAN FLAGS ARE MADE IN CHINA . SO I JUST SAY IF WE JUST BOUGHT AMERICAN MADE PRODUCTS WEWOULD HAVE NOTHING .AND IF THE PEOLPLE DIDN'T WORK THERE WHERE WOULD THEY BE .WITH THE WAR GOING ON AND THE OIL GOING UP I CAN'T BELIEVE THE ONLY THING EVEYONE HAS TO DO IS COMPLAIN ABOUT A COMPANY WHERE YOU CAN SAVE MONEY WHEN EVERTHING YOU BUY COST AS MUCH AS IT DOES.YOU PEOPLE NEED TO GET A LIFE .

Doug: So you're saying that when a corporation gives people what they want, that makes them good? How does giving the people what they want make Hu Jintau-Mart morally good? I suppose if they created a market for cheap OTC narcotics and then exploited it after the fact, you think that'd be good as well. Or perhaps, you'd argue that such actions didn't make them evil, since they were merely "giving people what they want." You gotta be kiddin' me, right. Using your logic, you can't even say that China is evil, as you wrote in your comment, since China is also giving people what they want. And BTW, one reason that China can give us what we want, is because they don't have all the regulations we have, which keep things like lead off the Hot Wheels, Doug. And yes, you're right. There are other companies in bed with China. You know it; I know it; and everyone on this thread knows it. You're not breaking any molds here. But Wal-Mart is the big dog. As such, they have become the poster child for this movement. However, I do think MINDY makes a good point about the other companies who are in an economic orgy with China. Personally, I'd love to see more sites like this crop up which take on those establishments, as well. Perhaps, then, the consciousness of the American people will be aroused sufficiently to bring about legislative change in this country. Until then, it's the "me first" mentality.