Capitalism In Action: Walmart Will Require All Customers To Wear Masks Starting July 20

Posted by freedomforall 3 years, 8 months ago to Business
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"Following in the footsteps of CostCo, Best Buy and Starbucks, moments ago Walmart - the world's largest retailer - became the latest national chain to require all customers to wear masks.

"As the number of confirmed cases has spiked in communities across the country recently, so too have the number and types of face covering mandates being implemented," Walmart said in a news release Wednesday. About 65% of its more than 5,000 stores, including its Sam's Club locations, are located in areas where there is government mandate on face coverings.

"To help bring consistency across stores and clubs, we will require all shoppers to wear a face covering starting Monday, July 20. This will give us time to inform customers and members of the changes, post signage and train associates on the new protocols."

The change will be enforced on July 20, and comes even as there is federal mandate to wear a mask exists, however the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says everyone "should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public" adding that "face coverings are meant to protect other people.""
SOURCE URL: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/walmart-will-require-all-customers-wear-masks-starting-july-20


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  • Posted by term2 3 years, 8 months ago
    This is to protect WALMART, not the customers, from getting sued in case someone contracts kungflu and tries to pin it on walmart because they didnt "protect us"
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    • Posted by $ allosaur 3 years, 8 months ago
      BINGO! When I worked for the Alabama Department Of Corrections for 21 years, the always above the board stated numero uno reason for one week of annual advanced training was to transfer liability for committing any one of many no-no's from the department to the officer.
      For example, should I kill an inmate by kneeling on his neck for eight minutes while he gasps, "I can't breathe," that inmate's family can sue me and any other officers who just watched but not the department.
      Why? A head and a neck are forbidden targets unless my life is in danger. And I better be able to prove it.
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      • Posted by term2 3 years, 8 months ago
        Of course the inmates can use any kind of force they want and you cant sue THEM. I dont think I would want to be a police officer in this environment, ESPECIALLY if I have to deal with entitled black people.
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        • Posted by $ allosaur 3 years, 8 months ago
          Me dino retired May of 2003. Glad of a pension now due to a medical issue. Hear its really bad working there now.
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          • Posted by term2 3 years, 8 months ago
            one false move and you could get to switch position with the prisoners for a long time like that police officer trainee who was on the job only for a few days and is facing a LONG prison sentence for ont stopping his superior officer from killing the balck dude.
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            • Posted by $ allosaur 3 years, 8 months ago
              At the prison you could get set up by other officers too. During a shift briefing a lieutenant once said "corrections is a cutthroat business."
              When I worked there we lost an officer every two-to-three years due to committing a crime or getting caught having sex (both male and female officers) with male inmates. The latter were just fired on the spot.
              The crime that usually got an officer picked up at the prison by deputies and due process taken to the county jail was smuggling in dope.
              There was an ICS (Inmate Control Systems) Officer who got caught extorting money from inmate families so sonny boy could have one of the more choice prison jobs. Heard he is now serving life without parole for committing another crime while awaiting trail out on bail.
              BTW, before this dude got caught extorting inmate families, he heard me dino was getting a divorce and even told a deputy warden that due to that I was about to go off with inmates in a cell block. That was to divert attention from himself. Saw that happen more than once.
              Now recalling an officer who called another coworker a crook (right in front of me) only to be the one caught bringing in weed the very next day.
              With even more officers quitting so the rest of us often worked mandatory overtime, working at that place was so much fun!
              The life expectancy of a corrections officer is 59. So far I've made it to 73. Being a little crazy helps.
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  • Posted by STEVEDUNN46 3 years, 8 months ago
    i was in a Walmart on Tuesday. i will not be shopping there again util there insane policy is rescinded
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    • Posted by term2 3 years, 8 months ago
      why cant we be responsible for our OWN health and wear whatever protecting things WE think is best for US
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      • Posted by 3 years, 8 months ago
        (1) that would not support the statist media's narrative. You aren't smart enough to think for yourself; they will do that for you.
        (2) In a free market the store owner can decide what is appropriate in his store. You are free to tell the store owner he is wrong by taking your business elsewhere.

        term, I agree that Walmart has a financial interest in avoiding lawsuits and that is one important reason for Walmart requiring customers to wear masks.
        I also think that they do not want their customers to be sick and/or die because they can't buy stuff from the hospital or the grave.
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        • Posted by term2 3 years, 8 months ago
          walmart could care less about the actual health of each of their customers. its the economic health of walmart, since ONE lawsuit would cost them millions in defense costs and settlements.

          Anyway, there isnt rock solid evidence that wearing a mask actually saves the wearer.
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    • Posted by NealS 3 years, 8 months ago
      Don't fret it, it's not a big deal, especially being banned from Walmart. You just can't buy all that Chinese stuff anymore. Hell, I'm not even allowed in the grocery store now after they told me there are no exemptions anymore. Besides my wife can do all the shopping now, I can go fishing.
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      • Posted by term2 3 years, 8 months ago
        I have cut way back on purchases from any of the stores now, particularly of things that go bad and I have to throw out. My expenses have gone DOWN since this pandemic. I dont waste money going out to eat at much, or going to bars, entertainment venues, etc. There is netflix and just having friends over.
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  • Posted by rdjohnson56 3 years, 8 months ago
    This is indeed capitalism in action. Wal-Mart owns their stores. If they want to require you to wear a mask before walking in to do your shopping, in their stores, then it is indeed their prerogative. Do I think this whole COVID-19 thing is overblown? Yes, I do. Do I think that Wal-Mart is succumbing to the current "culture pressure" for businesses to require masks? Yes, I do. Do I think government agencies and their bureaucrats' actions are actually hindering the health care industry's ability to respond and to treat folks with COVID? Yes, I do. But bottom line is, WalMart owns their stores. It's their business and nobody else's if they want to require their customers to wear masks upon entry.
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  • Posted by $ blarman 3 years, 8 months ago
    Well, one more store I won't be patronizing for now. I've already stopped going to the stores in the city obeying the mayor's ridiculous mask mandate. I even told one who wouldn't serve me because of the rule that they would never see me again as a customer and they could thank the mayor for that. Just heard on the radio this morning that there's a recall petition with her name on it now. I'm trying to find it to sign it.

    Here's the real question I ask: where are the scientific studies which demonstrate the effectiveness of homemade masks? My own health district mandated mask use for everyone in our county and cited an 85% reduction in cases if we would follow it, but I can't find any studies which make such a claim - let alone can back it up. Not even the CDC's website makes such a claim. In reality, the only study I could find was a study which said that the researchers had looked for studies and couldn't find any. That report was just published a week ago.

    I took my kids to an amusement part on Monday. They required masks while standing in line, but not on the rides themselves. It was CYA, but I suffered through it and I can guarantee that as soon as I was on the ride, the mask came off so I could breathe. I don't know how people can walk around all day in one of those things, because I couldn't function with it on for more than about five minutes.
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    • Posted by $ gharkness 3 years, 8 months ago
      85% reduction in cases? What do they think these viruses are going to do while we play hide-the-face, like we have some ability to control them? They'll just hang around and do virus things until they find an opening, and then they'll sail right through.

      As much as I don't want to get sick with this, I don't actually see a way out at this point. Not a big believer in a vaccine that hasn't even had a year's worth of testing (if/when it ever comes). Sigh. This is getting depressing.
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      • Posted by $ blarman 3 years, 8 months ago
        That's the discussion I actually had with a radio talk show host the other day: what special kind of hubris does it take for people to think that we can "control" this? At best, we can work for herd immunity. The genie's out of the bottle and it isn't going back in.

        I think the more outrageous question is simply this: why are people continuing to treat this virus specially when they didn't for H1N1, Bird Flu, Avian Flu, SARS, etc.? Those were all viruses which originated in China [pause to let that sink in] and propagated to the rest of the world and killed people. So why the vastly different response now?

        Answer: its a combination of FUD and politics. Those other diseases happened on Obama's watch, therefore they weren't true pandemics requiring economic shutdowns (of at that time an already depressed economy)...
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        • Posted by 3 years, 8 months ago
          "Those other diseases happened on Obama's watch"
          Exactly.
          If only the useful idiots could understand the extent of the divisive racism coming from the 'holy' media and the 'holy' hypocrites (politicians) who must defeat Trump or lose power to manipulate and enslave.
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  • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 3 years, 8 months ago
    "Capitalism" in action?...surely you jest.
    The media has added an: "AND" social distancing.

    Originally it was either or: wear a mask when less than 6' away and you won't need a mask IF YOU ARE 6' socially distanced away from everyone.
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    • Posted by 3 years, 8 months ago
      imo, Wal-mart made a business decision (ergo, capitalism) with an interest of keeping their customers and employees safe (and reducing the chance of lawsuits.) As far as I know they were not threatened, blackmailed, or forced to do this. (Perhaps I am being naive.)
      There are alternatives, so people can choose to go elsewhere. My guess is that local stores will probably let people shop without masks.
      WalMart is supposed to be expanding their on-line business, too. Perhaps they think they will make up any lost business that way.
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      • Posted by $ gharkness 3 years, 8 months ago
        Of course we can choose to shop anywhere we want. I don't really think that's the point, at least not here. It's just so darn inconvenient and expensive to shop elsewhere, AND it's getting hard to find places that will allow shopping without a mask (that's the real problem). There are probably a dozen other things they could do that would be more effective at protecting customers and employees, but nope....Baaaaaaaaa.............
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        • Posted by 3 years, 8 months ago
          Requiring masks doesn't cost Walmart anything - the "other things they could do that would be more effective" are (1) not being recommended by the feds (limiting lawsuit risk) and (2) cost lots of money.
          Walmart is a business and they think at present that asking customers to wear masks is the best thing for them to do.
          It's a pain for the customer to do but Walmart thinks they won't lose much business and cut their exposure to lawsuits.
          Take your business elsewhere. Support a local business instead. It's your freedom to choose. I'd rather have that choice than to be forced by the state to wear a mask everywhere.
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          • Posted by $ gharkness 3 years, 8 months ago
            There are plenty of people who ARE forced by the state to wear a mask everywhere. Doesn't have anything to do with this topic...and for people in states/cities/municipalities where wearing masks is not required, they still have the requirement in the stores. And as I said already, of course we can shop wherever we want. If you think you're going to talk me into believing this is a great idea...sorry, not happening. You are of course entitled to your opinion, but mine is: no, this isn't a great exercise in capitalism. That's my opinion. Enjoy your day.
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  • Posted by CaptainKirk 3 years, 8 months ago
    Yes, our Walmart in FL has been 100% masks required. No entry without them for MONTHS.

    This is apparently now Nationwide!
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    • Posted by $ gharkness 3 years, 8 months ago
      Starting next week nationwide.

      In other news, my city just passed an ordinance to require masks everywhere in public. Interesting that the ordinance they passed was changed from the one they presented to the public as what they were going to do (removed a bunch of exceptions), but at least they also removed the teeth from it. The only way a person can get in trouble is if they refuse to wear a mask and the business owner (not a clerk, not an "ambassador" but the actual business owner/manager) requests that they vacate the property and they don't. THEN they can be charged with trespassing. The police won't respond, otherwise.

      And since there is no business owner/manager/responsible person available to object out in the open air, although there is no exception to the mask order for outdoor wear, no one is going to call the police on that! CORRECTION: there is an exception for outdoor exercising as long as the person is alone or with household members. Otherwise, if others are present, a mask must be worn. Except, there's no official complainant. Also, Tulsa Police Department says they are asking for clarification on how they are supposed to respond.

      In further other news that you probably already know, my Governor, Kevin Stitt, has tested positive (as well as one of our city council members) for the virus. The Governor steadfastly refuses to require the entire state to mask up, saying that each city has a right to make that decision. Although that doesn't affect the orders in places like Walmart and Target, etc.....it leaves us with choices. Since I live very close to a suburb that has no intention of setting a mask order, I do have options. Now if Governor Stitt would follow the lead of Georgia's governor, I'd be really happy (but that still wouldn't change the right of a business owner to decide about that, which IS the definition of freedom).

      Edited for correction of details.
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  • Posted by LazarusLong 3 years, 8 months ago
    I don't envy the poor Walmart associates who will have to stand at the door and tell customers they need to put on masks to enter. Can you imagine the language and threats that will be launched at these poor Walmart employees? Walmart just as well shut their doors until this fiasco is over.
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  • Posted by rcooperjade 3 years, 8 months ago
    It is not capitalism. It is corporationism. The bad version on capitalism and socialism combined. For workers the modern day version of a gulag. Now it looks like even the customers are subject to the tyranny.
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  • Posted by jimslag 3 years, 8 months ago
    Alright, so I see comments both for and against. Let me say this, it is a supposedly free country, if you don't like the policy, don't shop there. My outlook is the fact that I work there due to circumstances related to COVID-19. I started there when laid off my main job in March and have had to wear a mask since day 1. The mask is for my protection from those that have decided that they do not want to wear one. Well, since many areas such as cities and counties, even states are now requiring masks for being out in public, Walmart decided to go one step further and require customers to wear them. We provide masks at the door for those that do not have one but I see customers coming in the door that have their own. A few Walmart stores had to close down because of the virus but they were few and far between, most have had no problem and my Walmart has had no cases from it, thankfully. I would like it to stay that way please. Is this going to be the new normal? I sure in the hell hope not. I guess I need to remind people that Walmart is a business and it owns most of it's stores either entirely or through one of it's subsidies and it is private property, so they can set what rules they want. As I stated above if you don't like it, don't shop there but many other stores that are doing the same thing.
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    • Posted by jimslag 3 years, 8 months ago
      Just for info, I don't wear a cloth mask or a N95 but somewhere in between. The mask is not the answer but it is a item along with social distancing to diminish the effects of the virus. I have a feeling that until a medical answer comes out, we are doomed to both methods of reducing the effects but it is not elimination of the virus. As for my comment about being for my protection, well, all our associates have worn masks and practiced social distancing and none at my store have come down with it. Whether that is dumb luck or not I don't know but now I guess we will be wearing them until the cows come home.
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      • Posted by 3 years, 8 months ago
        My reasoning is that there are some studies indicating masks may reduced the spread to others. There are also indications that older people are more likely to have serious complications and to die if they get the virus. I do care about keeping older people alive and as healthy as possible. They are the ones who remember what individual liberty is and just how little freedom the state wants us to have. They are the ones who had a real work ethic. They have the wisdom that comes from experience and that is very valuable to themselves and everyone they know. I think wearing masks is a good way to protect those who are more likely to die from the virus.
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    • Posted by Dobrien 3 years, 8 months ago
      Surgeons wear a mask to protect the patient from any germs they might express in a sneeze or cough.

      1.“The mask is for my protection from those that have decided that they do not want to wear one.”

      A photograph of a box of disposable masks shows a warning label that says the masks "will not provide any protections against COVID-19."

      Such disclaimers don’t mean that the masks are ineffective at slowing the spread of the disease, but that they don’t protect the wearer as well as medical respirators such as the N95 recommended for use by health care professionals. Disposable and homemade cloth masks are recommended for people to wear because {{{it protects others}}} around them in case they have the virus and may not be showing any symptoms.
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      • Posted by Doug_Huffman 3 years, 8 months ago
        I disagree.

        A surgeon’s MASK is to protect the patient from drools and snot.
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        • Posted by Dobrien 3 years, 8 months ago
          Hmmmmm my first sentence as I wrote it. “Surgeon wear a mask to protect the patient from any germs they may project” they meaning the surgeons.

          The next sentence in quotation marks was what jimslag wrote. My point was that the mask protects others from coughs and sneezes from the mask wearer.
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          • -1
            Posted by Doug_Huffman 3 years, 8 months ago
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            • Posted by Dobrien 3 years, 8 months ago
              What we have here is a failure to communicate.
              Why do I need to learn what ad hockery is?
              Please explain how that pertains to my statement.
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              • -1
                Posted by Doug_Huffman 3 years, 8 months ago
                Ad hockery is shoring up your defective argument after your opponent illuminates its weaknesses. Maximum entropy in a naive subjective prior is beyond most.

                Yes, a failure to communicate.

                What we've got here is failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last week. Which is the way he wants it. Well, he gets it. And I don't like it any more than you men.. Learn the religious memes and Christ images of the movie. It is deeper than you can think.
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                • Posted by Dobrien 3 years, 8 months ago
                  Sorry I have no opponent .
                  I stated “surgeons wear a mask to protect the patient from any germs they might project”
                  You sir ...disagreed.
                  You said “A surgeons MASK is to protect the patient from drool and snot”.

                  ???? Are you disagreeing because I said “germs they may project” and you said “drool and snot”
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