沃尔玛试图打入纽约市场

So near and yet so far, you can actually see the New York City skyline from the parking lot of this Wal-Mart at Secaucus New Jersey. But today, New York remains one of the few major markets where Wal-Mart does not have a retail presence.

Wal-Mart which operates over 4,000 stores across the US pushed hard to expand into the larger US market more than five years ago, but backed down amid howls of protest. This year Wal-Mart is launching a new offensive and it is said to have a number of locations across the city in mind. New Yorkers who travel to this New Jersey Wal-mart about five miles from Manhattan say the company deserves to be in the Big Apple in part because most of its competitors are already in the city.

"Coz we have all the targets and everything else; we have the Costcos and I mean I don't see a problem with that. I know a lot of people say coz it is not union, but it’s still giving jobs."

"We need jobs, more jobs, you know, economy grows"

As millions of Americans struggle to find work and make ends meet, Wal-Mart's message may be resonating more with New Yorkers now than it did during its last attempt to crack this market. According to a new Wal-Mart website, more than 70% of New Yorkers want Wal-Mart in the city. And the company is trying to build on its support by running new ads on local radio.

"Some special interests are pushing the city council to block Wal-Mart from opening here even though it could create good new jobs"

But New York City council speaker Christine Quinn who is overseeing hearings on Wal-Mart remains a staunch critic. She says the company operates on a different ethical claim than competitors’ and says its job creating prowess is overstated.

"Everywhere Wal-Mart has gone has shown the same thin. They don't create new jobs. If you are lucky, it's a net wash, because for every job they created in a store, a small business loses a job."

Wal-Mart supporters in the business community say that doesn't have to be so.

"Location is what matters. There are areas of the city that are under retailed where Wal-Mart would not be competing with local stores, local shopping districts. And we think that's where they should think about going it for, to be welcomed in New York."

Wal-Mart has already been accused of denying workers' affordable health care, competitive wages and discriminating against female workers, charges that Wal-Mart denies. But a mass of class action lawsuit filed by women against the company will be heard by the Supreme Court this year.

Council speaker Quinn said she would love to confront Wal-Mart on these issues. But so far Wal-Mart has been a no-show at council hearings, claiming it's being singled out. Quinn says that says a lot about the company.

"If you're proud of who you are, if you're proud of your product, if you think you're the best thing since sliced bread, why wouldn't you come and tout it, why wouldn't you come into the opposition's camp if you will and show me how wrong I am. It speaks volumes that they are not willing to stand up and take the hit."

Its rock-bottom prices have convinced many shoppers, but New York has remained an elusive price for Wal-Mart and opponents want to keep it that way.