Walmart Holds Invention Contest

An anonymous reader writes "Walmart is holding the inventor's equivalent to 'American Idol' calling for product submissions that will be offered for sale in Walmart stores. Feel that the back scratcher you received a patent for hasn't garnered the attention it deserves? This could be your big chance at fame and fortune."

Re:Fine Print...

[furytrader]

In looking over the terms of the contest, they are offering what they say they are offering: the chance to SELL your product on Wal-Mart's shelves, which is essentially access to one of the largest retail distribution systems in the world. They are not offering to manufacture your product, they are not offering to market your product, they are offering to put in on their shelves. That's what you're winning ... which is precisely what they said the contest is about. If you went ahead and read the rules of the contest, you'd see that. But because it's Wal-Mart, let's all just bury our heads in the sand and assume the worst, right?

Cheaper than cheap

[Rosco P. Coltrane]

So essentially, they buy the stuff they sell from China because it's super-cheap, and now they're trying to get people to give them product ideas because designers and engineers are too expensive, to save on the cost of product development.

No way I'm giving the cheap bastards any of my brainpower so they can make even more profit.

(Mind you, that's exactly what Google does too...)

Here are the unacceptable terms.

[Anonymous Coward]

As conditions of Contest entry, you acknowledge and agree that: (a) Sponsor and other participants and members of the general public have access to and/or may create materials, ideas and concepts which may be similar or identical to your Entry, ideas and/or concepts; (b) you will not be entitled to any compensation or other consideration because of the use by Sponsor or any other participant of such similar or identical material, ideas and/or concepts; and (c) Sponsor's or other participant's use of material containing elements similar to or identical with those contained in your Entry shall not obligate Sponsor to negotiate with nor entitle you to any compensation or other claim.

By submitting an Entry, you warrant and represent that (a) you have all rights, including, without limitation, rights of copyright, trademark and other intellectual property rights, to the Product and Video to submit your Entry in accordance with these Official Rules, subject to the posting and voting provisions herein and if your Entry wins, you have the right to enter into an agreement with Sponsor regarding the sale of your Product; (b) your Entry does not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, rights of privacy, publicity or other intellectual property or other rights of any person or entity (as more fully set forth in he Submission Requirements below), (c) that publication or other use by Sponsor of the Entry via various media including Web posting, will not infringe on the rights of any third party rights; and (d) otherwise complies with these Official Rules. You will indemnify and hold Released Parties (as defined below) harmless from and against any and all claims to the contrary and any demands, actions, causes of action, damages, costs or expenses brought against or suffered or incurred by the Released Parties, or any of them arising out of or in connection with your participation in this Contest, or the use, in whole or in part, by any Released Party of your Entry (or portion thereof) submitted by you in this Contest.

http://getontheshelf.com/rules

The small print

[abarrow]

"Each demonstration should begin with the phrase "Stand back if you know what's good for ya" or "Hold my beer and watch this!""

Re:supply chain analyzer

[Anonymous Coward]

So glad Walmart Canada is the absolute opposite:

  - overnight wal-mart stockers with no health insurance

When Walmart came to Canada they specifically advertised their health benefits to attract workers.

  - the long haul truckers who are continually pushed by managers to drive further with less sleep

Illegal. If Walmart did this they would be put out of business immediately. And I mean it. Hell, truckers here can't even SMOKE in their trucks anymore.

  - the docks where TSA irradiates everything

TSA doesn't exist here, but radiation testing does, it does almost everywhere. X-Rays are (generally) perfectly safe on inanimate objects. It's a great way to find smuggled goods.

  - the chinese factory where the manager rapes the workers on a regular basis, the government run prison mines that provide input to the factory, etc etc etc.

I will require proof of this for sure.

Basically, from what I hear, in the US, Walmart is a form of slavery, like you guys had in the south. I really don't understand it. Does Walmart USA force breeding as well so they can get more employees? Why can Walmart Canada run so ethically while Walmart USA uses techniques banned by the Geneva convention?

I will say, Canadian Walmart does have two issues, neither of which I think Walmart is actually on the bad side of. Many cities have vocal groups (Perhaps Americans?) who try to push them out of the city, eventually requiring Walmart to get the provincial government involved. Unionization was attempted at one Walmart and failed (obvious, considering the type of work offered rarely has successful unionization).

Why is it that US Walmarts seem to be run by your crazy prison system and Canadian Walmarts are run by Unicorns, Ponies, and Kittens?

Or perhaps haters just gonna hate.