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Wal-Mart Policy Challenged: Independent sales representatives said Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of Bentonville, Ark., is jeopardizing thousands of small manufacturers by refusing to deal with brokers that represent them. Wal-Mart said the situation had been blown out of proportion. The issue came to a head when two groups that represent more than 40,000 brokers campaigned to get Wal-Mart, the nation’s biggest retailer, to change its policy. They were reacting to a Nov. 6 letter that Wal-Mart President David Glass sent to its biggest suppliers, saying the retailer wanted to deal with principal employees, not brokers. Many smaller manufacturers do not have a direct sales force, instead relying on brokers or representatives to reach clients.