Walmart: Shopping yourself out of a job

Terin · Huzzah! Gender: Joined: 27 Oct 2003

After talking with my mom over the phone yesterday, we got on the subject of Walmart, and she enlightened me with how they do business with their retailers, and it eventaully lead me to look for an article discussing as much. Apparently there was this huge Vlasic Pickle thing that happened a few years ago that I didn't know about. Anyway, after reading the article, Walmart scares me. There's a great comment towards the end of the article, where one retailer says "We want clean air, clear water, good living conditions, the best health care in the world--yet we aren't willing to pay for anything manufactured under those restrictions."

This has been a very enlightening article and I suggest any and all to have a look and post your thoughts.

Walmart Article

-T

Silver Adept · Otaku Lord Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 20 May 2003

Another reason to not be fond of Wal-Mart's practice - they're doing to bigger manufacturers what they've done to smaller retail stores. In America, though, where price is king, queen, and the rest of the royal court, Wal-Mart's found the right attitude that will cultivate its business and allow it to run roughshod over everything else.

Razer · 4934 5157 5662 5658 Gender: Joined: 07 Oct 2002

If you love Walmart, you're going to love them and if you hate them, you're going to hate them. Walmart is the epitome of American business and that's all it is. They're not The Evil Empire, they're a business. If no one bought from them, they'd go out of business. If they force retailers to lower their prices (and I know for a fact that they do) then the retailer can pull out at any time. You can't tell me that it kills you to do business with them AND it kills you not to do business with them.

As far as the Vlasic pickle story, it's almost laughable. Believe me, Walmart is not going to sell anything for less than they pay for it, Now I know for a fact that they insist that vendors sell the same products as to other store to them for less but if you look in stores, Walmart NEVER has the lowest prices on milk or fruits and vegetables. Never. They also don't have the lowest prices on sodas. Those are four very higprofile and high selling items. If you want to look for things to attack anyone on, you can find them. But to say Walmart runs the world is ludicrous. Guess how many Walmarts are in New York City...none. You know why? Because they can't pay the NYC rent and still charge what they do. If they opened in the city, they wouldn't be Walmart. Why can't they strongarm their way in? Because the parties involved said "no". If the vendors say "OK, we'll sell this for this much" then how do you blame Walmart?

I'll stop here but before we just go spouting or quoting someone else's opinions we should look for evidence of our own on both sides.
I shop at Target, K-Mart, Best Buy, and others as well as Walmart. If your prices are low (and your quality is high) I will spend there. That's the American Way.

reaper · I miss you Shar Gender: Joined: 28 Dec 2002

Nothing new to me, Thats the reason I fucking hate wal-mart Evil or Very Mad

Ming · DOOM! Gender: Joined: 13 Jan 2003

Razer · 4934 5157 5662 5658 Gender: Joined: 07 Oct 2002

Andsectoid · Router Monkey of DOOM!!! Gender: Joined: 18 Sep 2003

Wal-Mart designates how much shelf space you get based off the price break you give them. Because of their size they can make or break even a large company. That was the story with Rubbermaid. At one time they were the leading producer of many household goods manufactured in America. In 1993 and 1994, Rubbermaid Inc. was named America's most admired company by Fortune magazine. Late 1994 the cost of key manufacturing components increased 80%, when they approached Wal-Mart to accept new higher prices they refused. They lost shelf space and some stores dropped Rubbermaid completely.

Their actions almost killed the company. After only 3 years another company bought out Rubbermaid and the factories were moved out of the country.

But one good thing about Wal-Mart is that they have revolutionized the way items are supplied and stocked to stores. They track everything. Anticipate customer demand based on current information and past trends. They know what sells and when they will sell more of what item so they can have items at the stores when it’s historically in higher demand.

GAAZ · MOD Black Sheep Commander Gender: Joined: 14 Oct 2002

I'll think about all this as I buy my groceries for the next two weeks at Wal-Mart tonight at 12:30 AM.

I'm willing to kill some children to save $.02 on each container of yogurt over Target.

I really don't look into the business practices of ANY company because if you dig deep enough they all buy materials garnered by third world countries...It's the way business works. The only difference is that Wal-Mart doesn't care if you hate them...They're making money even while you sit on message boards stating

FawkesFyre · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 6:32 pm Post subject:

It just doesn't really compute to me as to how Walmart pulls in the profits that they do...but then again, are ppl that stupid today to think that if they bought it at Walmart then they got a good deal (Sadly, the answer is yes) I shop at Walmart on occasion, but I actually like Target better.

I have found that Walmart actually has higher prices. You get the deals on some of the more obscure and random items...like 4-packs of Chicken Broth for $2, or a garbage can for $3. I think their prices on clothing is WAY too high for the quality where I haven't even heard of the brands they offer.

I tend to stay away form Kmart, the few around me are really old and in bad areas. The Walmarts, sadly, make many feel like English is a second language...while I may not care either way about this (I'm there to shop), I don't like the greeter greeting me in Spanish. So all that leaves is Target...which took some getting used to, but I think it's pretty good.

Target has good sales for sodas, Good clearance and brands of clothing that are a good quality, brand, and price for my personal tastes. Like anywhere else, they charge too much for other items.

Everyone has their own tastes...It may be easier to do the one-stop shopping but sometimes it saves you more to shop around.

Shino · Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:47 am Post subject:

I would shop at Target if the Super Target near me was closer. I pass Walmart to get to Super Target.

I do some shopping at Walmart. I'm going there Saturday night to get my Wii.

I may not like all of their business practices, but they will continue to be around until everyone chips in to bring them down, and I honestly doubt that will happen.