Wal-Mart is Bad For America

[StarOfAfrica2]

Originally posted by Skilless
A record store makes it's money by selling massive amounts of Britney Spears and Garth Brookes CDs, not by selling a few Radiohead CDs.  In comes Wal-Mart with Britney Spears CDs as far as the eye can see for two dollars less and the local record shop is left selling a few Radiohead CDs.  

Can you see the financial implications?

Sure I do.  But what I'm saying is, every town I've ever lived in has had its Wal Mart, sometimes more than one, and the local stores still manage to do business.  Sometimes it means specializing, or expanding.  Many of them do a good business in used CDs, but alot of them make their money on LPs.  Stuff in good condition goes for big bucks to collectors.  You get the reputation as being the place to go for hard to find music, people dont bother to go to Wal Mart and dig for an hour through their confusing and rarely in order music section.  Local stores often work with local radio as well, hosting remotes and providing space for concert ads (which Wal Mart will NEVER do), even album signings if you are lucky enough.  There is plenty of money to be made in the low volume approach, if you market yourself right.

[1K3]

There's a new BLACK FRIDAY strategy...

Wal-mart will sell $398 laptop PC and a $3 coffemaker!:eek:

[Mickey1992]

Originally posted by StarOfAfrica2
To simply say Wal Mart puts locals out of business is a stretch, at best.

Wal-Mart is able to sell products at a price that is LESS than what local businesses are able to BUY them.  This happened to my local bike shop.  Wal-Mart can do this because they have exclusive contracts with manufacturers and negotiate the price beforehand.

[Skuzzy]

OT:  A thread started with nothing more than some links is not a discussion.  It is a troll.

I left it open so it might recover.  Nothing wrong with the topic.  Skilless, if you want to discuss this topic, then please do so, but continued personal attacks will open a door you do not want to open.

[StarOfAfrica2]

Originally posted by Mickey1992
Wal-Mart is able to sell products at a price that is LESS than what local businesses are able to BUY them.  This happened to my local bike shop.  Wal-Mart can do this because they have exclusive contracts with manufacturers and negotiate the price beforehand.

Then Mickey, your local bike shop was handling the wrong brands.  

You want a cheapo bike for your kid?  Go to Wal Mart, sure.  You want a quality bike thats going to hold up over time?  You might try Wal Mart once or twice, but you learn quick enough you go to a real bike shop.  Wal Mart negotiates contracts and prices with a limited number of manufacturers.  A VERY limited number.  Again, if your local store was trying to sell the bicycle version of Britney CDs, no wonder they went out of business competing with Wally world.

[Skilless]

Originally posted by StarOfAfrica2
Sure I do.  But what I'm saying is, every town I've ever lived in has had its Wal Mart, sometimes more than one, and the local stores still manage to do business.  Sometimes it means specializing, or expanding.  Many of them do a good business in used CDs, but alot of them make their money on LPs.  Stuff in good condition goes for big bucks to collectors.  You get the reputation as being the place to go for hard to find music, people dont bother to go to Wal Mart and dig for an hour through their confusing and rarely in order music section.  Local stores often work with local radio as well, hosting remotes and providing space for concert ads (which Wal Mart will NEVER do), even album signings if you are lucky enough.  There is plenty of money to be made in the low volume approach, if you market yourself right.

I don't think you've lived in a truly small, rural community.  All of these things you speak of are unheard of here, a town of less than 5,000 year round residents, but we have our super center and we have our Rite Aid, and the last locally owned drug store went under a couple of months ago.  The pharmacist who used to own it works at Wal-mart now.

The Super Center idea is so all-incompassing that it touches almost every corner of the community.  You can walk in and do your grocery shopping, buy a TV, and get your hair cut.

[Stringer]

Originally posted by Mickey1992
Wal-Mart is able to sell products at a price that is LESS than what local businesses are able to BUY them.  This happened to my local bike shop.  Wal-Mart can do this because they have exclusive contracts with manufacturers and negotiate the price beforehand.

No, Walmart can do this because people continue to shop there.

[Skilless]

Originally posted by StarOfAfrica2
Then Mickey, your local bike shop was handling the wrong brands.  

You want a cheapo bike for your kid?  Go to Wal Mart, sure.  You want a quality bike thats going to hold up over time?  You might try Wal Mart once or twice, but you learn quick enough you go to a real bike shop.  Wal Mart negotiates contracts and prices with a limited number of manufacturers.  A VERY limited number.  Again, if your local store was trying to sell the bicycle version of Britney CDs, no wonder they went out of business competing with Wally world.

Our local Super Center carries very nice looking Mongoose and Schwinn bicycles.  The point is that Wal-Mart is selling the brand names that people want to see at prices that are rediculously low.  Who can resist the 42" plasma made by 12 year-old chinese girls earning 50 cents an hour that Wal-Mart is selling for $1700?

[midnight Target]

They are putting up 2 super walmarts in our town. My wife thinks it's freakin disneyland!

[Nilsen]

Do they have stores outside the US ?

[AKS\/\/ulfe]

I occasionally go to Walmart. Hell, I only occasionally go shopping in the first place.

Usually its for pants, maybe a shirt but I prefer Target for shirts. Anyway, looking through their pants section - I find maybe four pairs of pants my size - 32 waist. All the other pairs aren't even close. It isn't a slow gradual climb of 34s, 36s - no. It instantly jumps to 38+ and the 42+ waist with 30 inseams are 97% of the pants.

Apparently fat tulips are Walmart's core shoppers.
-SW

[Chairboy]

Originally posted by Nilsen
Do they have stores outside the US ?

Absolutely.  About a year ago, there was an item in the news about Wal-Mart putting one of their stores next to an ancient mayan pyramid, which I guess created some discontent with the people who lived nearby.

[StarOfAfrica2]

Originally posted by Skilless
I don't think you've lived in a truly small, rural community.  All of these things you speak of are unheard of here, a town of less than 5,000 year round residents, but we have our super center and we have our Rite Aid, and the last locally owned drug store went under a couple of months ago.  The pharmacist who used to own it works at Wal-mart now.

The Super Center idea is so all-incompassing that it touches almost every corner of the community.  You can walk in and do your grocery shopping, buy a TV, and get your hair cut.

My friend, the town I grew up in was so small if you blinked you'd miss it.  Population of around 500 people.  On a good day.  The nearest big town (about 7-10,000 people) was about 15-20 minutes away.  Only record store for ........... probably 80 miles.  Main St. Records.  When Wal Mart came, it hurt them.  They darn near went out of business.  But they did exactly the things I described.  The place has something of the feel of a headshop and a Tower Records, mixed with the Mayberry garage.  But it works.

[Skilless]

Originally posted by Nilsen
Do they have stores outside the US ?

Canada is in the process of kicking them out because Wal-Mart refuses to allow it's employees-I mean "associates"-to organize.

[StarOfAfrica2]

Originally posted by Skilless
Our local Super Center carries very nice looking Mongoose and Schwinn bicycles.  The point is that Wal-Mart is selling the brand names that people want to see at prices that are rediculously low.  Who can resist the 42" plasma made by 12 year-old chinese girls earning 50 cents an hour that Wal-Mart is selling for $1700?

If you check with Schwinn, Wal Mart is not allowed to sell their bicycles in any market that competes directly with an established Schwinn dealer.  Reason?  Schwinn licensed retailers also perform warranty repairs.  Wal Mart doesnt, nor are the bicycles purchased from Wal Mart eligible for such repair.  

Schwinn isnt stupid.  

This is retarded.  I dont even like Wal Mart and yet here I am defending them.  Or rather, I'm pointing out the holes in your arguments.  Wal Mart has a marketing strategy that works.  It doesnt cover every base though.  There is always room for competition, even though existing business may have to adjust to fit into the new markets that Wal Mart leaves.