The End of Wal-Mart?

[Tac]

I foresee serious economic issues for many US bussiness if this becomes a reality.

"Some supply-chain experts say the project is impossibly grandiose in its goal to provide direct links between tens of thousands of Chinese manufacturers and millions of individual customers around the world. But every "Made in China" label eventually could include a Web site where customers could order more — and Chinese factories would produce custom-made goods and send them directly to consumers' homes, mused Chi Tau Robert Lai, chief scientist of the virtual world."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071015/ap_on_hi_te/china_s_virtual_world;_ylt=Ak6Zw7RGxZt3QSGQbiBQSQOs0NUE

By cutting off the middleman (and also the retailer) in the US this will sink many bussiness that rely on the 'cheap' chinese labor to beat their competitors prices.

[lasersailor184]

Originally posted by Tac
I foresee serious economic issues for many US bussiness if this becomes a reality.

"Some supply-chain experts say the project is impossibly grandiose in its goal to provide direct links between tens of thousands of Chinese manufacturers and millions of individual customers around the world. But every "Made in China" label eventually could include a Web site where customers could order more — and Chinese factories would produce custom-made goods and send them directly to consumers' homes, mused Chi Tau Robert Lai, chief scientist of the virtual world."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071015/ap_on_hi_te/china_s_virtual_world;_ylt=Ak6Zw7RGxZt3QSGQbiBQSQOs0NUE

By cutting off the middleman (and also the retailer) in the US this will sink many bussiness that rely on the 'cheap' chinese labor to beat their competitors prices.

While it seems interesting, the truth is that people aren't going to go out and buy the individual useless little knicknacks in large quantities.

[Mickey1992]

Wal-mart is not going to allow the China manufacturer to put a direct sale website on the product packaging.  Take a look at a China-made product from Wal-mart....no where will you find the name of the manufacturer.  All it says is "Marketed by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.  Made in China.  walmart.com"

Wal-Mart controls the packaging and marketing.  Same for Big Lots.

Having said that...it might be a good time to buy UPS or Fed-Ex stock.  

[Curval]

pfffft

Walmart will carpet bomb them into the stone age.

[Sixpence]

Originally posted by Curval
pfffft

Walmart will carpet bomb them into the stone age.

That's sig material

[Tac]

indeed

[Chairboy]

Boutique "Just In Time" manufacturing will spread domestically shortly, perhaps before it gets that far.  Wal-Mart will face competition on the local side as well as internationally, and in 10 years will be primarily a grocery store.

The last 20 years have been a window that Wal-Mart has been able to use to succesfully bootstrap themselves into a national position.  Future success will be in using that built-in market to transition to a consumables market instead of products.

[crockett]

Originally posted by Mickey1992
Wal-mart is not going to allow the China manufacturer to put a direct sale website on the product packaging.  Take a look at a China-made product from Wal-mart....no where will you find the name of the manufacturer.  All it says is "Marketed by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.  Made in China.  walmart.com"

Wal-Mart controls the packaging and marketing.  Same for Big Lots.

Having said that...it might be a good time to buy UPS or Fed-Ex stock.  

I ordered my last laptop battery direct from China. Had I bought it from a US retailer I would have paid almost $100. I bought it direct from China via a E-Bay auction for $35 bucks including shipping. It was the exact same battery advertised at the US retailer.

[Mickey1992]

Originally posted by crockett
I ordered my last laptop battery direct from China.

Cool.  My point is that you didn't buy your original battery from Wal-Mart, and find the China company's web site address on the packaging so that you could buy a replacement later.

[Eagler]

if you think online shopping is going to kill wal-mart, you need to take a closer look at the average wal-mart shopper lol

[JB73]

Originally posted by Eagler
if you think online shopping is going to kill wal-mart, you need to take a closer look at the average wal-mart shopper lol

for emphasis.

[FBplmmr]

I don't want China to know where I live!:noid

[Chairboy]

I know, have you seen her movies?  They're TERRIBLE.

[DREDIOCK]

Originally posted by lasersailor184
While it seems interesting, the truth is that people aren't going to go out and buy the individual useless little knicknacks in large quantities.

there is a good point to be made here. Namely the "Large quantities"

Its almost always cheaper to buy in bulk which the individual consumer just isnt going to do most of the time.
It just isnt cost effective to produce,sell and ship items one by one.
Unless your buying a Bently or something.

and that comes at a price

[texasmom]

mmmm.... i smell a new clive cussler style chinese clandestine underwater wal-mart sabotage novel! keep it coming!