The growth of Wal-Mart

#26
#26
Wal Mart is far from the "Made in America" idea that the late Sam Walton would market years ago...
I hate Wal Mart....but still find myself there a couple times a year....darn it
 
#27
#27
burntorangeVOLffle said:
It's the strong arm tactics they use to achieve those low prices that creates an uneven playing field for small businesses.
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Every business that resells a product aims to get it at the lowest price possible. It's not Walmart's fault the suppliers give in. The more a company sells the lower they buy it for. Happens in every industry
 
#28
#28
utvolpj said:
Every business that resells a product aims to get it at the lowest price possible. It's not Walmart's fault the suppliers give in. The more a company sells the lower they buy it for. Happens in every industry
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Not arguing that. It's just capitalism. Their power dictates the pricing and sometimes squeezes the little guys out.

I think there has actually been a resurgence in the buy local movement and ironically Walmart was probably the catalyst. Which is good. Those of us who can afford to pay a couple dollars extra just don't go to Walmart.
 
#30
#30
As a small business owner, let's say I want to move to your town and so does Walmart. The town buys Walmart land and gives them all kinds of tax benefits. I get none of that, but I do get to shake your Chamber of Commerce's eighth in the chain of command while they shake me down for a membership.
 
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#31
#31
burntorangeVOLffle said:
I don't hate on them for offering low prices. It's the strong arm tactics they use to achieve those low prices that creates an uneven playing field for small businesses. Leveraging their power for gov subsidies is just one of those tactics (but shame on the elected officials for allowing it to happen).
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How do you think they offer low prices to the poor? We may not agree with their methods, but the result is a win, IMO.
 
#32
#32
n_huffhines said:
How do you think they offer low prices to the poor? We may not agree with their methods, but the result is a win, IMO.
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I've mentioned it elsewhere before, but I don't think offering cheap (read: low quality) products to the poor is a win in the long run. When items break they're forced to buy another, sometimes two of one item costs more than one of a single, higher quality item. It also creates more waste. Low cost food might be the only point that is a win.

Hell, their employees are paid poorly resulting in piss poor customer service, too.
 
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#34
#34
VOLatile said:
I've mentioned it elsewhere before, but I don't think offering cheap (read: low quality) products to the poor is a win in the long run. When items break they're forced to buy another, sometimes two of one item costs more than one of a single, higher quality item. It also creates more waste. Low cost food might be the only point that is a win.

Hell, their employees are paid poorly resulting in piss poor customer service, too.
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Compared to whom? Your grocery store? Doubt it. Target? Managers? Yes. Regular employees? Nope.

Target vs. Walmart -- Which One Is a Better Place to Work?
 
#35
#35
burntorangeVOLffle said:
Walmart's philosophy is undercut everyone else even if it means cutting margins to near cost. Thereby making it near impossible for independent bussiness owners to compete and driving them out of business. Its hard to blame the consumer for wanting to save money.

Once their power grew they then leveraged it against suppliers forcing them to lower prices as well just so they can get their products in the store. They are ruthless as hell.

Amazon is doing the same thing now.
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100% fact!
 
#36
#36
utvolpj said:
Every business that resells a product aims to get it at the lowest price possible. It's not Walmart's fault the suppliers give in. The more a company sells the lower they buy it for. Happens in every industry
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It's not that they give in, they get greedy. WalMart is great when you get that first contract, do well and they keep expanding their business with you, they pay on time and are pretty easy to work for. Then renewal comes up, they pretty much dictate what they will pay and the terms and if you don't agree, you're gone.

The key to doing business with WalMart is to not leverage your capitol solely on their business and neglect your other customers. If you do you'll find yourself at their mercy.
 
#37
#37
There are hundreds of other companies that do the same. Just because Walmart does it doesn't make it evil or wrong. Supplier doesn't like the terms they can find another vendor.

Small businesses need to realize not all consumers buy based on cost alone. However if you're competing with Walmart on the same products then odds are your going to fail because you're not special
 
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#38
#38
It erks me to go to Wal-Mart so I avoid it whenever possible. However, me or my family inevitably ends up shopping there at least once a week, sometimes more. :no:
 
#39
#39
The Wal Mart here in Tullahoma has a big Alabama flag hanging from the rafters, along side a UT & Titans flag, it's really sickening.
 
#41
#41
And because of that growth, they have essentially cannabilized themselves because they have Wal-Marts competing against other Wal-Marts. Their quarterly reports are definitely concerning and I have to think that they will have to begin shutting some under-performing stores down.
 
#44
#44
I shop at Sam's Club because I am basically feeding an army and 5 pounds of beef is almost one meal...but when I get canned goods etc I do go to walmart.

I can buy 10 cans of bean with bacon soup at walmart for what 6 would cost me at Publix. Big difference when feeding five.

Publix has better seafood though....which is where we get that.
 
#45
#45
My gosh. Wally World blows. I go in that place for a thing if toothpaste at 11:40 at night and they got one damn Lane open and it's the tobacco lane so there's fourteen skinny rednecks that puff and stink like yesterday's laundry and the other six families are mexican and they have two little kids that are are the worst behaved kids I've ever seen. They crazy thing is, thi happened at every wal mart I've been too.
 
#47
#47
Wish there was a Costco in town. Instead of opening the planned Costco, another Walmart is going up in its place. 5 Walmarts in a metro area of 300k...
 
#48
#48
mdrew27 said:
My gosh. Wally World blows. I go in that place for a thing if toothpaste at 11:40 at night and they got one damn Lane open and it's the tobacco lane so there's fourteen skinny rednecks that puff and stink like yesterday's laundry and the other six families are mexican and they have two little kids that are are the worst behaved kids I've ever seen. They crazy thing is, thi happened at every wal mart I've been too.
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Id probably stop going at 11:40 then.
 
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#49
#49
I buy my kickball and kickball accessories there. Then I punch myself in the face for being a grown man playing kickball.
 
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