Your opinion about Wal-Mart

[Jeff964]

What's your opinion about the current business and operational model as Wal-Mart plans to open in large cities across US. Do you guys think the company will face stiff opposition and possible setup in expansion from people who oppose monopolistic companies dominating urban businesses.


Have you guys ever considered or had already bought electronics from WalMart? Or it is the electronics available too low grade or inferior for your taste?

I am doing an informal market research for my cousin's high school project; your opinions are greatly appreciated. Tks

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Walmart is EVIL.

These organizations comprise the TRUE Axis of Evil:

Microsoft
Walmart
RIAA
MPAA (Disney, Lucas, et. al. inclusive)
SCO

I used to think McDonald's was part of the Axis but they're trying to change for the better. They've already made very good progress in improving the treatment of the animals at their suppliers' farms.

[BGCarrera32]

I always feel like I need a shower after I leave Walmart. One night I was in there buying something and the express lane sign read:

"About 10 items or less."

What, in case ya can't count?

I've noticed around here their parking lots are about 8 times too large, they rarely clean up any of the crap in the lot, but if you like stuff cheap...

[Milu]

Originally posted by BlueSkyJaunte
Walmart is EVIL.

I work with a lot of small companies that supply the giants. The power the mega corporationspower have is frightening. Walmart is only the most obvious because it's retail, have a look at what happens to local retailers when Walmart opens up.

In the case of some of my clients, when the "axis of evil" client becomes a significant part of turnover it only has to flex its muscles to squeeze blood from a stone. Lately my clients are having to compete with labour prices from China and the Czech republic, most have reached the point that they are now refusing to play this game. Price, service, quality - pick any two. Prices have sometimes reached the point that losing the business is no longer a consideration.

On one happy occaision my client was threathened with the costs when the component supplied was held responsible for the failure of an assembly, this was demonstrably not the case as we proved to the client at his premises, my client refused to contribute and was prepared to go to court, he refused all new orders. No other supplier was able to meet the quality and service requirement - SURPRISE: He hit them with a huge price increase! For once a victory for the little guy.

[tabs]

I've allready had one diatribe today...My favotrite Wally World adventure...is that I bought a New Braunfels Smoker from them..the asking price was $289.00.... I got a 10% discount because it didn't have the owners manual with it. So one can negioiate price even with Wally in his world. I also buy all my meds from him, give me another hit pleze...

[Victor]

Originally posted by tabs
..... I bought a New Braunfels Smoker from them..

Hi Tabs,

Is that some kind of fire arm?

[island911]

Originally posted by BGCarrera32
I always feel like I need a shower after I leave Walmart.
. . .

HA, well said.

They seem to be the only store to carry Mobil-1 in the 5-qt jugs.

If possible I send my wife to do the dirty-work of entering that store. (she seem to have a higher pain threshold for those type of shopping adventures . . . some how the scent of out-gassing formaldehyde, and fluorescent lights illuminating things I just don't want to see, gives me a bit of an adversion to that type of store.)

As to their operational model; While I am impressed with how quickly, and subtley, they can change product pricing, I think people will figure-out their not always getting a great price on their Chinese quality products. . . . seems they have stealthy "bait & switch" type pricing.


Also, while many small businesses tend to have aspirations of being part of the community, places like Wal-mart tend to be purely focused on profit. Sure they spend money telling us how "nice they are", but when a store is going in to a community, all I've seen from "caring" Walmart is a bull in a china shop.

how nice: Word quickly gets out that the reason some old guy greets you at the door, is NOT because they want you to "have a nice day" but rather that some study somewhere said that people are less likely to shop-lift if their presence has been acknowleged by an employee.
. . .then doncha feel all warm and fuzzy on the greeting? . . . They may as well ask, "are you here to rip us off today? . . . we had something else in mind."

sheesh, just thinking about it. . . I need a shower now.

[CJFusco]

yeah i hate wal-mart. right after they moved into our town, about 5 small (and locally-beloved) businesses were forced out of town. sure, wal-mart has better prices, but with a huge decrease in customer service, customer loyalty, and, above all, quality of service.

[nostatic]

I have never set foot in a Walmart, and never will.

I avoid M$ whenever possible, but I have to occasionally play with their stuff as part of my job.

[WOODPIE]

I don't hate Walmart. They sell cheap stuff at prices that people think they can afford. My local Walmart is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. They are probably the third or fourth largest employer in my town, after the carpet mill and the cotton mill. Yes, they are responsible for driving smaller, family owned, businesses out. Too bad, 'cause I miss paying the high mark-up on various common household items

I have parts on my car (914, that explains a lot, huh?) that I purchased at Walmart. If I feel dirty after leaving a Walmart, I take a shower with a bar of soap I bought there.

In answer to the original poster, I'd suggest to Walmart that they continue to locate in financially challenged areas. Lots of choices in urban areas. Try to stay close to public transportation. Don't try to compete with Saks or Ambercrombie & Fitch, and don't pick up Martha Stewart's contract from the Big K. Walmart's customer base doesn't give a hoot in he!! about giant monopolistic companies; they just want to be able to buy six pairs of sweat socks for two dollars.

Electronics? What i've seen looks too cheesey even for my car, but it is probably good entry level for young people. Speaking of cheese, keep the cheese puffs!

Ed

[Jeff964]

My cousin wants me to thank you guys for your insightful views about Wal-Mart. For those who don't shop in WalMart, where do you guys go for personal essentials?

[JavaBrewer]

We shop at Walmart every 6 months to stock up on the usual soap, shampoo, lotions, deoderant, detergents, Christmas and b-day toys, blah blah blah - you get the idea. I don't need any customer service or excellent return policy to purchase this stuff I just want the lowest price. Anyone have a lead on a internet source of these items?

Clothing is an entirely different matter. I once bought socks and a t-shirt at Walmart, well, you get what you pay for. About 99% of our clothing comes from Macys and Nordstrom - cause we really appreciate the customer service and after sale support/return policy. Well, diapers are a good deal at Walmart too - but my kids have outgrown them and I don't expect to be wearing them for another good 40-50 years.

Finally, I'm a big Microsoft user. Our customers are PC and Sun users. I also have a Linux machine at home that I regularly tear down and rebuild for fun but my bread and butter machines are PCs. I view computers as tools and not extensions of one's personality. I've played with the few Mac machines in our office, used one in college, and just couldn't buy into the hype.

[hoff944]

I forgot where I read it, but if you buy a diamond ring from Wal-Mart, you are buying the exact same quality diamond that Zales sales. In other words, Wal-Mart buys their diamonds from the same source as Zales. You pay half the price, but I'm afraid that name counts as well. Could you imagine telling your fiance' that you bought her diamond engagement ring from Wal-Mart? I know I couldn't do it.......with a straight face anyway.

[jens_uk]

Originally posted by CJFusco
yeah i hate wal-mart. right after they moved into our town, about 5 small (and locally-beloved) businesses were forced out of town.

Perhaps controversially, I don't think Wal-Mart forces anyone out of town. If most people genuinely wanted locally beloved businesses, they would continue shopping at those businesses...but they don't.

I personally like Wal Mart because compared to even Meijer, Michigan's indigenous discount retailer, many of the items are like $1 cheaper on a $5 or $6 item. And smaller grocery stores are even worse. I can save almost a cable modem's worth a month at Wal-Mart.

YMMV.....

[Planter91C2]

Originally posted by CJFusco
yeah i hate wal-mart. right after they moved into our town, about 5 small (and locally-beloved) businesses were forced out of town. sure, wal-mart has better prices, but with a huge decrease in customer service, customer loyalty, and, above all, quality of service.

i say good riddance to these "small locally beloved businesses" every small business owner that i know (alot) are tax evading s.o.b.'s that are only looking out for themselves.

they screw the public by charging the most they can, then they screw the government through tax evasion in their mostly cash businesses.

one guy in particular has a collection of several exotic cars that were bought with income that "never existed" as far as the IRS knows.

leeches of society

[Milu]

Small businesses will usually evade taxes when they can, that is human nature - would you do any different if you had the opportunity? I certainly would do the same.

But the money evaded circulates in society so they probably do more for the community than tax dollars which are wasted by big and local government.

Happy shopping at wal-mart.

[Sarah]

It ranks above K-Mart but below Target.

[Eric Coffey]

from my (very limited) experience, they should rename the franchise to: "Over-crowded-screaming-kids-mart".

[SidVicious]

I try to avoid it.

I had heard stories of videos being altered, to be acceptable to their views of what I should see. It's true. My copy of "The usual suspects" has had the line-up scene deleted. wtf? Since they pulled that one on me, I have refused to go back.

[Ronbo]

Originally posted by hoff944
I forgot where I read it, but if you buy a diamond ring from Wal-Mart, you are buying the exact same quality diamond that Zales sales. In other words, Wal-Mart buys their diamonds from the same source as Zales.

I don't know whether or not it's true that Zales and Wal-Mart get their diamonds from the same source, but if so it doesn't necessarily follow that they are of the same quality. In fact, I'd bet that Wal-Mart gets the less desirable stones.