Wal-Mart Going Down the Tubes

[One Sweet World]

Did anyone catch the Wal-Mart story on the front page of the WSJ this week? Could this be a wake up call for the corporate behemoth?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119135657404946747.html?mod=fpa_mostpop

The take aways:

1. Consumers now want quality over price.
2. The company is losing its influence over suppliers (thank to online shopping).
3. All kinds of competitors are slowing peeling away the masses who shop at wal-mart.

For me, safety is another big issue. I'm concerned that wal-mart has been too cozy with China. Look at all the recalls.
http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/feature/chinareport/

"Today, though, Wal-Mart's influence over the retail universe is slipping. In fact, the industry's titan is scrambling to keep up with swifter rivals that are redefining the business all around it. It can still disrupt prices, as it did last year by cutting some generic prescriptions to $4. But success is no longer guaranteed."

[Buzz Clik]

1. No! WalMart can't go down! Where would I bush all my cheap, worthless crap?

[poverlay]

3. Yellow Front maybe??? n/t

[Buzz Clik]

5. Of course, that's in contrast to expensive, worthless crap.

We need to preserve those stores.

[madmom]

13. yep they sell the same thing WM does only it costs more!!!

[SoCalDem]

8. Dollar General & the 99¢ store.. it's THE place to go for really cheap

chinese plastic crap, & toxic toothpaste..

It's really sad, because I can still remember when my hometown got its FIRST discount store.. It was called 'Shoppers Fair', and it seemed like such a great idea to have all kinds of stuff all together in one place..this was way before malls came to be..

Before Shoppers Fair, we had camera stores, 3 downtown theatres (one, an art deco "movie palace" ), dress shops, furniture stores, stationery shops, shoe stores, drug stores, dime stores like S Kress, Kresge's, Ben Franklin, Duckwalls.. we had several "sundries" stores/soda fountains.. there were 3 north-south streets that ran for blocks & blocks..just full of small "specialty" stores, all run by local people who spent the money they made at their stores..in the same community..

Shortly after Shoppers Fair opened, the small stores started to close up...and not long after that the first mall showed up, closing Shoppers Fair in the final analysis..

The farm land gobbled up in the progression made the town "grow", but there was that blighted several-blocks long section that used to be the downtown....

That's progress for ya.. and all the money that was spent at the mall & Shoppers Fair was shipped off to the corporate headquarters of the various store-clones.. (except for the exorbitant salaries paid to employees back then... about $1.75 an hour) :rofl:

[knitter4democracy]

9. Sounds like our town.

Many dollar stores here, too. Dead downtown they're doing all they can to revive.

[antigop]

14. Oh, my! Shoppers' Fair --- I still remember their jingle

Shoppers Fair
Shoppers Fair
That's the place for discounts!

[SoCalDem]

15. Enjoy !

http://www.wtv-zone.com/dpjohnson/60sdiscountstores/index.html

[antigop]

20. Thanks! n/t

[begin_within]

22. Anyone remember "T.G. & Y" stores?

They had a knack for stocking just what you needed. Here's an article about the demise of T.G. & Y:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4182/is_20000511/ai_n10137686

[SoCalDem]

27. Yep.. In 1979..in belen NM, there was a TG&Y and a safeway

in the only "shopping center" in town..it had a GRAVEL parking lot :rofl:..

My little boys called it the TY & G :)

[begin_within]

39. Gravel parking lots- that brings back memories...

[SoCalDem]

43. Dumb me.. the first time I shopped there, I refused the "grocery pick up"

service.. ever try to push a cart with groceries and a couple of kids .....in gravel? :rofl:

The next time. I gave the kid a buck, he gave me a number and I drove around to have him put the groceries in the car :)

[cynatnite]

62. Those two stores were the only ones my family shopped at...

when we were kids.

[earth mom]

31. Omg-I loved T G & Y! & Woolworths!

One of my favorite things to do as a kid was stop for lunch there with my mom & have a grilled cheese sandwich, fries, a pickle & a coke! :9

p.s. I just had to share that memory!

[begin_within]

44. That was at Woolworth, right?

I don't remember TG&Y ever serving food. Up until about 1987 or so there was a Woolworth here at the end of a mall, that had fried chicken served hot - you could just swing by and pick up some pieces of chicken, and they were just as good or better than KFC or Church's or Popeye's. That was in Fashion Valley Mall which is now an ultra-upscale mall with a Needless Markup, Chanel, etc. I liked the old Fashion Valley better.

[SoCalDem]

51. We had Woolworth with a lunch counter and a Neisner's too and even a Woolco

all gone... all replaced by nasty plastic chinese junk..

(of course back then we looked down our noses at "made in Japan".. ..little did we know what was ahead:(

[Shandris]

16. 99 cent store?

Didn't Wal-Mart buy them out and roll back the price to 97¢? :P

[begin_within]

24. 88¢

[blondeatlast]

11. "...bush your cheap, worthless crap?" EXCELLENT--was it intentional?

:rofl:

[WinkyDink]

46. Have you been to a Wal-Mart? They sell regular grocery items that you find everywhere else;

famous brand-name house-hold items; CD's; big-name electronics/cameras; regular pharmacy products; magazines; etc.

Now, maybe ALL of that is "cheap, worthless crap", but if so, it's found absolutely everywhere in the U.S. in tons of different stores besides W-M.

I don't buy there often, but Wal-Mart is the only store around that carries the cereal my husband prefers (it's by Kellogg's), not Wegman's, not Giant, not Weis's, not a local Valley Farm Market.

[Buzz Clik]

54. I don't think the implication was the WalMart sells only cheap, worthless crap.

As you mentioned, it is possible to buy name brand items at WalMart that can be purchased elsewhere. However, we can say this about WalMart:
1. They sell a lot of things a rock bottom prices that are just horrible. Items of such poor quality that they should not be allowed to be given away for free.
2. WalMart has pressured lots of name brand manufacturers to slash prices or risk being dropped by WalMart. These manufacturers lowered their costs by moving their manufacturing to overseas locations and by radically decreasing the quality of the products.

[Yael]

74. Wegmans will carry it for you

Just ask them.

[usaftmo]

72. Sam's Club?

:rofl:

[MADem]

2. It would be nice if they went back to Sam's originial vision.

Quality goods, reasonable prices, and, to the extent possible, locally made.

[rurallib]

4. Don't dance on their grave too early

That is one mighty big company. They have oodles of smug marketers who can fool the public on their true workings. Let us just say that humanity has finally won a battle in a long war.

[guitar man]

6. if we could just

get them off the public dole, they might go under, but as long as they keep riding the corporate welfare gravy train, they are likely to ride out the rough patches. :(

[MazeRat7]

7. Yeah, that would be great for about 1.2 Million workers

edit:
:sarcasm:

MZr7

[w4rma]

57. Actually, it would be. Better retail stores will replace China-Mart. That is competition.(nt)

[hlthe2b]

10. Just a plot to close down landfills...

No crap, no need, after all.....:evilgrin:

[Katherine Brengle]

12. It took a few years, but I have finally completely cut myself off from WalMart.

I know others who have as well.

When people (smart people anyway) learn about how this company does business, they are much more reluctant to spend their money there.

[Colorado Progressive]

17. Actually I have heard they are going "green" to stay alive

Apparently our votes do count, every time we buy something.

[One Sweet World]

23. Image campaign

The green programs are encouraging but its a big PR move. I doubt the company's millions will do much to improve its image. The only thing they had a hold on is the "low prices" and now that's all changing.

We need real results...improve working conditions, buy American and stop pressuring China manufacturers to figure out how to cut costs.

[Colorado Progressive]

33. I agree nt

[diane in sf]

66. They're going green because it saves them a buttload of $, and gives good PR.

They're about to double their truck fleet mileage. This is going to put a lot of competitive pressure on all other retailers because this kind of cost-cutting goes directly to the bottom line--profit.

Also daylighting their stores increases the amount of $ people spend in them as well as cutting electrical costs.

[Warpy]

18. I'll be sorry to see the $4.00 loss leader drugs go

but I know their quality has been shit for a long time in the rest of the store.

I also know their stock has done nothing since Sam died and his kids turned the operations over to MBA whiz kids who were more concerned with driving suppliers to China and stiffing the help than keeping the operation as a viable service industry.

They'll go the way of other discount stores: fewer stores limited to the most profitable areas, allowing Main Street to be rebuilt by people who are willing to deliver service and a wider selection of goods for only a slightly higher price.

[begin_within]

19. If Wal-Mart goes under, then where will I be able to buy useless plastic trinkets?

[gatorboy]

29. The numerous $1 Stores that have taken over.

[gollygee]

30. At least around here a lot of those are locally owned

not all of them, but if I were going to buy cheap plastic crap I'd buy it from someone local rather than Walmart anyway.

[begin_within]

38. But their stuff is too good; Wal-Mart customers would not be accustomed to it.

[ourbluenation]

21. yesterday a friend refered to them as "walapart" ...cheap crap that falls apart.

i thought that was a good one.

[gollygee]

28. Very accurate too

even if you get something you could get from another store, many suppliers make a special version of their product that costs less to manufacture so they can afford to sell it to Walmart at the prices Walmart is willing to pay. My brother used to work for a place that supplied something to Walmart and they did that, and I've heard other manufacturers do the same.

[Annces]

25. If there is something we can control, it should be this

They only survive because people buy from them.

[snappyturtle]

26. K&R for the good news!!!

I've noticed when driving by the Super Wal-Mart in Kerrville,TX that the lot doesn't appear as chucked full as it did in 2004....when I lived here for a year. Since I'm on a budget, been quite tight there for a while, I checked prices at the Wal-Mart grocery against HEB. I found better quality produce and meat and enough bargains at HEB that Wal-Mart couldn't compete! I may spend a tad, very little more, which I can make up in other ways for the better quality and service. HEB checkers always ask if I want help out with my groceries and they bag and load the cart....I don't mind doing that but it is one of life's little pleasures!

[SoCalDem]

35. As much as I hate "super-stores", our new Target Super store

is very nice, and their grocery section is vey adequate. They have 97-3 % ground beef and a very good bakery deli.. I still do most of my shopping at the union grocery stores, but when I am in Target, I do pick up a few things there too:)

[earth mom]

32. Walmart may be closing their fabric department...

which is one of the only reasons I go there these days.

I was talking to an employee the other day-in the fabric dept of course-and she said that the lube & tire department may close too.

Like :wtf: Doesn't Walmart get that those 2 departments are probably what draw shoppers that might not otherwise shop there?! :banghead:

[hedgehog]

34. Well that's just great - first put all the local fabric stores out of business,

then walk away.

[SoCalDem]

37. Yup. that's what they do.. and the start up cost for individuals

who may want to start up or re-start their fabric shops is too high these days..

I guess sewing is out of style these days, so walmart's punishing them for not buying enough..
I remember when ALL the stores carried fabrics..

[hedgehog]

47. Heck - I remember when they all had American made fabric!

Primary start-up costs:

- Interest on a loan to purchase stock, rent store front, etc

- cost of health insurance for employees and owner

Gee, too bad government can't help out in either of those areas.

[SoCalDem]

50. Did you know you can buy vintage fabrics online?

I bought some fantastic fabrics for drapes i intend to make ..:) It's gorgeous:)

[katamaran]

36. They also just DOUBLED the insurance premiums for single parent employees

They also just DOUBLED the insurance premiums for many employees, including my boyfriend who works for Sams Club. He currently pays about $220 a month for Optima coverage for him and his daughter, but will pay over $500 starting January 1st. His personnel director says it is because the insurance company raised rates, but Walmart actually dropped the amount they will help cover at the same time. It only affects *single parents* like him...and I'd venture to say a good portion of Walmart employees are single parents. Single person, family coverage and spousal coverage only went up about 10-20%. But the single parent model went up over 100%. He would quit and find another job, but he's facing potential cancer treatment soon, and can't go without insurance.

[blondeatlast]

42. And what are they all over the tubes promoting? Their "wonderful" health insurance benefits

for employees--could the timing be any more, what's the word...

oh, yeah...

SUSPICIOUS?
______________________________________________

My hopes for your boyfriend's recovery. :hug:

[BenDavid]

40. I agree Wal-Mart has many problems,

but what is it most that are critical of wal-mart wish? Wish that every store and distribution center were closed? Thousands upon thousnads of emploees lose their jobs? Just what is it you want?

Ben David

[blondeatlast]

45. To return it to Sam Walton's dream. Local/American made goods,

clean, friendly stores (even their architecture is prison-like), decent wages, respect for the employees. I saw him once in a store and he made a point to introduce himself to every employee there--as a customer, I thought that was a great gesture.

The Wal-Mart of the '00s must have Sam spinning in his grave. I never liked the place, but when Sam oversaw it, it was worlds away from what it is now.

[catmandu57]

52. I met Sam Walton in 1985

He was a very decent fellow. My uncle was guiding a pheasant hunt for him, he bought our lunch at the cafe and shared brownies his wife baked. It's a shame he got wealthy and the kids ran his vision into the ground.

[dysfunctional press]

77. they wouldn't have much to fill the shelves with if they did that.

they are in many ways MOST responsible for the manufacturing jobs going away/overseas.

[Richard Steele]

56. Those people ALREADY lost their jobs- that's why they're slaving for WalMart.nm

[Xithras]

41. I've probably spent $100 at Walmart in the last 5 years.

I was in there just last month. I was working in my shed at 2AM when I accidentally knocked a lightbulb out, and I didn't have a spare. At that time of night, it was WalMart or AM/PM. They scored a $6 sale off me...only my second WM purchase of 2007.

I spend a lot of money shopping, and I regularly drive past WalMart to get to the stores I shop at. The stores are ugly and dirty, the cheap Chinese crap somehow seems cheaper and crappier, and the workers are uneducated about the products they sell. I wasn't familiar with the CFL brand WalMart carried, so I grabbed a worker on the next aisle and tried to ask him some questions about them. Not only did he not have an answer for me, but he told me flat out that they get no training in the products.

If I'd gone to Lowes, I'd have paid 25 cents more for the bulbs, but my question would have been answered with a detailed comparison of CFL brands and models, and how they compare to their incandescent counterparts. To me, the improved shopping experience beats out the minute savings.

[Yavin4]

48. If China Unpegs to the Dollar, WalMart Is Toast

Check that. They are burnt toast.

[spindoctor]

67. As is China

'cause they have a lot of them ;)

[spiderpig]

49. Good. n/t

[enki23]

53. being undercut by chain stores that sell even cheaper crap

and pay their employees even less. well, you can't say they shouldn't have seen it coming.

[orleans]

55. . n/t

[Baby Snooks]

58. They have also lost a couple of million customers...

http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:AxecQYeNhNEJ:www.charlotte.com/news/story/293341.html+T+Shirt+Not+Funny+For+Stalking+Victims&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us&ie=UTF-8

There are also a couple of million stalking victims that won't be shopping at Wal-Mart again.

[marlakay]

59. thats great!

I shop at target and costco and try never to go there.

[cynatnite]

60. Our reason for our sharp decline in shopping at Walmart over the last year...

Their products are no longer the most affordable. We save far more money at either other stores or online shopping. We walked into that store once in the last two months plus it's so trashy there, too. That store was built only a few years ago and it was actually nice...now it's dirty with crap piled up like it's sitting in a cluttered garage.

Oh, and my grandmother used to get her prescriptions at Walmart. She quit because they either forget to fill them when it's called in or they outright screw the prescriptions up such as not enough pills or the wrong ones (happened once). Now, she goes to CVS.

It appears Walmart's glory days are now behind them.

[eridani]

61. Looks like the policy of impoverishing your customer base is backfiring.

Good. Maybe they'll change, or if not be replaced.

[BrklynLiberal]

63. Couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch of corporate vultures.

I hope they go down in flames..

[emsimon33]

64. Personally, I always refer to Wal-Mart as Satan's store and I

would belittle my friends when they would shop there. Now, they have come over to my side! In fact, on most national items these days, Wal-Mart may be a penny or two cheaper but if a person shops the other stores' specials, they can beat Wal-Mart. Further, in the area of meats and produce, Wal-Mart's products are either so inferior or actually more expensive than the local stores.

People are beginning to wise up that shopping at Wal Mart is NOT in their long-term (or even short-term) best interests!

More and more, I hear people discussing how a store or company treats and values its employees. Tonight at dinner, one of the group was enthusing about how well Enterprise treats its employees and urging us to use the company when we rent cars.

This may be a trend and if it is, Wal-Mart is screwed!

[Colorado Progressive]

65. This is true. If I shop Safeway intelligently, its cheaper than Walmart!

Unfortunately Safeway doesnt sell pants and socks and motor oil, which is what makes Walmart alluring to busy people.

[Control-Z]

68. Good

I hope the decline is steady and swift.

[brettdale]

69. Penn and Teller on Walmart

You know, I really wasnt a fan of walmart, but Pen and teller did a piece of them, and they arent the big bad evil doers that some people make them out to be.

[lolly]

78. Now there's a pair of impeccable sources

A big, loudmouthed magician and his mute partner.

I think they also do a big schtick about how global warming is a myth.

[Beerboy]

70. If the stock becomes affordable to individual investors,

then they're in real trouble.

[Xenotime]

71. Wal mart has ruined the face of america.

They get the poor to buy more than they need causing them more financial strain. They need to be stopped.

[alfredo]

73. Wal Mart is already trying to undercut other retailers this Xmas. See link

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21135422/

NEW YORK - Wal-Mart Stores Inc fired its first volley in the holiday pricing wars this week, slashing prices on toys and calling it an "aggressive move to lead the market on holiday savings."

That could be good news for consumers looking for deals but bad news for other retailers as Wal-Mart, the world's biggest retailer, tries to drive shoppers into its stores with ever lower prices this holiday.

[JNelson6563]

75. Target's certainly giving them a run for the money

Walmart (aka "the great whore") deserves all the misery the consumer abandonment means to them. Horrible, horrible company.

Julie

[Kansas Wyatt]

76. I always go to Target, but...

I've noticed that they too, subtley have followed the WalMart model, with regards to the quality of the products they sell. Could be to compete or they really have no other alternative, with the mass export of manufacturing jobs.

[charlie]

79. I'm kinda vexed by the oft-repeated claim

that Walmart was a different beast when Sam was alive. I worked at Walmart 20 years ago. Met Sam on one of his store tours. Nice guy. Paid rock-bottom wages. Festooned his stores with red-white-and-blue Buy American bunting, which all of us knew was horseshit -- even then a huge chunk of the merchandise was imported from the Asian Tigers and much of what was labelled USA was merely assembled or packaged here. Every moment of our workday was accounted for, no slacking, and punching the clock on the dot was something you had to be mindful of, whether you were in the midst of a job or not, so working unpaid was expected if you wanted to stay employed. Sam might have been better than his progeny, but the difference is a matter of degree, not kind.