Walmart saves families $700 million a year? Show me the math

[Ian David]

Last year Walmart got into some trouble for claiming it saved shoppers $700 a year just by shopping its stores. Competitors took issue with the claim, as did the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, and the ads were pulled. But Walmart is at it again, saying it can save shoppers $28 a week with its latest round of reduced prices. That's more than twice the amount it claimed that got it into hot water last year. Is it true?

"American families could see more than $700 million in savings this summer across all grocery categories through the retailer's continued, aggressive Rollbacks program," Walmart says in a press release. "Price reductions include 'deep Rollbacks' on a basket of 22 favorite foods and everyday essentials families routinely purchase, offered for an average savings of 30% off the retailer's everyday low price."

The math goes like this: If you regularly buy all 22 items, you'll save $28 from the formerly higher prices. Just how Walmart came up with the $700 million annual savings is unclear. Walmart says on its website that it "serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 8,446 retail units under 55 different banners in 15 countries." But that's globally; breaking out the numbers for U.S. shoppers is much more difficult -- dare I say, near impossible.

So let's go back to the new rollback prices: if you buy those same items every week, the savings total up to $1,456 annually. But that's faulty reasoning since many of those are staple products like ketchup and mayonnaise, things most families don't buy every week for 52 weeks. The reductions are hefty to be sure -- a 40 oz. bottle of Heinz ketchup reduced to $1 from $2.42 -- but it's the rare household that uses that much ketchup with any regularity.

More:
http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/05/20/walmart-saves-families-700-million-a-year-show-me-the-math/

Hat-tip to: http://twitter.com/WakeUpWalmart/status/14635469565



http://www.wakeupwalmart.com

[ixion]

1. You don't "save" money when you SPEND money on crap

end of discussion, imo.

[Desertrose]

5. You waste it really..... n/t

[Statistical]

16. How is Heinz ketchup at Wallmart any different than same exact bottle at another grocery store?

Same goes with a pack of toilet paper, or bottle of Windex, or 5 gallons jug of Mobil 1 oil, etc?

[dflprincess]

27. The difference between Walmart & where I buy my groceries

is that when I buy it, it's pushed over the scanner by a union cashier and put into the bag buy a union carry out who have better wages and benefits.

Yes, I may pay a bit more and as long as I can afford it, I think I should shop at a union store.

That said, I do understand that some people are on awfully tight budgets and need to save every penny they can & that some areas may not have union stores or that Walmart may be the only store within a reasonable distance.

[Statistical]

42. To my knowledge there is only one Union grocery chain in Hampton Roads, VA

That is Harris Teeter.

Food Lion, Farm Fresh, Bottom Dollar, Kroger all have non-Union minimum wage employees.
How is that better than Walmart?

I can't afford to shop at Harris Teeter I could afford to shop at Farm Fresh or Kroger but what sense does that really make.
To pay more so that chain can abuse its employees by paying minimum wage instead?

[dflprincess]

47. I did say that I understood there are areas where there aren't union stores

and also that not everyone can afford to shop at even slightly higher priced stores. I do think those of us who can afford it and who have access to union shops should patronize them. And, less I sound like Mrs. Gotrocks - one of the union stores in my area is Cubs Foods and it is cheaper than some of the "full service" groceries, but a bit more expenxeive that Walmart.

That said, if I had to choose between non-union grocery stores, there are quite a few Super Targets in the area and I'd pick them over Walmart. They have been marginally (very marginally) better to their employees though rumor has it that Target's employee relations are going downhill.

[Kalyke]

82. Your Kroger isn't union?

Hell I live in a red state in the South and our Kroger's are union. How'd yours break the back?

[Statistical]

85. Maybe they are. Need to do some more research.

Then again VA isn't a very Union friendly place.

I may be misinformed. If I knew Kroger was union and paid a living wage I would shop there. Only bad thing is the nearest one is somewhat out of the way so it likely would only be for the big trips.

I shot an email to Kroger customer service asking if there stores in VA are Union.

[HillGal]

58. Thank you for understanding that not everyone is loaded and can sometimes only afford Walmart. NT

NT

[blueamy66]

92. You have baggers at your store?

Lucky you.

:-)

[dflprincess]

107. One store I shop at has baggers, the other does not

and there's really not much of a price difference on most items. The store without baggers is more warehouse like and where I really notice a price difference is on paper & cleaning products so I usually buy those at that store.

[blueamy66]

108. The store that I go to is not a warehouse store

and still doesn't have an adequate # of baggers. I usually bag my own groceries.

I've complained to the mgr numerous times....things have gotten a bit better.

Oh well...

[WinkyDink]

102. That is a good point, but not pertinent to the calling of W-M goods as "crap".

[dflprincess]

106. I was responding to the post that asked

"How is Heinz ketchup at Walmart any different than same exact bottle at another grocery store?"

The difference is who rings it up & whether or not they are getting benefits and a decent wage.

[JoeyT]

56. There isn't any difference in the ketchup and toilet paper.

Everything in the automotive and electronics sections is quite a different story. "Made Exclusively For Wal-Mart" means exactly what it says. You can buy the same brand and model of an electronics item from Wal-Mart and another retailer, open them up, and find the guts have a huge difference.

Same goes for the tires. You can buy a tire at Wal-Mart and one from a regular dealer and cut them in half and there's a huge difference in quality. Especially if you cut them with a tool that isn't made for cutting tires like a metal cutting wheel. The quality tire will smoke and smolder as you burn through it and only fling small particles once you start to burn through. The Wal-Mart tire will fling big chunks of rubber everywhere and it'll start melting almost immediately. While the price is only a few bucks different, the quality difference is huge. That's why Wal-Mart tires wear out so fast.

The Heinz ketchup, toilet paper, Windex, and Mobil 1 aren't where they're "saving" their customers all that money. They cost about the same at Wal-Mart as any other large retailer. It's the low quality quasi-knockoff shit that "saves" their customers so much money. And they can double-dip on the savings claim when the people have to replace it over and over and over.

The toys are much higher quality, though. All that lead and cadmium is expensive.

[spinbaby]

88. There are issues with food items, too

My in-laws shop at Wal-Mart and sometimes I drive them there. While they shop, I have plenty of time to contemplate the shelves. First of all, I'm struck by the large percentage of junky, heavily-processed food compared to my regualar grocery. I'm also struck by the relative lack of variety--this has gotten worse over the years. But what really strikes me is that they often offer the same brand of something I buy at the grocery store in a package that looks the same, but is actually smaller.

[RaleighNCDUer]

57. It's called 'loss leaders'. They suck you into the store to buy cheap crap

knowing that you will, when you see it, buy OTHER cheap crap that you didn't intend to buy in the first place. That's how they undercut their rivals.

You might save more if you buy ONLY the cheap crap you go in for, but that means multiple stop shopping which is a big no-no.

The solution is to simply stop buying cheap crap.

I've been in WalMart three times in the past 15 years. Saving $1 on ketchup twice a year is no incentive to drag me in there.

A pox on them.

[LanternWaste]

59. Some like the Anticipation of Heinz...

Some like the Anticipation of Heinz. I much prefer the Convictions of the Self.

[WinkyDink]

101. Have you even BEEN in a W-M? They sell the same things grocery stores do. They have pharmacies. CD's

ETC.

[Ron Green]

2. I gotta weigh in with my obligatory comment that Wal*Mart is NOT

the same as other retailers, or even the same as other big-box stores. It has established itself as enough of a cultural fixture so as to be almost on a par with government and church. And yet its sole purpose is to maximize its profit. Not a healthy situation.

[blondeatlast]

22. Exactly. Wal-Mart is a big ugly symbol of where we are headed if we don't get wise.

Last I heard, K-Mart and Target weren't bullying city councils to allow them to build stores side-by-side to circumvent zoning rules or trying to overthrow DOT regulations on routes and maximum road time for drivers.

And of course, bullying the DoJ and state courts to throw out discrimination lawsuits by the scores against them--since a recent search of WesLaw shows they have precious few of them, unlike that big ugly smiley-face.

[Hannah Bell]

105. plus, it's bigger (in terms of sales & profits) than most of its competitors *combined*.

target, sears (includes kmart), penny's, macy's & costco *put together* = a fraction of walmart's sales & profits.


e.g. their combines sales = about half of walmarts; their profits = less than half walmart's.


walmart profits: 14 billion

macy's: 893 million
penneys: 572 million
target: 2.2 billion
costco: 1 billion

(no figures for sears, but should be around 1 billion if in line with the others as % of sales)

walmart is the hideous, farting elephant in the room.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. you can get better savings at basic places like Aldi, Costco

[Obamanaut]

12. Those are not as readily available to everyone. nt

[Rosa Luxemburg]

14. Around here we have a number of them

I guess that's why Wallmart does so well - it's almost everywhere

[proudohioan]

87. Thank you for mentioning Aldi......

That's where I do a majority of my 'basics' shopping, and not only do you save over Wal-mart, but you can actually get in and out of an Aldi's quickly, unlike the huge Wal-mart's.

[Scout]

97. i've recently discovered Aldi's too ... i do most of our shopping there

and then get some things at Meijer. except for the yogurt, i have liked all of Aldi's store brands and their prices.

[proudohioan]

99. We especially like the Aldi's brand cereals....

There are a few things that I've tried at Aldi's that I didn't like as well as a name brand, but honestly, most is as good, if not better. It is a great place to shop!

[lpbk2713]

4. That's the money consumers don't pay in gas.

They would have used that much fuel going to the local Mom & Pop stores that no longer exist
since evil Wally World put them out of business (and then later jacked up their prices).

[cbdo2007]

6. I don't know how much but I definitely save money shopping at Walmart.

Probably hundreds of $$$ a year and I easily save more money at Walmart than I do at Costco.

[Vinnie From Indy]

10. No you don't

The fact is that you are paying higher taxes becuase of Wal-Mart and their business practices are driving down wages for all Americans. You are being harmed whether you see it or not. Nice try though! :)

[Statistical]

17. I thought taxes are at a 30 year low? How are we paying more taxes when taxes are low? n/t

[mwooldri]

38. Because Wal-Mart pay minimum wage and encourage ...

... their families to sign up for food stamps, Medicaid, other government welfare - which ultimately taxpayers have to fund (or the Chinese, by purchasing our T-Bills).

Taxes themselves may be low, but it's the microeconomic equivalent of dumping - moving in, their lower costs pushing out the responsible retailers who pay their staff a more reasonable wage - plus don't have Wal-Mart's buying power.

If Wal-Mart would pay their employees a decent wage, give them good healthcare that is as good as if not better than mine (and I work for a company that's part of the Dow Jones Index) and hired enough people to be able to give some actual customer service - i.e. show a heart to their employees, their employees will show a heart to their customers.

I consciensously try to avoid Wal-Mart where possible - sometimes it is not... but their customer service is rotten, and their corporate ethos has got its way down to the front line that customers aren't seen as customers anymore - just revenue machines. If Tesco - in the UK - can afford to pay its employees a wage above minimum, and have a checkout policy of "if there's more than one person in front of you we'll open up another checkout until all our checkouts are open" then surely Wal-Mart can do the same? It'll mean "shock horror" actually hiring some staff to do some work!!! Tesco isn't any where near Wal-Mart size but they're not exactly any tiny food store company either...

[proudohioan]

89. And something else almost everyone overlooks...

is the Welfare to Work Tax Credit.

Did you know that there is a tax credit for employers for up to $9000 per employee? That if an employer hires someone that is either a TANF recipient OR a member of a household recieving TANF, that employer may get a $9000 tax break. Lower amounts of tax breaks apply to persons according to different types of public assistance and age of new hire.

That kind of shed's some light on Wal-mart's 'generous' gesture to Detroit Public Schools:

www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all

Wal-mart disgusts me.

[blondeatlast]

25. cha-CHING! Exactly. nt

[emilyg]

23. Same here.

Absolutely no apology for shopping at Wal-Mart. I'm retired and it helps me survive.

[louis-t]

7. Walmart can afford to LOSE billions on this campaign.

Their goal is to put their competition out of business. In the event they are successful someday and they are the only retailer left in the country, do you think their prices will stay low?

[madrchsod]

13. they are`t losing a dime...

walmart never loses money.they force their suppliers to make up the difference.

[blondeatlast]

26. Exactly right. nt

[donco6]

8. Did they factor in the cost of all the jobs we've lost here due to WM bidding practices?

I hate them.

[Vinnie From Indy]

9. A bald faced lie by Wally World evil scum

When one adds the COST to Americans of having Wal-Mart force manufacturers to produce overseas and their company STRATEGY of pushing as many of their employees onto federal aid rolls, Wal-Mart is being heavily SUBSIDIZED by average Americans.

There is no denying that The Great Wal-Mart of China is a cancer on America and it has done much to increase the suffering of the average American.

They are lying pieces of shit at Wal-Mart.

[madrchsod]

11. bait and switch.....

put the arm on major brands,get rid of secondary brands,and stock the selves with walmart "great value" brands. then raise the prices on everything else.

i can find what i need at kroger for the same price and even my local regional chain. i buy when they have their weekly specials.

[WCGreen]

15. but how many billions are teken away from the US economy....

[nichomachus]

18. No more calls, please. We have a winner!

WalMart "saves" you money if you look at only one side of the balance sheet. Half of WalMart employes are on public assistance. That costs you money. WalMart has found ways to avoid paying state and local taxes, while consuming state and local services. That costs you money. WalMart regularly drives its suppliers out of business or out of the country, putting people on the unemployment line. That costs you money.

If you don't know the difference between "price" and "cost," then you will fall for the line that WalMart saves you money.

[WCGreen]

31. It's not really fair because I'm an accountant....

[RamboLiberal]

19. Not defending Wal-Mart but in many areas

Is about the only affordable outlet for many families. In a lot of the country they are the closest and the cheapest for groceries and household goods. There aren't a lot of other stores around. The small groceries, furniture, appliance, etc. have closed the doors long ago.

Yes Wal-Mart drove them out and perhaps the consumer was short-sighted for buying at Wal-Mart but when you only have so many dollars to spend you buy where you can afford. And most of America is not as well-educated on how Wal-Mart provides those low prices.

And a news media that is dependent on Wal-Mart advertising is not going to inform them even if they were paying attention.

[tonysam]

20. It's a vicious circle.

Oh, by the way, ALL retailers buy Chinese-made items. That's about the only country that makes anything anymore.

[HillGal]

21. All I know is that money is tight and we needed some new pillows, I went up to Walmart

and got four pillows for $3.00 each, there was no way I could've afforded the prices at Target and Bed Bath and Beyond.

[emilyg]

24. I like the short towels and

got 5 yesterday at Wal-Mart for $1.50 each. I'm happy.

[HillGal]

29. That's great news, they had a lot of sales so I picked up some summer

t-shirts for hubby for $4 each. Have you seen the prices for pillows? I was shocked, there were some pillows that were going for over $70, no way I can afford that.

[emilyg]

76. If I paid $70 for a pillow -

would have nightmares. lol

[Bill McBlueState]

28. that money has to come from somewhere

You can't just arbitrarily lower prices; you have to make up for it somehow.

Who is covering the cost of Wal-Mart's lower shelf prices (assuming for the moment that they aren't just lying about their prices)?

[HillGal]

30. When you buy in bulk you save more. Tell me where else I could get a $3 pillow? NT

NT

[Bill McBlueState]

32. "When you buy in bulk you save more."

Why? Like I said, prices don't arbitrarily rise and fall.

[HillGal]

35. That's how it always is, when you go to Costco you buy in bulk and overall the prices

are cheaper, it happens with Pharmacies too, the larger companies are able to buy larger quantities of items.

[Bill McBlueState]

36. so it's just magic.

cool.

[Statistical]

44. No it is the ability to accept lower profit margin over larger volume.

Walmart has a rather low operating Margin of about 4%. Walmart cost on average is about 4% less than the sticker price.

However they have such large volume that even with lower margin they come out ahead.

Walmart forces supplier to do the same thing.

Say I sell widgets. It cost me $10 to make one and I usually sell it wholesale for $15. Now last year I sold I sold a million widgets. Now Walmart comes along and offers me only $12 wholesale but they will put in an order for 2 million units per year for next 5 years guaranteed.

I don't have to sell to Walmart. If I think my brand is worth the higher retail price I could remain a high margin low volume player (like Apple for example). However $2 profit per unit for 10 million units over next 5 years is pretty attractive.

[RaleighNCDUer]

62. It's a racket. Not only do they offer to buy your widgets, at a cost

which is close to catastrophic for you, but they guarantee they will freeze you out of the market completely if you DON'T sell to them at that price. The only way you can make up the difference is by freezing the wages of your employees, and when the union doesn't allow you to do that you shift your manufacturing to China, putting ALL you employees out of work.

It is fucking economic thuggery.

[Statistical]

64. How would I be frozen out of the market by not selling to Walmart?

Walmart despite its size is roughly 11% of US retail market.

One can access 89% of the retail market without selling at Walmart. When one considers that Walmart has very few exclusive customers (customers who ONLY shop at Walmart) the total number of households you can reach without selling at Walmart is even more.

The reality is companies sell at Walmart because it is "easy". Maybe not easy for workers but certainly easy for Executives. If I have $20 million in revenue and sign a contract with Walmart for $5 mil a year I just looked like a genious by adding 25% revenue growth by adding a single distributor.


Apple only recently began selling their products at Walmart. They did fine for decades without having access to Walmarts 11% of the market. Many companies today don't do business with Walmart. SnapOn tools for example doesn't sell at Walmart.

The reality is many companies looking at their own bottom line welcomed the ease at which they could boost revenue by adding Walmart as a distributor.

[LanternWaste]

61. Insofar as fire was to ancient man.

"so it's just magic..."

Insofar as fire was to ancient man. Or shooting stars to copper age man.

Yet once the foresight of mankind was achieved to allow critical though, what was once magic turns out to be an easily explained, if not sometimes esoteric discipline.

But again, I can easily understand why many people may think economies of scale are magic.

ed: sp

[Bill McBlueState]

33. "Tell me where else I could get a $3 pillow?"

In a Chinese sweatshop?

[HillGal]

34. When my financial situation improves I'll buy a more expensive pillow, until then I'll get what I

can afford.

[Bill McBlueState]

37. Chinese sweatshop workers

thank you heartily for buying the fruits of their labor.

[HillGal]

40. Well I'm glad you're doing well financially but I'm not! NT

NT

[emilyg]

94. Same for any store - that

includes Target, Macy's, etc.

[RaleighNCDUer]

67. By patronizing WalMart, you are guaranteeing that in short order

that will be ALL you can get.

[wuushew]

39. estate sales, thrift shops, good will, etc.

All valid choices with a lower environmental impact.

[HillGal]

41. Who sells a used pillow? please tell me you're not serious, I've never seen

used pillows for sale anywhere ever.

[wuushew]

43. whatever

your stories of frugality are less than impressive. Good day.

[HillGal]

50. Frugality? I think you mean desperation, listen, I can only afford what I can afford, if it bothers

you that much you're free to go to Bed Bath and Beyond and buy me four $70 pillows and then I'll return the pillows I bought at Walmart, okay?

[RaleighNCDUer]

68. As if the choice is betwee a $3 pillow and a $70 pillow.

Get out of the fucking malls. There are plenty of places where you can get a $5 pillow, one possibly even made in the US instead of China. One that will last ten years, and not go flat in 18 months.

Best advice is to never enter WalMart again. You WILL save money. I guarantee it.

[HillGal]

51. And whose to say that the pillows at goodwill or an estate sale aren't made in sweatshops? NT

NT

[pipi_k]

91. Not only that, but even if they did...

who the hell would BUY one?

Or used mattresses?

Or used underwear?


People who would suggest buying any of those things (along with maybe a few more items) USED really sound pretty clueless.

Like a DU parody of someone like Paris Hilton, who probably has absolutely no idea how hard it is for most of the rest of the world to survive, let alone afford a diamond-encrusted collar for a dog the size of a large rat.


I'm on a fixed income as well. I buy used when I can, but when I can't, I buy from the place that sells things I can afford.

Anyone who has a problem with that can either buy whatever for me, or shut the hell up.

People have a lot of nerve trying to guilt-trip others into buying like they do. Especially if the more expensive items may not last longer than, or even as long as, the cheaper stuff.

[wuushew]

98. Hey moron

not everything that is used is soiled and useless.

Should I demand a full sized bed and linens back from my sister after I moved to a smaller apartment?

I am glad you hate the Earth and promote materialism.



As for fixed incomes feel free to email a copy of your tax return to me.

[pipi_k]

104. Do you have some sort of social problem?

Can't disagree without calling someone names?


Grow up.



Do what you want.

As far as MY personal preferences go, I would rather not have to wonder what sorts of bodily fluids or microscopic vermin might be lurking beneath that nice, clean-looking covering on a mattress or pillow that someone else might have used for years.


I think it's gross and disgusting.

Deal with it.

[Statistical]

45. Estate sales really? You would buy a pillow from a corpse?

Now that is dedication.

[Vinnie From Indy]

54. Not a corpse actually

It may come as a shock, but corpses are usually long buried by the time the estate sale comes about. In some respects, however, buying a Wal-Mart pillow is very much like buying a pillow from a corpse. The only real difference is that these corpses are just the walking dead. They are the sweatshop workers in China that literally have a gun to their head to keep production up in the pillow factory that enriches the Chinese Communist generals and party members that get a cut of all of it. They are the ones that must work in hellish conditions so folks like you can buy $3.00 pillows stuffed with God knows what kind of cancer causing material. Have you ever wondered how the a pillow made in China can only be three dollars at all Wal-MArt stores across the US. Maybe they are stuffing them with the hopes and dreams of the American worker that is no longer employed making pillows because Wal-Mart insisted the manufacturer move production overseas to some hellish production facility where workers get a few cents a day to make pillows.

Cheers!

[Vinnie From Indy]

48. Well that would depend wouldn't it

If you have a pinhead and shop at Wal-Mart believing that you are not harming anyone least of all yourself, I guess $3.00 is about right. Then again, if you are a fathead that believes the same thing, I guess $3.00 is a steal. Your choice! Cheers!
:)

[HillGal]

52. You don't know my financial situation and like I said to the other person you're free to go to

Bed Bath and Beyond and buy me four pillows at $70 each and I'll return the $3.00 pillows. Until you're walking in my shoes don't judge.

[Vinnie From Indy]

53. And you are certainly free to by $3.00 pillows from Wal-Mart

regardless of the true cost to yourself and everyone around you. Have you ever stopped and wondered what might be in the pillows that makes them cheap enough to ship from China to your local Wal-Mart for a measly three dollars. We know China routinely puts cancer causing substances in their drywall and they have sent much of that to this country. We know that the Chinese put lead in paint that is used on CHILDREN'S toys and sold at Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart has sold lots of chinese made dog food that has killed scores of American pets.

In addition, would it matter to you in any way what kind of life the workers making your $3.00 pillow have in China or some other country? Would you care at all that these people are literally slaves and work in hellish conditions so you can have your PCB laden $3.00 pillow? What about your neighbors? Would you give even the tiniest bit of thought to the American pillow making workers that have lost their jobs so you could have a $3.00 pillow stuffed with God knows what kind of cancer causing filling?

Like I said, go ahead and buy your $3.00 pillow for your pin head.

[HillGal]

55. Then put your money where your principles are and buy me pillows that I can't possibly afford

from Bed Bath and Beyond and I'll gladly return the only pillows I can afford at the moment.

[Vinnie From Indy]

60. So, you are completely stumped huh?

Ya wanna know why your story appears to be nothing but BS and designed solely to present an argument in defense of Wal-Mart? I do not believe that you have purchased any $3.00 pillows from Wal-Mart based on your repeated claims that if someone buys you other pillows you will return the ones you have already bought. Your story breaks down because everyone knows that pillows cannot be returned if they have been used. You claim that you have these pillows and by implication, are already using them. Why would you offer to return pillows you know Wal-Mart would never accept as a return? Could it be that you have no pillows and the "return" the pillows portion of your poverty argument was a slip-up? I would offer yes, that is excactly the case.

In addition, I find it mildly amusing that you keep asking people to buy you $70.00 pillows at Bed Bath Beyond etc. So in your world, it is either someone buy you a $70. pillow or you simply have no other choice but to buy a $3.00 pillow at Wal-Mart. Have you thought about making a pillow or having a "Pillow-thon" in your neighborhood or getting a sign and begging for pillow money at the highway off ramp. Why not keep your old pillows until you can afford a $10.00 American pillow?

I will also add that you are not really fooling anyone with your $3.00 vs $70. pillow canard. The fact is that you have many alternatives to your doubtful claim that a $3.00 is yoru only solution. You have not even provided any proof that wal-mart even sells $3.00 pillows. No, it seems obvious that you are merely using this pillow issue to defend Wal-Mart and that is your right. Trouble is that many here simply see the BS for what it is.

Cheers and pleasant dreams!!!!! :)

[HillGal]

66. I think you mean Cheers and PEASANT dreams! And who's begging? I comment that I needed new pillows

and couldn't afford to spend a lot of money, I see the prices at Target and Bed Bath and Beyond and I can't afford it, so I go to Walmart and I see pillows for $3.00 so I'm able to buy 4 that I need, then I have someone jump on me because I bought from Walmart and then you jump in. All I'm saying is if people, who don't know my financial situation, are going to jump on me and stand on their high principles, then put your money where your principles are and buy me the $70 ones I saw at BBB, and if you're not going to do that then don't judge me until your in my shoes.

[Vinnie From Indy]

69. I am not judging you, I am offering you are not telling the truth

Your $3.00 pillow story is nothing but a story. As I explained above, your story is highly doubtful becuase you slipped up. You keep saying that you will return your $3.00 Wal-Mart pillow if someone sends you $70. pillows from Target etc. By implication, one assumes you are already using the $3.00 pillows which, and this is where you slipped up, everyone knows cannot be returned if used. Also, I doubt that there are $3.00 pillows at Wal-Mart. i think you made thatup as well. In addition, I doubt that the prices of similar pillows at Target are so out of proportion to Wal-Mart pillows. I think you made that up as well.

Cheers!

[HillGal]

71. I didn't make it up at all, I went to Walmart yesterday and went to look at the pillows, they had

pillows that were in a huge bin, they were originally priced at either $3.86 or $3.96, then they had the Rollback price of $3.00, they're blue and white striped pillows with 100% polyester fiber fill.I have the pillow in the packaging right here, and here's what it says:

Huge

Jumbo

20 inch X 28 inch /51 cm X 71 cm

Firm Support

Fits both standard and queen size pillowcases

Material Content Shell 100% cotton/fiber fill 100% polyester

Care instructions machine washable see sewn in label for additional laundry instructions

UB49-008-001-02 Blue Stripe

Distributed by Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Bentonville, AR 72716

Made in USA
Walmart.com

Distributed by Walmart Stores

I also bought Maxi Pads, shall I discuss that with you too?

[Vinnie From Indy]

78. LOL!

As sure as the sun sets in the west you are lying. Cheers to your hutzpah though! :)

[Cleobulus]

81. Lowest price pillow I found on walmart.com is $8.88 cents, for store items...

I smell BULLSHIT!

http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?ic=96_0&ref=+125874.408841&tab_value=Store&search_query=PILLOWS&search_constraint=0&search_sort=4&depts=F

[Vinnie From Indy]

83. That's because it is BS!

For anyone that has ever dealt with liars on daily basis, it is obvious that "Hillgal" is not telling the truth. The fact is that people lie in only so many ways and if you have heard enough lies, you can easily spot folks that are making shit up. Her story breaks down on many fundamental levels right out of the gate.

On edit: I am so sure she is lying that I will take the time to research her claim that she bought $3.00 pillows at Wal-Mart. The only thing she needs to do is let me know which store she bought these $3.00 pillows at and I will call to verify. That should clear things up right quick. Any bets she posts the store address?

[HillGal]

100. Here's the pillow I bought

Here's a 2 pack listed, mine were single pack pillows, notice the color of the pillows and compare it to what I posted, it's blue striped, the original price was either $3.96 or $3.86, oh and I made a mistake, I paid $3.50 per pillow with the rollback price, I don't know how to post a pic but here's the link:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Huge-Pillow-Twin-Pack/11070434#ProductDetail

OK, so the linked pillows are 2 for for $12.88, that's still less then the lowest price someone else posted of $8.88 for 1 pillow.

Do you feel good about yourself now Vinnie badgering someone who went out and bought 4 pillows for $14 because that's all I could afford? you should be very proud at the way you've acted NOT!

[HillGal]

109. No comment or apology Vinnie? Sad :(. NT

[HillGal]

96. I didn't buy it online, call up the Walmart and give them the specs I gave on the pillow

then get back to me.

[JoeyT]

63. Good for you.

Never let anyone make you feel guilty about trying to survive. :)
Some will certainly try.
$50 pillows take a backseat to hungry kids. And utility payments. And a whole bunch of other stuff.

[Vinnie From Indy]

70. No, she offered the pillows were either $70.00 or $3.00

The fact is that she is probably making all of this shit up to defend Wal-Mart. Some, like yourself, will believe her ridiculous story and others like myself will call her out on her dubious story.

[HillGal]

73. I didn't make it up at all, I just gave you the specs on the pillow. NT

NT

[Vinnie From Indy]

79. Sure you did!

You know it and i know it!

Your story is obviously untrue.

[emilyg]

77. Perhaps you are the "pinhead."

[Vinnie From Indy]

80. Perhaps...

Or, perhaps not. I am surely not in any way offended or put off by your comment. I always enjoy contributions by folks that are so unsure of their own opinion that they are compelled to offer the type of mildly amusing, milquetoast attempt at a put down as reflected in your post. After reading your brand of piffle, I encourage you to spread your wings and let it out. Cheers!

:)

[emilyg]

93. Glad you were

amused. You called a DU'er a "pinhead" first.

[PADemD]

90. Kmart

http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_070W218143110001P?keyword=pillow&prdNo=4&blockNo=4&blockType=G4 $3.99

http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_070W712152110001P?keyword=pillow&prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3 $2.49

[gravity]

49. Wal-Mart has lower operating costs and higher negotiating power

It can demand lower prices from manufactures compared to other stores, at the expense of other corporations.

Its large size allows it to distribute merchandise more efficiently than the competition, which is at the expense of no one.

Wal-Mart's labor costs is lower, which is the expense of the workers.

[blondeatlast]

75. Considering they force their employyees to take classes on how to receive

government benefits--I am; and I haven't set foort in one since before Sam was alive.

[Dappleganger]

46. I dunno, our family of six treats ketchup like a vegetable.

We probably go through three normal-sized bottles a month, more during cookout season.

[handmade34]

65. external costs....

it is all too easy to hide the external costs... and these are what we (and our children down the road) pay for later.

[marmar]

72. How much do their "externalities" cost those very same Americans?

Typical corporate bunko artists.

[handmade34]

74. too big to fail??

[Kalun D]

84. It Might Be True

But at the same time they drive down the wage scale by $70 BILLION a year.

[hobbit709]

86. I go to Walmart about 3 times a year.

The VA only sees fit to give me 50 glucose test strips every three months. The Walgreen's/CVS price for those strips is $75 per 100. At the Walmart pharmacy I can get them for $40.
When you're living on limited income, every penny counts. But I don't shop there for anything else.

[emilyg]

95. Many of my friends

don't drive anymore. They give me their list and I'm usually at Wal-Mart 2x week. Huge savings.

[LittleGirl]

103. thanks for the link

I boycotted Walmart years ago and just today scolded my husband who shopped there the other day. I don't want their products in our house. Ever! (He didn't realize I was so stern about it). They are a pox on our society.