Leaving Wal-Mart with a changed outlook?

[Sumboodie]

I have no reason to go there.

Groceries from Fred Meyer and most everything else mail order, auto parts or hardware store.

Don't have time or desire to burn up hours "shopping". Even more so when it's busy. I have minimal patience for people plodding along unaware they're plugging up the aisles, screaming kids, getting run over by morbidly obese on Rascals taking up 7ft of aisle width, etc.

 

[Owen Lucas]

offer medical from day 1.

One of my old companies stopped doing this because women would get hired pregnant or become pregnant soon after just for the benefits and then quit shortly after.

This came straight from the CEOs mouth during one of our conferences.

 

[BISCUT]

@AZjeff
@AZjeff , is that by percentage of products sold? If so, I would say absolutely not.

Without a question Target, Harbor Freight, and Amazon sell a lot higher percentage of Chinese origin products than Wal Mart.

What I find far more frightening is the buying power of the mega-ologopies (i think I made that word up) that can dictate the price they will pay to the manufacturer. IMO, this leads to substandard products that many sellers are a-ok with pushing to the consumer and the consumer generally just accepts the inferior product.

 

[GON]

What I find far more frightening is the buying power of the mega-ologopies (i think I made that word up) that can dictate the price they will pay to the manufacturer. IMO, this leads to substandard products that many sellers are a-ok with pushing to the consumer and the consumer generally just accepts the inferior product.

Many decades ago, a general business practice of Sears Roebuck was to do just that, make a manufacturer so dependent on Sears, the manufacturer had no bargaining power.

Amazon has a like stranglehold. If Amazon discovers a product being sold lower on another website, Amazon will "blacklist" not only the item, but the seller of the item.

You bring up a huge issue. What happens when only a player or two in the manufacturing and sales of a product. Amazon business practices clearly demonstrate the market is not free and open.

 

[Opelman]

Wasn't Sam Walton a huge proponent of domestically made products? They changed radically after he passed.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Many decades ago, a general business practice of Sears Roebuck was to do just that, make a manufacturer so dependent on Sears, the manufacturer had no bargaining power.

Amazon has a like stranglehold. If Amazon discovers a product being sold lower on another website, Amazon will "blacklist" not only the item, but the seller of the item.

You bring up a huge issue. What happens when only a player or two in the manufacturing and sales of a product. Amazon business practices clearly demonstrate the market is not free and open.

Disagree. Capitalism is about winners and losers.
Amazon is in the business of making money. You and I are free to take them on, if we wish.

 

[GON]

Disagree. Capitalism is about winners and losers.
Amazon is in the business of making money. You and I are free to take them on, if we wish.

You need to get your tuition refunded from your economic studies.

Restraint of trade: action that interferes with free competition in a market

Restraint of trade refers to any action or agreement that limits a person or business's ability to freely conduct business, often by restricting competition. These restrictions can take many forms, such as non-compete clauses, price-fixing agreements, or monopolies. While some restraints are legal and even necessary for protecting legitimate business interests, others can be illegal and harmful to consumers and the overall economy.

 

[JeffKeryk]

You need to get your tuition refunded from your economic studies.

Restraint of trade: action that interferes with free competition in a market

Restraint of trade refers to any action or agreement that limits a person or business's ability to freely conduct business, often by restricting competition. These restrictions can take many forms, such as non-compete clauses, price-fixing agreements, or monopolies. While some restraints are legal and even necessary for protecting legitimate business interests, others can be illegal and harmful to consumers and the overall economy.

Again, disagree.
Amazon is free to choose which products to sell on its platform. Amazon operates as a marketplace, and like any retailer, it has the right to decide what products it will offer to customers.

Are you confusing Economics (behavioral science) with Strategic Sales and Marketing (strategy and tactics)?

 

[Owen Lucas]

Amazon has a like stranglehold. If Amazon discovers a product being sold lower on another website, Amazon will "blacklist" not only the item, but the seller of the item.

Amazon and Home Depot have the same price for the same bench grinder. I chose to buy from Home Depot.

 

[4WD]

Costco is 45 miles - and well into a rat race to drive and park …
(gas pump traffic clogging the entrance - crowded inside) …
Walmart is 3 miles and 12 miles in small towns …
Some have 10-30 years … Auto included …

 

[John105]

Today I went to the credit union. The largest in the USA. I go in person to financial institutions once every 10-15 years, usually to find out about cashiers checks and/or car loans. I’m not sure what I was expecting to see but I was a bit shocked. It would have been 30-40 min to speak to someone so I asked if I could handle a car loan online and was told yes it would take 20 min for approval (I calculated that I could borrow 25k and have a $466 pymt—have never borrowed that amount before but I’m confident I’m fine with that monthly). There were people everywhere like what’s the max occupancy of this building, and huge line for the ATM. I guess things really change in 10 years. I doubt I’d want to go back but I’ll probably get the loan and pick up the check in person. I was told VIN is key and maybe apply 2 days before I want to get the car. They were helpful at the front desk. Then we walked over to the hockey store and the guy was super helpful. Said junior large shoulder pads looked big on my son so likely what we have (junior medium and didn’t bring them) is good and no need to buy any now. I thought this is why amazon and costco can’t sell ice hockey gear—there is a level of expertise in the store. Since when do salesman advise customers not to buy anything as they don’t need to?

Both experiences left me with a changed outlook, in positive ways.

 

[Number_35]

Going into Walmart for almost anything but groceries, makes me glad we have Canadian Tire... Canadian tire still is mostly chinese stuff, but with better quality control/product selection, inventory management that is up to date and searchable, decent to lifetime warranty on things, and they have more mid size stores in smaller towns. And it doesn't usually cost any more than walmart. Also the inventory is more customized for the local market.

If I want some inexpensive clothes, I head to Giant Tiger, which is like a mini walmart that is also usually cheaper with better selection, and some of them have groceries too.

Canadian tire also sponsors a lot of kids sports programs and tends to be contributing members of our community. The local store will sponsor a house league hockey association. Walmart seems to be more of a money vacuum that only fills the local dump with plastic junk.... I've never heard of walmart doing anything for the community here?

The Canadian Tire stores here were poorly regarded a few decades ago - aisles of cheap junk, auto parts that outlived the 90-day warranty by mere days, and surly unhelpful staff.

When Walmart opened up here c. 1994, Canadian Tire lost a lot of business. CT had to pull up its socks - and did. The CT stores are now way better than they used to be.

The Walmarts here are good too.

It's been a win-win for the consumer.

I acknowledge CT's contribution in sponsoring the big JumpStart playground here - we've taken the grandchildren often.

 

[CKN]

Today I went to the credit union. The largest in the USA. I go in person to financial institutions once every 10-15 years, usually to find out about cashiers checks and/or car loans. I’m not sure what I was expecting to see but I was a bit shocked. It would have been 30-40 min to speak to someone so I asked if I could handle a car loan online and was told yes it would take 20 min for approval (I calculated that I could borrow 25k and have a $466 pymt—have never borrowed that amount before but I’m confident I’m fine with that monthly). There were people everywhere like what’s the max occupancy of this building, and huge line for the ATM. I guess things really change in 10 years. I doubt I’d want to go back but I’ll probably get the loan and pick up the check in person. I was told VIN is key and maybe apply 2 days before I want to get the car. They were helpful at the front desk. Then we walked over to the hockey store and the guy was super helpful. Said junior large shoulder pads looked big on my son so likely what we have (junior medium and didn’t bring them) is good and no need to buy any now. I thought this is why amazon and costco can’t sell ice hockey gear—there is a level of expertise in the store. Since when do salesman advise customers not to buy anything as they don’t need to?

Both experiences left me with a changed outlook, in positive ways.

Had one loan with a local credit union source by the Volvo dealer two months ago. Super competitive APR. So good in fact I refinanced my truck with them as well. All done through the website with one phone call from the credit union wanting to know how many miles on the truck. No other supporting documentation needed. They did do a credit pull. Only made two payments on the Volvo thus far. They wired the funds to where the loan was previously.