Yes,auto part stores HAVE to mark up products to make 35-45%..they have a lot of expenses.Does WM make deliveries? NO. So,buy a little pickup,pay for insurance (expensive),gasoline,hire a driver,maintain it.....thats a lot of money.Now figure that most parts stores have 2-4 delivery vehicles...there's a huge tab right there.Not to mention to pay for the lights,heat,all the employees,their Workmens Comp,pay them for holidays/Vacations/Personal/Sick days,train them,stock the shelves (overhead),store and liability insurance....and still need to make a profit..Yes,thats why a $2.00 quart of oil is $3.00 or more by the time it gets to the shelf.Now...if that little parts store cant demand their own special pricing like a WM goliath can...there's a big reason why you pay $9.00 a quart for Mobil 1.
Walmart's low prices hurt every one.
- Thread starter jkhawaii
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We are people....with higher orders of intelligence. But if you want to act like a sheep, go ahead.
I like Walmart. It's capitalism at its finest. If Walmart dies because people agree it's evil, that's awesome. If Walmart continues to thrive because people feel they are providing what people want at competitive pricing, then that's awesome.
Honestly, if Walmart was evil or a mistake, it would fall flat on it's face. The fact that it's not, should tell you something.
I like a good deal. I buy when I find good deals. I also give money away to people who need it. I'd rather give $20 to a single mother at Walmart buying groceries than spending $20 more for oil at Autozone to help support that franchise in an effort to support an anti-Walmart movement.
Business is Business. It's not people. It's not emotions. It's cut throat. It's survival of the fittest. It's supply and demand. Let the winner prevail. And we all win.
I like Walmart. It's capitalism at its finest. If Walmart dies because people agree it's evil, that's awesome. If Walmart continues to thrive because people feel they are providing what people want at competitive pricing, then that's awesome.
Honestly, if Walmart was evil or a mistake, it would fall flat on it's face. The fact that it's not, should tell you something.
I like a good deal. I buy when I find good deals. I also give money away to people who need it. I'd rather give $20 to a single mother at Walmart buying groceries than spending $20 more for oil at Autozone to help support that franchise in an effort to support an anti-Walmart movement.
Business is Business. It's not people. It's not emotions. It's cut throat. It's survival of the fittest. It's supply and demand. Let the winner prevail. And we all win.
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
If Walmart went away I would not be sad,but since they killed off so many other places (Ames,Richs,Caldor,Bradlees) there arent many choices left....aside from Target,and there arent any around here.
Didn't Caldor disappear a decade before Walmart even happened and Bradlees a couple few years before that?
If Walmart went away I would not be sad,but since they killed off so many other places (Ames,Richs,Caldor,Bradlees) there arent many choices left....aside from Target,and there arent any around here.
Didn't Caldor disappear a decade before Walmart even happened and Bradlees a couple few years before that?
Walmart isn't taking away competition and choices, we are.
Originally Posted By: jkhawaii
If all oil were pulled from Wal Mart people would still buy oil, just not at Wal Mart.
For me, NAPA where they would have sales (they follow off national prices). Oreilly nope (they go higher than national), and DonQuijote for cheap Royal Purple on sale.
Shaka for a local BITOG'er!
If all oil were pulled from Wal Mart people would still buy oil, just not at Wal Mart.
For me, NAPA where they would have sales (they follow off national prices). Oreilly nope (they go higher than national), and DonQuijote for cheap Royal Purple on sale.
Shaka for a local BITOG'er!
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Walmart enjoys tremendous market power in many lines.
Motor oil is one of them.
Walmart is the largest retail seller of motor oil in the US, so it can command both price and volume sold terms that other retailers can't.
Volume sold?
Yeah, and this explains the torrent of FAR deals on G-Oil.
It can even charge for shelf space.
I don't know that it does, but I'd be surprised if it didn't.
Walmart offers reasonable everyday shelf prices on motor oil for those who don't plan ahead.
Those who do can always do better than Walmart prices on motor oil.
I don't know what kind of margins Walmart realizes on motor oil sales, but I suspect they must be healthy enough, with enough volume, to justify the floor space used to offer the product.
Either that, or Wally figures that they'll lure us in with their motor oil prices while our significant other loads up on higher margin goods.
Motor oil is one of them.
Walmart is the largest retail seller of motor oil in the US, so it can command both price and volume sold terms that other retailers can't.
Volume sold?
Yeah, and this explains the torrent of FAR deals on G-Oil.
It can even charge for shelf space.
I don't know that it does, but I'd be surprised if it didn't.
Walmart offers reasonable everyday shelf prices on motor oil for those who don't plan ahead.
Those who do can always do better than Walmart prices on motor oil.
I don't know what kind of margins Walmart realizes on motor oil sales, but I suspect they must be healthy enough, with enough volume, to justify the floor space used to offer the product.
Either that, or Wally figures that they'll lure us in with their motor oil prices while our significant other loads up on higher margin goods.
And don't forget that the auto parts stores will check your battery, alternator, and other systems for no charge and replace many of the parts while you are waiting there. That has value for many people in our society, especially females. So if they pay a little extra for those services, so be it. Sure beats taking car to an auto repair facility. And if we all pay a little extra for our wives and daughters to use the auto shops, like mine do, so be it. At least I can tell them to take it there for NO COST diagnotics in many cases and then think about it and the next step. You are going to pay for the priviledge of driving, or your family priviledge of driving, one way or another. Unless you are a single male.
Originally Posted By: Kruse
Originally Posted By: jkhawaii
Only wal mart has those low price 5 quart jugs of oil while every other retailer has higher price per quart Gallon jugs.
Perhaps that is true...in Hawaii. We have an Orschelns chain here that quite often has Trop-Artic on sale for $2.29/quart and had it for $1.99/quart during the black Friday sale a few months ago. Last year O'Reillys had some excellent sales on oil and filter combos and within the last year my local Alco store had some Kendall Titanium oil on sale for $1.99/quart. All of these prices were for oil that came in quart containers.
I think most prices in Hawaii and Alaska are just naturally higher than the other 48 states.
Yeah, it takes a train and semi longer to get there.
Originally Posted By: jkhawaii
Only wal mart has those low price 5 quart jugs of oil while every other retailer has higher price per quart Gallon jugs.
Perhaps that is true...in Hawaii. We have an Orschelns chain here that quite often has Trop-Artic on sale for $2.29/quart and had it for $1.99/quart during the black Friday sale a few months ago. Last year O'Reillys had some excellent sales on oil and filter combos and within the last year my local Alco store had some Kendall Titanium oil on sale for $1.99/quart. All of these prices were for oil that came in quart containers.
I think most prices in Hawaii and Alaska are just naturally higher than the other 48 states.
Yeah, it takes a train and semi longer to get there.
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Walmart enjoys tremendous market power in many lines.
So does GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, KIA, IBM, Dell...etc. Ask anyone who sells them parts or materials.
Walmart enjoys tremendous market power in many lines.
So does GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, KIA, IBM, Dell...etc. Ask anyone who sells them parts or materials.
Originally Posted By: toneydoc
And don't forget that the auto parts stores will check your battery, alternator, and other systems for no charge and replace many of the parts while you are waiting there. That has value for many people in our society, especially females. So if they pay a little extra for those services, so be it. Sure beats taking car to an auto repair facility. And if we all pay a little extra for our wives and daughters to use the auto shops, like mine do, so be it. At least I can tell them to take it there for NO COST diagnotics in many cases and then think about it and the next step. You are going to pay for the priviledge of driving, or your family priviledge of driving, one way or another. Unless you are a single male.
Walmart does all of that as well.
And don't forget that the auto parts stores will check your battery, alternator, and other systems for no charge and replace many of the parts while you are waiting there. That has value for many people in our society, especially females. So if they pay a little extra for those services, so be it. Sure beats taking car to an auto repair facility. And if we all pay a little extra for our wives and daughters to use the auto shops, like mine do, so be it. At least I can tell them to take it there for NO COST diagnotics in many cases and then think about it and the next step. You are going to pay for the priviledge of driving, or your family priviledge of driving, one way or another. Unless you are a single male.
Walmart does all of that as well.
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Given the way that W-M treats employees, if really trying to save a buck, and assuming I don't need it in the next five minutes, I'll often buy at amazon (assuming they are cheaper which also isn't always the case). I generally get my stuff in a day given my location.
Well, if you go snooping in how Amazon treats its employees and warehouse contractors, it's about asgood controversial as WM.
Not that it's a big deal, it's honest work. I've gotten substantial oil deals from Amazon that someone must be losing money on, WM rarely clearances anymore and they're always making a nickel off every oil sale.
Given the way that W-M treats employees, if really trying to save a buck, and assuming I don't need it in the next five minutes, I'll often buy at amazon (assuming they are cheaper which also isn't always the case). I generally get my stuff in a day given my location.
Well, if you go snooping in how Amazon treats its employees and warehouse contractors, it's about as
Not that it's a big deal, it's honest work. I've gotten substantial oil deals from Amazon that someone must be losing money on, WM rarely clearances anymore and they're always making a nickel off every oil sale.
On the plus folks who are poor can go much further we with what money they have.the downside is now it will likely never spur any decent jobs having cheap prices.
The other company that seems to really hurt business is Amazon.com. I order everything from Amazon mostly because I feel like it's much more convenient when driving to places like Walmart and dealing with the people there.
The other company that seems to really hurt business is Amazon.com. I order everything from Amazon mostly because I feel like it's much more convenient when driving to places like Walmart and dealing with the people there.
Originally Posted By: yonyon
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
If Walmart went away I would not be sad,but since they killed off so many other places (Ames,Richs,Caldor,Bradlees) there arent many choices left....aside from Target,and there arent any around here.
Didn't Caldor disappear a decade before Walmart even happened and Bradlees a couple few years before that?
Yes, and yes!
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
If Walmart went away I would not be sad,but since they killed off so many other places (Ames,Richs,Caldor,Bradlees) there arent many choices left....aside from Target,and there arent any around here.
Didn't Caldor disappear a decade before Walmart even happened and Bradlees a couple few years before that?
Yes, and yes!
Originally Posted By: Doog
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Walmart enjoys tremendous market power in many lines.
So does GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, KIA, IBM, Dell...etc. Ask anyone who sells them parts or materials.
Yeah, but none of those companies have the sales revenue of Walmart, so none of them have anything like the market power of Walmart.
Walmart has as much revenue as GM and Toyota combined.
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Walmart enjoys tremendous market power in many lines.
So does GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, KIA, IBM, Dell...etc. Ask anyone who sells them parts or materials.
Yeah, but none of those companies have the sales revenue of Walmart, so none of them have anything like the market power of Walmart.
Walmart has as much revenue as GM and Toyota combined.
JHZR2
Staff member
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Given the way that W-M treats employees, if really trying to save a buck, and assuming I don't need it in the next five minutes, I'll often buy at amazon (assuming they are cheaper which also isn't always the case). I generally get my stuff in a day given my location.
Well, if you go snooping in how Amazon treats its employees and warehouse contractors, it's about asgood controversial as WM.
Not that it's a big deal, it's honest work. I've gotten substantial oil deals from Amazon that someone must be losing money on, WM rarely clearances anymore and they're always making a nickel off every oil sale.
Yeah but my point was that if I was only shopping on price, amazon is often cheaper on things (and better things) than W-M, cheaper, I don't have to use gas to go there nor pay tax, etc. why should I pay for Walmart infrastructure when amazon has less? That drives prices lower which is better still for the consumer, right?
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Given the way that W-M treats employees, if really trying to save a buck, and assuming I don't need it in the next five minutes, I'll often buy at amazon (assuming they are cheaper which also isn't always the case). I generally get my stuff in a day given my location.
Well, if you go snooping in how Amazon treats its employees and warehouse contractors, it's about as
Not that it's a big deal, it's honest work. I've gotten substantial oil deals from Amazon that someone must be losing money on, WM rarely clearances anymore and they're always making a nickel off every oil sale.
Yeah but my point was that if I was only shopping on price, amazon is often cheaper on things (and better things) than W-M, cheaper, I don't have to use gas to go there nor pay tax, etc. why should I pay for Walmart infrastructure when amazon has less? That drives prices lower which is better still for the consumer, right?
JHZR2
Staff member
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Someone is complaining about low prices??
I don't think that as much as effecting the ability to compete.
It's all well to say rah rah capitalism, go compete, but we're at the point where corporations are continent-wide, and have such extreme recognition and market penetration that the barriers to entry for anyone else are so high that there is no such thing as having the potential for anyone else to come in and compete.
And I think that really is the OPs premise. The system has gotten so large, efficient and low priced, that in reality there is no way for other retail to compete. And differentiation doesn't necessarily work. Case in point - far fewer wierdos in target than w-m, a far more pleasant shopping experience at a broad-spectrum discount retail. What did they do to automotive? Or take AZ/AAP, which differentiates on service and support. How much oil do they sell compared to W-M?
Meanwhile in this name of efficiency, how many mom and pop stores and other stores have shut down? Efficiency is usually manifested in labor costs. We produce less and less, and also need less retail labor. What happens then? Drives of drugged up people collecting unemployment.
But I'm not making this an employment argument... I do think W-M has made the barriers to entry in many facets of retail that at some point they may be seen as a monopoly at least to some facets of retail.
Someone is complaining about low prices??
I don't think that as much as effecting the ability to compete.
It's all well to say rah rah capitalism, go compete, but we're at the point where corporations are continent-wide, and have such extreme recognition and market penetration that the barriers to entry for anyone else are so high that there is no such thing as having the potential for anyone else to come in and compete.
And I think that really is the OPs premise. The system has gotten so large, efficient and low priced, that in reality there is no way for other retail to compete. And differentiation doesn't necessarily work. Case in point - far fewer wierdos in target than w-m, a far more pleasant shopping experience at a broad-spectrum discount retail. What did they do to automotive? Or take AZ/AAP, which differentiates on service and support. How much oil do they sell compared to W-M?
Meanwhile in this name of efficiency, how many mom and pop stores and other stores have shut down? Efficiency is usually manifested in labor costs. We produce less and less, and also need less retail labor. What happens then? Drives of drugged up people collecting unemployment.
But I'm not making this an employment argument... I do think W-M has made the barriers to entry in many facets of retail that at some point they may be seen as a monopoly at least to some facets of retail.
MrQuackers
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Strange, my post has been eliminated? It was not that controversial.
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