Lazy Americans

I miss shopping at Meijer. I'd go there all the time when I lived in Indy.

 

W A L - M A R T ?!
WoAH!
Don't get me started!

Too late!

Once upon a time, back in the day, when I drove an orange Big truck, I had the opportunity to make a delivery to the Wal-Mart Distribution Warehouse in Cedar City, Utah, I think it was.

While there, the supervisor took the time to explain Sam Walton's big objective, which was to put K-Mart OUT of business for having the nerve to cross the Mason - Dixon Line, which Sam Walton considered HIS territory. Kinda reminds me of how street gangs work.

At the time, I figured it was just big talk. But a couple of years later, while driving for another Big truck trucking company, I delivered mill work for newly built K-Marts. To my amazement, whereEVER those K-Marts were being built, there was also a newer Wal-Mart close by. Often right next door to the K-Mart.

At one K-Mart in Colorado I delivered to, they were about one week away from the grand opening. Within stones -throw, was a brand NEW Wal-Mart, and much larger than the new K-Mart. Wally broke ground for their construction one week AFTER K-Mart, and building was completed one week BEFORE K-Mart, and Wally was having HIS grand opening as I was being unloaded.

A friend of mine's daughter and grand daughter worked for K-Mart in SoCal, and they were lured away from K-Mart by Wally World with promises of higher pay. Having been ALREADY trained, it made opening Wally World easier with pre-trained (by K-Mart) employees.

They soon realized that the grass wasn't all that greener at Wally's garden department either. The main thing Wally wanted to do to K-Mart is rub salt in the wound as they twisted the knife.

In the town where I live, K-Mart bought property to build a Super K-Mart, but with sales and profits down, K-Mart decided not to open that Super Store, and sold the property. Guess what was built on that exact property?
If you guessed a Wally World, you'd be incorrect. Wally World is across the street. On the property where K-Mart originally planned to build, stands a Sam's Club.
How's THAT for rubbing salt in the wound?
Now, we have TWO Wally Worlds and one Sam's club in a town of around 100,000 residents. Several more within a short drive. And the only K-Mart in town is now a Sears Store. We now have NO K-Marts close by. The closest K-Mart is about a 25 mile drive, past several Wally Worlds.

As a consumer who believes a customer has a RIGHT to choose where they prefer to shop, I'm outraged that ANY BIG business would have the power and determination to eliminate another business that I MIGHT prefer to patronize. That's stepping on MY toes and deprives ME of MY rights to choose.

Wally brags of low prices --- beats all the others, they claim. As a result, Mom & Pops stores go out of business because they can't compete with Wally's prices which, because of volume buying power, Wally often sells things for LESS than Mom & Pops obtain the same things from the suppliers. Hard to make a profit for M & P that way. And folks asleep at the wheel think Mom & Pops are ripping them off.

Often times, when undecided about a purchase, it's wise to consult an employee.

Wally World:

Hi, I'm interested in buying a .30-06, but I'm not sure if I should buy the Winchester, the Remington or that nice looking Savage, what would you recommend?

Uhhhhh, ......well,....................I work in baby's wear, but I could probably find somebody around here who works in Sporting Goods, ................. if you have the time to wait.

MoM & PoP's store ----- same questions.

Well, sir, any of the three would make fine rifles chambered in .30-06. What do you intend to hunt? What grain bullets do you think you'll prefer to use? If you plan to hunt thin-skinned game at longer distances, you might want to consider a Sako chambered for 7mm Remington Magnum. Flat shooting and with a bullet weight between 140 & 160 grains, sight one inch high at 100 yards and you'll be dead on at 200 yards. Top that rifle with a quality variable scope and you'd be set for deer and antelope.
If you're going after larger game and need the extra punch of a 220 grain bullet, the .30-06 would be fine, but a .300 Winchester Magnum would provide a greater velocity and flatter shooting, with a tad more recoil.

Get my point?

Now, after picking Mom & Pop's brain for a half hour, where does Joe Customer go to actually purchase the rifle, after absorbing enough information to make an informed decision?
Did someone guess Wally World?

Folks get $100 worth of advice, then go to Wally World to save $25.

Whatever happened to that nice couple who USED to own and operate that MoM & PoP Sporting Goods store with the wealth of good information and sage advice? They were SO helpful, I can't believe they'd just abandon their customers.

I ask, when Wally runs all the competition into the ground, and competition no longer exists, do y'all think ol' Wally will continue to keep their prices down, or do you reckon they'll RAISE those "low" prices?
When they're the ONLY game in town, they'll have y'all by the short hairs. A captive audience with NO choice.


Who y'all gonna blame THAT on?
WALLY?
I think not.


Ahhhhh!
I feel SO much better now, after venting.
I now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.
Thanx!
I needed that!

 

So what you are trying to say is that Walmart should be punished for running a profitable business. A business that people freely walk into to spend their money.
Businesses are started to make money, not to give you choices.

 

One thing that liberal minded people fail to realize is that life isn't about fairness. Whether or not folks want to accept it, there's always going to be winners and losers in a free market society.

Any disbelief in fairness leads one down the road towards socialism.

 

I agree with Shockey on this one. What really fries my beans, though, is the reputed controls they place on their suppliers. It's bully economics, in my book... and I want no part of it.

 

Yea, I WISH we had a Meijer here...love them. None anywhere near here in south. They can actually put a hurt on Wal-Mart for sure! Very nice stores.

 

I remember before we had Walmart here, not only were the prices higher
but people were rude to us at Kmart and other stores. Once
Walmart came things became better all around. My wife has worked
at Walmart for years, its been good to us, we have better health care
than we would if I depended on the trucking companies I have worked for.
I have never deliverd to one of their distrubution centers but I have
deliverd to their stores. I was treated fine. Worst I have ever
been treated was when I delivered to a Food Lion distribution center.

 

When the "Old Man" was running the show, he actually put money back into the communities.

How many small towns has he saved by investing in a company bound for closure?
How many of his employees did he foot medical bills for because he believed their salaries were meant for savings & purchasing?

How many lil towns has the new management saved to date?
Probably a few...just in China.
How many employees have their medical bills paid for by Wal Mart to date?
Probably only management (cuz they're the only ones who can afford the insurance).
In China I believe the employees are unionized (by Chinese law) & that's who pays.

Most places that Wal Mart open in now begin to suffer a drain on social health services because Wally pays squat & the insurance is never at a discount.

I realize the end goal is capitalism but how much is enough?

Couldn't a company who's year end profit is measured in the 160 Billion afford even a discounted health care plan for their mostly part time employees?

You know, the part timers don't qualify for & can't afford company health care & have to foot the entire load themselves.

Do I shop at Wally World? Yes for certain things.
But I have rarely purchased a big box item that didn't crap out soon after.
How much did I really save in having to go back a second or third time?

 

How many companies pay for part timers health care? We pay three hundred and change a month for six people and you have to work 34 hours a week to qualify. Thats competitive with a lot of companies.
Walmart helps a lot of people in this country yet some people hate it
because of its success.

 

And people think teachers have the great benefits. You'd be paying at least three times as much out of pocket for those benefits in my district. And the health insurance is not very good.