The Wal-Mart Conspiracy theory....
By BethTN81
@BethTN81 (564)
United States
January 27, 2009 10:48pm CST
I was sitting around board today thinking about the economy and all the major stores that are closing nation wide. Now, K-Mart went bankrupt years ago, yet there are still several stores out there, but it seems that the stores in smaller towns went out in the blink of an eye. Now, MANY more different stores are closing forever(Circuit City, Toys R Us, Steve and Barry's...and so on).
I starting thinking about what stores will be left for people in my town to shop at, and all I could think about was WAL MART. Wal-Mart has not been too affected by the economy, and EVERYONE shops there. I do kninda wonder if the CEOs of Wall World are throwing a party in their offices about all these businesses dying. I am sure Wal Mart will thrive off of this. Right now, Wal=Mart is the major employer in my town.
2 responses
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
28 Jan 09
Wal-Mart is thriving due to good management.
They treat their customers with respect.
They are always happy to help you find things. Some other similar store don't. It starts the moment you get there with their senior greeters. It's a small thing, but it gives a good impression and makes people more likely to shop there again.
I'd pick Wal-Mart over K-Mart any day. In most K-Marts employees are hard to find and they really don't go out of their way to help you find a $2 item. They make you feel like you are imposing to ask questions.
I've only been in 1 K-Mart were the employees were exceedingly helpful and would tell me that the item I needed was available at a lower cost in another location. This K-Mart was in a ritzy area might be why they were very helpful.
I didn't even ask. They offered. I needed to buy cheep tennis balls, not for playing tennis. I didn't need the canned ones with super good bounce. Just ones suitable for a dog to thrash. Needless to say, next time I needed more tennis balls I went back there.
Wal-Mart prices their items competitively. It matters. A 10 cent difference is no big deal, but a dollar is. So they make a bit less per sale, but make it up in volume.
Unfortunately Mom and Pop Marts can't do that. They need to really work on service if they expect people to pay more fore the same item.
Even with all the competition from similar store like K-Mart, Wal-Mart made more money for their stock holders. Obviously they are doing something right.
@BethTN81 (564)
• United States
29 Jan 09
You may enjoy shopping at WalMart but have you ever worked there? Their pay is LOW, and no they do not treat their employees well....That is not the point I was trying to make anywy. I am glad you have a heavenly experience at Wally World, but what I was saying is that Wal MArt will eventually be the most powerful retail franchise in the country. They come in to a small town and run small businesses out. There are hundreds of businesses that went under because of this place. I don't really call that good management. At least i have no desire to force small family owned businesses out of town. They are already too powerful, and Sam Walton would not appreciate what they have done.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
28 Jan 09
I live in south central Florida and the Super Walmart is about it when it comes to clothes and other items. I agree that it looks like Wally World will be the last man standing if something isn't done about the economy. I also heard on the news today that McDonald's earnings were way up. I guess lots of folks can only afford to eat from the Dollar Menu these days.
