Walmart in India

@zralte (4178)
India
April 7, 2011 1:40pm CST
YES, that's true!!! I was surprised, to say the least. Let me start from the beginning. PAST I have heard about Walmart a lot, and always wished that they'd open in India. There was a talk, about 5-10 years ago that Walmart is going to open in India, but could not because of the Foreign Trade rule in India. That rumour died down with no Walmart opened in India. PRESENT Last December, I visited a newly opened mall in Jaipur. I found a really good Supermarket in the basement called 'EasyDay'. I shopped there and liked it. I went back there a few times. I could not go as frequently as I'd like to because of the distance. Last time I went there, my purchases were put in a cardboard box and taped with ......you guessed it...WALMART TAPE!!! I got home and searched the connection of EasyDay with Walmart....I found out that EasyDay is actually a Joint Venture of Bharti Retail (India) and WalMart. I don't really have a question to go with this one.....I just wanted to let it known that WalMart is NOW in INDIA. YAYYYYYY
1 person likes this
8 responses
@ptower76 (1616)
• United States
7 Apr 11
Walmart provides a service in the communities they serve. The most important is that they create competition and help maintain prices low for many consumer products. Is Walmart perfect? no. But I like shopping there when I get the chance. Glad your happy about Walmart in India.
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@zralte (4178)
• India
7 Apr 11
I am really happy about it, though they are prevented from coming in Full Force.....still....good enough for me. I like shopping there as I get wider choices of brand than any other store....and let's not forget the cheaper price... Of course no store is perfect... I like bargains....does that make me a cheap person...probably...but why waste money...which is hard earned.....I love getting cheaper price on anything. So yes, I like Walmart.
@zralte (4178)
• India
7 Apr 11
I like that...'Frugal'.....not the word I used on a daily basis...I think it's going to be promoted to daily use now... This is what makes myLot great...learning and finding out new things...
@ptower76 (1616)
• United States
7 Apr 11
Bargains don't make us cheap. I like to think of it as Frugal. lol Walmart helps keep prices down all around, which benefits all.
1 person likes this
• India
7 Apr 11
It can be possible, but my brother who lives in US had a visit to India and I talked to him about WalMart. He said that WalMart cant come in India. He told that it will take 5-10 more years for that to happen. I forgot the Exact reason he mentioned.
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@zralte (4178)
• India
7 Apr 11
It is because of the Foreign Trade Rule we have in India. I don't know the exact rule, but retailing cannot be 100% Foreign Direct Investment (as I understood it). That is why the big Hype about Walmart coming to India has been stopped. My personal opinion on the matter is that the Indian Government is trying to protect it's artisans. If Walmart do come, then they will be getting lots of things from China and other countries and sell it here at a fraction of a price that can be made. Therefore, killing the local artisans, basically. I don't mean just China alone, I meant that whatever Walmart buy, they will buy it in BIG bulk at a really cheap price, therefore, able to resell it at a cheaper price than the average man can make it. I am happy that they are tying up with Bharti. Look for EasyDay shop in Vadodara, there might be one. Search on the internet about EasyDay and you will find the information I have given here is true. I will try to find the website that tells me about this and will let you know.
• India
7 Apr 11
Yea, I also told him that its all possible but I didnt argue much coz he had abundance of knowledge about such stuffs. But by what you have written, its increasing the hope :) WalMart is a big Project. They would only be able to start it in some of the cities. Thus most of the bigger cities would not have Walmart. Anyways, lets hope for the best :D
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@zralte (4178)
• India
8 Apr 11
From what I've read, they are just starting in North India. I think they soon will be all over. http://www.indiaretailing.com/news.aspx?topic=1&Id=4374 http://www.easydayindia.com/
• Philippines
8 Apr 11
How about 7-11 in India, i think that will be impossible because I haven't seen such 24/7 store here in India. But about Walter Mart, well I can see a lot of bargain type of stores around although you have said that this shop really is related to Walmart store, that is good then, although its just in Delhi and I haven't seen any on Mumbai yet.
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@zralte (4178)
• India
8 Apr 11
We, Indians, still have not quite understood about the supermarket thing. As in, shelves being stocked up in the middle of a working day..... With the population and unemployment rate as it is, I'm sure they'd be able to employ some to re-stock shelves at night when they close... I don't really mind about the working hours, sure 24/7 is great, butnot really necessary for me.
@jacksong (130)
8 Apr 11
Dear, Hopy what you said is true, Walmart is so good mall which I like so much.... In the city where I live, There is also no Walmart for years heard coz the tax despute between locan gvmt and Walmart.. While there r a lot of Walmart in other cities of my country...
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@zralte (4178)
• India
8 Apr 11
Hi jacksong, it is true. Though on researching some more, I found that EasyDay is not exactly the one with Walmart tie. The actual tie-up was named Bharti-Walmart and is supposed to be a cash and carry. I have no doubt, however, that EasyDay is the Retail part of that.
• United States
7 Apr 11
Wow this is great and shows that Walmart is doing great financially to expand world wide. It use to be here that a trip to Walmart meant pre-planning because there were none in the City at all. Something about Zoning would not allow it. So it was a far drive. So finally now they are few in our own City and nearby neighborhood, this took years to battle the zoning restrictions. It has been almost four years and now I have one just about 15 minutes away.
@zralte (4178)
• India
7 Apr 11
I can hope and pray..... It was pretty funny last time I went there.....I dragged my husband to come with me (because the kids insisted on coming)....and when we finished shopping and ready to go home, the car won't start. We were stuck there for 2 hours. My husband went back home, called the mechanic, came back with my car, etc etc. Worst Sunday ever - I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy - getting stuck in a car park of a shopping mall with two kids is no laughing matter.....
@zralte (4178)
• India
7 Apr 11
It is definitely a great thing, for me, at least. I hope they would open one very close to my house very soon. (I know a shop that has been left vacant after one supermarket left it - used to be my favourite and I used to be their best customer) There was lots and lots of talks about Walmart coming to India, and when that fizzled out because of reasons stated above, I gave up hope. Seems they found a partner now and well, let's hope they do well here so that they can expand to a walking distance from my house. (Who said I'm selfish?)
• United States
7 Apr 11
lol not selfish at all. See Walmart has such great and low prices that if you have to drive the distance it sort of defeats the savings. So when they came to a neighborhood near me I was very happy. I especially like Walmart for their toiletries in which I like to stock up. It took years here too, to get them to come to the City so it is not impossible, you never know they may come sooner to a nearby location near you.
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@nishant5n (1067)
• India
8 Apr 11
Hi Zralte, How are you doing? Back about three years ago, my brother told me that Wal-Mart is opening in India and the first store will be in Ludhiana, Punjab. He also was shortlisted to be the part of their employees, but later the project was canceled due to FDI regulations. Easy Day stores are part of Wal-Mart in India and they are good. I have been at many Easy Day stores in Jaipur itself, and they are very convenient.
@zralte (4178)
• India
8 Apr 11
Many??? I only know the one in Pink Sqaure Mall? Where are the other ones??? Here I am, thinking I have news.... What do you think about the competition with other stores like Big Bazaar or Hyper City?
@zralte (4178)
• India
8 Apr 11
I have to find out the one in Malviya Nagar - closest to me. The only one I know is the one in Janta Colony. That's what started this discussion. Thanks for the info. I am searching for the address of the Malviya Nagar one. I do a bit of shopping in Reliance Fresh, but the staff there are not helpful at all and a bit inconvenient for me. I used to shop at Spencer's when they were here. Sadly, they closed their operations in Rajasthan. HyperCity is too far for me. I only go there when I need to visit MotherCare in Shoppers Stop. The Shoppers Stop in Gaurav Tower does not have MotherCare.
@dpk262006 (58673)
• Delhi, India
12 Apr 11
Hi Zralte! I think Walmart is a reputed brand and the Company has opened some stores in some cities (am not sure if they have opened a Store here in New Delh or NCR). I think we would be able to get branded things, while shopping on Walmart, as happend with you.
@dpk262006 (58673)
• Delhi, India
13 Apr 11
How do you know my real name .............. (it was a pleasant surprise for me) Thanks for the inputs, will check up the link. Anyone in your family remotely connected with sales or Walmart?
@zralte (4178)
• India
13 Apr 11
Um.......not that difficult to guess. Glad I got it right. Imagine how embarrassing it would be had I been wrong? No, no connection to Walmart whatsoever. Just a love for bargains......lol
@zralte (4178)
• India
12 Apr 11
Hi deepak, yes, they have opened in NCR. They are right now concentrating on North India, specifically NCR, Punjab and Rajasthan. You can see the EasyDay store's address from this link http://www.easydayindia.com/
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
8 Apr 11
Walmart is also available in my country and we have a few in my city. But I can't find a big difference between it and other big supermarkets. Here it seems that Carrefour, Jusco and Parknshop etc. are much more popular. They occupy more market here because Walmart seems to arrive in my city later. I love China
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@zralte (4178)
• India
8 Apr 11
Hi youless, I can't recognise any of them!! ParknShop ....I like that. You are lucky to have so many. In my city, I think there was not much 5 years ago. Everything started to blossom up in the last 5 years.