Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlielyn
Personally, I would hate to see the Walmart model move in to PP. A new department store would be great, but I hate what Walmart stands for, how they treat their employees, and how they kill downtown small town America and Canada.
|
You have not lived in a town where Wal Mart came.
I have.
I had a lake home for 25 years in a VERY rural area where TN/AL/MS come together. For years, there was just a smattering of locally owned stores, food and otherwise. You were at their mercy as far as selection and prices were concerned. Little selection, high prices. Sure, the proprietors did well, but you had to drive 90 miles to Memphis if you really needed anything.
Then Wal Mart came to town, and changed everything for the positive. For the first time, there was actually a wide selection of foods, groceries and other goods, at MUCH lower prices. And folks stood in line for jobs there.
And after Wal Mart, Lowes came to town, and what Wal Mart did for groceries and consumer goods, Lowes did for building supplies and DIY home improvement items. And folks stood in line to go work there.
Yes, the local Good Ol' Boys suffered. Some fell on hard times. But do you know what the SMART ones did? Instead of moaning and groaning and feeling sorry for themselves, they created NEW businesses around Wal Mart, businesses that didn't compete, to take advantage of the consumer traffic that Wal Mart generated. Many of those folks are doing better than they were before.
For every town that talks trash about their Wal Mart, there are 100 communities that love them. They didn't become the largest company in the world by not giving folks what they want.
IMO, the FACTS of the consumer and employee acceptance of the Big Box stores flies in the face of the Urban Legends about the mean, cruel, unfair nature of Wal Mart and other big chains.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by charlielyn
They are horrible to their suppliers too. One local frozen food company got the local Walmart contract that was bigger than their plant could supply so they gladly spent money to increase the factory so that they could meet the contract that would make them lots of money. The next year Walmart wanted the same quantity but would not pay the same dollar. The company really suffered financially because they had no other option but to accept less money for the contract after expanding their facilities. Walmart does this to most of their suppliers, that is how they keep their prices down. All smaller stores in the area die out also as most people go for the cheaper price, not considering their neighbours livelyhood.
|
I've heard these stories before. As a businessman, I have little sympathy. If Wal Mart made this a practice, and suppliers continue to expand expecting continued business from Wal Mart, I blame poor strategic planning on those suppliers. No business should EVER put themselves in that position. Don't blame Wal Mart. Blame the supplier. The Devil did NOT make them do it.
IMO, the entry of Wal Mart into the DR is wonderful. Folks complain about the virtual cartel certain "families" have in the DR that creates poor selection, poor service and high prices. Well, the very ones folks complain about will now be in a position to have to COMPETE for business. More selection, lower prices, and better service. The consumer wins! Why is that so bad?