Six Flags to plan and brand new park in Nigeria

I read that article and it doesn't show anything wrong with Walmart. Those companies, Vlassic Huffy etc..., chose to do business with Walmart. It's in their best interest to do so, but they don't have to. Walmart isn't a monopoly thre are plenty of other retailers around. It even says that the 2.97 gallon pickles wasn't the cause of Vlassic's bankruptcy. I admire Walmart and what they have been able to accomplish. They are a perfect shinning example of what capitalism can produce and it is great.

Wow. Where does one even begin?

They didn't have a choice. That was the point of the article. If they wanted any shot at selling any volume, they had to sell to Wal-Mart. Furthermore, if you don't think Wal-Mart is a monopoly, spend more time in small town America, away from urban areas. Then let me know where else you can go to buy your groceries.

Jason Hammond said:
I can't remember any other time when I couldn't take a model number from a store and find the corresponding product on the mfgs website.

That's not what I meant.

Take the model number from Wal-Mart and find the same one at Target or K-Mart or Sears or Meijer.

You'll be surprised at how often you can't...even for products that are basically identical.

And that's something the retailers can insist on to avoid the price matching trap.

As someone who lives in small town America, I can comment on this. The county I live in hit its peak population in 1930 and has been dropping in various degrees ever since. It's basically stabilized in the past 10-15 years according to estimates. Our downtowns were lost in the 70s, when the owners of the mom and pop stores decided to retire, and sonny wasn't at all interested in being stuck behind a counter all day.

Jamesway, Hills, Phar-mor and Ames came and went in the 70s-90s, along with a few other discount and department chains, none of it being due to opening of a Walmart, that finally opened a few years ago. We have several supermarket chains and a number of independent grocers, but Walmart actually added some competition since Acme and A&P backed out of the area years ago.

Maybe Wal-mart does own a disproportionate market share out here, but they were the one of the few companies with the balls to put a store in a rural area. Penney's, Kohl's, Target, and any number of other stores could have built here, but decided against it, I suppose because of market studies. So really, why should I or anyone else drive 40-50 miles to support these stores that are supposedly morally superior?

Gonch, your comment about serial numbers is true. Many stores have agreements with manufacturers to provide only certain products in a line. Why else would they loudly proclaim that they'd give you twice the difference if you found the same product in another store for less? Because there ain't no other store around that sells that exact product!.

With electronics and applicances, Walmart sells basic products with few bells and whistles, so they charge lower prices. If that's what you want, that's what you get. Mid-scale stores will sell products with more features, and upscale stores like Macy's and Bloomie's will sell top of the line items and products from manufacturers Walmart won't touch (or won't touch Walmart). They're not selling top of the line plasma TVs for hundreds less than some other store is.

If people are only concerned about price, like Gonch has said, then Walmart may be the place for you. But given people will wait in line for an hour to pay for a Qbot, I don't think our entire country is shutting their wallets just yet.

So in your view Walmart shouldn't try to be competetive and capitalism is bad?

If you ever want to see the China impact in pure visual sense, take the bridge to Terminal Island in the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach. You'll see Millions of Shipping containers, all of them coming from China.

Or take the 15 over the Cajon pass to Barstow and check out the line of freight trains filled with containers on their way to the heartland.

BDesvignes said:
So in your view Walmart shouldn't try to be competetive and capitalism is bad?

It's not a binary issue. No one is saying that.

I challenge anyone who thinks Wal-Mart is an OK retailer to watch any of the documentaries on the subject and report back.

Listen to what their executives have to say and tell me that "greed is good."

I watched an episode of Penn & Teller's show on the matter, and they definitely tell you a different story. I would encourage you to find some of it on Youtube, if you are willing to be open to hearing the other side of the argument.

That's like asking me to watch The Daily Show for serious content.

I did a google search from the program but didn't find the full episode, only a trailer that was making fun of the people who don't like walmart.

The Daily Show as substantive as network news. :)

I've watched documentaries on Walmart and I'm completely fine with how they do business. Greed is good. Everyone is greedy. You know instead of going to amusment parks you could be using that money to help the homeless or starving children.

Gonch, that isn't saying much.

BDesvignes, The rich get richer and the poor get poorer right? Good times!

That's really not any more of a fair statement. Wealth is not inherently bad any more than engaging in morally questionable monopolistic behavior is OK.

Jeff +1

Walmart is no where near a monopoly. They have tons of competition. Please explain how they fit the definition of a monopoly. How do they have exclusive control over the retail market?

I didn't say they were a monopoly, I just think the way they do business is despicable and un-american.