I went into a Wal-Mart for the first time last week just so I could enjoy the public and sanctimonious parting of ways.
GOOD RIDDANCE, Wal-Mart !!!
GOOD RIDDANCE, Wal-Mart !!!
Is WalMart finally Dying?
- Thread starter DrVenkman
- Start date
I was just pointing out that it is easier to grow when profitability isn't your main focus. And I wouldn't say Target has been managed overly well. Granted their CEO is somewhat new to the company.
Wal Mart put much of their focus on grocery as I believe over half of their sales come from that dept. That is just such a competitive category, as Kroger, Aldi, Costco, DG etc have been showing solid growth
Over the past couple years I have seen more and more inferior products hitting the shelves of Target at a similar price point as a Wal-Mart. I saw Capri Sun at Target that had high fructose corn syrup it-- Kraft Foods used to only sell that to Wal-Mart and a handful of other discount grocery stores. Target got real sugar, but paid a few more cents for it.
I would encourage you, or someone, to post a chart showing the profits of the companies named over the past 10 years or so. I suspect that the "Walmart fade" will not look very bad in that chart.
Yes, they have issues, and yes, businesses need to watch trends and consumer preferences, etc, lest they be carried away on the tide. But, they aren't exactly on the verge of collapse by any means.
I am not expecting this to fall overnight or Wal-Mart to collapse anytime soon. K-Mart is still around. So is Sears, but neither is what they once were.
Personally, I would buy from WalMart before I would ever buy anything "on-line"...Amazon included. FYI, It has been 6 years since my shadow has darkened a WalMart.
"On-line" business is no way to support American economic values. It does however pander to the weaknesses of the American consumer. They get to sit on their butts, buy shit they don't need and talk about how much money they saved, as more and more Americans lose their jobs.
"On-line" business is no way to support American economic values. It does however pander to the weaknesses of the American consumer. They get to sit on their butts, buy shit they don't need and talk about how much money they saved, as more and more Americans lose their jobs.
For what it is worth, they are fighting strong headwinds. Corporate profits have been declining now for 2-3 quarters. I think Walmart has a strong enough balance sheet to get through this period though. They have not leveraged up in the same manner as Sears and certain others.
From MarketWatch regarding the quarter ending in May:
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Adjusted pretax corporate profits fell 5.9% in the first quarter and declined for the second quarter in a row for the first time since the middle of the 2007-2009 recession, the U.S. government reported Friday. By the same measure, profits had fallen by 1.4% in the fourth quarter. Adjusted profits decreased by $125.5 billion in the first quarter to mark the biggest drop in seven years, the Commerce Department said Friday. Profits had fallen by $30.4 billion in the final three months of 2014. Profit figures are adjusted for depreciation and the value of inventories.
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Additional comments:
The struggles that Sears is going through is more of an opportunity than an omen. The same for Target and other struggling retailers. Neither has the staying-power that Walmart has.
The reason corporate profits are iffy is that corporations and their customers are facing higher taxes and uncertain healthcare expenses. This chews up disposable income and the results show up in lower overall spending.
From MarketWatch regarding the quarter ending in May:
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Adjusted pretax corporate profits fell 5.9% in the first quarter and declined for the second quarter in a row for the first time since the middle of the 2007-2009 recession, the U.S. government reported Friday. By the same measure, profits had fallen by 1.4% in the fourth quarter. Adjusted profits decreased by $125.5 billion in the first quarter to mark the biggest drop in seven years, the Commerce Department said Friday. Profits had fallen by $30.4 billion in the final three months of 2014. Profit figures are adjusted for depreciation and the value of inventories.
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Additional comments:
The struggles that Sears is going through is more of an opportunity than an omen. The same for Target and other struggling retailers. Neither has the staying-power that Walmart has.
The reason corporate profits are iffy is that corporations and their customers are facing higher taxes and uncertain healthcare expenses. This chews up disposable income and the results show up in lower overall spending.
Thank God Titus.....I thought lower wages and fewer jobs might have been culprits, too. It makes my life easier to know that knowing that my taxes....that have been flat over the past 22 years and healthcare costs are what is holding me back from the American dream! WalMart is responsible for many more LOST jobs in the American economy and lost tax revenue than WalMart can ever create.
I generally go to Fareway. Wal-Mart is cheaper for certain items. Overall the grocery experience is not great. I read in the Consumer Reports that Wal-Mart scored as worst for grocery chains. Dollar General is cheap too, and its a lot easier to get in and out of.
Didn't Target just shutter a bunch of stores in Canada? They have lost numerous corporate employees, they are not exactly a great operation either.
Most brick and mortar stores are losing business to on line shopping. Heck in many area's Amazon can now deliver same day.
Target pulled out of Canada totally
On another note: What's the worst Wal-Mart in Iowa?
Davenport was mentioned, but Blair's Ferry in Cedar Rapids is right up there.
On another note: What's the worst Wal-Mart in Iowa?
Davenport was mentioned, but Blair's Ferry in Cedar Rapids is right up there.
Watched a Sam Walton video years ago, talking about how he got started. Some guy came into his little store complaining that the tires he bought were the wrong size, or something. The man had no receipt but Sam knew him as a regular customer. He ended up refunding for the tires, and eventually had the customer happy. The end of the story was those tires weren't even the kind Sam sold! And, he knew it. He knew the customer and wasn't going to argue, just make sure he kept him.
Try that in a Walmart today.
No, you are just as likely to be stopped pushing your cart out and a grubby little guy who you doubt ever washes his hands starts digging through your cart and checking your receipt. When you ask why he says you have, "unbagged" items. Well, who didn't bag them! Talk to the lady at the check out lane who was in a hurry! And, I'm not eating those apples IN the bag that you just put your grubby hands all over...what, did I sneak something out in the bag of apples you just tore open? Was I not supposed to put the apples in the plastic bag left right by them on the dispenser, and then tie them with the paper covered little wire?
And to make it worse, you've worked here for six month at least and have stopped me before. Not that I usually complain about impairments but your lisp sir, your lisp!!! Rushing to my cart and loudly saying, "LemmeSeeYourReseeeeee! LemmeSeeYourReseeeee!", is getting annoying as Hell!
Try that in a Walmart today.
No, you are just as likely to be stopped pushing your cart out and a grubby little guy who you doubt ever washes his hands starts digging through your cart and checking your receipt. When you ask why he says you have, "unbagged" items. Well, who didn't bag them! Talk to the lady at the check out lane who was in a hurry! And, I'm not eating those apples IN the bag that you just put your grubby hands all over...what, did I sneak something out in the bag of apples you just tore open? Was I not supposed to put the apples in the plastic bag left right by them on the dispenser, and then tie them with the paper covered little wire? And to make it worse, you've worked here for six month at least and have stopped me before. Not that I usually complain about impairments but your lisp sir, your lisp!!! Rushing to my cart and loudly saying, "LemmeSeeYourReseeeeee! LemmeSeeYourReseeeee!", is getting annoying as Hell!
It is an old Tennessee saying which pretty much means confused beyond belief...and the correct wording is s**t or go blind...but I was trying to be non vulgar.
That is some epically funny stuff there Dan...Watched a Sam Walton video years ago, talking about how he got started. Some guy came into his little store complaining that the tires he bought were the wrong size, or something. The man had no receipt but Sam knew him as a regular customer. He ended up refunding for the tires, and eventually had the customer happy. The end of the story was those tires weren't even the kind Sam sold! And, he knew it. He knew the customer and wasn't going to argue, just make sure he kept him.
Try that in a Walmart today.
And to make it worse, you've worked here for six month at least and have stopped me before. Not that I usually complain about impairments but your lisp sir, your lisp!!! Rushing to my cart and loudly saying, "LemmeSeeYourReseeeeee! LemmeSeeYourReseeeee!", is getting annoying as Hell!
The final chapter is when my eventual ex and I, both tired of being shopping cart searched, refused to stop and walked right out of the store and the Walmart Nazi started yelling, "Manager!!!Secyouitie! Manager!!! Secyouitie!" We made it to the car and drove off with no more interruptions. He was still guarding the Emerald City after that, but never stopped either of us again.
At one time WalMart proudly boasted about how they stocked American made items. Now they focus on stocking the most cheaply made piece of crap products they can find. I don't shop there. My last venture was a desperation move on a Saturday night when Mrs. Lucas demanded I bring home some sprinklers in anticipation of new sod going in on a Monday. I told her no, I'd go to Lowe's the next day for a better selection. Nope. Go to WalMart. It was a Hellscape. I spent over 35 minutes in line. All of the self check out lanes were closed. I saw the manager walking indifferently through the store. They called for back up checkers, and maybe 10 minutes later two people sauntered up to staff registers.
Give me Costco any day over WalMart.
Give me Costco any day over WalMart.
And of course the selection was crummy as you predicted. I noticed something changed several years ago when WalMart stopped stocking anything they didn't think they could move in a week.
Actually, you need to track it back a level. The lower wages AND the fewer jobs are the result of anti-growth government policies. The higher taxes leave business in a position where they cannot support as many jobs ... and they leave consumers in a position where they have less to spend at Walmart ... or elsewhere.
Historically, Walmart has been a job creator since they have allowed consumers to keep a higher portion of their income, (Lower prices means more money for other things). Their discounted prices function much the same as a tax cut.
There is ample data available that WalMart is a net negative as far as economic impact (ie: taxes and job creation). However, you go ahead and fight your fight Titus...I will fight mine.
Well share some then. I suspect that the "studies" that you will come up with may have a few holes in them. But we'll see...whatcha got?
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