Walmart strikes again

Junkman · Mar 11, 2004

( Junkman it was meant as a compliment, I assure you.

You could start a new thread "What Should I Buy My Wife (just for the heck of it)" )

Oh.... I knew that it was a compliment... and with all the people agreeing with me here recently, my hat size went up by 4. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I did go shopping one time to buy her a Mink, but I figure by now after the Rolls and the Jaguar, no one would look at the attachment. She said that she wouldn't wear fur, because fur belongs on animals, not humans. Personally, I believe that she is afraid that she might be shot by some hunter mistaking here for a bare... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Do you think that she ever changed her mind? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

dummy · Mar 12, 2004

Of course I was looking at this issue from my side of the coin. I started buying oil from there because my local parts guy can't even buy it as cheap as they retail it. He was the one that suggested I buy my oil elsewhere. Some of the local merchants (gas station, hardware, auto parts, building supply)actually have given me "courtesy accounts" where I get billed monthly and 3 out of 4 give me a discount for buying from them. These are the types of businesses I personally enjoy dealing with. The ones that tell you when something is going to change (price, products, etc.) I prefer to spend my dollars in the local economy, but that's not always possible. When it's not, I guess I expect too much from the large store retail world, I expect to be treated like a customer not like an employee who is supposed to know all of the rules for that store.

spencer200 · Mar 12, 2004

They do offer automatic withdrawal. You should contact them.

Buck · Mar 15, 2004

Thanks for the idea. I gotta tell you though, I already do the same thing at a particular gas station that does not extend the courtesy of providing a rest room to its customers. I go in and flash a wad of twentys and say: I'll need 40 in gas and six cartons of Kent cigarettes. Then I say, "I need to use your restroom". When they say: "We don't have a rest room", I say, "I'm sorry, I'll take my business elsewhere."

I do this every six months or so. Yeah, I've been told I am a nut, but I don't care. I don't like businesses that treat customers like crap.

Boone · Mar 18, 2004

I use the Shell Master card and buy my gas with it. Get to pay at the pump, so no waiting for the lottery ticket buyers inside. Plus they give a 5% discount for using the card, so they are giving me a gallon of gas for every twenty I buy. Rule is never, ever leave a balance. I pay in full and prepay what I have charged that doesn't show on the bill.

Hambone · Mar 18, 2004

Since Walmart came to our rural town, two grocery's have closed, one sold out to a chain. K Mart closed among other things.
I have never been in the new store.

5030 · Mar 18, 2004

Hambone:

K-Mart is no loss. Bigger crooks than Wal-Mart. At least Wal-Mart hasn't screwed their stockholders.........yet?? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

JDgreen227 · Mar 18, 2004

Three of the five local K-marts in this area have closed over the past few years, two before Walmart arrived and the third went out of business just before the Walmart next door opened. Funny thing is, one of the remaining K-marts is holding it's own with the Walmart on the other side of the street.

Can you explain what the remark about "bigger crooks" is meant to imply? I don't hold stock in either company.

DUMBDOG · Mar 18, 2004

Past officers of Kmart took the company for a ride, big paychecks and managed the company into the ground. Stockholders lost everything in the bankruptcy. The new shareholders of Kmart are the past creditors. The old stockholders received zero for their stock. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

As a side note, there is going to be a new Walmart down on Highway 27, about 8 miles from Disney World that will not conform to the existing Walmart colors. It is to blend into the landscape and will use the same colors as a local developement.

AndyM · Mar 19, 2004

Past officers of Kmart took the company for a ride, big paychecks and managed the company into the ground. Stockholders lost everything in the bankruptcy. The new shareholders of Kmart are the past creditors. The old stockholders received zero for their stock. 

K Mart's distribution of the merchandise was handled very poorly over the years and this also led to their downfall.
How often have you seen a sale advertised at K mart, only to find that they have none of the advertised items in stock?

Simple fact-- if you have something on sale, but can't deliver the product, it's not really that great of a sale! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

5030 · Mar 19, 2004

Andy:

Better tread lightly. K Mart distribution is not very far from where you live or at least they used to be. (Warren, Oh.)

5030 · Mar 19, 2004

Thats interesting, that is your comment. I figured about everyone living in the Wolverine was privy to K-Mart's screw job on their previous stockholders.

Interestingly enough, someone from another state, a state not really close to us knows about it.

It made the front page of about every Michigan paper on more than one occasion.

JDgreen227 · Mar 19, 2004

Excuse me, I likely read about it in the business section of our local news but my memory isn't the best. In a few weeks I won't even remember what Martha Stewart was on trial for.

jyoutz · Mar 20, 2004

For another point of view..... I almost always shop at the big Marts stores instead of local stores. Why? Because the local stores seem to only keep banker's hours (not open when I'm off from work) and they have very poor inventory (I can order that in for you....maybe get here in 2-3 weeks....) At least the chain stores have consistent and convenient hours of business and decent product inventory. I've always wondered how the small local businesses believe they can do any business if they aren't willing to keep evening and weekend hours so that us folks who work can actually shop at their stores. Maybe they make their living by selling things to retired and unemployed people? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Hambone · Mar 20, 2004

Hey Daryl,
I agree somewhat. One thing to consider, what keeps the prices low when there is no competition? If Wally World is the only place to shop I would think sooner or later the prices will increase and the service will decrease. Maybe not, they may have a very tight run ship, I guess time will tell.

AndyM · Mar 20, 2004

Better tread lightly. K Mart distribution is not very far from where you live or at least they used to be. (Warren, Oh.) 

Yep, they are still there. Cortland, actually.

I'm not making any crack of the quality of work that the distribution center employees are doing, but the management of their logistics is terrible. They'll advertise a great sale on an item, and be out of stock that week at half of their locations! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I could write a small book on their issues.

I know people who work at two different Walmart DC's, and I've personally been to one of them, and I tell you they've got a pretty slick operation going.

P.S. Our company totally quit dealing with Kmart last year.

5030 · Mar 20, 2004

Well, at least Martha's pants aren't half off like Michael's /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

fivestring · Mar 22, 2004

We'll know in June.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

5030 · Mar 22, 2004

Gary:

As long as the papers don't get too graphic, well, we will be okay!!

BillyP · Mar 22, 2004

If Wally World is the only place to shop I would think sooner or later the prices will increase and the service will decrease 

It's already happening. Check Wally's prices real good /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif