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When Shoppers Skip Wal-Mart, You Know They're Rolling Back On Spending
Forbes ^ | August 15, 2013 | Abram Brown

Posted on 08/15/2013 5:14:53 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

If discount every-day necessities can’t tempt shoppers into stores, it’s a clear signal that consumers feel stifled by a tough economy at home and overseas.

That’s the picture provided this morning by Wal-Mart’s latest quarterly report. The world’s largest retailer cut its annual profit and revenue outlook and reported second-quarter figures that missed expectations.

Wal-Mart, operating 10,800 stores across 27 countries, is seen as an economic bellwether because it’s a go-to spot for so many households, where they shop for groceries, home supplies and gasoline. Nonexistent wage gains and a sluggish recovery are hampering spending in America and Europe, while slowing growth in developing companies keep the emerging middle classes there from spending much, too. Listen to Wal-Mart CFO Charles Holley: “”The retail environment remains challenging in the U.S. and our international markets, as customers are cautious in their spending.”(continued)

(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Front Page News; US: Arkansas
KEYWORDS: bhoeconomy; economy; obama; recession; retail; walmart
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To: HiTech RedNeck
Well, we love Walmart. We do the bulk of our shopping at BJ's and Costco, but we go to the King of Prussia Walmart a couple of times a month. It's the only other grocery store we regularly patronize. We buy the same stuff every time we go. Always get yogurt and a few other specific items not available in the warehouse clubs. We find Walmart grocery prices the same as the sale price in the grocery stores. No, they don't double the coupons if we have them, but we save on impulse buys that we always have on the loss leaders in the grocery stores.

Store is clean and staff friendly and helpful.

81 posted on 08/15/2013 7:33:24 PM PDT by old and tired
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To: Lera

Yet again, I’m not denying assertions made about stores in other areas, and yes, managers in our area can place an item or item category on clearance and do. But your statements have been to the effect that prices in general are much higher at certain Walmarts than others in the same region and that’s definitely not the case here.

Our three stores are in one market, basically (although one tends to have more Hispanic-oriented goods), and there is no price customization store by store to compete with local merchants since they are all competing with the same local merchants basically.


82 posted on 08/15/2013 7:36:44 PM PDT by steve86 (non politically-correct comment)
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To: steve86

They offer jobs to customers in the checkout line?


83 posted on 08/15/2013 7:37:03 PM PDT by Impy (RED=COMMUNIST, NOT REPUBLICAN)
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To: tumblindice

Ahhh... boring sermons...

Well boredom IS one of the masks that the devil tries to cram over your face, but also vapid sermons that don’t glorify Heaven’s power really fall flat for good reason... the devil is allowed to mute them down.

Heaven is not full of cotton candy. It’s more like full of dynamite. Here’s the fuse: ask God to get glorified in everything.....


84 posted on 08/15/2013 7:38:08 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (The Lion of Judah will roar again if you give him a big hug and a cheer and mean it. See my page.)
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To: JRandomFreeper
I'll be putting up my own peanut butter in a month or so. That should last me until next year on PB. Everything I'm doing is stuff my grandparents would be familiar with. It's not rocket science. ;) I try to avoid 'shopping' as much as I can. /johnny

And that is the smartest way to live and shop . *sigh* my garden is swimming in water and I have a field full of pie pumpkins rotting from all the rain.

85 posted on 08/15/2013 7:38:21 PM PDT by Lera (Proverbs 29:2)
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To: Impy

I guess it was my magnetic personality or good looks.

Guessing that the supervisor was getting a hiring bonus.


86 posted on 08/15/2013 7:39:59 PM PDT by steve86 (Acerbic by nature, not nurture.)
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To: Lera

I have no idea what would constitute your idea of “an average large city.” The largest “city” (actually a town) in my county has a year round population of 4,500. The entire county has a population of under 40,000. Within a 100 mile radius of me the largest population center might have 100,000.

I don’t buy all that much food in WalMart and so have no basis to compare from area to area, and what food I do bu there it is only in one WM and it is not in the one in my own county as that is twice the distance from the one that is in the next state.


87 posted on 08/15/2013 7:40:21 PM PDT by Gabz (Democrats for Voldemort.)
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To: CatDancer
Wow, it’s nice to know how you feel about us “low end trash” and “dregs of society” that can only afford to shop at Walmart. Becoming a bit elitist in here, are we?

If the motorized cart fits..... ;p

88 posted on 08/15/2013 7:45:22 PM PDT by southern rock
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To: Lera

I buy all our meat once a month from a meat market. Cheaper that way. We have a Grocery Outlet right down the street from us and they are definitely cheaper than Walmart. I have cut my food bill by $100 a month and never have to go near our nasty Walmarts.


89 posted on 08/15/2013 7:51:01 PM PDT by sheana
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To: steve86

Steve this thread started about why Walmart was losing market share .
They are losing market share because many other grocery store are out competing them .
Which stores are out competing them all depends on the area you are in and that does effect prices in those Walmart store.

You might not notice this because you probably shop for one family or your wife does.

I shop for more than one family , I purchase for a food bank and I help a bunch of old widows who have trouble making ends meet .

Those scanner stickers that the grocery stores put up .. I know what those numbers mean . I learned to program cash registers because of where my mother worked as a kid . It got me a job managing a store when I was fresh out of school and they taught me to be a purchasing agent . Believe me when I tell you that not all stores are the same .


90 posted on 08/15/2013 7:56:16 PM PDT by Lera (Proverbs 29:2)
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To: Grams A
Here's my Farm basement "pantry", with 2605-2012 product & prices, rotated monthly:


91 posted on 08/15/2013 8:05:18 PM PDT by Carriage Hill (Peace is that brief glorious moment in history, when everybody stands around reloading.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I’m seeing a lot of Walmart hate on this thread. Did I miss something? Are people being forced to shop there? I have a multitude of store choices and don’t need to bag on the ones I don’t frequent. It’s called Capitalism.


92 posted on 08/15/2013 8:08:39 PM PDT by Starstruck
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I went into Walmart and the prices were not cheaper, especially groceries. Even if the prices were lower the horrible service keeps me away from the place. The service used to be great but that’s long gone.


93 posted on 08/15/2013 8:12:41 PM PDT by gunsequalfreedom (Conservative is not a label of convenience. It is a guide to your actions.)
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To: Lera

Who buys frozen waffles and fake $1.00 a bottle maple syrup, much less feeds it to children. Yikes. How hard is it to put some mix in a bowl with a couple of eggs and water?


94 posted on 08/15/2013 8:18:53 PM PDT by gunsequalfreedom (Conservative is not a label of convenience. It is a guide to your actions.)
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To: Lera

Price matching at Walmart is common in some circles.


95 posted on 08/15/2013 8:19:38 PM PDT by JimSp
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To: carriage_hill

Oh WOW! Am I ever impressed. We don’t have basements and so I use some shelves in the garage and have a pantry chuck full. I did finally get around to making a list so at least I know what I have - somewhere!

I would say you have to get the award for the best organized - certainly something to aspire to.


96 posted on 08/15/2013 8:34:05 PM PDT by Grams A (The Sun will rise in the East in the morning and God is still on his throne.)
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To: JimSp
Price matching at Walmart is common in some circles.

Yes and if you are lucky enough to have a Walmart that has well trained cashiers it can save you a bundle .

Well worth purchasing the Sunday paper and getting all the local adds out , circle the best buys you want and take them with you when you shop.

Walmart doesn't need the sale flyer for price match but having it will save you time . Depending on the area it can even get you better deals (some areas have two different local papers and the Walmart might only have one hand for price matches which could be the one with the least adds)

97 posted on 08/15/2013 8:38:13 PM PDT by Lera (Proverbs 29:2)
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To: gunsequalfreedom
Who buys frozen waffles and fake $1.00 a bottle maple syrup, much less feeds it to children. Yikes. How hard is it to put some mix in a bowl with a couple of eggs and water?

It wasn't me .

98 posted on 08/15/2013 8:40:22 PM PDT by Lera (Proverbs 29:2)
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To: gunsequalfreedom

I’ve found from scratch is cheaper in the long run. Yes the real maple syrup we use is expensive, but we use it sparingly as a treat. My homemade bread is more expensive than any store shelf bread, but mine has six simple ingredients. There is sure to be a long-term cost offset by not feeding my family food with lab created ingredient alternatives. In addition to the health aspect, cooking from scratch with the kids turns into quality time and learning time. I’d love to do the couponing thing, but there are no coupons for the food that I purchase.


99 posted on 08/15/2013 8:40:32 PM PDT by goodwithagun (My gun has killed fewer people than Ted Kennedy's car.)
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To: carriage_hill

I don’t have a basement but my two pantries look a lot like that but with some home canned stuff too.

I take a sharpie and write the expiration date on everything as it goes in .

I only shop sales.


100 posted on 08/15/2013 8:47:07 PM PDT by Lera (Proverbs 29:2)
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