I've read Sam Walton's book and I know that he woud be ashamed at the practices today. I find it amazing that the pricing is location specific. A loaf of bread and bottle of milk varies and the cost of a bottle of coke varies. The Super Bowl sales of drinks, chips and dip was one example.
Sam's still has it's value. They are my facvorite ATM. You buy a loaf of bread and get $20 to $100 as needed! In the age of the debit card this is a big savings!!!
It has to be location specific. The operating costs of each store change depending on location; as do the security requirements, the amount of "shrinkage" (aka shoplifting, employee theft, lost or damaged merchandise), employee turnover, traffic to the store, visibility, travel barriers. The taxes, utilities, insurance requirements, etc., are substantially less for a location in BFE than in Downtown Major City.
A great many variables impact the operating overhead that MUST be met simply to open the doors, turn on the lights, bring in the cashiers, and stock the shelves, long before the company can even think about a profit. All of these costs are part of the price of every single item.
This is not just specific to Walmart. A lot of national chains function this way.
“I find it amazing that the pricing is location specific.”
I’m amazed, that you find this amazing.
Do you desire uniform outcomes?