Wally will be there to sell stuff cheap that folks don’t want to get online: groceries, cleaning supplies, stuff like that. Big boxes are good for that sorta thing. But not for everything, especially stuff that’s easy to get online like books. Big box bookstores are hurting. But Wally’ll be around. It’s growth’ll likely slow unless it can reinvent the wheel, but I don’t think it’s going anywhere. IMHO :)
For the guy “wally” as you call him, selling cheap stuff that nobody wants ... proves your brilliance. “Wally” as you jouously call him is the Number 1 retailer .. and you tell me they get that way from NOT selling.
Let me see if I can go back to my freshmen year of economics and figure out the model your superior intelect has produced
Sheesh!!!
It wasn’t that long ago, is I shopped carefully at Wal-Mart, I could find quality clothing...jeans, sweatshirts, stuff I live in around the house. I’ve had to replace some of those items, as well as some common household stuff. What used to be quite servicable is now really crap. My the fabric old paint covered sweatshirt is great. Replaced it with one that looked the same, minus the paint. In a couple washings, the fabric is thin, and balling up, out of shape and looks awful. I’m finding this same thing across the board.
I’m thinking there’s a point where places like Wal-Mart won’t be able to find cheap enough merchanise to keep staying in business. I think that’s what happened to the old “5 & dimes.”
Shipping costs are important.
In terms of groceries, Walmart and Grocery stores are where people go these days. Food manufacturers do not seem to want to sell online, although they easily could.
I’d buy more food online if the costs were less. I would stock up on food that isn’t available.
A significant part of the cost of food in a supermarket includes cost of delivery of the product from the manufacturer to the supermarket, and all the costs associated with running a supermarket.
But food manufacturers won’t give you a discount off the retail price if you order from their website. They should.
The other day, I was looking for toilet paper. Walmart had Scott 1000-sheet 1-ply at 65 cents a roll in bags of 20. I passed, figuring I'd find it down the street cheaper. (However, I did buy ten tins of Alaska smoked salmon ("Best by 09-2014") at $6.88. Those cost closer to $15 at WFM, when they have them.) I next stopped at Demoulas, a down-market grocer. They had the very same 1000-sheet Scott at 55 cents. So I bought seven 20-roll packs. That should last a couple of years!
Checking online, I see a similar product at about 30 cents a roll. Add in shipping, and one case comes to $47.71, or 49.7 cents a roll. But there's a risk the product might be of lesser quality. BTW, WFM wants $1.49 for their version of 1000-sheet 1-ply (sold individually).
Exactly. Little plastic items, cards, gift wrap, birthday cards, streamers, planting soil, duct tape, etc. Never am I going to buy that stuff online.
Also, people underestimate the little kick just going about buying something has as a stress reliever, mood lifter, etc. You don't have to be a raving shopaholic to experience it either. But, it just can not be replicated with the online experience.