[Iron Matron]

I actually do not like Wal-Mart because they DO run other grocery stores out of business, which lowers the amount of merchandise I have to choose from. In my town Lowes is a gonner, ALbertsons is next, and I hate to count the
wonderful "Mom & Pops" they have destroyed.

Would not be so bad but Wal-Mart has a HORRIBLE selection of food-colored,water filled meats, no real brand-name selection in canned and dry goods . .etc. If Wal-Mart had a better selection, I suppose it would be OK to run old mom and pop stores out of business, but they really stink in the food selection areas.

[Notwithstanding]

I grew up in a small town with no Walmart.

It stunk.

The mom and pops never had any selection and never carried anything the least bit in style.

The mom and pops can't deliver the goods. Its called capitalism. But mom and pops can deliver boutique goods and services. And should do so rathe rthan blaming their woes on some big bad demon.

[BlazingArizona]

I actually do not like Wal-Mart because they DO run other grocery stores out of business, which lowers the amount of merchandise I have to choose from. In my town Lowes is a gonner, ALbertsons is next, and I hate to count the wonderful "Mom & Pops" they have destroyed.

Wal-Mart is hardly a threat to chain supermarkets, which use the same marketing model, nor to Lowes, which sells a lot of merchandise that Wal-mart doesn't carry. In this state, all of these stores have continued doing just fine when a Wal-Mart moves in down the street.

And does Wal-Mart nuke small shops? It killed the crappy little downtown stores that were dying anyway - good riddance. But right next to every WM in this state, new small stores are springing up, feeding on the traffic the supestore generates and offering merchandise that extends what is availble in the WM: specialized products, upscale products, ethnic food, special services. Groom your dog while you shop?

[international american]

Food?? Remember when their slogan was "made in America"? Their clothing disintegrates upon the first wash...Their pillows have feathers seeping out of them after one month...Everthing the sell..or damn near, is now made in China! Screw "Wall of China" Mart!!

[Mr. Bird]

I love having a WalMart nearby. The only regular item I buy there is dog food (and I save a fortune); but every couple of weeks I need something, for the house, car, work, whatever. It's great having this giant clearinghouse of everything; you almost faint when you find out you need an item they don't stock.

If the crowds are any indication, Wal Mart still has a lot of fans out there.

[elli1]

...Wal-Mart has a HORRIBLE selection of food-colored,water filled meats,...

The same meat that my home-town, non-Wal-Mart grocery stores have....bubble wrapped, water-drenched, sodium ''enhanced'' chickens & pork. It's not just Wal-Mart carrying that crap.

On a positive note, I drive to the next town to shop at a Wal-Mart SuperCenter in order to buy food items that my local grocery stores do not carry and other items that are priced much lower. Wal-Mart groceries aren't glitzy, but the selection is adequate and actually better than the stores in my city of over 60,000 population offer. So it really depends on where you live.

[RetiredArmy]

Patton Boggs LLP is a Washington, D.C. law firm, so yes, strongly socialist they are.

[IYAS9YAS]

Wal-Mart does not run anyone out of town. The consumers do. They stop going to the other places for a reason. Lower prices is one of them. I got so fed up at one of our locals constantly having "pricing problems" with their sale merchandise, I left them for good. I still support the locals when I need certain specific things. But for the same goods, why pay more?

[cinFLA]

Make a trip to Costco or a good meat market twice a month.

[Chuckster]

I am so sick of hearing that old saw about Wal Mart or any other retailer "Running the little guys out of business"

No business can run a competitor out of business. Only the CUSTOMERS can do that by choosing to shop somewhere else. Customers will make that choice based on a number of factors: shopping environment, prices, product availability, convenience - any number of things.

As a 25 year veteran of the Retail Wars I have learned the keys to survival: Adapt, move or die.

I have several friends who have survived the opening of a Sports Authority, Comp USA or Wal Mart in the neighborhood. Most are now thriving from the increased traffic brought into the area by the bigger store. By sharpening their skills and refusing to attempt the impossible, compete on price, instead offering the levels of service and specialized niche marketing impossible for a big box retailer with low end marginal staff, most are doing far better now than before.

[annyokie]

Lowe's sells groceries? Who knew?

[GOPJ]

Walmart's not running other grocery stores out of business. They offer more for less - and the free market calls the winner.

I actually do not like Walmart because they DO run other grocery stores out of business

[MEGoody]

"If Wal-Mart had a better selection, I suppose it would be OK to run old mom and pop stores out of business, but they really stink in the food selection areas."

If that were truly the case, I doubt Wal-Mart could run them out. It may be true they don't carry the brands you like in certain things, but apparently, they carry the brands a great many people want.