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The Man Who Said No to Wal-Mart
http://money.aol.com/ ^ | 1 18 06 | Charles Fishman

Posted on 01/18/2006 9:32:09 AM PST by freepatriot32

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To: AmishDude

That would be the way to go unless Snapper isn't able to produce the quantity needed. Sometimes a producer just cannot produce in large quantity.


121 posted on 01/18/2006 6:17:00 PM PST by Doctor Stochastic (Vegetabilisch = chaotisch ist der Charakter der Modernen. - Friedrich Schlegel)
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To: AmishDude
Of course the moron doesn't understand the well-worn tactic of making a cheaper model under another brand name.

I doubt "the moron" became a CEO through stupidity. What's your executive experience?

122 posted on 01/18/2006 7:55:51 PM PST by Young Scholar
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To: Young Scholar
What's your executive experience?

Buy low, sell high.

That's enough for a Nobel prize.

123 posted on 01/18/2006 8:57:02 PM PST by AmishDude
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To: Doctor Stochastic
True. Snapper has some competitors with very good brand-name recognition. "John Deere" says you aren't just getting a mower, you're getting a tractor. (Whether that perception is true or not.)

Snapper's been depending on people relying on that name-recognition, but if Dad doesn't buy a Snapper, son won't either. And I don't know about anybody else, but I don't look at brand name for durability. I look for warranties. For a mower, that may not be realistic, but if you are going to beat Walmart, especially for young, entry-level consumers, you are going to have to get the product to them through discount retail.

Other companies can avoid doing this, but the only example I can think of with that business model is Oreck, so we may expect Snapper ads all over the place very soon.

124 posted on 01/18/2006 9:07:27 PM PST by AmishDude
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To: DugwayDuke
I got the Michelins at Sam's also. I was just trying to get some confirmation to some hearsay rumor-mongering. I put about 45K miles a year on my truck, so I go through tires.

I did have a big rock go through a tire with about 25K miles on it and got a discount for one tire and charged full price for a second tire to balance out a pair (which replaced one of those other tires with irregular wear and vibration). Bottom line: I'm not buying anymore Goodyears. I don't care if Michelin is a French company, good tires are too important and expensive to fool around with junk.

125 posted on 01/19/2006 6:20:27 AM PST by EricT. (Join the Soylent Green Party. We recycle dead environmentalists....Thanx to Kenny Blankenship!)
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To: Graybeard58
In my opinion Briggs & Stratton, which used to be quality, has evolved into junk over the years.

Quite possibly due to their relationship with WalMart and those crappy disposable mowers.

126 posted on 01/19/2006 6:35:31 AM PST by al_c
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To: Seeking the truth

It's seems VERY strange to me...but some people actually LIKE cutting their lawns....go figure....


127 posted on 01/19/2006 6:45:33 AM PST by KeepUSfree (WOSD = fascism pure and simple.)
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To: AmishDude

You can make money being small or big, but it's hard to make money being a medium-sized company.


128 posted on 01/19/2006 8:32:52 AM PST by Doctor Stochastic (Vegetabilisch = chaotisch ist der Charakter der Modernen. - Friedrich Schlegel)
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To: freepatriot32

Snappers belong at Walmart. The man may think he has a fine product but it is like buying an old Sears Kenmore washer. Nobody sells parts but the dealer like the high priced belts, parts were always much higer and harder to replace. Buy a Murray instead. Cheaper parts, last just as long, and easier to work on.


129 posted on 01/19/2006 9:20:52 AM PST by cva66snipe
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To: EricT.

"I don't care if Michelin is a French company, good tires are too important and expensive to fool around with junk."

Particularly on some of the 'roads' I travel on. I do a lot of driving on some things that are only loosely defined as 'roads'.


130 posted on 01/19/2006 2:54:53 PM PST by DugwayDuke (Stupidity can be a self-correcting problem.)
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To: AmishDude

Yah, worked for black and decker...oh wait, nobody buying quality will consider black and decker..hence they had to buy DeWalt.

Crap products produce Crap branding. People remember.


131 posted on 01/19/2006 3:20:40 PM PST by Dead Dog
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To: freepatriot32

How to beat Walmart....Sell Quality.

Tools are a great example, I refuse to buy disposible power tools. Only the rich can afford cheap tools. I have a Dewalt 746 and a Skill HD 77. I will never buy another table saw or circular saw in my life. Buy once, it cost the same, and you get better stuff.


132 posted on 01/19/2006 3:23:31 PM PST by Dead Dog
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To: SJSAMPLE

Just another crappy bash Walmart story...I did notice the "smart" Snapper CEO lost control of his company which now is part of Briggs& Statton, one of the crappiest manufacturers in the USA as well as extremely cheap payers and ruthless with their employees and customers! This genius CEO has evidently been run out of the world of manufacturing and is sitting around some office where he can do less damage, yeah, he is a genius to the dumba$$ left!

I have had every type of mower from a Bushog to Honda to Snapper and everything in-between. Now I have my 2nd $125 Walmart bagger/mulcher Murray 3.5hp push mower that has cut my grass for the last 10yrs, very lightweight, always starts, I have never changed the oil, never been in disrepair, I just keep the blade sharp. When it is worn out I will go to Walmart and buy another mower just like it...the 1st Walmart Murray lasted for 5 yrs. and was still fine when we moved to another state and I left it out on the street where within an hour, I saw someone pick it up, it's probably still cutting grass after 20 yrs!


133 posted on 01/20/2006 7:48:37 AM PST by iopscusa (El Vaquero. (SC Lowcountry Cowboy))
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To: iopscusa

I agree.
My Sears mower (MTD ?) is five years old and I've only had to replace the pull cord. It's a disposable item in a commodity market. When it goes, I'm not gonna worry about a $600 mower that will last ten years. 2 x $300 every five years means I get a NEW mower instead of worrying about the five-year old mower.

I don't blame the guy for not wanting to enter Wal-Mart with a lower price point under the "Snapper" name. There are people who make their living in landscaping and some of them really like "Snapper".

Again, plenty of people have gone out of business by doing business with the big boys. My company struggles with GM pricing and delivery requirements daily, and even the account managers wonder if it's worth it.


134 posted on 01/20/2006 8:09:44 AM PST by SJSAMPLE
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To: MineralMan

Jesus used to do your yardwork? Was he able to mulch your entire yard with only a handful of grass cuttings?


135 posted on 01/23/2006 4:36:32 PM PST by Still Thinking (Disregard the law of unintended consequences at your own risk.)
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To: Seeking the truth
Hey, I gave up mowing my own lawn when I got my Porsche!

I gave up mowing my lawn when I decided to irriate my lawn worshipping neighbor.

136 posted on 01/23/2006 4:42:58 PM PST by Eagle Eye (There ought to be a law against excess legislation.)
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To: freepatriot32

Interesting read. I'll come back later and try to absorb it all (it's dinner time here...).


137 posted on 01/23/2006 4:44:53 PM PST by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
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To: investigateworld

Walmart bullied GE into making a cheaper bulb?


138 posted on 01/23/2006 5:31:38 PM PST by Starstruck
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To: Starstruck
Dunno, But I can't see Goodyear being bullied into a poor quality tire.
And for the record, all major chain/box stores "bully" manufactures into a cheaper line.
Fer example, Porter Cable tools were always the mark of excellence in my industry, now the have a 'homeowner' level of quality at Lowes and Home Depot.



Sad, but I guess they gotta do what...... :^(
139 posted on 01/23/2006 9:25:47 PM PST by investigateworld (Abortion stops a beating heart)
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To: freepatriot32

WalMart is just part of the disease that kills America.


140 posted on 09/04/2006 6:02:13 AM PDT by beyond the sea (Congress is the only whorehouse in America that doesn’t make money)
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