[steve8714]

Venture, GEM and Shoppers Fair are all gone. KMart is kept afloat by their real estate. Macy’s and Saks are doing fine.
Service businesses thrive at greater than lowest price.
Get real.

[Turret Gunner A20]

WalMart isn’t exactly hurting.

[Still Thinking]

Those low end markets aren't selling the same product. Generally, it's a cheaper product, and they have tried to maintain profit per unit by cutting costs, which is OK, but in their case is done in such a way that it has a negative impact on the customer.

I'm not so convinced that the high end mall-type department stores are doing so great, but even if they are, it doesn't prove anything about pricing in the pure sense, because those stores didn't just pocket the money made from the higher prices, they spent it on more expensive fixtures, better staff, higher rent locations, etc., IOW things that affect the customers' experience, so in effect it becomes part of the product they're 'selling', making a comparison to K-Mart not an apples-to-apples one.