Posted on 09/15/2008 10:38:14 PM PDT by Santa Fe_Conservative
In the current economic situation, it was to be expected for Wal-Mart (WMT) to thrive. It has always offered the lowest prices in groceries and other basic goods. Yet, in the good times, many consumers would refuse to shop at Wal-Mart for issues ranging from convenience all the way to, very simply, status. In the face of rising prices and economic uncertainty, those issues are mostly gone for a good chunk of the population. Consumers will do whatever is necessary to stretch their paychecks. Consequently, Wal-Mart has been able to report sales growth quarter after quarter for over a year now. With it, we've also seen its stock price increase nicely, from the low 40's back in October 2007 to $63 last week.
Now, this growth has not happened just out of inertia. Wal-Mart has been very conscious of the opportunity the economic downturn represented for the company. As a result, it very purposefully refocused its marketing efforts to attract a wider range for middle- and upper-middle-class embattled consumers by positioning itself as the best alternative to preserve the lifestyle they are clinging to.
Wal-Mart's campaign "Save money. Live better" is an excellent effort in that direction. In the past, Wal-Mart communication focus had always been around its low prices, under their "Always low prices. Always" creative platform. Their target audience was comprised fundamentally by cost-conscious, low-income segments. Even though this was the promise that made it a retail giant, during the years of economic surge this approach was actually affecting Wal-Mart negatively.
(Excerpt) Read more at seekingalpha.com ...
That’s a good website. First time there for me.
Thanks!
Philosophically, the lefties hate Wal-Mart because it makes everyday life easier and more affordable to millions, and they think the masses should be struggling daily for the basics (”decreased consumption”).
Practically, they hate Wal-Mart because it lets poor and middle class people afford to live near them, versus when the only shop in town is Whole Foods with its organic $7 milk.
The Wal-Mart I go too has large quanties of inventory, helpful associates and never has long lines. As for Low Quality... most of it is acceptable, not cheap but acceptable level of quality. But Portland, OR is not Wal-Mart friendly.. the one down on 82nd is crowded and has less inventory than the ones in Woodburn and Clackmas.
The poster Obviously has it in for Wal-Mart before he even walks through the door.
They also hate it because they are the biggest non-union employer in the U.S., I have read.
Those in Salem are well stocked too.
You should check out the one in around Bentonville Arkansas. They are huge and have very large selections. Of course that is home base.
You are fortunate—I use to love Wal-Mart, but the Wal-Mart here in Santa Fe and the ones in Albquerque are such disasters such as what he describes coupled with the fact so many of the employees around here speak Spanish only.
Just got back from vacation in Santa Fe. The store IS a mess. Long lines at checkout, but the staff there was very helpful to me. VERY crowded-I guess nobody goes there anymore-it’s too crowded!
I’ve never been a huge Wal-Mart fan but found myself forced to shop there when most other stores had gone under in my area. Fortunately, I recently discovered Aldi’s where milk is $1.99 a gallon every day and their other prices are equally reasonable. You must either provide your own bags or purchase bags (plastic or paper) at the store, and bag your own groceries, but the savings are well worth the effort. I learned that Aldi’s is world-wide and would encourage anyone interested in saving money to do a quick search at www.aldi.com to see if any stores are available in their area. I can proudly say that I haven’t seen the inside of a Wal-Mart store in more than 3 months now!
It's a good stock.
sw
We’re lucky. We have a Super Walmart 15 miles from here. My inlaws say it’s the cleanest, most well maintained walmart they’ve ever seen. Across the street we have an Aldi’s, and down the street from there is a Hyvee store.
My impressions of these three places used to be:
a) Walmart is cheap
b) Aldi’s sells crap
c) Hyvee is expensive
None of that is true.
The truth is, we shop at Walmart for the occasional convenience of “all in one stop” shopping. But if we want to save money, we hit Hyvee for the sales. We compare quality and prices to Aldi’s as a baseline, and if we can get stuff cheaper, it’s a buy.
Often Hyvee will be cheaper than Walmart for the way we shop. There are things at Aldi’s that we cannot beat for price, like bread. And their quality if very good.
We do coupon shopping pretty heavily, and I tease my wife of being a Rockstar coupon shopper when we hit Walgreens, as the clerks all come running to see what kind of deals she put together.
This simply does not at all describe the 3 Walmarts in my immediate neighborhood, nor the one at Carthage, Missouri, when I was visiting there, or Gainesville Florida, or Jacksonville...
YES! I shop at that Wal-Mart and the experience is frustrating. Always low prices, but always overcrowded and understaffed. (And there’s a 15-40 minute wait for Customer Service.)
The only reason I shop at that location is that I don’t have a SuperCenter that I can get to by bus - I really wish there were more Wal-Marts around town, especially more SuperCenters.
But I wonder if all the hostility comes from the politicians or from the residents? I think the average resident is more favorable to Wal-Mart than the politicians are. The politicians don’t speak for the residents east of 82nd.
Crowded with illegal immigrants, perhaps.
Does anyone know whether the grocery prices at Supers are the same as grocery prices at ‘regular’ Walmarts?
I’ve never been to a Super, but many of the grocery items I see at Walmart are cheaper at some other stores.
But you say that the bus takes you buy the Wal-Mart.. dose it go down by the one on 82nd in Clackmas?
All the Wal-Marts around me do. Add to that the miserable shopping experience at Sam's Club and that's why I've got my membership at Costco and haven't set foot in a Wal-Mart in some time.
Walmart prices vary according to region, slightly. There is a Super Walmart about 45 miles south of here, and their prices are slightly higher than the one north of here.
I was scouting a software game and found the exact same item priced $5 higher at the southern store.
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