Study: Gov't Profits More From Wal-Mart Sales Than Wal-Mart Does

Investor's Business Daily ^ | 12/3/2014 | Kerry Jackson

[IBD editorial writer]

Here's a kick in the pants for Wal-Mart haters and lovers of big government, two groups that almost perfectly overlap.

[eyeamok]

I would rather see my State setup SOUP LINES.

[Sergio]

bkmk

[Rusty0604]

A lot more.

[MosesKnows]

average big-box stores such as Wal-Mart earn only $3.10 in profit for every $100 in sales

I see from many responses that many do not understand business.

Regardless of where the money came from the average profit for every $100 spent is $3.10. The point is that governments receive more in taxes from that $100 than Wal-Mart receives in profits.

If you were to check on gasoline tax you will discover that the governments also receives a greater portion of the $100 than the oil companies, the refineries, or retail pumps.

[Rusty0604]

“If you were to check on gasoline tax you will discover that the governments also receives a greater portion of the $100 than the oil companies, the refineries, or retail pumps.”

There is a federal tax per gallon, state tax per gallon, and state sales tax on the sell at the pump. I know CA loses a lot of sales tax money with low gas prices. They will have to not fix their potholes even longer.

[Svartalfiar]

18% of all food stamp dollars are spent at WM however
24% of all US grocery expenditures are at WM

so by my reckoning they are under-represented in that segment

Yup, I've seen some black/hispanic ladies (we'll keep it nice) at the checkout in Central Market a couple times. Store is big on organic, decently expensive compared to Tom Thumb or Wally World. And they'll have some pretty nice cuts of meat, expensive oils/foods, and whip out their EBT. Pay the remaining balance in wads of 100s. Absolutely ridiculous. But hey, if I had free rent, lots of drug cash/other, and free food money from the government, I'd spend it on some good stuff too!

[SolidRedState]

This can be said about just about every retail business.

After taxes and other expenses, even the most profitable make less then 5% on sales.

[Nevadan]

No, I am not attempting to use gross generalities to disparage Walmart and its customers. I am reporting my actual experience in recent years. I have seen the Walmarts in my area become increasingly more frustrating to shop at. My opinion of Walmart has plummeted over the past 5 years. I now avoid them as much as possible, especially near the first of the month for the reasons I mentioned. I am certain the Obama economy and the increasing number of people who receive benefits and shop at Walmart is affecting my experiences. You reported your perspective as someone who lives in a rural area. If I lived where you live, no doubt I would shop at Walmart as well. But if you lived in a large city with a sizable population, I seriously doubt that you would maintain your high opinion of the Walmart shopping experience.

[SkyPilot]

If you scroll down to the bottom of the page of the link I posted about WalMart making Billions off of EBT, you can see other companies that are rolling in the dough (literally) as well:

- Pepsi Co

- Coca Cola

- Kraft (all that Mac'n'Cheese and other products)

- Kroger

- Yum Brands

- JP Morgan (they have the contracts to feed the masses their welfare cards) - Big Lots

- Etc.

The one that infuriates me is Yum Brands (the parent company of PiZza Hut, KFC, Taco Bell, etc).

They lobbied Obama to include EBT cards as payment, and he did.

To this day, you will still find Liberals who will argue with you and tell you that EBT cards cannot be used at Fast Food joints.

When confronted by the facts, they simply pound the table and call you a racist liar.

[HotHunt]

Bull crap. We lived in the Phoenix metropolitan area for over thirty years, until 3 years ago when we retired to Florida. We shopped at Walmart there like we do here, almost exclusively. And the Walmart we go to here is in a large city, not out in the the country. And it sits right in the middle of the largest low income area in town. And we have not had any such experiences as you describe.

If I were you, I wouldn't gamble too much because your luck of the draw on the Walmart you "avoid as much as possible" has something to be desired. And besides, your prediction that if we lived in a large city with a sizable population, that we wouldn't maintain our high opinion of Walmart, falls flat on it's face.

Good try but no cigar.

[Nevadan]

Take a chill pill! The hostility coming from you is in the danger zone! You have your experiences. I have mine.

[HotHunt]

I suspect that it is not Walmart that you don’t like but the people who shop there. You are the one who was disparaging the people who shopped there and, as a result, you claimed you try to avoid the store as much as possible. That’s as hostile as what I said. So try that chill pill yourself.

[Pearls Before Swine]

They also profit more on gas than the oil companies do,

...and on booze... and on lotteries...

[rusty schucklefurd]

Re: “I suspect that it is not Walmart that you don’t like but the people who shop there.”

Nonsense. Walmart’s customer service for online sales/customer pickup is a joke, they never have enough checkers making it a trial to make purchases, the parking areas are not well lit at night, and the premises seem to get dingier each time I have the unfortunate need to shop there.

The people who shop there are not the issue, although I agree with Nevadan that the first of the month IS VERY crowded for the very reason mentioned.

All I’m saying is that Walmart has rarely been a pleasant experience for me, which is why I no longer shop there unless I have to. I do not begrudge any one else’s pleasant experience. I wish Walmart well as they provide many jobs, but for me, I have not had the experiences you’ve had. I agree with Nevadan that you are wound WAY too tight which is evident in your over reaction to what was said. Not liking to shop at Walmart does not equate to being a snob.

[HotHunt]

Apparently, you and Nevadan somehow hate to go to Walmart unless you have "the unfortunate need to shop there" or "no longer shop there unless I have to." What? Is there some some sort of heavy hand of fate forcing you into the awful place against your will every once in a while when you drive by their store?

And I'm not wound any tighter than you and Nevadan are in your overreactions to my comments that my wife and I like to shop at Walmart. Serving up a little of your own snarky comments seems to be okay for you but not for me. Nobody called you a snob but you seem to attribute that to my response.

[rusty schucklefurd]

I am glad you had positive experiences shopping at Walmart. Go for it.

[HotHunt]

Okay, truce. Have a good day.