I agree...I think Walmart stores are generally, dirty and full of inferior quality stuff. I much prefer Target. that being said....I think the anti-Walmart jihad is stupid. People like the place and they shop there. Capitalsim relies on creative destruction, Walmart is a good competitor.
Target is a far leftist shopping center. I avoid them. At least W-M backed Bush.
Let the people shop where they want.
You and me both. Houston-area Wal-Marts are like unindustrialixed countries: stuffy, very dirty, crowded.
Target or Wal-mart, France or China? Either way American money is flying out of the country. IMO I want the fair tax plan to pass, then American companies can produce goods on the same level as foreign companies without all of our corporate taxes and fees.
Good competitor?
Walmart is the Standard Oil of the 20th-21st century. They've driven so many companies out of business in their pursuit of the almighty buck it's pathetic.
Here's what happens. Walmart approaches Joe's Factory to make socks. Walmart will buy 100,000 pairs of socks if Joe can sell them at $1/pair. That cuts it a bit thin for Joe's profit margin, but he figures to make it up in volume so he commits. Next year, Walmart asks him if he can make 1,000,000 pairs for $.99/pair. It's a huge order, requiring Joe to expand his factory, bring in extra workers, and borrow money to finance the expansion. So he signs a two year deal. Things go pretty well, though his total business is now dedicated to Walmart because his other customers have now lost their customers who can buy his socks cheaper there than at their shop.
Year 3 comes around and guess what? Walmart decides to play hardball. "Well, I guess we can still buy the socks from you, but you're going to have to improve your prices. If you can't sell them at $.50/pair, we'll take our business elsewhere."
Now Joe faces the same choice that hundreds of other manufacturers, contractors, and shippers have faced. They have expanded to accommodate Walmart, lost customers who were Walmart competitors, and are now in debt from the expansion. Their choices are: 1) keep producing, and pray that you can cut your costs 50%, knowing that it's likely you'll be bankrupt within a year or two or 2) decline the order, lay off 95% of your workers, and try to salvage what's left of your customer base and business.
That's not being a 'good competitor'. It's the same kind of tactics that Teddy Roosevelt got tough on 100 years ago.
Walmart is great for buying everyday household products, health and beauty, and cleaning supplies. But I wouldn't buy electronics from there. Rumor has it that they force the manufacturers to strip components from the product, which is why the price is so low and the product ends up malfunctioning a few weeks later.