Posted on 11/15/2005 5:04:09 AM PST by rhombus
Executives at Wal-Mart are worried that Robert Greenwald’s new documentary film about the company—Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price—could become a cult hit on the order of Michael Moore’s anti-GM rant, Roger & Me. So my first piece of advice to CEO Lee Scott and his team is: Stop worrying about the movie. It’s a jeremiad—a ham-handed snore with none of the humor, craft, or story sense that made Moore’s film so engaging. The people who already hate you will love it, but nobody else will be able to sit through it. My second piece of advice is to worry deeply about what the film represents. It’s a response to the great social disrupter of our time—the emergence of a friction-free global economy.
(Excerpt) Read more at fortune.com ...
When the "movie" ends up on DVD, even money says you'll find it on Walmart shelves.
Now that will be amusing. I wonder if people will prefer to pay more for it elsewhere.
My first piece of advice to Wal*Mart is to stop worrying about the movie and start worrying about the service. Wal*Mart is going the way of K Mart, everyone is tired of waiting in line, never enough registers open, not one clerk available to find anything, they are all chatting and blocking the aisles. There are other stores, and slightly higher prices are worth the experience.
No kidding. Too much 'Made In China' for me to shop at Wal-Mart. I tend to avoid it. I remember that Wal-Mart was actively promoting 'Made in USA' several years ago. Too bad they dropped it.
Get your facts straight. Sam Walton wanted to sell American products, but he never said that everything that WalMart sells is to be made in America. It was his desire to SUPPORT American companies.
But, they are bound by the same pressures as any other retailer, especially so, in light of their other promise of LOW prices...
...The $12 billion worth of Chinese goods Wal-Mart bought in 2002 represented 10% of all U.S. imports from China...
... On average, a Wal-Mart supercenter offers prices 14% below its rivals', according to a 2002 study by UBS Warburg...
...New England Consulting estimates that Wal-Mart saved its U.S. customers $20 billion last year alone. Factor in the price cuts other retailers must make to compete, and the total annual savings approach $100 billion... -Business Week
Wal-Mart generated $244.5 billion in net sales in 2003. -Investopedia
The OVERWHELMING majority of WalMart's sales, come from American products...
Sad but true --- and that's from a Walmart fan...
Speak that we may 'know' you.
"the humor, craft, or story sense that made Moore’s film so engaging."
We are grateful for your self-revealing comments. Now go on to write your Wal Mart Valentine or whatever. We'll hang onto your every utterance.
NOT!
Not the stuff I'm looking to buy. Have you actually shopped at Walmart lately, We have!
It might show up in the bargain bin there after a few years of bad sales.;)
I totally agree. I've cut way back on my Walmart shopping because it's nearly impossible to find things that weren't made in China. And while I really liked our old Walmart, I detest the SuperWalmart. Their selection is crap, they try to cram so much stuff into one store that they no longer carry different styles/brands of items anymore.
Uh, fine. "Self-revealing comments"? What in heck are you talking about?
Just saw a piece about Kennedy's dog and pony show on O'Reilly. Teddy is standing in front an easel with ten commandments I guess he wants Wal*Mart to follow. If you ever needed proof of the left's knowledge of the Bible, this is it. The poster lists the ten commandments starting each one with the phrase "Though shalt not...".
If Teddy had ever opened a Bible, he would know that thou is not spelled t-h-o-u-g-h ;-)
EVERYTHING is made in China. It is not even funny.
Ahhh, but that's the problem, isn't it? Who says it's friction-free? Who says, for example, that the Chinese are inevitably cuddly and nice, rather than a likely military rival?
"Friction free" is probably not accurate. As such, the rest of Mr. Colvin's argument crumbles.
What I hate is this - true story:
Went to the Wal Mart 13 miles away bought a toy for Christmas at $10.87, they only had 2.
So I went to the Wal Mart 9 miles away, same day, bought 3 more for $ 9.73.
Took the receipts with me next time I went to the first Wal Mart. Went to "customer service" desk. Asked why did one sell the same item one the same day for $1.14 cheaper.
Was told "The other store was in an area with more competition, so they have to be cheaper. This store doesn't have any competition in the area so we can charge more."
I told them I would be shopping the competition in the other area from now on. Her comment was "So".
Would you expect any better from Target?
"The only problem I've ever had with Walmart was getting away from the principles of their founder, Made in the USA. This globalization trend has made it almost impossible for any company to sell quality goods at a reasonable price."
Quite frankly, I'm glad they did. Now we can get 'quality goods at a reasonable price.'
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