[mnehring]

What I've learned doing a lot of consulting for small businesses is that the real problem isn't Wal Mart, it is their own unwillingness to change and modify how they do business when they face new competition. They all want to keep business as usual like they have since the 1950s. Wal Mart doesn't put them out of business, they put themselves out of business. If it wasn't Wal Mart, it would have been something else..

[Gabz]

If it wasn't Wal Mart, it would have been something else..

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ We have a winner!!!!!!

I could not agree with you more.

I've only lived here 3 years, but have found more small businesses I was unaware of because of referrals from folks who work in the local WalMart, including a couple of department managers. And the reverse is true as well. Owners of local businesses have sent me or my husband to WalMart on more than one occassion to get something we were looking for instead of waiting for them to get an order for it. They know they are not going to lose our business.

It's called good customer relations, on both the part of the small business folks and the WalMart folks.

[stentorian conservative]

So, if I understand you correctly, It's the small local small business' fault for not competing properly? It is the opinion of this consumer that you are painting with a very wide brush.

If it wasn't Wal Mart, it would have been something else..

Well don't leave me hangin' here, do elaborate. So far today I have been called an isolationist, a tree hugger and a complete economic moron. So let's go with the latter and explain to me how you can wrap up ALL "Ma & Pa" stores doing themselves in.