As much as I hate Wal~Mart bashing.........

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As a Wal-Mart basher myself...

What an excellent article...it seems like a pattern lies in the midst that starts as soon as the contract is signed: Agree to sell cheap, poor quality product to Wal-Mart at lower prices-->Lose profit-->Resort to offshore manufacturing and increase in production speed which results in low quality with little or no product testing (this part REALLY p**ses me off)-->Even offshore manufacturing cannot keep up with profit loss-->Company literally cannot keep its head "above the water" and goes under. Seriously folks, do you REALLY think a Mexican "obrero" making $0.75 an hour gives a s**t about putting effort into their work?? I don't think so...

I have a newfound respect for Snapper after reading this, and after seeing their methods of production (which most would consider "radical" and "unnecessary" compared to offshore manufacturers' techniques) and quality control. I'm glad to see that there are still companies out there committed to producing a good product, regardless of "hit or miss opportunities" such as the aforementioned Wal-Mart contract. Needless to say, I will DEFINITELY keep Snapper in mind when I purchase a lawnmower for my house in 2013 or so. Now if only they didn't stop using the Robin engine in their commercial equipment.

--Austin
 
petek

petek

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Great article, too bad he's a one off. I've often thought it might be a good idea for more of the big manufacturers to stand their ground and say no thanks, however that's unlikely to happen as they are so entrenched now. What really needs to happen is that consumers take a stand and boycott WalMart even if just for a few days and shop elsewhere in order to send a message not just to WalMart but to the companies that do business with them. Two or three days of little to no profit at WalMart would send shockwaves thru Wall St. and the business world and perhaps wake some manufacturers up.
Anyone here up to organizing it?
 
I don't go to Wal*Mart

I prefer to get my "general merchandise" at Bullseye Boutique. Who knows?--the Target Bull Terrier might be Al's cousin. :)

When I do have a choice, however, I take my money to locally owned business, whenever possible.

There's a strong, abiding rumour that the nearest Wal*Mart might become a Super Wal*Mart. If that happens, they'll disposses other current businesses, including, but not limited to, a Goodwill branch.
As disgusting as it is, and that is quite disgusting, worse yet is that if this happens, it may well cause the nearest branch of my favourite LOCAL supermarket to close (they're within 1.5 miles.)

I still believe in "voting with your dollars."

Lawrence/Maytagbear
 
Great article, thanks for sharing....

I am on an inexpensive Home Depot mower because I had to get one at the same time as the move, and money was tight.

I know exactly what mower I will get now!

I still have my dad's Cooper edger from about 1965 in my garage, he left it here for some reason and every once in a while pulls it out and edges my lawn when he's over.

Quality lasts.
 
I also vote with my dollars and buy local. And I don't go to Wal Mart. I've seen a town where a new Wal Mart opened, and every single store for at least a half mile radius was closed and boarded up. I swear it looked like something out of science fiction. As far as I'm concerned, that was proof.

And if I'm in the market for a lawn mower or snow thrower, yep, I'll be looking for Snapper. Quality counts.
 
Very interesting read

There was something on Discovery or some other channel about Walmart practices...very interesting, and it effected me quite about where to shop at in the future for things I usually bought from there all the time.
I had the same effect on me, after watching the extras on the DVD for the film "Super-Size Me". (McDonald's)
Old Wal-Marts here are being replaced with Super Wal-marts, and bLowe's are being build right next door. A Former bLowe's Associate, and good friend informed me that there are several people who sit on the boards for both stores, hence, I suppose, they are in *cahoots* with each other in the corporate world of retailing.
There are NO LESS than 5, YES 5 of the &*^% Super Wal-marts within a 5 mile radius of my home....
Makes me puke!
Buy American!!!! The job you save might be your own!
Just my 2 AMERICAN cents worth.

--Carol
 
Thanks for posting this article...

Why isn't there an appliance manufacturer with the same philosophy?

I have always thought that manufacturers were making special, lower quality things for Walmart because their prices are so low. If Levi Strauss is making lower quality clothing for Walmart, what is P&G doing with Tide?

I like the way the article focused on Weir and not the strong-arm control of Walmart. It is much more pro-Snapper than anti-Walmart. Walmart here is the victim of unintended consequence (altho' they fully deserve it).
 
YAY FOR SNAPPER!!!!!!

If you've ever had the pleasure of using a Snapper mower, you will never go back to the $139 lawnmower. Yes, it's heavy as hell but it will be the last mowing machine you ever buy.

DAMN RIGHT!

Its kinda sad that it will be harder to buy Snapper equipment but the search is worth it.

Screw wal-mart.
 
Wonderful!

I've seen that article before; and hope other companies follow suit. I hope that, even more importantly, consumers realize what companies like Snapper are doing and continue to give them business.

-Fred
 
Thanks for the info on Snapper mowers. I would buy one just because the CEO told Wal-mart to pi-- off. It is good to know of US made quality products. Proud to say I have never spent a dime in a Wal-mart, and never will. Small businesses are the way to go!! There should be a list of US corporations committed to manufacturing in the US, that treat their employees with dignity and respect. I'd buy from them exclusively.
Bobby in Boston
 
1. I loathe what WAL-MART does to local businesses. They are the 300-lb. gorilla which smaller, locally-owned businesses can't compete with. I wish they didn't have so much power over manufacturers, but they do. A number of manufacturers have moved their operations overseas because they wanted WAL-MART's business and had to do that in order to keep their prices artifically low.

2. I have a Snapper self-propelled lawn mower and a Snapper snowblower. It would have been cheaper to purchase them at a big-box store, but as with designgeek (and I applaud your integrity, bud!) I believe in doing as much business locally as I can. At the start of each season, I call my Snapper dealer and he picks up my mower/snowblower, changes the oil/filters/spark plug, checks it over and brings it back to my house for a reasonable fee. This, I believe, is the sort of service so many of us complain doesn't exist anymore.
 
I don't like shopping at Walmart either, and I will only go there for occasional things I can't get locally elsewhere.

In addition to the hoards of idiotic mindless shoppers, there's the fact that Walmart's prices are not the lowest anyway. They may be low on a few items that they advertise and/or place at the end of the aisle, but these are generally the shoddiest, lowest in quality and features, of any particular type of product. Then, when you look for something a little better, it might cost twice as much.

Most of my shopping is at Costco, Pak 'N Save, Orchard Supply, or Home Depot. I will also shop at local small specialty stores. Walmart is a last choice.
 
I agree...yay Snapper and boo WalMart. I bought my first Snapper in 1985 at the age of 13. At $500 it was a big purchase. I had worked two years of mowing grass to buy one. I bought the 4 horse, briggs model with a cast iron bore, and ball bearing wheels. This model was called "extra tough". That poor mower was used during the mowing season on average of 15 yards per week on the same engine too for over 10 years. I paid for my first car, insurance, first year of college, and all of those other things that teens buy. My Snapper even mowed the lawn at my first house and now my current house. I had to retire it two years ago due to its age and the fact that I just could not fix it anymore (although it ran well still) and it was almost 20 years old! I sold it for $50! I miss that old machine.

That initial $500 was steep at the time but oh how I did get my money's worth. My neighbor had one that was well over 20 years old and last year the motor finally gave way. Guess what he bought? Guess what I replaced the old Snapper with? A NEW SNAPPER. Snapper is one of the FEW items being sold today that is as good as the old one. They make them like they used to TODAY! So yes, congrats to Snapper for standing up for something and for making a superior machine. I am proud to say that my lawnmower is a quality product made here in the USA. Thanks for those great years of mowing and for many more to come.
 
Target rocks because some of them have a starbucks inside. Wal-mart would probably counter and try to put Dunkin Donuts in there (waits for Bri's reaction).
 

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