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

[customline]

My two sense..........

Wal Mart is everything that is WRONG with America and capitalism, but a good thing doesn't last forever. We must take consolation in the fact that Wal Mart will eventually eat itself and end up the way A&P did (remember them?). Going for a quick and easy profit does not meet with longevity. Everything they preach and practice as far as business goes is for the NOW and not the LATER. But what does Wal Mart's higher ups care, they made their money and then some. After the smoke clears all that's left is a bunch of bankrupt companies and people scrambling for new jobs while corporate suits and tacticians kick back and watch. It's all about a handful of people making money, not an fair and even distribution of wealth. It's always been this way though, but this takes the cake. I believe everybody can benefit from capitalism but we have somehow forgotten this. This is a bad trend in business that we are currently experiencing. I can't wait for it to end. Die already Wal Mart!

 

[runematic]

Getting back to the Snapper angle of the story, it reminds me of Maytag in a way. The management, a few years back, had such a boner to get into Sears. At meetings with the independent dealers, they told us to relax, "Your business will actually increase with our presence in Sears." um, ok. Next, they needed in bLowe's, HD, et al. The Dependable Care models were way too expensive to sit in one of these showrooms next to cheap Frigidaires, GE's, etc, so along comes the el cheapo Performa. Yippee. This is where Maytag went downhill. They were chasing the bottom of the market & VOLUME versus stroking & massaging the independent dealer chain and quality products. Screw the folks that actually sell & SERVICE our products. Go for the volume & low prices. Look where it got them. Maytag used to be about premium dependable products, but they were seduced by the low-cost, low-price, volume mentality. As much as some folks like the redesigned NorgeChefTag, it is not such a great washer. The cabinets rust inside badly, horrible load balancing, etc. Then again, judging by the amount of 2-4 year old Kenmore & WP washers in my warehouse......but I digress.

 

[filterflo702]

Couldn't agree with you more kevinpreston

Walmart is opening those huge God awful super centers about every 1/4 mile here in Las Vegas-I'm offended each time I see another "coming soon" sign. What is truly sad is that there are people to whom you have to explain the difference between buying a shirt at Nordstrom and buying 3 at Walmart.

 

[angus]

It's like everything elsen - quantity over quality. Now every store will become a Macy's, even the venerated and much loved Marshall Field's. So far no one has been able to explain to me how Federated's fatass president Terry Lundrgen's national market saturation strategy benefits the consumer. It isn't like the Macy's national presence actually expands merchandise selection or provides the advantage of better pricing.

So far all I can see is heavier pockets for Mr Lundgren and his "big deal" management team - while the rest of the US retailers disappear and lose individuality. In some ways, it's a lot like George Orwell's 1984 predicted, but a bit later......

 

[zzzzz]

Sure makes me glad the closest store of this genre near me is a Target, which is about a mile from my house compared to two miles and change for the nearest Wal-Fart. If it was the other way around, I would put up with the five-mile round trip to placate my conscience.

Hooray for Snapper for telling Wally World to f*** off!

 

[mayken4now]

Yes indeed Mr. Snapper chairman.

True story. Partner Jeff here with me USED to deal with *Wal-Fart* in the garden center business of being a plant vendor. Oh the days he would come home and tell me how the $10.00 "HOURLY" B***H would give him all sorts of hell about what she did NOT need from his company. Like she owned the damn joint. Case and point, it goes to even the Janitor's head that they work for the giant. I take not shit from them and like others here, will drive 10 miles to Target before stepping foot in that place. Please Crash Soon-- C Ya.