General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: It's a rare person who has any business criticizing anyone for shopping at Walmart [View all]libdem4life
(13,877 posts)Blocks of formerly beautiful Main Street brick storefronts, even multi-story...boarded up. Local stores, small manufacturing, market for local food sources, jobs, social cohesiveness, extended families, common religious values dried up. Sears usually had a catalog store.
So, I don't "buy it" that Walmart (big box stores) are cheaper in the long run. One of the final nails in the coffin of the shift to urbanism, loss of rural property values, loss of the bright and creative youth to "the city". At least their employees can use their food stamps when their shift ends.
I spoke with a marketing expert once about big box stores...he said they routinely priced 33.3% of the items at Sale Price, 33.3% at Average Profit Price, and 33.3% at Above Profit Price to balance out the Sale Price. And that most products were in that rotation. Also, the wide selection of products resulted in most purchasing items (impulse purchases) they had not come in to purchase or did not need.
Sam Walton is not a billionare from consumers saving a small percentage on their shopping lists. A more appropriate name is
CheapChinaMart.