Wal-Mart struggles with deeper problems (K-Mart Type Problems)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05139/506811.stm

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is facing a new reality: Its customers want more than just the lowest price.

The world's largest retailer, which only a few years ago could do no wrong, is now suffering from the kind of problems that have plagued weaker rivals such as Kmart: cluttered stores, merchandise that turned off shoppers, and poor service. Meanwhile, Target Corp., while some six times smaller than Wal-Mart, is setting a new standard for discount retailing.

Wal-Mart's sales growth has sagged, in part because the Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer, while still a low-price leader, doesn't have products on the floor that attract today's shoppers -- particularly in apparel, home furnishings and consumer electronics. It also has a problem with slow checkout service and its stores look uninspiring.

Target, however, keeps sharpening its appeal to a higher-income customer with affordable fashions and home merchandise from designers including Cynthia Rowley and Isaac Mizrahi. Its stores boast a colorful assortment of merchandise that focus on the must-haves of the season -- this spring, consumers will find such items as turquoise moccasins, slim lace tunics and metallic sandals. Its service at the checkout? Speedy, analysts say.

[eleny]

1. Target feels cleaner and quieter

Altogether a better shopping experience. I've been in WalMart a few times and always feel like I'm going to bump into stuff. It just feels louder and uncomfortable. Screw 'em.

[Blue Gardener]

19. And it smells funny

My sister likes to shop there. I have to take her once in a while because she doesn't drive. I can't stand the smell of the place and get out as soon as possible.

[loudsue]

53. Yes it does! I'm SOOO glad WalMart is going down!

They deserve to be put out of business..they "stink" in more ways that one! Even if they upgrade and try to compete with Target, they'll never get one red cent of my money.

The Walton heirs have proven themselves to be absolute assholes. The way they've treated their employees and their suppliers is deplorable. Look how many mom & pops they've put out of business, with their predatory practices. Look how they use their employees as slave labor! Look at the labor practices they support overseas, in order to get their imported junk dirt cheap.

THAT may be what we smell when we enter the store...Walton-heir asshole!

:kick::kick::kick:

[trogdor]

62. They're trying to be like Microsoft

Thing is, they're running up against the limits of this business model, just as Microsoft is.

[Melynn]

23. Target is a better shopping experience

I went to Target a couple of weeks ago and the store was clean, quiet and no waiting in line at the checkout.

[Scairp]

40. The one near me is always a disaster

And the cashiers are, shall we say, not the brightest bulbs around. We really hate going there, but sometimes end up doing so because it's close. And this article is correct on many fronts. I personally would NEVER wear any clothing sold at Wal-Mart but I would definitely consider some of the stuff Target sells. Much of it is almost as nice as what you find at one of the mall department stores.

Wal-Mart can add all the bells and whistles it wants to to try and make the stores more appealing, but in my opinion, they will always be nothing more than gigantic dime stores.

[demo dutch]

41. self delete

[SammyWinstonJack]

61. Kinda like the difference between Home Depot and Lowes'.

Lowes' being the better, cleaner and more appealing shopping experience.

[cssmall]

2. In the belly of the beast,

one begins to celebrate, though the beast forces its employees to grin and dance around their own funeral pyre. I just want the perversion in Fayetteville, Arkansas to go away. Wal-Mart owns everything in this. . . area of the state. Death to the slugging giant.

[ChoralScholar]

32. Don't you hate the Mall Dr. Wal-Mart?

Ugly as hell, and if you DO happen to go in there, it's bass-ackwards and finding things is near impossible.

[MrModerate]

3. I'd be happy to see Wal-Mart implode . . .

To be reborn as a responsible retailer. The message has to be -- extremism in business (just like extremism in politics or religion) ultimately doesn't pay.

[NEOBuckeye]

5. Wal-Mart wasn't so bad until Sam Walton passed away.

Then his heirs took over and started running hog wild with the business.

[Daphne08]

13. You are very right. I'm originally from the South and remember

when Wal-Mart was a regional store. Walton was a very unassuming man... unlike his children. :( I don't think he would like his company today.

I haven't shopped at Wal-Mart since I moved to the coast, but the truth is, many rural communities throughout the South (and probably throughout the country) simply don't have a choice anymore.

WalMart killed all the competition -- the local stores. Sad.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

36. Unlike his children

Sam wasn't raised by a filthy rich man. Money often does that to people.

[cpamomfromtexas]

59. My dad always said 2nd & 3rd generations

weren't worth a damn.

He's right on many levels.

He's a great Democrat and told me almost to the month what would happen if George the blunder got into office.

Scary.

[DulceDecorum]

60. They say

"A hot fire begets ash."

[OR Ruminator]

14. Made in USA products

Made in USA products were featured prominently in WalMart back in the mid 1980s. I remember shopping there, and they featured American made products throughout the store. They used to have that as their slogan. What a difference from today.

Sam Walton also had a reputation for working to keep his employees happy, I understand.

[LostinVA]

24. The thing was, though: MOST of those products weren't made in

The USA. They were made outside of the US by non-US workers. They were forced to take down those signs... although they took a loooooong time to do so. It was mainly a sham. My dad is in textiles, and I remember him raging about this. It was the beginning of the "outsourcing" and destroying of the proud USA textile business. Wal-Mart, Nike, and Levi were some of the worst and earliest perps.

[Prodemsouth]

29. You called it, his heirs, screwd things up. Remember Sam's

campaign "Bring it home to the USA." that supported manufactured goods made in the USA. This is when the store started to really take off in the late 80s, now they are China's largest customer. I think the "made in the USA" customer- esp. those Mid level wage Blue collar types are shopping elsewhere. Also Walmarts customers here in Metro Atlanta is highly immigrant, esp from South America and thats not helping their image among the "America First style shoppers". Walmart is never going to get the typical or core Target customer, who sees themselves as more sophisticated than a Wal mart customer. Their best bet is to go back to what they were doing in the late 80s. But it will be hard to find the manufactured goods made in the USA, much of American manufacturing is gone.

[Scairp]

55. Not the first time I have heard that

When I started working there in '97, a long time employee said the very same thing.

[coloradodem2005]

4. Good news.

[Tux]

6. Target

Is much better. Aisles aren't cluttered. A decent stock of video games, DVDs (sort of), but mostly has clothing, home equipment, and stuff like that. Nice store and clean.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. and some target stores ARE unionized

nwo union and walmart... don't mix

[scarletlib]

21. The Target in our neighborhood is in competition with

a nearby K-Mart and Walmart. I can go into this Target and see the same people working there for five plus years. That tells you something about how they treat their people.

[katty]

58. Wal-Mart screwed itself - Target will only make gains

[flygal]

8. Target gives it's part-time employees BENEFITS!!

***SHOCKER*** they let their employees dress normally - not those stupid tacky vests, and it used to be you worked 15 hours you got healthcare benefits. I knew several women who did this b/c their husbands were self-employed.

I believe now it's 20 or maybe 30 hours. But the benes were very good and not very expensive. Gee, and they're NOT the world's largest business - if they can do it...

[stevietheman]

9. The assessment sounds correct...

but when it comes to groceries... The Super-Walmarts indeed carry a wide selection and their prices can't be beat. (I'm sure I'll be assailed on this.) :)

That said, I fully agree that Wal-mart seems to carry quite junky housewares and just about anything else outside of groceries. They need to do something about that. And yeah, pay their employees more, and provide better benefits, to boot.

[LostinVA]

25. The grade of the meat they sell is lower than either your

local chain grocery (Harris Teeter, Giant, etc.),local grocery store, or butcher shop. My sister didn't believe me on this and asked the next time she went grocery shopping at Wal-Mart. They hemmed and hawed and double talked until she got pissed and they finally told her that was indeed the truth.

[stevietheman]

56. I don't buy meat at Walmart...

just the aisle groceries and sometimes produce. Yeah, I should be shot. :) But the prices are too good. Note, however, I do shop at unionized Kroger too to pick up sale items, specialty items and meats.

[dissent1977]

10. Cluttered stores? Poor merchandise? The corporate media sucks

This article doesn't even mention the fact that there are millions who refuse to shop at Wal-Mart because they treat their workers like crap, they exploit women and children in sweatshops around their world, they pay poverty level wages, and they destroy local small businesses. Instead we are led to believe Wal-Marts sales decline is a result of their stores being cluttered. The lawsuit dealing with gender discrimination was buried in the article. This is typical AP propaganda which does not question the corporate advertisers.

[LostinVA]

26. They also destroy US-based vendors

so that they can then legally sue foreign vendors. True story: a cotton candy maker was wooed by WM into expanding his business by building a new factory and hiring lots of new workers. WM kept on forcing him to lower his prices more and more, until the guy was literally making zero profit. When he couldn't do it anymore, they left him hanging and went somewhere else. They do this over and over again. WHY do vendors do it??? My father makes textiles, and refuses to do any business with them, no matter how much the order is, no matter how good the order will make his "bottom line" look for his boss.

[holboz]

35. Speaking from our personal experience of dealing with WM...

We were commissioned by an Asian-owned company to come up with a "designer series" for a particular home appliance. The buyer wanted something that looked "a-la Target"...bold colors, new innovative design, etc. So we fulfilled said directive and were so proud with our concepts. In fact, Home Depot and Target also puchased some models in this range after we sold some to WM. (Pop went the bottle of champagne in celebration.)

Last month we received final product samples from the company's factory in China and were stunned to see how cheap they looked. In spite of WM buying millions of units, it looked like a "zero budget for production" item. I can't wait to see what Home Depot and Target will say when they see this final product because I don't think the factory is going to change it at all.

The other problem we ran into is the low skill level of Chinese engineers. Hell, they had trouble designing a packaging box for the products. In the end we had to design the packaging because even after 3 attempts their engineer couldn't make it work. A BOX, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD? HOW HARD IS IT TO MAKE A BOX TO FIT A PRODUCT? Ever notice how most of the packaging in WM has to be reinforced with TAPE?.

Everyone knows WM can be ruthless but I don't think companies will unite against them. Anytime a company has tried to take a stand against WM's lowballing, that company usually sees their shelf space in stores reduced and their competitors bestowed with "Preferred Supplier" status. I've seen it over and over again

(Sorry for the long post!)

[PassingFair]

31. Spot On, Dissent!

Article fails to mention that every democrat worth their salt refuses to shop at Wally Mart. Exceptions can be made for those who live in areas where WM has already driven ALL competition out.
Many business-owning 'pukes are also turned off by the hideous reality that is WalMart. It is one of the few subjects safe to talk about with 'puke entrepreneurs.

The shitty * economy, combined with our "blue flu" is doing double damage to WM.

[Voltaire99]

11. Watching the AP whore itself so pathetically for Wal-Mart...

...it's a pleasure to know both their stars are fading.

Let's hope the Bush admin's foolish bullying of China on currency results in import problems for Wal-Mart.

[SoCalDem]

12. I love Target..You can always find things, and the prices are not bad

When our Walmart opened here, (8 yrs ago?)my friend and I went a few weeks after they opened, and the instant I walked in there, I felt claustrophobic.. There's just TOO MUCH STUFF EVERYWHERE.. the aisles were narrow, and a brand new store looked like crap.. The shiny floors and clean walls were the only giveaway that it was a new place..

Big is not always better. and there is a limit to "cheap".. I gladly pay more to shop elsewhere. In fact, I shop AFTER big sales at department stores. Hate crowds:)

[Piperay]

15. I was in Walmart once and that was too much

for me. The aisles were crowded and the merchandise looked like it had exploded all over the place. I couldn't get out of there fast enough and I have never been back. I prefer Target or KMart, of course tops is Costco.

[4dsc]

16. slow checkout service??

What an understatement. Thanks god I boycott Walmart..

[Maddy McCall]

17. I bought groceries once at Walmart. Never Again.

After standing in line for 25 minutes with FROZEN items, I got up to the checkout, FINALLY, asked for the manager, told him that all of the frozen and cold stuff in my buggy was now either melted or luke warm.

I was holding up line, but no one behind me was mad at me, because they were experiencing the same problem. Manager told me that they were short-handed today, and he was really sorry that they couldn't open any more check stands. There were only three of 15 on that side of the store open!

So, I let the cashier check out my groceries, bag them, and put them in a buggy. I then told her that I had no use for melted groceries, and Goodbye. I left 300 dollars worth of groceries, a good half of them formerly cold or frozen items, sitting in the buggy, and I walked out. The manager tried to give me some stupid $15 gift card, but I told him that I'd never buy groceries there again. To this day, I shop at Kroger.

[dbt]

18. One puzzling line: "appeal to a higher-income customer."

How much longer are those going to be around? I fear that WM only has to hang on for a while longer (Goddess knows they have the reserves to do so) until the base of lower-income customers begins to grow substantially.

:freak:

[Blue Gardener]

20. You have to read this about Wal Mart

From Quality Digest magazine...

http://www.qualitydigest.com/april05/departments/lastword.shtml

"I wonder if Wal-Mart executives ever venture outside of Wal-Mart’s Bentonville, Arkansas, headquarters. Have they ever wandered the aisles of a Wal-Mart at midnight in search of a toothbrush, diapers or cold medicine?

I wish Sam could have been with me when I was stranded in Minneapolis late one night. Of course, the only store open was a Wal-Mart. My wife, Heidi, needed some makeup, so she asked a Wal-Mart employee for assistance. The young woman held up her hand, gave us the “talk to the hand” look and then proceeded to take a massager from its box, plug it in, give herself a back massage, put it back in the box and return it to the shelf. She then wandered away.

What would Sam have thought?"

[scarletlib]

22. This is what happens when you treat your employees like

crap. They become totally demoralized and don't care anymore. This type of behavior will occur when management isn't around. It is really an expression of contempt for the company. (IMHO)

[holboz]

48. People you see stocking shelves are often NOT employees of WM

Third parties are often brought in to stock merchandise onto WM shelves. So if you see someone stocking a bunch of cosmetics or other merch there is a strong possibility that person does not work for WM...even if they have WM-style name badge.

[Fozzledick]

49. They've chosen to have no sales help!

The people on the floor are NOT there to help the customers, their job is only to stock the shelves. Their training includes heavy indoctrination that taking time to talk to customers is "stealing from the company" and they can be displined or terminated for doing so!

[HockeyMom]

27. Dorm Room

We bought nearly everything for my daughter's dorm room at Target. They had set aside a special section in the summer for equipping a dorm room. It was really nice. You didn't have to go running around an entire large store looking for this and looking for that.

That was 3 years ago and the merchandise is holding up very well, unlike the stuff at WalMart. I have only shopped at WalMart once. The towels I bought there fell apart and the dye ran out after only one washing. Never again.

[LostinVA]

28. If you live by an IKEA, shop there

It's noted as one of THE top retail models in the WORLD. It treats it's employees great -- benefits, an incredibly low turnover, etc. The prices range from fantastic to great, the quality of the goods is incredible (especially the kitchen stuff), and you can top off your day with some yummy meatballs and a lingonberry soda!

I have one two hours away, and it's the only way I've been able to have nice furnishings. Gotta love the Swedes!

[GoldenOldie]

30. Entering a Walmart gives me claustrophobia.

and I leave with a splitting headache and am totally down for the rest of the day.

There is so much crap piled in the main aisles and then in the other aisles/corridores, the crap is piled to the ceiling all the time shoppers with carts smash into one another and I make attempts to keep from killing a small child with my cart.

I don't care if they give the stuff away for free.....shopping in any of the Wallmarts is like being in the Twilight Zone.

I also began shopping at Walmart because of their marketing slogan "Made In America." This was when all the mills and factories were closing in the North and South and moving to Mexico and South America. I thought my purchasing American made would keep jobs for my fellow Americans. Soon discovered I was sold a bill of goods along with the pile of crap from Walmart.

[K8-EEE]

33. I Always Have Lunch At The IKEA By My House!

Great salads, great coffee -- I've redone all my closets with their stuff, very cheap and very nice.

I think people can shop online if they don't live by an IKEA store?

IKEA and Walmart are the only "superstores!" I'll go to.

[losdiablosgato]

34. IKEA has good furniture for the money

I hae 2 book cases, a desk , and some shelves from the Housotn store.

[LostinVA]

37. You can only buy a few things online,a nd the shipping

is crazy expensive.

$1.99 breakfast, too!

[K8-EEE]

57. OMG I meant, Ikea and COSTCO

are the only superstores I'll go to....never been to a Walmart!

[Tyrone Slothrop]

38. A new IKEA is supposed to open about 5 blocks from my apt

It's not going to be for a year or two, I think, but I am still excited. It's one of the few stores I actually enjoy wondering through without necessarily having any intention of buying anything.

It will also be the first IKEA in NYC.

[demo dutch]

44. I love IKEA! They were supposed to come to Florida in 2006 but

sofar it's a no-go

[LostinVA]

50. They showed a HUGE IKEA on Queer Eye

Was that out on Long Island?

[Tyrone Slothrop]

52. Possibly

There's one out on Long Island, and there's one in New Jersey (this one's really big), but there aren't any within the city itself.

That's part of my excitement. I don't have a car so it's sort of difficult to get to the LI or NJ locations.

[BiggJawn]

39. Oh, boy! Turquoise moccasins! Be Still my Heart!

Just the thing to wear while I'm re-arranging my Magical 9-11 teddy bears on top the Teeee-Veeeee....

I buy my clothes at Target. Wallmart sells crap, and K-mart sells stuff I wouldn't wear to see Ann Coulter and Mara Liason fight..

[demo dutch]

42. I refuse to shop at Walmart! But Target also donated to repug campaigns

I try to get everything at Costco, but when I have no choice I go to Target, and yes they do a really great job!

[earth mom]

43. I LOVE Target!

I even converted my DH who used to like Walmart ALOT because of the fishing section. I was surprised when he told me the other day that "Walmart Sucks!" LOL! I absolutely HATE Walmart, but still occassionaly shop there because they carry a few products I haven't found elsewhere-yet. However, I'm determined to kick em to the curb them asap! In the past couple of years I've been spreading my money out to other local stores as well as shopping at Costco.

Also, I just wanted to add that there's much to be said for shopping garage sales/estate sales and thrift stores. I get practically brand new stuff all the time-books, movies, toys and clothes/purses. I've furnished my entire house in fun vintage and antique furniture-for example, a few years ago, I paid $15 for the coolest antique (turn of the century) linen cupboard/press that's quite roomy-big enough for a good sized t.v.-though I am actually using it for it's true intention-to store linens-LOL! The only "bought new" furniture in our house are beds, sofas and appliances.

To be honest, that Ikea stuff doesn't look like it will hold up that long to me and I forsee it in many a landfill in the future-that kind of waste really bothers me.

Just my .02.

[shanti]

45. ikea furniture

i've bought some of it....it's cheap alright, but you have to keep in mind the old saw: you get what you pay for! much of ikea furniture is fiberboard. their design is fresh tho...and i like ikea's business model.

[earth mom]

46. If you like modern design...

there is lots of cool stuff out there from the 50s, 60s, 70s and into the 80s that could be bought on the cheap and recycled as well as purchased as an "investment" that no doubt will appreciate in the future. Something to think about...

[LostinVA]

51. I've owned some IKEA furniture for almost 10 years

Including a couch! Still in great shape. One of their couches also just recently made a top three in Consumer Reports.

[Rambis]

47. Things not to be when Wallyworld comes to town

Grocer
Pharmacist
Shoe store
Clothing store
Auto parts store
Sporting goods store
Pet store
Drug Store card shop

If you own or work for a pharmacy do not take the Wally offer they will have you train the techs then they start making you work the lunch counter. Eventually you get fed up and quit. The store you owned is closed, they have trained staff (thanks to you) and they don't have to pay you anymore. This has happened all over small town Iowa. I know somebody who got out of the Pharmacy businsess just in time.

[The Blue Knight]

54. Wal-Mart is losing profits?

My heart bleeds.

/sarcasm