[Spam] Re: [Vision2020] Shopping Center Plans Filed forPullman-Moscow Highway Site

[Andreas Schou]

> I guess you would have to discuss the "two stores model"  with Walmart
> corporate strategists to know why they think two stores is the best way for
> them to proceed.  But it does seem rather clear that they have identified
> two markets.  And there are significant differences in the two markets
> (Moscow vs Pullman).  Pullman does appear to have awakened to the realities
> of the need for growth and economic development to support their
> infrastructure and planned infrastructure.
>

You can't possibly plead ignorance about the purpose of the two Wal-Mart
SuperCenters, Jeff. There's almost certainly an insufficient market for two
SuperCenters in the Moscow-Pullman area; comparable populations are
sufficiently served by one. This is a long-term investment. WalMart can
afford to eat losses from one or both stores -- losses insufficient to
trigger an antitrust suit -- for basically eternity. Local businesses that
compete with WalMart cannot.

What we are talking about is not the healthy competition of a well-regulated
market, and you know this. This is attrition. As soon as local retail (and
whatever national competitors aren't able to keep up with WalMart's spend
rate) is entirely choked out, they can feel free to close one of the two
WalMarts -- but before they do, they can entice Moscow and Pullman into a
bidding war to keep this albatross hung around our neck.

-- ACS
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