[Vision2020] When Wal-Marts go Dark

[Art Deco]

Have you noticed that the present Moscow WalMart may be headed the way of 
the dodo bird?

Their prices on many, many items are no longer as competitive as they once 
were.
The number of different selections available in some areas have notably 
diminished.
The number of times they are out of a particular item seems to be 
increasing.
A number of annoying/intrusive practices are popping up with more frequency 
at checkout.
There appears to be some problems with crucial systems such as the pharmacy 
system.
In addition, the advertised claim that the pharmacy system is nation-wide is 
just plain false.
Some of the few knowledgeable salespersons are no longer there, replaced by 
"Duh?" types.
The former practice of helping a customer find something appears to be 
diminished.
The building is beginning to exhibit problems.

As a result, we are shopping at WalMart less and less.  Perhaps others, not 
as habit driven as the average consumer, are also finding much better, more 
economical shopping experiences in Moscow/Pullman.

Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
deco at moscow.com




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nils Peterson" <nils_peterson at wsu.edu>
To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 8:51 AM
Subject: [Vision2020] When Wal-Marts go Dark


> This is an interesting, and pretty balanced read. Its also hopeful for the
> idea of adaptive re-use.
>
> When Wal-Marts go Dark
> By Harold D. Hunt and John Ginder
>
> recenter.tamu.edu/pdf/1720.pdf
>
> "One of the many raps leveled against the retailing giant is that it 
> behaves
> like a prospector who mines a patch of dirt for all it is worth, then 
> moves
> on to new territory."
>
> "During the last four months of 2004, the Center telephoned local economic
> development departments, chambers of commerce and other city officials in
> more than 500 Texas cities. The survey revealed that 107 Wal-Mart stores 
> had
> closed in 103 different cities between 1987 and the end of 2004."
>
>
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