[Vision2020] Goodnight Goody, Goodnight Ridge

[Tom Hansen]

Arnold -

 

Ms. Swanson was referring to the "quality" of the product, not the price
comparison.

 

It is my impression that Wal-Mart will contract manufacturers to produce,
and sell to them (Wal-Mart), a lower quality product.  In this manner
Wal-Mart retains the manufacturer's label on the product while they
(Wal-Mart) continue to under-cut competition.

 

Now, before you go off on some long, boring dissertation about how well the
Duracell batteries worked that you purchased at Wal-Mart:  this retail
"approach" is not applied to ALL products at Wal-Mart.

 

Ms. Swanson is not the first person to make such a suggestion.  On February
3, 2006, David Gardner (host of NPR's "Motley Fool") interviewed Charles
Fishman, author of "The Wal-Mart Effect".  Like I had stated earlier, this
interview is well-balanced; the good, the bad, and the ugly.

 

http://www.tomandrodna.com/Sounds/MotleyFool_020306_WalMartEffect.wma

 

You will notice that Charles Fishman does not come across as, nor is he, a
campaigner against Wal-Mart.  His claims are substantiated by references he
makes in the course of the above interview.

 

Please listen to the interview, Arnold.  You may just learn something.

 

Until then . . .

 

Seeya round town, Moscow.

 

Tom Hansen

Moscow, Idaho

 

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails." 
- Unknown 

 

  _____  

From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Donovan Arnold
Sent: Sunday, March 05, 2006 12:31 AM
To: bjswan at moscow.com; 'Vision 2020'
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Goodnight Goody, Goodnight Ridge

 

More rhetoric from BJ Swanson.

Take this line for example:

"Compare the Gillette Mach 3 razors purchased at Wal-Mart with those
purchased at non-Wal-Mart stores.  Notice the color is different even though
the name is the same?  Notice the Wal-Mart Mach 3 doesn't last nearly as
long as those purchased from Costco, Rite-Aid, Hodgins, Marketime?"

Sorry BJ. I am afraid you are confusing the Gillette Mach 3 with the
Gillettee Mach 3 "turbo" which has a different color handle and lasts
longer. Both of which are cheaper at your local Wal-Mart. 

A Wal-Mart is significantly cheaper than even a local discount store like
Winco. For example, Hefty Serve and Store plates 22 count $2.00 at Wal-Mart.
At Winco, $2.78 but 20 count. Aleve Pain medication, $12.48 for 200 count.
Winco $20 if you buy 2 100 bottles, they do not ha! ve 200.

Heinz Tomato Ketchup 36 oz, $1.78 at Wal_Mart, $2.12 at Winco.

3 bars of Irish Spring soap, 75 cents. The same three bars at Winco, over
$2.

12 Pack of any Pepsi or Coke, $3 at Wal-Mart $3.78 at Winco. Safeway $4.50

I could not find one item that was sold at both Winco and Walmart where
Wal-Mart was not at least 15% cheaper.

On average I save 20% off a price of an item IF I can find it at Wal_Mart. I
would save $1000 a year on groceries alone plus they would bag my groceries
for me and take my debit card. $1000 a year probably ain't worth the trips
for BJ Swanson with her salary. But for me and many college students that is
a huge chunk of cash we can use toward the dental care she helped cut from
the UI health insurance program.

The Diet Coke, Heinz Ketchup, and Aleve I buy at Wal-Mart is the EXACT same
product I buy at Safeway, Winco, and ShopKo. 

Many businesses are taking your money a! nd ripping you off OR have a lousy
business model if they are selling the same product for a price 25% higher
than Wal_mart. Our local businesses do NOT pay workers more than Wal_mart. 
A Super Wal-Mart would not only force prices lower for everyone, which
benefits us all, but it also would supply us with more goods that Moscow is
not providing that so many of us leave town to get. Not to mention the added
benefits of being able to shop in Moscow outside the hours of 11AM to 4 PM. 

_DJA



"B. J. Swanson" <bjswan at moscow.com> wrote:

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