I think my local grocery store is in a death struggle with WalMart

[LizW]

They've started doubling coupons, and there are LOTS of buy one, get one free promotions. Store-brand items are marked down, and meat and milk are on special all the time.

This is all great for us right now, but I doubt this chain can keep it up with WalMart just 4 miles down the road.

This store is the hub of our little neighborhood "village" shopping area, and if it goes it will hurt all the smaller shops.

God, I hate WalMart.

:(

[bushisanidiot]

1. I am soooo glad our local China-Mart doesn't sell groceries.

i love going to the little mom & pop shop down the street. i've actually watched them grow over the last 20 years because they are selling plants and landscaping supplies. good quality stuff.

if some jackoff super China-Mart rolls in to town the little mom & pop shop could go down too.. just like the rest.

[LizW]

3. We used to have the "small" version of WalMart

and it was on the other side of town.

People fought like crazy when the WalMart super store wanted to come. The mayor refused to do any kind of tax deal and the neighbors sued to keep them from building right next to a residential neighborhood. There was even an environmental lawsuit related to the effects of the large parking lot on protected wetlands. In the end, none of it mattered.

Now our town has three large empty former grocery stores, and countless smaller stores that have gone under because of WalMart.

WalMart screws up the traffic patterns in town, too, and impacts property values.

The small businesses that can do so move nearer to WalMart to survive, and traffic near there becomes clogged. Other areas of town become ghost town, forcing those businesses to move or die. WalMart is between my house and the town center, so I have to fight traffic congestion every time I go anywhere.

[DemBeans]

2. but...but...

Isn't WalMart running an ad claiming how local businesses just thrive when they come to town? Surely they wouldn't lie,, would they?

I've never set foot in one, and never will.

[LizW]

4. Some may thrive for a while

See my other post on this thread.

Business that can move right next to the WalMart might do better for a while, but that is more than counteracted by the numbers of people who are put out of work in other areas.

My rule of thumb is if you hear on a WalMart commercial that they are doing something GOOD, you can be pretty sure they are actually doing the opposite.

[Pacifist Patriot]

5. Walmart is beginning to feel pinched here.

A Super Target opened up right across the street and is doing killer business. Walmart opened one of their stupid "Neighborhood Market" grocery stores across the street from two other grocery stores. One chain, one local. Neighborhood Market is falling flat. Aw, too bad.

[tyedyeto]

6. A super wal-mart is being built...

right next to the original one where I live. I only hope it won't destroy the store where I shop for groceries which is in the same center. Scheduled for completion this Sept.

Can't wait! :sarcasm:

[MadHound]

7. So raise some hell locally

Start a LTTE campaign, get your local media involved, make this known to all in your town. If you fight this, you could very well win, and keep your local super. Otherwise, it is going to go the way of the dinosaurs.

If people aren't informed of the true costs of doing business with Wally World, they will continue to go there for the low low prices. It is up to you and others in your community to make it known what WalMart is doing to your good town.

[LizW]

10. I've talked to people until I'm blue in the face

I just don't think they really care. They can't seem to see past the immediate. Also, there's a sort of "pack" mentality that says WalMart is the place to shop. There is the perception that things are cheaper there even when they are not.

I've explained to my friends over and over why I don't shop there.
1. It's not convenient. It takes much longer to get there in traffic, park in the crowded parking lot, find what I need in the huge store, stand in a long line to check out, get back to my car and home.

2. I don't save money. WalMart lures you to spend on things you don't need and can't use up. If I stay out of there, I save.

3. WalMart takes money out of the local community. I prefer to buy from merchants who live in the community.

4. WalMart does not participate in community events. They do not donate and give to local charities and schools. Local merchants don't always do this either, but they are much more likely to than WalMart. WalMart could afford it, they just don't.

5. WalMart treats its employees like crap.

6. WalMart is a drain on tax dollars. They don't pay their employees enough to afford health insurance, so many get their medical treatment at taxpayer expense.

7. I prefer a more personal, laid back, pleasant shopping experience. I don't like to shop in the first place, and I see no need to make it more unpleasant.

Unfortunately, most people just don't care. Lots of people have a need to have lots of "stuff" and to feel like they are getting it cheap. They feel like they are doing a good job. WalMart preys on that mentality.

[sugapablo]

8. Form a Coop

I shop at the East End Food Coop in Pittsburgh. It's a VERY good alternative to corporate mega-stores. If there isn't one in your town, you might consider forming one.

http://www.eastendfood.coop

[SoCalDem]

9. Grocery chains graph their hourly sales in order to schedule

employees.. As the sales drop, so do the hours.. Union benefits are triggered by a certain number of hours worked. As the store employees hours drop, fewer and fewer employees are needed, because there are just so many hours alloted, and unless employees are willing to lose benefits so the hours can be spread thinner and thinner among lots of employees, there will be layoffs.. Layoffs lead to sloppy, unkempt stores, which lead to even LESS sales.. It's a downward spiral.