The Man Who Said No to Wal-Mart

Jakey · 01-21-2006

Very interesting article:
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/...ml?partner=aol

Wal-Mart seems to be making the news alot lately, especially with the "Wal-Mart Health Plan" in Maryland.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,182101,00.html

niterydr · 01-21-2006

Good man.

Black97civic · 01-21-2006

It definately makes sense from his position. The end says that his tombstone could call him the "dumbest CEO ever, the man who didn't sell to wal-mart" I totally disagree.

He didn't want to sell out and tarnish his company's name. You can't sell a $500 mower next to a $100 mower when you have walmart shoppers comparing them, and to make it competative, he would have to abandone the quality associated with his brand.

Either lose 20% now, and possibly gain it back, or keep that 20% and have your product be doubted forever because you had to cheap out on materials.

npaulseth · 01-21-2006

Thanks for posting.

I have my opinions on wal-mart.

TurboDomestics · 01-22-2006

Smart man, Im personally not too big on Wall-mart.

Steeltwo · 01-22-2006

only the old generation would do that.

any current generation wouldn't. good ole american values.

**Halon** · 01-22-2006

I think that's cool that he's doing that.

I too have my own Walmart opinions, I love the place! If I can buy the same thing at walmart for cheaper then say Autozone, then that's where I'm going. If they are that crappy to work for, and you absolutely hate working there, well then get a different job. If you can't get a different job because no one else will hire you because you're that much of a screw up, well then I say that's your own fault. If you're only like 16 and it's the only job that you could get because it's close to home and you don't have a license yet, and you hate it, well then welcome to what prolly 90% of the rest of the nation has been through. How many people have held jobs while in highschool, and hated their jobs? I know I held a couple of those! (McDonalds, Jiffy Lube...)

CVD · 01-23-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steeltwo

only the old generation would do that.

any current generation wouldn't. good ole american values.

Fuck that. Would you sell out? Its not a generation thing, there just plain arent that many people like that around. That and the fact that aggressive businesses that sell cheap crap tend to try to put people like them out of business. That man will never be a Bill Gates or Donald Trump because he has morals, and because of that those kinds of people will try to buy him out of the market.

**Kracka** · 01-23-2006

I agree with what Brandon said, and also what CVD said. Certain brands just do not belong at Walmart, and frankly, if they did I'd probably stop buying them since they'd loose the image of "top quality". I go to Walmart far more frequently than any other retailer because they are cheaper and for most things the quality is the exact same. Some of their stuff is even of better quality than other generic brands (SuperTech oil and filters for example).

Steeltwo · 01-23-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by CVD

Fuck that. Would you sell out? Its not a generation thing, there just plain arent that many people like that around. That and the fact that aggressive businesses that sell cheap crap tend to try to put people like them out of business. That man will never be a Bill Gates or Donald Trump because he has morals, and because of that those kinds of people will try to buy him out of the market.

I would not sell out
but that is because my friends call me "a knight of the old code"

i asked my g/f(20) and a good chunk of my friends. i'd say the average age of them is around 26ish. 90% said they'd do it in a heartbeat if it meant more money.

it's sad really, the majority of people are looking for the cheap and easy way for things. There is no denying that 95% of the companies out there would LOVE to have walmart say. "we want to make you more money"

you make a good point

**Goat Blower** · 01-23-2006

He's absolutely right, not everybody wants to shuffle in some shithole surrounded by welfare recipients just to save a buck or two. I'm all for cost savings, but unless I'm buying something fairly large and I can save $20 or more by going there, I'd much prefer to go to Target which is very nice inside and the service is good.

**1ViciousGSX** · 01-23-2006

Very simply put he dosen't want to "DE-VALUE" his product, which is what Walfart is good for. If he did build an "entry level, low ball, budget minded, POS Snapper mower, who would the consumer look at when it falls apart at the seams after the first year, Walmart or Snapper? He's protecting his company's image of building a quality piece.

**Halon** · 01-23-2006

Yup, again I agree. I think he is doing the right thing, and a great thing. But I'm still an avid Walmart shopper!

Jakey · 01-25-2006

Here's another article, it's a little dated but I'm hoping to read it later on today:
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html

**1ViciousGSX** · 01-25-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakey

Here's another article, it's a little dated but I'm hoping to read it later on today:
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html

Great article. Think about what Walmart is doing. They drive down consumer prices, which in turn drives jobs away from the U.S., which in turn makes them the most appealing store for consumers because they can't afford to shop anywhere else because the consumers are unemployed or are working for $6.95 an hour and can't afford to shop anywhere else. Talk about having a "captive audience".

**Kracka** · 01-25-2006

Wal-Mart has done what most companies can only dream about (and most do)...dominate the market. Wal-Mart saves costs in otherways besides just driving their wholesale purchase prices down. For example, their distribution system is 3% more efficient than Target's. They also employ certain people that other companies won't even give a chance to (special ed, elderly, etc.). Most people who work for Wal-Mart are actually very happy overall with the company as an employer.

Jana · 01-25-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1ViciousGSX

Great article. Think about what Walmart is doing. They drive down consumer prices, which in turn drives jobs away from the U.S., which in turn makes them the most appealing store for consumers because they can't afford to shop anywhere else because the consumers are unemployed or are working for $6.95 an hour and can't afford to shop anywhere else. Talk about having a "captive audience".

That's probably why you see WalMart primarily in small town area's. $6.95 to a young high school/college student/elderly/etc in those area's is great money.

I worked for WalMart during my two years of college. I loved it, and thought it was a great experience. Back then, I was making $5 something.... and I got about a $.30 raise each year. I thought that was awesome. Of course, now I know better... but it didn't take much for me to live on in a small town.

Steeltwo · 01-25-2006

wally world/sams club and menards are the two best companies for employee pay in this area for having to have zero skill.

my woman works at wally world, and is almost done with school. she makes I think 10 an hour. You can't beat it really in this town for having no real job skill.

Jakey · 01-26-2006

Very interesting, Wal-Mart wants to get into banking:
http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/ar/W...our-Ag-Banker/

**1ViciousGSX** · 01-27-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakey

Very interesting, Wal-Mart wants to get into banking:
http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/ar/W...our-Ag-Banker/

Might as well, they got all the money anyway.