When Wal-Mart Moves In, Neighborhood Businesses Suffer. Right?

Washington Post ^ | June 23, 2008 | Ylan Q. Mui

[ErnBatavia]

I don’t like the concept

Me too, neither...especially if you have a good item sold by weight; all comes to a halt.

[Clemenza]

Lets see: the Wal Mart in my area is surrounded by several small business, nearly all of whom are family owned and operated. These include a salon, bakery, music store, tobacco shop, wine shop, jewelry store, and comic book store, among other businesses.

From where I stand, most of the old downtowns had neither the parking space, nor the retail space to showcase large volumes of items for customers. This is why so many of the suburban downtowns in New Jersey have become reborn as restaurant and entertainment centers.

[John D]

Remember, Food Lion didn’t sue for libel, did it?

Yes it did, and 60 minutes settled.

[Publius Valerius]

Yes it did, and 60 minutes settled.

No, it didn't. It sued Primetime and ABC for trespass, fraud, and breach of duty of loyalty, not libel. Also, ABC never settled the case. The Fourth Circuit reversed Food Lion's punitive damages and fraud award and affirmed a $2 judgment against ABC--a dollar each for the trespass and breach of duty claims.

But look, I didn't mean to hijack this thread with Food Lion. I'm done if everyone else will be.

[Niteranger68]

Unfortunately, they've also removed the cost of service where everybody needs it: checkout. WalMart management seems clueless as to how the long lines affect the "shopping experience". Another couple of $8.00 an hour cashiers on each shift would make a world of difference. If I go, I make darn sure it's before 8am, and can hold my purchases to the 20-item-or-less line.

That's why there are still full service grocery stores. If you can't wait an extra 10-15 minutes to save a little money, go to a regular grocery store, pay a little more, and hope you get checked out quicker.

I've seen the lines in WM 3-4 people deep, went back to shop for a few other things, came back and checked out right away. But when it comes to not having enough cashiers, Wal-Mart certainly isn’t alone. I've seen the same thing happen at other stores.

[usmcobra]

Yeah I buy all my stuff there.

Here’s a clue, when you pay $50 dollars for a pair of blue jeans you are buying the name on them, when you pay $10 for them you can afford to wear them out and throw them away.

[driftdiver]

“Here’s a clue, when you pay $50 dollars for a pair of blue jeans you are buying the name on them, when you pay $10 for them you can afford to wear them out and throw them away.”

And that $50 pair of jeans lasts 10 times longer.

[driftdiver]

“I’ve seen the lines in WM 3-4 people deep, went back to shop for a few other things, came back and checked out right away.”

And thats why they aren’t concerned with making you wait.

[usmcobra]

Yeah because no one works in a $50 pair of jeans except a hooker.

[driftdiver]

“Yeah because no one works in a $50 pair of jeans except a hooker.”

Huh? I guess you believe in cheap tools as well.

[Hot Tabasco]

At the Wal-Mart, the checkout lines are horrendously long

Sounds like some folks in your area DO like Wal-Mart........

[Osage Orange]

And that $50 pair of jeans lasts 10 times longer.

Don't know how or where you shop...but you are getting fleeced...........

[driftdiver]

Actually I don’t wear jeans. Business pants or shorts.

I have found that quality is always cheaper in the long run. It also lowers the frequency I have to go shopping for clothes.

[Niteranger68]

And thats why they aren’t concerned with making you wait.

How do you figure this?

[driftdiver]

“How do you figure this? “

Its called impluse buying. As you wait to check out you are looking at all that stuff sitting around you. Most people can’t resist the temptation to pick up a few more things.

[Niteranger68]

Its called impluse buying. As you wait to check out you are looking at all that stuff sitting around you. Most people can’t resist the temptation to pick up a few more things.

Let me guess…you are not including yourself as one of those who can’t resist the temptation to pick up a few more things. It’s all those stupid people isn’t it?

But honestly, that's not what I said. If the lines are too long, I'll continue looking around in sporting goods or hardware, not at the check out stuff. Typically, the long lines will be gone when I come back in 5-10 minutes. I don't blame Wal-Mart because they're crowded.

Nobody goes there anymore; it's too crowded - Yogi Berra.

[driftdiver]

“Let me guess…you are not including yourself as one of those who can’t resist the temptation to pick up a few more things. It’s all those stupid people isn’t it?”

We’re all stupid in one way or another. Major retailers have your entire visit to their store planned before you enter. Ever wonder why all grocery stores have the produce by the front door. They study how men shop, where we look on shelves, which aisles we go down. They do the same for women.

The entire process is to make the store interesting and appealing. That way you buy more.

By keeping the checkout lines slow they reduce labor and keep you in their store longer. if sales dropped they would solve the slow checkout problem. But they know people have a time investment in all that stuff you’re carrying and are unlikely to drop it. So they play the odds hoping you’ll pick up a few more items.

[Niteranger68]

I agree with your assessment of how stores market, but none of this is exclusive to Wal-Mart. My basic point is that almost all of the complaints about Wal-Mart apply equally to similar stores (Target, Kmart, grocery).