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To: TaraP

I like to shop here from time to time. I find that their inventory, generally speaking, is of a greater quality than say...Wal Mart.

20 posted on 12/29/2009 10:31:08 AM PST by chris37
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To: chris37
I agree,

Target carries a slightly higher quality of merchandise although most is same old - same old. A can of beans from green giant is a can of green beans, and a CD is a CD, etc. The only differences IMHO are in cloths, jewelry and furniture, and I don't shop for that at Target or Wal-Mart. So while I agree, Wal Mart is still the better deal for me in most instances when shopping for the generic staple foods, motor oil, etc.


Many of the mom and pop shops went under because they didn't adapt. Where they can compete is by offering specialized products and services a large generic store like Wal Mart can't effectively do. Offer service (i.e. sales people that know something, are available, and plentiful) which the pure budget low balling Wal Mart can't provide.

If I'm a bicycle shop, fitness/grocery store, pharmacy, or sell glasses, I can survive with a Wal Mart in town, “IF” I try to offer something in the form of a product and service outside the realm of where I have to compete with a generic substitutable product on a pure cost comparative aspect. Wal Marts’ business model/marketing is one that makes them the low cost answer in nearly anything, but they are generic (Can be found anywhere), low quality (lowest bidder, low end models, etc), poor service (sales people know nothing and not enough, can't do any repairs or real service), made in China...........

The mom and pop bicycle shop that repairs bikes, modifies them, sells specialized and high end bikes, has sales personnel that know their stuff, they survived.......but those trying to sell the Huffy at $150 when the same bike can be bought in a Wal Mart for $89, they went out of business.

25 posted on 12/29/2009 11:01:31 AM PST by Red6
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