Hercules thinks outside the big-box - City changes image by using eminent domain to thwart Wal-Mart

Contra Costa Times ^ | 5/28/6 | Tom Lochner

[traviskicks]

One speaker said Wal-Mart wants to build in Hercules solely to monopolize retail in the area. Eventually, he warned, Wal-Mart could replace the store with a warehouse, leaving Hercules with no sales tax revenue while Wal-Mart steers shoppers to another of its stores now under construction at Hilltop mall in nearby Richmond.
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lol, what will happen is that citizens of Hercules will travel to Richmond and Hercules will loose it's tax base anyway. lol and they will deserve it. Wonder if the national media will pay so much attention then.

[BlazingArizona]

I>Tried it a couple of times, bought a digital camera there, then when it needed a battery they did not carry them. Typical of them, they have no real concern with customer service.

Mmmm-kay...Wal-Mart didn't carry the battery for your camera, so instead of just shopping somewhere else, your response was to embrace Marxism?

I'm glad we all have such deep-seated commitments to our principles in here.

[JSteff]

"Jap cars, camera's and appliances were cheap once too, then they got enough market share to ramp up their prices and compete head on with U.S. products."

Sorry but that is the economic and factual reasoning of some one in denial that consumers buy NOT just on price except for items they do not expect to last or will want or need to last.

For example; paper plates, kitchen rugs, plastic flower pots, etc.

Consumers also don't want to pay artificially inflated prices for items; movies, and music for example.

Study after study show that consumers are drawn by price, but that is given as like reason 5- 7 for why they actually buy.

I am glad you mentioned cars. How do you account for Saab, Volvo, Mercedes, and BMW growing in market share? The American car companies feathered their own hospital beds through poor quality, bad design, and unresponsive customer support.

For 25 years Jap cars have been more expensive feature for feature, and in almost every size segment than the American competition. The Jap's and now the Korean's market share grew despite that. They out sell the Americans and gain market share on perceived and actual QUALITY.

For years the American brands of TV's, VCR's, DVD's are all priced cheaper but don't sell as well. Most Japanese, Korean, and Chinese brand electronics are MORE expensive but have sold better because of consumer faith in them. NOT just PRICE.

I guess though it can make one feel better to excuse the failings of a company by blaming the "cheaper" (yet better quality) foreign competition. Sleep well.