I go to K-Mart to get most of my CD's. Since I am a mostly rap kinda guy, that's the only place around here I can snatch a 'Parental Advisory' CD. Wal*Mart has always had their CD's edited. I have picked up a few Country CD's from there though.

Here is one article where an Phd from Ball State looked at the claim.

Link

 

If you extrapolate the $2,500 per family that he talks about hear times 100 million families it comes out to $250 Billion.

 

While you might say that I don't save that because I don't shop there, the savings is for all Americans. Based on Wal-Mart's efficiencies and expense controls they have made their vendors more efficient which in turn allows them to sell their product cheaper to all retailers thus effecting prices across America. The WM effect has positively lowered prices and helped keep the cost of living in check.

Maybe so but based on some of the horror stories I have heard of the way they treat their vendors I would disagree. Those stories could be false but if not I wouldn't do business with them as a vendor.

Well, I might argue this statement with you ...

 

But I think you may be mistaken about how the whole deal works. The way I understand those exclusive deals, the record company itself isn't being shut out, just the distributors, thereby lowering the middleman's cut. Established artists such as AC/DC and The Eagles don't just end multi-decade deals with record companies on a whim.

I know Garth Brooks left his label when he went exclusively with Wal-Mart. I'm not sure about the others but assumed it was a similar deal. As far as distributors getting cut out, not sure where you get that. Same distributor delivers the music as before.

 

I can fault Wal-Mart's borderline racist policies when it comes to what albums they carry, under the guise of being a "family-oriented" store.

Especially when they still carry those nasty dime-store at the front of the store in their discount book section, let alone carrying the (arguably less controversial) white artists whose albums managed to get past the PMRC labels, despite a few F-bombs lurking throughout the album.

 

As far as racist policies goes Wal-Mart has been recognized as one of the best places to work for Diversity in the work place. If WM was a "Racist" place they probably wouldn't be the largest employer of African Americans in America. They have also received many awards for diversity over the last decade or so.

 

Wal-Mart sells edited versions of albums, artist may choose not to produce and edited version. Most however choose to release an edited version. If a F-bomb slips through those albums normally get pulled quickly.

Maybe so but based on some of the horror stories I have heard of the way they treat their vendors I would disagree. Those stories could be false but if not I wouldn't do business with them as a vendor.

 

Maybe you wouldn't but there is a line of people trying to meet with the buyers on a daily business trying to sell their product to Wal-Mart. The problem most vendors have is that Wal-Mart will not pay for their inefficiencies. Too many people think they can sell a few things to Wal-Mart and get rich, they need to look to sell more and make less on each one and make even more money. Sam Walton realized years ago that if he could 10 of an item with a 15 cent profit it was better than sell 5 with a 25 cent profit. That is one of the secrets to his success, he didn't try to suck every profit dollar out of every item. Just sell more of them.

I stopped shopping at Wal-Mart when they broke ground on their supercenter in Maysville. I'm not sure how many years that's been. I figured their original store was big enough, and I was tired of their greed. I haven't ever been in the supercenter, nor any other Wal-Mart since and I've survived just fine. I think I've saved money, actually.

 

I'm sick of seeing their empty buildings in towns where they've built bigger stores. What an eyesore.:irked:

I havent seen the actual statistics. As we all know.. Walmart lowers prices for everyone, but do they balance that with the low wages, lack of health care, retirement. child care....etc that their employees have to live with?

 

I work with the low income community. What is the ultimate savings compared to the overall cost to the government/community? Someone pays the price for Walmart's "cost of living" cuts. I guarantee you its isnt Sam Walmart or his family.

 

Walmart could not care less about USA products. It is all about cutting all of its vendors deep to the bone....which might be OK if you are Pepsi, not so good if you are Bushes Baked Beans (a great product by the way). Smaller, yet successful companies are held hostage by such companies

 

I admit, I shop there myself when I am desperate, but 99% of the time you will find me at Krogers or Remkes.

 

:thumb:

 

Wal-mart has low prices because they can "convince" the vendors to sell it to them cheap. It's either sell it to wal-mart cheap...or it's not going to be sold.

My biggest complaint is that you go to check out and there are 6 cashiers with lines backed all the way up. You would think that all the money that they make they would hire more employees but maybe thats why they have that money.

I shop there because I am poor.

 

They only have 6 cashiers and they're paying them all darn near minimum wage :lol:. Always low prices. Always low wages. Always.:lol:

They only have 6 cashiers and they're paying them all darn near minimum wage :lol:. Always low prices. Always low wages. Always.:lol:

Keep rolling out the Union and Democrat talking points........

 

Really, do you know what minimum wage is? No one in any Wal-Mart works for min wage. In fact the average worker in KY averages between $10 and $11 per hour.

:thumb:

 

Wal-mart has low prices because they can "convince" the vendors to sell it to them cheap. It's either sell it to wal-mart cheap...or it's not going to be sold.

 

Yeah they have a gun put to their head and forced to sell merchandise to Wal-Mart. :confused: Wal-Mart even has a policy that they will not exceed a certain percentage of a companies business, that way a company does not become completely dependant on Wal-Mart.

 

Wal-Mart lowers prices by controlling expenses (Wal-Mart recently took the light bulbs out of the Coke and Pepsi machines in the employee lounges just to save a minute amount of electricity for example), increasing income from non-sales related areas (recycling for example), having the most efficient trucking fleet in the world and controlling the flow of freight to the stores better than any other company.

JD I must admit I admire your loyalty. I just happen to be one of those Union guys that doesn't shop there.

JD I must admit I admire your loyalty. I just happen to be one of those Union guys that doesn't shop there.

 

It's not as much loyalty as trying to fight off a bunch of crap that is repeated over and over with no facts to back it up. For the record I grew up in a union household and on many levels have no real issue with them.

 

I don't always shop there either, we go where it is convenient. If I have a lot to buy I go to WM because it is cheaper and saves my family money. If I need something quick, I'll run into K-Mart or Kroger as neither are ever very busy and I can get in and out quickly.

It's not as much loyalty as trying to fight off a bunch of crap that is repeated over and over with no facts to back it up. For the record I grew up in a union household and on many levels have no real issue with them.

 

I don't always shop there either, we go where it is convenient. If I have a lot to buy I go to WM because it is cheaper and saves my family money. If I need something quick, I'll run into K-Mart or Kroger as neither are ever very busy and I can get in and out quickly.

 

I used to do the same thing in defending unions, but decided to stop. I've learned that changing the thinking of people is nearly impossible. I am and will always be a union guy and will always support them even though I'm retired now.

There is a very good documentary on PBS, has anyone seen it? It paints a scary picture when it comes to how they deal with vendors.

 

Rubbermaid was a company for example. When they met with Walmart officials, the WM guy told Rubbermaid that if they want their business, they must close their amercian factories and move them to China. WM told them how many employees they would have in China, most of who were momen and children and paid pennies a day. WM also had a copy of secret financial records for Rubbermaid, and even personal records of the official at RM. They basically said "we know what you're worth, what you have, and if you don't follow our rules, we'll shut you down". Rubbermaid followed the rules.

 

This happened with other companies as well. But, at least we get cheap rubber containers from Walmart to put our Christmas stuff in! Who cares how they go about getting them.

Maybe you wouldn't but there is a line of people trying to meet with the buyers on a daily business trying to sell their product to Wal-Mart. The problem most vendors have is that Wal-Mart will not pay for their inefficiencies. Too many people think they can sell a few things to Wal-Mart and get rich, they need to look to sell more and make less on each one and make even more money. Sam Walton realized years ago that if he could 10 of an item with a 15 cent profit it was better than sell 5 with a 25 cent profit. That is one of the secrets to his success, he didn't try to suck every profit dollar out of every item. Just sell more of them.

You seem to know alot about how they work so I will tell you what I was told and see if it is true.

 

A vendor of mine said he use to work for a company that sold product to Wal-Mart. He told me that if you wanted to sell a product to Wal-Mart then their payment terms were they would get 120 net to pay for the parts and if the parts did not sell within 180 days you had to take return on them. Is that true?

Some vendors did sell on a guaranteed sales plan, those were mostly traveling vendors that went store to store as an approved vendor. Each manager could choose to carry their items or not. An example would be a vendor would come in to see a store manager or a group of managers and pitch his item. Let's say he was selling framed art or speciality candles. A lot of times the vendor would offer to take the merchandise back if it did not sell, that made it a lot easier for the manager to take a chance on his item. If an item is guaranteed you would always pay more for that item than if you took it with no guarantee. Many times a manager would negotiate for a better price but without the ability to return the item if it didn't sell. This whole thing doesn't happen much, if at all anymore. I'm not aware of any traveling vendors that operate like this any more. Now food items are completely different story, as with any store it is the local vendors responsibility to manage his or her merchandise and ensure that none of it goes out of date. Bread vendors for example are required to pull product before the out of stock date. I hope that answers your question some what.

 

As far as payment terms I'm not sure, I know the stores releases the invoice for payment within days and sometimes hours of receiving it. The checks or payments to vendors are processed in the home office not from the stores. I have a good friend that used to sell several millions to WM each year and he said in some cases they were paid before they had a proof the merchandise had been delivered.