Bix box stores hardware stores product slection

[Jagmandave]

The global economy has been here for years. Its not going away. But something must be working since I see more new buildings. Dozens and dozens of new developments full of HUGE houses going up that I don't think I could afford. There are large number of people in my area making lots of money doing something.

I've noticed this phenomenon in our area too, and I wonder what these folks are doing to be able to afford these expensive new homes. The median price of a home here in KC is now $285k! This in an area that's still considered to be one of the most "affordable" housing areas in the country.........

 

[midlf]

Walmart did not invent beating suppliers into the ground on price. Dad used to work for Sears and back in the 50's I heard stories of their business practices. Worst business decision you could make back then was to let Sears be the great majority of your business. When they knew you were tied to them they started turning the screws. Some business found out Sears knew their costing data better than they did.

 

[billbill1]

That's the way it works, drop prices until you eliminate the competition, then raise your price.

 

[Bedlam]

Just to set your minds at ease, I'm sure most of these people who 'afford' the huge houses they have,Most are at the breaking point. (And by breaking point yes its relative.)They have a mortgage that takes two incomes etc. to make it work. And when something happens to either income for whatever reason, they bail.
I'm a lot of cases they move to the 'country' to get away from it all. And then push the town meetings to get what they had in the city. And then sit quietly, until they find that the taxes are more than they can bear, and poof gone.
On my road alone in the last 15 years, no one knows their neighbor anymore, they haven developed all th farm land that was once here, and of course , when you build a new House, you need to cut all the trees down. And put up telephone poles,With lights, to give it the 'security' image.
This is just how it is in my neck of the woods.

 

[cp1969]

Just to set your minds at ease, I'm sure most of these people who 'afford' the huge houses they have,Most are at the breaking point. (And by breaking point yes its relative.)They have a mortgage that takes two incomes etc. to make it work. And when something happens to either income for whatever reason, they bail.
I'm a lot of cases they move to the 'country' to get away from it all. And then push the town meetings to get what they had in the city. And then sit quietly, until they find that the taxes are more than they can bear, and poof gone.
On my road alone in the last 15 years, no one knows their neighbor anymore, they haven developed all th farm land that was once here, and of course , when you build a new House, you need to cut all the trees down. And put up telephone poles,With lights, to give it the 'security' image.
This is just how it is in my neck of the woods.

You have described where I live to a 'T'. City 'transients' that come in, try to make a big splash, run for city council and school board, then one day you notice you haven't seen them in a while and you are told "they moved back to the city."

I try to avoid WalMart (and anybody else selling Chinese junk) if at all possible, but sometimes it can't be done. And I have to wonder if all I am doing is throwing my money away because my one-man boycott doesn't seem to be having the desired effect.

I am old enough that I won't live long enough to see how this 'global economy' BS plays out but my hunch is that it the middle class won't survive it.