Walmart

[Junkman]

As a local store owner before retirement, I would have to deal with people that would buy a pet product such as a fish tank or aquarium filter at Walmart and then come to my store and expect me to help them to either set it up because they bought one 5 pound bag of gravel or bought nothing from my store. This was particularly exasperating because if you didn't help them, they would say "this is the last time I will ever come to this store again" or something else to the sort. They weren't a customer in the first place, so I saw that as a blessing. Then there were the people that would buy a tropical fish at Walmart and when the fish died, would come in to ask why...... some of them actually would try to imply that they purchased it in my store and would expect me to replace it for them for free! They wouldn't want to know how to keep tropical fish, because in their mind, water is water. Sure glad that I no longer have to deal with this nonsense.... now my employees do because of Christmas, another round of it is about to start.

 

[gsganzer]

Junkman,
I deal with the same crap. They buy a competitors equipment because it's cheaper and then come to me to help work out the bugs to get it running. It's frustrating, because you want to have their business and be there for the next one.

 

[bky]

chuck i too bought the fd60 great mechine i even baught extra trays and i got them for 10.00 at cooks corner best pric ive seen. hehe funny about the price cause walmart dosnt sell the trays only the mechine.
and buy the way the co. that makes the mechine cant sell me the trays for the price cooks could.

 

[cowboydoc]

I agree completely with you BB. Quit blaming corporations, govt., etc. and look in the mirror. I'm sure many of those without factory jobs now bought the cheapest product as well. If we all did our talking with our buying instead of our lips there wouldn't be a walmart. No doubt the consumer drives it all.

 

[dieselsmoke1]

A word to the wise, Beware while shopping at Walmart. May end up somewhere you don't wanna be /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Alan L.]

I don't like to shop at Walmart, and I don't like the way they put most of the small town downtowns out of business. However, If they have what I need I get it there, because I have to worry about my own budget. When it comes down to it, the free market must prevail, and we're all better off if it does.

 

[Junkman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( A word to the wise, Beware while shopping at Walmart. May end up somewhere you don't wanna be /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif )</font>

Nah..... they wouldn't want me for a juror..... My motto is "no matter what the evidence, the police framed the guy"... if that doesn't work, then "we will hear the evidence and then convict him, even if he is innocent"..... They don't want me for a jury, because I am too analytical and cynical, both at the same time... December is my sarcastic month.... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Junkman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Junkman,
I deal with the same crap. They buy a competitors equipment because it's cheaper and then come to me to help work out the bugs to get it running. It's frustrating, because you want to have their business and be there for the next one. )</font>

Nah..... I don't want their business and I don't want them there when they decide to buy again. I don't need the aggravation of problem customers. Our customers now drive 30 miles to come to the last store that I have open. Closed the others when profits went down because of the high rent district and the fierce competition. Did that before I lost any capital. You have to know when to fold in business as well as at the gaming table. The customers now appreciate what they had and lost. After we closed, the competition raised the prices by 25%. I knew it would happen and I put up with having a discount pet supply outfit across the street for more than 10 years and competed against them. When the rent went to $7000 per month for 3500 square feet, it was time to call it quits. The discount stores are only part of the equation of loss of small stores..... the landlords are the other part. If you have to work for 3 weeks just to pay the rent and employees, than it just isn't worth doing. My inventory was second to none.... I had every thing that you could ask for. It was me and my stores that introduced the Iams/Eukanuba brand to New England in 1973.... we were the largest dealer in New England into the middle 1990's... then the discount stores came along and wiped out that segment of the business.... It was the manufacturer that kept giving the discount stores the additional discounts... The discount store would sell a 40 pound of dog food cheaper than then me by a dollar, but they were buying it for $4.00 less than me.... They sold it cheaper and made $3.00 more than I could at the higher price.. Good old American business..... They forgot it was the small stores that created the brand recognition....

 

[AndyM]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( word to the wise, Beware while shopping at Walmart. May end up somewhere you don't wanna be )</font>

Another reason to BEWARE at Walmart and other stores--

Stampeding shoppers flatten woman

Apparently, saving a couple of bucks is the most important part of the Christmas season? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Junkman]

If I was the store manager, I would have given her a free DVD player..... instead, they offered to put one on hold for her to purchase...... they "want her to come back as a shopper"... Guess that they can't afford to loose one customer. It will be interesting to see how things come about if she decides to start a legal action against Walmart.... I am certain that they would fight tooth and nail, rather than pay any money.......