4 ms·

> It's a sad state of affairs in American consumerism that folks are attracted more to discounts than low prices. The largest retailer in the world is Walmart,

> It's a sad state of affairs in American consumerism that folks are attracted more to discounts than low prices. The largest retailer in the world is Walmart, which doesn't really use discounts except to clear inventory, and advertises "always low prices". American consumerism does love low prices. The problem is that if you play that game, you compete with Walmart and lose.

larrys 14y ago
"Walmart, which doesn't really use discounts except to clear inventory, and advertises "always low prices"." Walmarts game is a bit different and they can pull it off because of their unique positioning, size and buying power. They also get you to buy things you don't need by their merchandizing. (Similar to how you go into a supermarket for one thing but end up with 10 other things.)
- andrewflnr 14y ago
  I think that's sort of what the GP meant by "The problem is that if you play that game, you compete with Walmart and lose."
- ams6110 14y ago
  [Walmart] get you to buy things you don't need by their merchandizing Interesting... how do they do that? I've always found Walmart's retail experience to be about one step above a warehouse club. I tend to go in for what I want and if it's in stock (often times not the case) I buy it and GTF out.
  - muhfuhkuh 14y ago
    Congratulations, you are not their primary consumer: Impulse buyers who even if they have a set list of things they are going to buy end up going off-list nearly every time. They need that DVD from the bargain bin, they need that extra box of 22lr ammunition, they need that BPA-free water bottle because the one at work (also impulse bought from Walmart) is starting to crack after 3 months of use.
    - larrys 14y ago
      Exactly. Another thing is that with regards to this "is starting to crack" the more crappy stuff you buy that needs to be replaced, the more times you are back in the store looking for a replacement and starting the cycle again.
jpxxx 14y ago
Just to put a needle fine point on it: Wal-Mart has "always low prices"... for your area. Their data mining lets them know exactly what to price Household Paper Products in your zip code so that they're always lower than the surrounding competition while not leaving money on the table. They're not targeting the lowest possible price system-wide.

larrys 14y ago

"Walmart, which doesn't really use discounts except to clear inventory, and advertises "always low prices"." Walmarts game is a bit different and they can pull it off because of their unique positioning, size and buying power. They also get you to buy things you don't need by their merchandizing. (Similar to how you go into a supermarket for one thing but end up with 10 other things.)

andrewflnr 14y ago
I think that's sort of what the GP meant by "The problem is that if you play that game, you compete with Walmart and lose."
ams6110 14y ago
[Walmart] get you to buy things you don't need by their merchandizing Interesting... how do they do that? I've always found Walmart's retail experience to be about one step above a warehouse club. I tend to go in for what I want and if it's in stock (often times not the case) I buy it and GTF out.
- muhfuhkuh 14y ago
  Congratulations, you are not their primary consumer: Impulse buyers who even if they have a set list of things they are going to buy end up going off-list nearly every time. They need that DVD from the bargain bin, they need that extra box of 22lr ammunition, they need that BPA-free water bottle because the one at work (also impulse bought from Walmart) is starting to crack after 3 months of use.
  - larrys 14y ago
    Exactly. Another thing is that with regards to this "is starting to crack" the more crappy stuff you buy that needs to be replaced, the more times you are back in the store looking for a replacement and starting the cycle again.

jpxxx 14y ago

Just to put a needle fine point on it: Wal-Mart has "always low prices"... for your area. Their data mining lets them know exactly what to price Household Paper Products in your zip code so that they're always lower than the surrounding competition while not leaving money on the table. They're not targeting the lowest possible price system-wide.