Well it's already starting...

**lisettelovebug** · 07-23-2008, 10:25 AM

In February we had a Super Walmart come in about 15 minutes from us where we do our shopping (they had had a regular one before). I told dh it would only be a matter of time before they started pushing others out (this is what they did where I live and now there is only one competitor - so they can keep their prices higher - a gallon of milk at the supercenter here is $3.40 whereas at the supercenter in the next town it is $2.50 a gallon) Save-A-Lot has now gone out of business!! It's a shame because now we're going to have to drive further to get to one (they have 39 cent babyfood and 1.19 baby cereal). sucks!!

**champagnium** · 07-23-2008, 10:29 AM

It's so sad what Wal-Mart can do to communities. I hope we never get a Super WalMart here. Hopefully you can find enough coupons to help offset the cost of having to travel.

**Greebo** · 07-23-2008, 11:12 AM

With all due respect - Wal*Mart didn't do anything to the communities against their will.

The communities did it to themselves. The communities CONSPIRED with Wal*Mart to put the smaller chains under. Nonsense, you say? Au contraire, mon frere - the communities SHOPPED at Wal*Mart!

There has been so much media attention about how Wal*Mart drives out the small business owner that there's no excuse when the community goes to Wal*Mart to save money on milk or whatever. The community ought to know in advance what will happen if they buy the cheap goods at Wal*Mart.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 07-23-2008, 12:24 PM

Aww.

I loved Save-A-Lot when I lived in Elmira. Thankfully, the Super Walmart was in Horseheads near the mall and nowheres near my place. All I had was Weis, Save-A-Lot and some local bakeries/fast food joints. Elmira has its own way of driving businesses out and it's nothing due to any other business.

That stinks though. I'd go nuts if I had to go back to the old Superstore I was at.

**EmilyD** · 07-23-2008, 12:52 PM

There are three grocery stores here besides the Walmart.

All three stores average at least $1.00 more per item, sometimes much more and then wonder why the people go to walmart for their goods.

If I was in business, I think I would try to be more competivite, pricewise, instead of complaining.

People here talk of buying loss leaders from the stores, but all the store loss leaders here are higher then Walmart's low price.

**Kitchen Mama** · 07-23-2008, 04:36 PM

yep where we choose to shop affects what happens in our area. No one store is all bad or all good.

**yankeegal** · 07-23-2008, 06:49 PM

Thank goodness we have a free market system!

**The Muse** · 07-23-2008, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by EmilyD

If I was in business, I think I would try to be more competivite, pricewise, instead of complaining.

It's not that simple. Walmart's buying power is such that small stores just cannot compete with them. There's a very interesting book called "The Walmart Effect" that explains how Walmart offers the prices it does and why other smaller stores can't compete.

**suki** · 07-23-2008, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by The Muse

It's not that simple. Walmart's buying power is such that small stores just cannot compete with them. There's a very interesting book called "The Walmart Effect" that explains how Walmart offers the prices it does and why other smaller stores can't compete.

For me it's not just about price. It's about quality and convenience. I live in a town that has had a wal-mart since they were founded in the 60's. We have three other grocery stores who've survived the 40 years wal-mart has existed in our community. Why? Because one has the best quality meat at the best price... hands down. Another has great local produce. The third is open 24/7 and is a bit higher than the other two but has decent quality meat and produce... you can run in and out without getting lost in the Wal-Mart fog.

If quality isn't the biggest priority, I shop Wal-Mart for convenience and it really irks me to hear local mom & pop's complaining about wal-mart running them out when they run banker's hours that make it extremely difficult for working folks to patronize their businesses. (If you're open from 9 - 5:30 and I work 8:30 - 5:00... it's kinda hard to go shopping in your store! And, 10 - 2 on Saturday is just nuts... but, yes, they do it here.)

My mom ran a bakery here for several years. She shut down, not because of Wal-Mart, but because of the three other stores in town. Sure, folks loved her to cater and to get specialty cakes from, but for their regular baked goods, they'd sacrifice quality for convenience and pick it up at the supermarket. The result was a lack of steady business to sustain the venture.

There have been plenty of businesses that have been predators to the smaller businesses... save-a-lot shut down which locally owned store when they came to town? What happened to the old Ben Franklin's stores? Jiffy Lube and Midas shut down how many small mechanics? McDonalds & Burger King shut down how many mom & pop diners? We choose how things evolve in our community. Frankly, I don't know how my community would have survived without Wal-Mart. No one else was even interested in bringing goods to us and we were at the mercy of the local general stores before Wal-Mart joined us.

**suki** · 07-23-2008, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by lisettelovebug

In February we had a Super Walmart come in about 15 minutes from us where we do our shopping (they had had a regular one before). I told dh it would only be a matter of time before they started pushing others out (this is what they did where I live and now there is only one competitor - so they can keep their prices higher - a gallon of milk at the supercenter here is $3.40 whereas at the supercenter in the next town it is $2.50 a gallon) Save-A-Lot has now gone out of business!! It's a shame because now we're going to have to drive further to get to one (they have 39 cent babyfood and 1.19 baby cereal). sucks!!

If this is true, report them to the State's Attorney General's office for price-fixing. It is illegal. I remember when Mrs. Baird's bread in Dallas got busted for doing this.

**The Muse** · 07-23-2008, 08:06 PM

For me it's not just about price....I shop Wal-Mart for convenience and it really irks me to hear local mom & pop's complaining about wal-mart running them out when they run banker's hours that make it extremely difficult for working folks to patronize their businesses.

I wasn't talking about hours, etc. The person to whom I was replying said that mom & pop shops should do more to compete on price "instead of complaining". It's just not possible for them to compete on price.

**suki** · 07-23-2008, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by The Muse

I wasn't talking about hours, etc. The person to whom I was replying said that mom & pop shops should do more to compete on price "instead of complaining". It's just not possible for them to compete on price.

Okay...

I just think that they can compete on several levels and price can be dealt with. My locally owned market held a big meat sale for 2 days this spring. The prices were much lower than wal-mart and they had tons of business. Also, by purchasing locally grown produce, they've been able to offer higher quality produce at lower prices.

I think it is possible to compete on prices, quality, hours, etc... it just takes some creativity. The mom and pop's here have existed alongside wal-mart for many years... so they seemed to have found a way.

**The Muse** · 07-23-2008, 08:21 PM

I think it is possible to compete on prices, quality, hours, etc... it just takes some creativity. The mom and pop's here have existed alongside wal-mart for many years... so they seemed to have found a way.

If you add in factors other than price it's obviously possible to compete. Otherwise places like Whole Foods and smaller markets wouldn't be thriving. But mom & pops will never beat Walmart on price because they lack the volume, and supply chain management that Walmart has.

But, the people who shop solely on price will always pick Walmart because Walmart will pretty much always have the best price.

**TexasPeanut** · 07-23-2008, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by The Muse

If you add in factors other than price it's obviously possible to compete. Otherwise places like Whole Foods and smaller markets wouldn't be thriving. But mom & pops will never beat Walmart on price because they lack the volume, and supply chain management that Walmart has.

But, the people who shop solely on price will always pick Walmart because Walmart will pretty much always have the best price.

That's not always the case, at least not in my town. Or the town I live right outside of which is about 70,000 + people or so. A Tx only chain grocer, beats Walmart on a whole lot of products, which is how it's grown to massive proportions and expanded throughout the entire state instead of only being in south Texas. And in our town alone there are 2 other separate "mom and pop" style tiny little grocery markets that have been opened for many decades and they beat Walmart pricing on a lot of what they carry especially meat. Those places are always packed. The only people that shop the Walmart supercenter here for groceries here are those that just live closer to it so it's more convenient with gas pricing, those that are taking advantage of sale offers, or those that are just grabbing a few items while in there buying from other departments. Me personally I do not buy my groceries from Walmart. I shop the Tx chain store or the mom and pop stores. The prices, selections, and freshness of meat and produce are better along with the service.

**lisettelovebug** · 07-24-2008, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by MomToTwoBoys

Aww.

I loved Save-A-Lot when I lived in Elmira. Thankfully, the Super Walmart was in Horseheads near the mall and nowheres near my place. All I had was Weis, Save-A-Lot and some local bakeries/fast food joints. Elmira has its own way of driving businesses out and it's nothing due to any other business.

That stinks though. I'd go nuts if I had to go back to the old Superstore I was at.

I believe the save a lot in elmira is still open though i'm not sure (they're still quite a ways from horseheads). I will be going down to walgreens (they opened 2 down there on last year and they're building one here too) and see if that one is still open. The old Walmart was a regular Walmart but they moved down the road where the old A&P plant was and now they are a super walmart. (there's a kohl's, dick's, men's warehouse in there also and enough space for lots more stores - seems like retail is fast becoming the predominant employer in the area)
yeah Elmira;s not the best city. Though they've been trying recently. CCC put a building in near dunkin and save a lot and now hold a majority of their night classes there.

When did you live in Elmira?