tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864334.post5673800099883596325..comments2023-10-24T05:49:04.269-04:00Comments on The Chaliceblog: CC questions Wal-MartChalicechickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07781469958573869914noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864334.post-11319830033777237042007-03-29T04:35:00.000-04:002007-03-29T04:35:00.000-04:00Oops, I meant "why spend the money on NYC real est...Oops, I meant "why spend the money on NYC real estate without being able to count on customers who can afford some of the higher MARGIN items?"PGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09381347581328622706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864334.post-63101134970854650962007-03-29T04:33:00.000-04:002007-03-29T04:33:00.000-04:00To follow up on my own question, this story about ...To follow up on my own question, this <A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/28/business/28retail.html?ex=1332820800&en=20e4e04b47782921&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink" REL="nofollow">story about Wal-Mart's retreating from NYC</A> notes, "Surveys have repeatedly shown that Wal-Mart’s grocery prices are typically 10 to 30 percent lower than those of its competitors," but also says that the locations Wal-Mart had sought were Rego Park (in Queens) and in Staten Island. Rego Park may be even less "inner city" than the areas where I've lived in Manhattan, given that it has some of the highest real estate prices in Queens. Incidentally, "The King of Queens" is set there.<BR/><BR/>I don't know where specifically on Staten Island they'd planned to have a Wal-Mart, but it's not at all inner-city -- it's a middle income suburb mostly of Italian- and Irish-Americans.<BR/><BR/>Putting Wal-Marts in middle class areas is a perfectly sensible business strategy -- why spend the money on NYC real estate without being able to count on customers who can afford some of the higher volume items? -- but it doesn't comport well with the theory that Wal-Mart's poor treatment of workers is balanced out by the good its prices do for the poor.PGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09381347581328622706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864334.post-41585599686751938822007-03-28T03:20:00.000-04:002007-03-28T03:20:00.000-04:00If Wal-Mart is only going into areas where there a...If Wal-Mart is only going into areas where there are no real grocery stores, only convenience stores, then certainly it's great for them to be doing that. Is that actually what happens, though? Or does Wal-Mart go into areas where there are grocery stores already?<BR/><BR/>Anyway, agreed with peacebang and Ms Kitty.PGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09381347581328622706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864334.post-15615844373663936802007-03-27T15:43:00.000-04:002007-03-27T15:43:00.000-04:00Wow, great post, CC. I agree with you about getti...Wow, great post, CC. I agree with you about getting decent affordable food to people, even if it's Walmart doing it. I'm appalled about the pet food situation and their response to that.Lilylouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02328027965155428624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864334.post-46752869913487038632007-03-27T15:40:00.000-04:002007-03-27T15:40:00.000-04:00ROCK ONROCK ONPeaceBanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11431551457505981195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864334.post-66804537198249740372007-03-27T14:18:00.000-04:002007-03-27T14:18:00.000-04:00In situations like you've cited, I can see WalMart...In situations like you've cited, I can see WalMart as a necessary evil.<BR/><BR/>Although my primary criticism of WalMart is that refuse to unionize, pay their workers decent benefits, and don't pay them at all according to what they are worth.<BR/><BR/>I think the criticism of Wal-Mart thus far has been directed to its invasion of small town America and its forcing to close to the small mom and pop stores that made up the backbone of local economies.<BR/><BR/>So I see what you're saying.<BR/><BR/>That's a whole different angle I would have never considered, though I do boycott Wal-Mart partially out of principle and partially because the place looks like an army base and has always given me the willies ever since I was a kid.Comrade Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11393718048145784837noreply@blogger.com