WalMart flips off base, raises prices before Christmas

[TalkingDog]

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, raised prices on hundreds of toys this month, squeezing more out of sales during the biggest shopping period of the year.

Wal-Mart managers in the U.S. received instructions to mark up an average of 1,800 types of toys per store, according to a company e-mail dated Nov. 30 obtained by Bloomberg News. The e- mail didn’t disclose specific increases. The prices were changed “to better enable your store and the company to have a successful financial month,” according to the e-mail.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-15/wal-mart-raised-prices-on-toys-this-month-squeezing-more-out-of-holidays.html

Since I haven't set foot in one since 1993 (except to settle a bet) I can't say anything useful here.

[AlabamaLibrul]

1. Walmart has a "base"? n/t

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. Don't all political parties have one? -nt

[AlabamaLibrul]

3. RepubliCorp

seriously though, fuck Walmart. I have nothing more constructive or otherwise useful to add. They are a national disgrace.

[Anakin Skywalker]

21. They are called teabaggers! :-)

[progressoid]

23. Republicans by 2:1

I wish I could find the stat but I heard a pollster on NPR say that over 2/3 of Wallyworld shoppers consider themselves conservatives.

[DainBramaged]

Dupa doopa dupe

[DainBramaged]

4. MalWart stopped being the low price guys a long time ago

[CoffeeCat]

5. Not a good christmas season for Walmart, eh?

I heard that Black Friday was decent for retailers. However, prices
are slashed so much, that they don't make as much profit.

My guess is that a ton of people came out for the BF deals, but that
December sales have been sluggish. So, Walmart (and likely other
retailers) are trying to recoup some profits and capitalize on the
shoppers who are buying late.

My guess is that many people have put off buying gifts. With the economy
in the shitter, many are stalling on purchases for as long as possible. WM
knows that many people might be shopping late in the season. Also, many
people get paid on the 14th and 15th as well--and probably planned to buy
some purchases this week.

They're just trying to suck every nickle out of us that they can.

[1monster]

22. Walmart, in anticipation of customers holding on to their bucks this year,

chose not to get any nice merchandice, excepting the big screen televisions.

Most of the the Christmas merchandice with which they stocked their stores is cheap junk with higher than acceptable prices. Nothing the customers see and just have to have so they open their wallets. And the customers, who might just be willing to spend their hard earned dollars on something special, pass on what is on offer and choose to go elsewhere.

Dumb move on Walmart's part. People who have limited resources are not likely to spend it on junk. They will buy less, but will buy quality. Sam was smart, but he apparently failed to pass on his smart merchandicer genes to his kids. How does that old saying go? Rags to riches to rags in three generations? Walmart is riding the crest of the wave right now, but in their times, so did Montgomery Ward, Sears, Grant's and K-mart. Some of those businesses still exist today, shadows of what they used to be. Some no longer exist in any form but memory.

[Ezlivin]

6. China must have raised the price of lead and cadmium

That'd increase the cost of those Wal-Mart toys.

[TalkingDog]

11. +1 n/t

[virgogal]

14. Hysterical ! eom

[meegbear]

15. +1

[SoCalDem]

25. Yep... what do they think? Lead & cadmium don't grow on trees

:rofl:

[hedgehog]

7. Hmmm.... isn't this the kind of thing that happens when one

supplier corners the market?

[grasswire]

8. retailers do this routinely

The objective is to move the merchandise as quickly out of the store as possible. So they have good sales around Thanksgiving, and then increase prices on everything incrementally except for a few loss leaders. They know that many people will have to pay the higher prices. Sometimes shoppers didn't have the money for buying until closer to Christmas. They will pay more.

Good retailing, but not so good for those without resources. :-(

[AlabamaLibrul]

10. "Always low prices.... Sometimes." Walmart (R)

end of transmission

[DJ13]

12. And then those same retailers have to slash prices more drastically after Xmas

Because they've found themselves with too much product.

Having been in retail most of my adult life I know they do this, but it always ends up biting them in the ass and is a stupid tactic.

[DJ13]

9. They raised grocery prices 6 months ago as well

I never thought I would say it, but even Target is cheaper most of the time.

[guruoo]

24. They've 'rolled up' prices, 'rolled back' variety, and 'rolled back' quantity on hand.

Yeah, started about 6-8 months ago.

[rfranklin]

13. Yep, the Waltons need another billion dollars...

They have to spend so much buying politicians these days.

[HopeHoops]

16. Fuck WalMart

[DainBramaged]

17. NO NO not with your appendage

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[HopeHoops]

18. Oh, I'll take "my appendage" into a WalMart - but ONLY if it is the ONLY place around to pee.

And only when I REALLY REALLY REALLY GOTTA GO RIGHT FUCKING NOW! It's been about six or seven years since that has happened.

[Autumn Colors]

19. Guess their motto is also...

"Where else are you going to go?" because in a lot of parts of the country, there IS no other choice.

[TBF]

26. I ordered my kids' toys from amazon.com - got some great deals

for things they wanted and didn't have to pay sales tax. I bet alot of folks are doing eBay as well.

[sinkingfeeling]

20. I noticed that both Target and K-Mart had several 'in' toys at lower prices than Wally World.

[southernyankeebelle]

27. Well I got a laptop computer on sale for $278.00. It was a great buy. I shopped on

line for all my christmas gifts. I got everything on sale and the items weren't sent directly to the store where I didn't have to pay for shipping.