Goliath has met it's Davud

[LostInSpace]

BERLIN - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Friday it plans to sell its 85 stores in Germany to rival Metro AG, a move that effectively ends a nearly decade-long effort by the world's largest retailer to crack the market in Europe's biggest economy.

[aramike]

I'm gonna laugh when the Germans begin seeing their prices increase as a result of this move.

[LostInSpace]

quote:

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Originally posted by aramike:

I'm gonna laugh when the Germans begin seeing their prices increase as a result of this move.

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I dunno if the prices were that competitive with wallmart or else one would think like americans, they'd flock to the store.

[Darkling]

I'm not surprised, since Sam Walton died, the company no longer has a REAL competitive edge. The company used to have a Triumvirate of an advantage with Price, Service and Hyper Loyal employees. With Sam gone, the bean counters took over and did a hatchet job to employee loyalty, which in turn affected service, and now the ONLY advantage they have is price. If all you have to compete with is price, you're not real competition, especially in an area where you're not well known. Here in the US, people still buy at the Ghost of Walmart, and the Ghost of Home Depot, remembering the fantastic service they once had. Eventually, a new competitor will show up with fantastic service again, and just like Sears and K-Mart, they will be filing for bankruptcy. Might take a decade or two, but it will happen, mark my words.

[Charles Lindsey]

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Sy Schlueter, chief executive of investment house Copernicus in Hamburg, said Wal-Mart had trouble winning over German consumers, who tend to be very price-focused and would rather drive to a different store if they know they can buy something cheaper. National discounters such as Lidl GmbH and Aldi Einkauf GmbH put the heat on Wal-Mart's sales, he said, by offering the same products at competitive prices.

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From the article.

I rarely do Wally World. They are not that competitive.

[LostInSpace]

quote:

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Originally posted by Chavik:

quote:

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Sy Schlueter, chief executive of investment house Copernicus in Hamburg, said Wal-Mart had trouble winning over German consumers, who tend to be very price-focused and would rather drive to a different store if they know they can buy something cheaper. National discounters such as Lidl GmbH and Aldi Einkauf GmbH put the heat on Wal-Mart's sales, he said, by offering the same products at competitive prices.

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From the article.

I rarely do Wally World. They are not that competitive.

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Oh, silly me. I've read so many things since then I've forgoten about that part.

Anyway, wallmart got a taste of it's own medicine what they've pulled here to local stores. Once they've wiped everyone out and are the only kids on the block, I'm sure they plan on raising their prices too.

[Kevin Trotter]

Aldi will be competetive in this country and if Wal Mart doesnt watchout could be a serious threat to them in the next ten years, Aldi's:

Opens stores in any size site.

Has never closed a store in the us due to lack of business

Pays a very high wage to its employee's (here in Pgh thier cashiers make around 12-15 dollars and hour and mgrs make 20.00 per)

Has house brands that are better than any of the Local supermarket discount brands and has a good selection of nationally known products.

The local one in my area (Shaler Pa) opened three years ago and while in there the first week I laughed and told my wife " Buy all you can they will be gone in a month" The Mgr said never happen we are here to stay.

While they are primarily a supermarket they sell suprisingly good Consumer electronics made by thier parent company( In Germany). My friend bought a gaming rig while shopping for a bag of cashews.

The store we shop in is four times smaller than any wal mart yet still manages to be highly competetive. Mark my words. Last year MsNBC did a feature on them and revealed they are the second most recognizable brand in Germany behind Mercedes-Benz

[aramike]

Close friend works for Aldis as manager. No cashier there is making $12-$15 an hour. He says average wage is roughly $9.

[Darkling]

quote:

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Originally posted by aramike:

Close friend works for Aldis as manager. No cashier there is making $12-$15 an hour. He says average wage is roughly $9.

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I'm sure it depends on the area. About 15 years ago, When I was a manager at Home Depot, I was sent to NY from Florida to help open up a store, At the time, Minimum wage was around 4 or 5 bucks an hour and in Florida we were hiring cashiers & Lot Guys at between 6 to 7 an hour depending on Experience, and about 2 bucks an hour more for sales. However, in NY, the baseline was about $3.00 an hour higher, because of the higher cost of living. Even within the state of Florida though, there were different guidelines, as an example, the Keys was higher than the rest of South Florida, but North & Central Florida was a bit less and so on.