Wal-Mart - Love it or Hate it

[usakos]

Love it or hate it, Wal-Mart has retaken the lead as the world's biggest company.

See which other companies top the FORTUNE Global 500 2007 list.

Microsoft is #139, while Apple is #367, the most talked and beloved, Google didn't make the list so as Yahoo!

Do you hope that your next venture will be in that list some day?

[David Rocci]

Hcukit; no wonder only a fraction of the cars made today can do 30+ mpg?!?!

What a racket...

[Young Spark]

One thing I realized (and add this to my bitchin' of Wal-Mart) but if they stopped building so many stores and focused more on keeping the shelves full, they may actually make more sales.

Here is what I mean... while I worked at Wal-Mart... every night I went in I did stocking in furniture, furniture only had 1 pallet a night a majority of the time (consisting of candles, futons, desks, picture frames, lamps and luggage.) If you think about the variety of these things and only having 1 pallet of this stuff, you'd realize that they DIDNT KEEP THEIR SHELVES FULL.

So maybe they should fall back on their over building of stores and focus more on keeping their supplies in demand.

[David Rocci]

But, back on the subject of walmart, I have an entirely new respect for Walmart after reading Sam Walton's book, Made in America. I think the company has done some questionable things since old Sam has passed away but seriously, what company has a perfectly clean slate? As the global leader in revenue you tend to fall under a BIG microscope...

But again, you have to look at the way they've revolutionized retail - so what if they offer some products that are cheaply made - look at their impact in the entire sector. They've forced companies like Sears and Kmart to discount or go bankrupt - they've helped shape Target into what it is today. They now offer some discount prescription drugs. With their market dominance they can force some smaller shops out of business but ultimately, they are good for CONSUMERS.

As a small businessperson, I may not want them in my neighborhood, but as a consumer, I do...and not just for what they offer but the competition they bring to an entire DMA.

-dr

[David Rocci]

Young Spark; it appears as though someone at Walmart must be listening to your advice. On 6/1 they announced they are scaling back their US openings.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/indust...-meeting_N.htm

Maybe this will help alleviate the issue you mention? And honestly, they have bleeding edge inventory management technology...it's a shame to think it falls apart in the last 3 yards..?

-dr

[SAMG]

I think what Walmart has done, is they have achieved what all of us on here dream to accomplish one day. But on the other hand, I feel that the stay at number one is short lived. Some will agree, most will not, Target will take that spot one day. Targets being built now have Starbucks(the biggest coffee chain in the world) in them, most have Pizza huts(biggest in at least america since 1952) and their stores are so much neater, cleaner, and stocked. I believe that not to long from now, they will beat out Walmart. I'm not saying Walmart will go bankrupt, I don't think that will ever happen. But Target will take the number one spot.

[usakos]

I think what Walmart has done, is they have achieved what all of us on here dream to accomplish one day. But on the other hand, I feel that the stay at number one is short lived. Some will agree, most will not, Target will take that spot one day. Targets being built now have Starbucks(the biggest coffee chain in the world) in them, most have Pizza huts(biggest in at least america since 1952) and their stores are so much neater, cleaner, and stocked. I believe that not to long from now, they will beat out Walmart. I'm not saying Walmart will go bankrupt, I don't think that will ever happen. But Target will take the number one spot.

Remember that this is the 5th time Wal-Mart has been on that #1 spot. This year Target is #96.

I assure you, in this lifetime and the next, Target will never, never, never be on the #1 spot.

[rpendery2006]

Yeah, thats rediculous on 2-10.

I'll definitely have my company on the list. Probably next year. Walmart better watch out. :-)

haha.

[Young Spark]

Young Spark; it appears as though someone at Walmart must be listening to your advice. On 6/1 they announced they are scaling back their US openings.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/indust...-meeting_N.htm

Maybe this will help alleviate the issue you mention? And honestly, they have bleeding edge inventory management technology...it's a shame to think it falls apart in the last 3 yards..?

What more can I say, its about damn time... end quote.

[Paint and Air Sportz]

What goes up must come down, what applies to physics also applies to business, walmart oneday will fail and collapase.

[Young Spark]

^^ Catchy line, and also true. Wal-Mart will fail one day, they won't last long as they are trying to expand at a rapid rate. Also, here is something for you to dwell on, the paycheck mistakes that Wal-Mart HQ's in Bentonville, AK made a mistake on. What do I mean? Well, they made a mistake for thousands of employees on their paychecks, surely the employees were straightened out by receiving whatever they didn't in the following paycheck, but that's some words of wisdom to think about with Wal-Mart and their finances.

Anybody will tell you, when Sam Walton died, Wal-Mart began its journey straight down... and its going down slowly but surely. I should've reported Wal-Mart to the Dept of Labor for me being fired, but they aren't worth it, I rather watch them suffer.

If you believe Wal-Mart will succeed, then that's your decision but they will go down sooner or later.

[Unreal030]

they won't succeed but I might as well make use of their cheaper goods while they are here. a dollar is worth a dollar their or at another store.

[Young Spark]

^^ I couldn't of said it better... although I hate their management and how they run it, the items do tend to sometimes have competitive prices. But in my hometown in Delaware... they are about to open up a brand new Lowes next week... RIGHT ACROSS THE HIGHWAY FROM WAL-MART!!!!

Expect a decrease in their sales at that store (atleast for their hardware stuff and the lawn and garden.)