• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Walmart memo details monthly sales "disaster"

Ahlevah

Supporting Member
DP Veteran
Joined
Aug 21, 2009
Messages
14,599
Reaction score
5,012
Location
Pindostan
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Other
In an email to other executives on February 12, Jerry Murray, Walmart’s vice-president of sales and logistics, said: “February [month-to-date] sales are a total disaster,” according to Bloomberg....

In a separate email on February 1, Cameron Geiger, senior vice-president of US replenishment, reportedly said: “Well, we just had one of those weeks here at Walmart US. Where are all the customers? And where’s their money?”

Walmart memo details monthly sales ‘disaster’ - FT.com

Where's their money? What money? Wal-Mart customers stopped earning money somewhere around 1980 when they started servicing each other at, among other places, Wal-Mart. Now they're shopping at Dollar General after they get their payday loans.
 
I sort of posted about this in another thread: I live in a city where Walmart is like the Holy Grail and I have noticed that its parking lot has been rather airy compared with the past. I don't know what is up, but they are the canary in the coalmine in my town.
 
Where's their money? What money? Wal-Mart customers stopped earning money somewhere around 1980 when they started servicing each other at, among other places, Wal-Mart. Now they're shopping at Dollar General after they get their payday loans.

I can't read it because FT limits it's content.
I'd aim at a guess that this year, the "Spring Stimulus" is late because of the fight in Washington and delayed tax refunds.
 
The customers are there to spend money, not earn it.

If Wal-Mart customers stopped earning money around 1980, Wal-Mart wouldn't be around anymore.
 
I sort of posted about this in another thread: I live in a city where Walmart is like the Holy Grail and I have noticed that its parking lot has been rather airy compared with the past. I don't know what is up, but they are the canary in the coalmine in my town.

Personally, I'm spending more time in Target. For example, I just bought 60 double rolls of Ultra Charmin for $25 dollars ($32 minus 5% RedCard discount minus a $5 gift card). That's the equivalent of about 21 cents per roll for premium bath tissue. Tomorrow I'm taking the three $5 gift cards I have from buying staple items and using them to buy three BluRay discs on sale at five bucks each. That will make them free, except for sales tax.
 
I can't read it because FT limits it's content.
I'd aim at a guess that this year, the "Spring Stimulus" is late because of the fight in Washington and delayed tax refunds.

It's short. Other than a note that the stock dropped, what I quoted pretty much sums it up.
 
Where's their money? What money? Wal-Mart customers stopped earning money somewhere around 1980 when they started servicing each other at, among other places, Wal-Mart. Now they're shopping at Dollar General after they get their payday loans.

What elitist claptrap.
 
The customers haven't gone anywhere - corporate just want much to much on the top ALL the time.
 
BTW, I do shop from time to time at Dollar General and even more frequently at the local 99-Cent store. But I also shop at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Macy's, and etc.

My point was to object to the stereotyping of those who shop from time to time at Wal-Mart as "People of Wal-Mart" (hoping here that you're familiar with this website).
 
I shopped at Dollar General today. They are cheaper than Wally World on some things.
 
Tax returns delayed? We got ours in about a 9 days. How is that delayed? People are scared and not spending money like they were. Things are getting worse, not better.
 
They're buying guns and ammo.
 
In the assumption that Wal-Mart shoppers are then reduced to shopping at Dollar General.

It's more than an assumption. Dollar stores have been cutting into Wal-Mart's sales for years:

“The latest trend shows consumers making more trips to drug, club and dollar stores, while cutting back on trips to Wal-Mart(WMT) and traditional grocery stores,” said Joseph Agnese, an S&P Capital IQ analyst.

6 Companies Battling for Americans' Grocery Money - Forbes

Thrifty shoppers looking for low prices on basics are frequently passing up the big boxes of Walmart (WMT) for the tighter aisles of their local dollar stores.

Chains such as Dollar Tree (DLTR), Family Dollar Stores (FDO) and Dollar General (DG) are hitting the world's largest retailer where it hurts -- in the food and pharmacy aisles.

Dollar Stores Are Taking Walmart's Lunch Money - DailyFinance
 
My point was to object to the stereotyping of those who shop from time to time at Wal-Mart as "People of Wal-Mart" (hoping here that you're familiar with this website).

Wal-Mart's shoppers come, on average, from a lower demographic. This is not elitist. It's common knowledge for people who follow business.
 
Wal-Mart's shoppers come, on average, from a lower demographic. This is not elitist. It's common knowledge for people who follow business.

Walmart, "...says its customers' average household income ranges from $30,000 to $60,000...."

Walmart and Target: A tale of two discount chains - CBS News

Real median household income in the United States in 2011 was $50,054.

In 2011, the median earnings of women who worked full time, year-round ($37,118) was 77 percent of that for men working full time, year-round ($48,202) ? not statistically different from the 2010 ratio.

U.S. Census Bureau Announces 2011 Median Household Income Declined from 2010
 
Where's their money? What money? Wal-Mart customers stopped earning money somewhere around 1980 when they started servicing each other at, among other places, Wal-Mart. Now they're shopping at Dollar General after they get their payday loans.

Actually, I do shop at Family Dollar and Dollar General. I also like Sams.
 
Walmart, "...says its customers' average household income ranges from $30,000 to $60,000...."

Walmart and Target: A tale of two discount chains - CBS News

Real median household income in the United States in 2011 was $50,054.

In 2011, the median earnings of women who worked full time, year-round ($37,118) was 77 percent of that for men working full time, year-round ($48,202) ? not statistically different from the 2010 ratio.

U.S. Census Bureau Announces 2011 Median Household Income Declined from 2010

Quoting from your source:

Walmart (WMT), the world's largest retailer, on Thursday acknowledged that its low-income shoppers continue to struggle in the economy and issued an outlook for the fourth quarter -- which encompasses the holiday shopping period -- that falls below Wall Street estimates. On the same day, its smaller rival Target (TGT), which caters to more affluent shoppers, said it expects results during the quarter to exceed the Street's projections.

Seems to me your evidence supports the "elitist" contention that Wal-Mart caters to a lower demographic and that those people are having a harder time than, say, your average Target or Nordstrom customer.
 
Actually, I do shop at Family Dollar and Dollar General. I also like Sams.

We shop everywhere. A deal's a deal to me. I even buy casual shirts from a thrift store--Perry Ellis, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Izod--you name it, all for a few bucks each.
 
We shop everywhere. A deal's a deal to me. I even buy casual shirts from a thrift store--Perry Ellis, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Izod--you name it, all for a few bucks each.

I got a great deal on a TV in a thrift shop. I also have picked up many books there. Clothes I usually get at Sams along with most of my can goods and paper products.
 
I buy everything possible online, mostly Amazon and save on the price and the 8.25% sales tax. I think the tax-free days are almost over though....
 
Quoting from your source:



Seems to me your evidence supports the "elitist" contention that Wal-Mart caters to a lower demographic and that those people are having a harder time than, say, your average Target or Nordstrom customer.

$60K vs $64 isn't that big of a difference. And if the median household income is $50,054 +/-,
I'd also say that neither Walmart nor Target's customers are necessarily "lower demographic."

BTW, thrifty shoppers span the demographics. If I were a millionaire, I'd still shop for bargains. My best friend and her husband actually are now, and they shop at Walmart. And Sears. And they always buy "seconds" too--you'd be surprised by how much cheaper a washing machine or treadmill are when you're willing to accept a scratch or two.
 
The only grocery store within a five minute drive is the local Dollar General Market, so I shop there fairly often. They're okay.

I go to Wal-mart at least twice a month. I need to make the paycheck stretch as far it will go... a 2013 dollar is only worth 80 cents compared to a 2008 dollar, and I only got about 8% in raises in that time period, so I'm still getting the short end of the stick.
 
I need to pinch my pennies too...but even if I didn't, there's a higher principle at work here: It's just wasteful not to!
 
Back
Top Bottom