Home Depot - what a bunch of maroons

[J. Clarke]

Or maybe we just need to break up Wal-Mart.

[Mike 'Flyin'8']

I lived there about 20 years ago... It was not even near 16-18k when WalMart came and abruptly left. You are trying to teach the wrong person about Bixby from the era of Wal Mart.

Mike Alexander PP-ASEL Temecula, CA See my online aerial photo album at

[Mike 'Flyin'8']

Engineer not an English major... Either way, the point was made.

Mike Alexander PP-ASEL Temecula, CA See my online aerial photo album at

[Mike 'Flyin'8']

You are correct. But that was not th OP's comment either.

Same as above.

Mike Alexander PP-ASEL Temecula, CA See my online aerial photo album at

[Doug Miller]

OK, fine -- but I'm still waiting for some actual facts. You haven't supplied any yet.

[Mike 'Flyin'8']

Are you blind, or can't you read?

-It is a fact that Wal Mart moved into Bixby.

-It is a fact that shortly there after, a large number of the small privately owned retailers (Mom and Pop shops if you will) located in and near the town closed up shop and ceased to operate as a business entity.

-It is a fact, that less than 5 years after opening, Wal Mart pulled up stakes and left.

Those are the facts.

Here is the meaning of fact should you choose to read it...

fact /fækt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[fakt] noun

1. something that actually exists; reality; truth
2. something known to exist or to have happened: Space travel is now a fact.
3. a truth known by actual experience or observation; something known to be true

PP-ASEL Temecula, CA See my online aerial photo album at

[Mike Marlow]

That was precisely my original point when I stated that the idea that Wal Mart drives out small businesses is a fallacy.

[Mike Marlow]

What was the address of that Wal Mart store? Simple street name is good enough.

[Doug Brown]

[Doug Miller]

Are you stupid?

No, those are your _claims_. Substantiate them, and I'll agree they're facts.

Don't lecture me on the meaning of the word "fact" when you yourself are clearly unable to distinguish it from the word "claim".

[Brian Henderson]

No, the OP was asserting that it's somehow Walmart's fault that mom & pop stores can't compete, but also that it's Walmart's responsibility to stick around if they're not making a profit. I pointed out that both were wrong.

[Brian Henderson]

No, says the person with the grip on reality. Do try to keep up.

Funny, plenty of places find ways to differentiate themselves, mostly by offering superior customer service, etc. that Walmart and similar stores do not offer. How do you think Walmart got to be the 800-lb gorilla they are today? They started out as a small business and grew because they were successful.

You people seem to have a problem with success.

And when Walmart gets to be a monopoly, you be sure to let us know. Otherwise, keep your annoying liberal whining to yourself.

[Brian Henderson]

Maybe you just need to grow up.

[J. Clarke]

Insulted me twice for that one. I must be doing someting right.

[J. Clarke]

[Locutus]

I love how almost any topic concerning HD or Walmart turns into a flame war....

[Nova]

WalMart stores within 10 miles of Bixby, OK:

1. Wal-Mart Supercenter Store #1597 4.26 miles from Bixby
2. Wal-Mart Supercenter Store #3295 5.84 miles from Bixby
3. Neighborhood Market Store #2395 6.88 miles from Bixby
4. Neighborhood Market Store #2880 7.27 miles from Bixby
5. Neighborhood Market Store #3508 7.80 miles from Bixby
6. Wal-Mart Supercenter Store #992 8.37 miles from Bixby
7. Wal-Mart Store #894 8.56 miles from Bixby
8. Wal-Mart Supercenter Store #472 9.07 miles from Bixby

There are quite a few other stores in the Tulsa area.

It looks like WalMart still has a pretty strong presence in and around Bixby.

[Andrew Barss]

: Better service is certainly one way that small operations can compete with the : big box stores. Some small businesses understand that, some don't -- and it's : the latter, IME, that can't survive competition with the big boxes.

Here's a couple of articles that I found interesting:

first is the story of what happened to Vlasic pickles (company went bankrupt after getting a close relationship with Walmart), and the second is about one company that decided not to sell through Walmart, and why.

I agree that ultimately it's the customer that decided whether a business gets his money or not, but there are other factors at work, including ignorance on the part of the customer (to take a group relevant example, tools with plastic innards instead of metal ones have advantages and disadvantages, and the typical homeowner doesn't know about them), and Walmart's ability, due to its sher size, to pressure suppliers to reduce costs.

-- Andy Barss

[Brian Elfert]

The first article is about about Vlasic selling a gallon jar of pickles at Walmart for $3. Vlasic made less profit on these and wanted to raise the price, but Walmart said no. (They eventually switched to 1/2 gallon jars.)

The same article also says that Vlasic's bankruptcy was not caused by selling the gallon jars of pickles.

The article does not specifically blame Walmart for the bankruptcy.

Brian Elfert

[Flyin'8]