Walmart is for poor people that probably don't even watch TV in HD. Someday I'm only going to shop at nothing but expensive places.

Wait, do you not like Wally World because you are a class above it, or because they are not part of a union? I can think of lots of sarcastic reasons to support unions. Go ahead and get me started...

i hate walmart because every a-hole in town is there.

Do you hate walmart because they put mom and pop shops out of business? Or do you just hate them because they are so prevalent? I can't imagine villainizing a corporation so much that you're willing to spend extra money to avoid patronizing them. It seems impractical.

I love WalMart. It was the night before a 1/2 iron in Effingham, IL last year when I realized I had forgotten a towel. I found the local WalMart and got a towel and a powerade to sip in the AM. Total cost [including tax] = $2.00. It may hae been the highlight of the trip!

[quote=christri25][quote=ChadTM]Do you hate walmart because they put mom and pop shops out of business? Or do you just hate them because they are so prevalent? I can't imagine villainizing a corporation so much that you're willing to spend extra money to avoid patronizing them. It seems impractical. [/quote]

My friend.... albuterol has been sold under a generic for a LONG time. Does it seem odd to anyone that for example.... Advil would no longer be allowed to be sold in pill form. It would only be sold in powder form and would cost 100% more ? Its the same drug. Its not any better. Now there is one store in town that can sell the drug for 90% less than everyone else. It feels like buying stereo equipment out of a van for a big discount. You know the stuff is hot but you just want to save some cash. What will happen ? We will find more and more drugs going to walmart for a substantial savings. Most other pharmacy's will go out of business since they can not obtain the same deals. When there is no more local competition what is going to happen? Watch out.
Albuterol allowed me to live an active lifestyle and I am surprised at how its price is being manipulated by the FDA, drug companies and the retail market.[/quote]

First, the small companies that lose to Wal-Mart are the ones who try to battle them when they move in instead of adjusting their approach to carve out their niche...For example, although not a small company, why is Target able to do so well along with Wal Mart...they target different customer bases. So many of the companies Wal-Mart has taken down were probably going down somehow anyways due to a bad business model.

Second, the reason Wal-Mart gets their prices so much lower is because they force the suppliers to make them that way and have the leverage for it to work. Everyone wants their product in WM and WM knows it...so they make suppliers cut as many costs as they can to get it there...it's cut-throat, but in the end it's a smart, LEGAL business practice.

I'm not really a WM person myself...but I have nothing against what WM does so well...more power to them

Now, off my soap box...back to tri talk

Are you suggesting that Walmart was behind the US government banning CFCs in the medication? That's pretty far fetched.
Walmart makes demands of it's suppliers. They can strong-arm the suppliers like because they account for a HUGE portion of all US retail sales.
I don't actually shop in Walmart, only because the ones near my house are filthy places with smelly people. I do recognize their firm grasp of capitalism, and that they provide lots of working class Americans with cheap stuff and jobs to many others. I guess my point is that you shouldn't hate a company. Reserve those emotions for people who actually do bad things.

[quote=christri25]Why and how does Walmart get the inhaler and turn a profit at 9 bucks while every other pharmacy is chargin 50 ?[/quote]

I'm not a business major, but I would guess they take a loss, and/or work out a deal with their supplier in order to get people in the door. Then while they are in the door, they expect the person will spend a little more than they should on other products that are not such a great deal. Like going to a bar with no cover charge and buying $8 beers.

I have no problem with people that take pride in being a rebel. Find something that motivates you, then gather all the reasons to support it you can find. It's healthy to get motivated by something. There's plenty of things that I do not like to do, just because so many others do enjoy it. Would it kill me to have coffee or soda once in a while? Not at all. You can bet that when I see an article saying something negative about either one, I point and say "see, that's another reason that I don't use that stuff!" It makes me feel good.

I have worked on the vendor side selling into Walmart. Although they did wonders for my quota, I vowed to never step foot into that store again. With the exception of two instances beyond my control I have not been back in five years.

The problem with Walmart is not as much about the small business owners being put out of business; in fact, in many cases (but not all) the smartest and strongest small business owners find ways to stay in business by utilizing a lucrative service-oriented approach. Rather, it is how they bastardize quality for quantity and reap the benefits of profit margins of monstrous levels. Walmart is at the forefront of offering poor quality at low prices and deceiving the average consumer into thinking that they are getting "VALUE". It is not value.

Listen, I'm all for saving money, clipping coupons, and shopping in big box. I am careful with what I buy and don't hesitate to buy generic or shop at Target/Costco for certain items (I called on these accounts too... big difference in business practice believe it or not). But I do do a majority of my shopping local, not hesitating a second to spend a reasonable amount more for service and fresh/quality goods. I refuse to shop at Walmart and am very empathetic to the OP. It sucks Wally world holds the chain.

How many audiophiles are on this site? Ok... Let me ask you, What do you think of the iPod and what it has done to your music? The quality sucks right? That is what Walmart has done, and will continue to do everything else.

Consumerism is not a good thing.

Can you really blame Wal-Mart?

It is the suppliers that will buckle to the demands of the large distributor to make a profit by providing quantity.

If any supplier had a product and kept the price they sold it uniform to everyone this problem would not exist.

[quote=TryScott][quote=christri25]Why and how does Walmart get the inhaler and turn a profit at 9 bucks while every other pharmacy is chargin 50 ?[/quote]

I'm not a business major, but I would guess they take a loss,
[/quote]

Nope, Economies of Scale at work. They buy at such volumes and get such great voluminous discounts that they can charge next to nothing and still make their minimum margin.

Walmart never takes a loss.

[quote=ChadTM]Are you suggesting that Walmart was behind the US government banning CFCs in the medication? That's pretty far fetched.
[/quote]

Are YOU suggesting coconuts migrate?

Hey Chris--
Right with you on the Walmart thing. I won'/don't shop there and feel the same (slam me all you want I have the right to choose). Have you tried a mail order service? Is this covered at all by insurance? Even if not you may be able to get it cheaper. I use Medco for my stuff.

No wal-mart here in Germany. I do not miss it a bit either.

[quote=Triguy98][quote=ChadTM]Are you suggesting that Walmart was behind the US government banning CFCs in the medication? That's pretty far fetched.
[/quote]

Are YOU suggesting coconuts migrate?[/quote]

It could have been brought here by an African swallow. But no...African swallows are non-migratory.

Wish I was paid enough to be able to shop elsewhere....state salaries in Florida don't exactly allow me to be too choosy.. While Walmart has certainly committed their share of sins in the business world, the grim reality of the big picture is that this is what the world has come to in many facets above and beyond business. Decisions are made for the greater good of the one (be it Walmart or the politician who wants to be re-elected) instead of for the good of the many. Thankfully there are some people left that are able to stand on their principals, and I can applaud that.

Walmart is a conglomerate coporation run by human beings ( apparently) . What they do is to buy up all of a producers stock, at their price, but that entails no other stock from that producer being sold anywhere else, it's an all or nothing deal. The producer is faced with making 1 cent profit on his dollar invested, but every single dollar invested, or maybe 20 cents on some of what he invested. ( I am analag ising) . They do indeed sell at below cost but by the time you get to the till you have bought so much other cheap crap, they are in profit and you are out of pocket and space and time.
I use an inhaler, that I twist, which delivers the dose into the chamber, then I suck like a whore. No gas needed CFC or otherwise. You might be able to check out it's availability.

[quote=christri25]Walmart should sell Tri Bikes... LOL[/quote]

they could have the corvette to go with te denali road bike!

I have to go get school supplies with my kids today, and even tho I know walmart will be cheaper, I am NOT taking my kids to the walmart by me b/c frankly, it's scary and stinky; it's stressful enough going into ANY store with four kids touching everything and asking for everything- KNOWING full well I will say "NO" 50 million times- so I'll pay more at Target, but I'll feel safer and cleaner for it...sorry, little rant

[quote=NICK10980]No wal-mart here in Germany. I do not miss it a bit either.[/quote]
but there is woolworth!
:-)

[quote=katarddx][quote=NICK10980]No wal-mart here in Germany. I do not miss it a bit either.[/quote]
but there is woolworth!
:-)
[/quote]
You are right, but you would never see someone shopping at Woolworth in Deutschland wearing pajamas and house shoes. :)

[quote=beads1985]Can you really blame Wal-Mart?

It is the suppliers that will buckle to the demands of the large distributor to make a profit by providing quantity.

If any supplier had a product and kept the price they sold it uniform to everyone this problem would not exist.
[/quote]
Totally agree!
A supplier, i won't name it, will sell an item to a store at wholesale price that is the same as retail price at walmart for exactly the same item.
What is a store, that can not afford to get a deal from supplier by buying gozillion of the same item, supposed to do, they can't make any money on that item distributing it, no margin at all.
If suppliers would keep wholesale price the same for all retailers, then even walmart would want to have just a little margin.

how about a turban? seen plenty of that either way... however, i do get your point... much more of that overhere...

[quote=TriRussC]I love WalMart. It was the night before a 1/2 iron in Effingham, IL last year when I realized I had forgotten a towel. I found the local WalMart and got a towel and a powerade to sip in the AM. Total cost [including tax] = $2.00. It may hae been the highlight of the trip![/quote]

I shopped there just a few minutes ago. I love the place. I do wish they sold Tri-Bikes though.

Shop online for your prescriptions. Most insurance companies also have a mail order plan that saves a ton of money. I use albuterol as well and it cost me $15.00 mail order.

I'm with you - haven't been in a Wal-Mart in years and won't go in one if I can ever help it. The only way that place like Wal-Mart can succeed is if people patronize them with their business, I won't contribute to their crappy underhanded business model personally. Also, the people that shop at Mal-Wart here are skeeeery...

The funniest thing I've seen that's related to both triathlons and Wal-Mart is that when I did IMFL, it was uncharacteristically brutally cold on race morning. Many of the triathletes at the race come from southern states and were not prepared with arm warmers, gloves, etc. so they went to Wal-Mart which is close to the race start. The first half of the bike course looked like a random dress-up party with people wearing little striped stretchy knit gloves, plastic raincoats, etc. it was quite funny really. They were all shed by noon when it started to warm up.

[quote=wannakona][quote=beads1985]Can you really blame Wal-Mart?

It is the suppliers that will buckle to the demands of the large distributor to make a profit by providing quantity.

If any supplier had a product and kept the price they sold it uniform to everyone this problem would not exist.
[/quote]
Totally agree!
A supplier, i won't name it, will sell an item to a store at wholesale price that is the same as retail price at walmart for exactly the same item.
What is a store, that can not afford to get a deal from supplier by buying gozillion of the same item, supposed to do, they can't make any money on that item distributing it, no margin at all.
If suppliers would keep wholesale price the same for all retailers, then even walmart would want to have just a little margin.[/quote]

ER getting sorta political, it's not the suppliers who dictate to Walmart what it does. It's Walmart dictating to the suppliers. I can assure you Walmart in the US and Carrefour in France are responsible for ripping the heart of out many communities. Walmart and it's model is studied in Universities by Students of , Business, Economics, Sociology, Communication, Psychology, philosopy, and political studies.
Lets take a tri bike example, you make bikes worth on the market 1000 dollars so does your neighbour. Your costs are the same. If you sell 40 bikes at a 1000 dollars you break even. anything else is profit. Thats IF you sell them. Wall mart comes and offers you 1000 for your 40 bikes, and 100 dollars for the other 40 you got. You refuse because you are not an idiot and you worked hard. Your neighbour however realises that if he offloads all his bikes not only does he only have a small profit, but now his 80 bikes are on the market, none of yours are, you go bust, and walmart can sell each of the 80 for less than 1000.

I don't want to bang on about it, but don't be blaming the little guy or the middle man.

[quote=Warrior]Walmart is a conglomerate coporation run by human beings ( apparently) . [/quote]

Wrong. Anyone that has seen SouthPark knows that Walmart is it's own living being. If you have a computer near the trainer, it's certainly worth the 20+ minutes to watch the Walmart episode at southparkstudios.com

Yeah but hey it's fun :-)

[quote=Ironmom]I'm with you - haven't been in a Wal-Mart in years and won't go in one if I can ever help it. [/quote]
i am with you on this one!
have not been there in years and hope not to for many years to come... just the way they treat their employees... disgusts me!

[quote=mwconstruct1972]As on of those skeery walmart shoppers who dwells among the huddled masses, I do not disagree that walmart definitely has it share of ills. However, as one who does not have insurance, I am very glad that they have the buying power to offer $9 asthma meds and $4 antibiotics when my allergies/ asthma weaken my lungs to the point that infection can/ does happen.

If you can look at your own life and say that your every action is 100% benevolent and void of selfish motive, bash away. Or perhaps just look at the good side and be thankful that you can buy the inhaler for $9 instead of $50.

Walmart is one of the finest working examples of capitalism and entrapreneurial spirit. If it bothers you that bad, come up with a better idea and run them out of business.[/quote]

While I agree with the first half of your sentiment, the 'better idea' you talk about is the one, where everyone is respected, paid a decent wage, and where that happens without trying to flatten small business as part of the daily routine. As a fellow sufferer of lung problems I totally get your issues around cost. But basically what you are saying is that because you don't have insurance, it's okay for a megacorporation to treath people like filth........... I know you don't mean that. Capitalism is of the same epoch as Marxism... and just as outdated in my humble opinion, and more to the point, it's a system that has broken.... And believe me I am selfish non benevolent and I will bash away, partly because I am safe in doing so yes, partly because I do have moral fiber which requires me to make choice, and partly because after reading so many articles, I just can't get away from the fact that Wal Mart is morally bankrupt.
I would also say, it's not right for any of us who don't shop there, from choice, to run down those who do shop there from necessity, not right at all. But that's humanity for you.

...And now for something completely different..;-)

[quote=gfd][quote=Triguy98][quote=ChadTM]Are you suggesting that Walmart was behind the US government banning CFCs in the medication? That's pretty far fetched.
[/quote]

Are YOU suggesting coconuts migrate?[/quote]

It could have been brought here by an African swallow. But no...African swallows are non-migratory.[/quote]

King Arthur: Not at all. They could be carried.
1st soldier with a keen interest in birds: What? A swallow carrying a coconut?
King Arthur: It could grip it by the husk!
1st soldier with a keen interest in birds: It's not a question of where he grips it! It's a simple question of weight ratios! A five ounce bird could not carry a one pound coconut.
King Arthur: Well, it doesn't matter. Will you go and tell your master that Arthur from the Court of Camelot is here?
1st soldier with a keen interest in birds: Listen. In order to maintain air-speed velocity, a swallow needs to beat its wings forty-three times every second, right?
King Arthur: Please!
1st soldier with a keen interest in birds: Am I right?

[img]http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/dal/lowres/daln88l....

[quote=christri25]taking walmart out of the equation .... there is something up with albuterol going up over 100%. there was no change in the effectiveness of the drug.

its is if one day gas goes up 100% .....

then only one merchant can charge 90% less while everyone else sells at same rate.
[/quote]

I worked for J&J for six years, and while I don't claim to have a handle on all the politics behind this, I will take a stab at it for you. Many, many drugs, like albuterol, were once expensive, patented drugs. Then they lost their patent, went generic, and competition made them very inexpensive. Often, companies will go back to the FDA with a new combination or method of delivery that recreates a product that is considered "new" or new enough to create a new patent. A few popular examples: Augmentin is actually just plain old amoxacillin ($5), but it's combined with clavulanate acid, which makes it more effective against resistant strains of bacteria and viola! ($95). Tylenol PM is just tylenol and good ol' benadryl.

I can't explain why Walmart can sell it for so little unless they worked a deal with the company that produces it, which is certainly possible. For a company like J&J...Walmart is the largest vendor for them of almost their entire product line, everything from birth control pills to baby shampoo. You need to keep them happy or they take you off the shelf. And if they ask you to provide a deep discount on one measly product that cost you next to nothing to make? Well, you might say, "okay." Just one possible explanation.

Are there are any wobbers here? I am beginning to expect some Monty Python fans might be in the ouse! Is there any Truth to this wicked willsome wumor? Apparently the original store name was Rawl Mart, until Cesar started shopping there!

I bet they don't sell Norweigan Blue !

[quote=Warrior]Are there are any wobbers here? I am beginning to expect some Monty Python fans might be in the ouse! Is there any Truth to this wicked willsome wumor? Apparently the original store name was Rawl Mart, until Cesar started shopping there! [/quote]

Fwee Wodney!!!!

Maybe you have heard of his wife....Incontinentia......

Let me pose something:
Wal-Mart sells meds for pennies on the dollar compared to what another Pharmacy does. Yes , I'm sure they have a deal but isn't it possible that the meds only cost pennies to make? That being the case Wal-Mart is still making a healthy profit and the other Pharmacies are stealing us blind. Who is taking advantage of who now?
This IS the U.S. Business model isn't it? Beat your competitors to a pulp...last business standing and all that? The free market business model?
The Poverty line in the U.S. is around $22,000 for a family of four...you got a kid with asthma and you're scraping by on $22K...where you gonna shop? The average U.S. salary is 42,000...that's what I make and sometimes it ain't easy. (Statistics: hhs.gov and Worldsalaries.org)
I hate Wal-Mart like the plague. But for the 50 million folks here that have no insurance it and Cost-Co/Sams Club are the best option.

[quote=christri25]TonisTri ... I think you just enlightened me. That is what happened because there is no more "GENERIC" Albeuterol. I wonder why they are not able to keep making the generic in some cases. Oh, well I know that my Albeuterol was from what I hear creating global warming. lol [/quote]

Well, I still can't explain why you can't get your albuterol in the generic form in the original packaging. Normally, the old stuff stays on the market even when they launch a new version. There must be more to the story...

[quote=christri25]Here is a scam non triathlon related... My large Dow 30 Company that I am employed with put us under United health Ins ... If you are single you have a 1500 deductible and married people its 2500. UNH also bought Caremark CVS. We if we want to use our health insurance we can only use Caremark or CVS. Guess what. They are not as cheap as walmart !!!!!!!!!!! So If I go to the doc, get meds anything at all the first 1500 is on me. Sweeeeeeettttttttttt ! Thanks god I'm not married and don't have kids.[/quote]

No offense here but part of that is your company providing crappy insurance. My deductable is $250 for single and $500 for the 2 of us. NONE of my medications have to apply toward the deductable. Just have the copay,and can use any pharmacy. If you want to be irritated be irritated at your company being cheap (and it's not United its the policy they negotiated)..... they should be ashamed of themseves quite honestly. Even my new company (with 250 employees) is similiar to the one I am on with hubby except my monthly premium would be $150 instead of $100 (so I just stayed on his).

You pay for insurance? You need a better job. My insurance is free and there is no deductible for myself or my family. My employer also takes it upon themselves to send me on free 18 month vacations to far away lands. They just get to choose when and where. Maybe they could start picking a place with a little better beaches and less "road side hazards". But hey, I have no deductible.

I live in a different world. I pay up to about 10 % of my costs, and that is then reimbursed by my insurance. So a visit to the doc with X Rays, and that other funny machine that makes that horrid noise to scan the body, plus 6 months of rehab and various pain killers, massuses, balniotherapy, and such put me out of pocket at the end by about maybe a 100 euros. Not bad for someone who had great difficulty even walking.

Nick- I have a strange feeling we work for similar companies... A lot of beach and no ocean?