Should I purchase from Walmart? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Kuan · #1 03-27-2007, 09:20 PM

Item: One computer neoprene sleeve.

$10 at Walmart, $20 at other locations. Same thing as far as I can tell, and definitely not made in the USA.

What do you guys think?

al76slc · #2 03-27-2007, 09:22 PM

What's the issue? You don't like Walmart on principle?

420SEL · #3 03-27-2007, 09:24 PM

The only reason I don't like to go to Walmart is because of the other customers. Not only are there so many of them, but often they're not the kind of people I like hanging around. If I go I go first thing on a Saturday or Sunday morning, at like 8am when I'm the only one in the store.

As for whether or not you should buy things there in general, you'll have to decide that for your self. I'm sure there are opinions on both sides here. Best to first ask yourself what you might like to do with that $10 you'll save, then make up your mind. You can always spend that at some little non-corporate owned shop if you want to stimulate the local economy. Then you have the best of both worlds.

Kuan · #4 03-27-2007, 09:27 PM

What bugs me is the thing probably costs $1 to manufacture and ship. Why is one place $20 and another $10? I just feel screwed. I've seen the same thing for $30 even. I mean, gosh, it's a piece of neoprene with a zipper.

GottaDiesel · #5 03-27-2007, 10:00 PM

Buy it from anywhere you want.

Frank X. Morris · #6 03-27-2007, 10:11 PM

Howdy Kuan,
Go out and by a good one instead of the cheapy.

300SD81 · #7 03-27-2007, 10:18 PM

I'd go for walmart, unless I can find it cheaper somewhere else.. Doubt theres much of a quality range on something like that

mwood · #8 03-27-2007, 10:28 PM

I avoid Walmart on principal, I think they are a blight to American manufacturing and our economy in general. But that's just me, I won't shop at Home Depot either.

aklim · #9 03-27-2007, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuan

What bugs me is the thing probably costs $1 to manufacture and ship. Why is one place $20 and another $10? I just feel screwed. I've seen the same thing for $30 even. I mean, gosh, it's a piece of neoprene with a zipper.

Buy a CPS from International. $98. Buy the same thing from Ford with a Ford Box, $200. Same thing. International sells it to Ford who brings it to distribution centers, etc, etc, to the dealership. Everybody gets a piece of the pie.

Wal*Mart buys it in bulk so they get a better price. It's your money. If you feel like pissing it away, send it my direction.

aklim · #10 03-27-2007, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwood

I avoid Walmart on principal, I think they are a blight to American manufacturing and our economy in general. But that's just me, I won't shop at Home Depot either.

American manufacturing isn't all it was. It is dead anyways. Just keeping the body alive on life support. Why should I piss money away on a lost cause? They aren't even interested or at this point, able to survive.

mwood · #11 03-27-2007, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

American manufacturing isn't all it was. It is dead anyways. Just keeping the body alive on life support. Why should I piss money away on a lost cause? They aren't even interested or at this point, able to survive.

Manufacturing in the US is far from dead. True, it isn't nearly what it used to be but if we were to totally lose our manufacturing base we would perish-all of us. Believe it!

aklim · #12 03-27-2007, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwood

Manufacturing in the US is far from dead.

True, it isn't nearly what it used to be

but if we were to totally lose our manufacturing base we would perish-all of us. Believe it!

When a Jap factory can make the same car for $2000 less and we are getting our asses kicked from production costs to the point where it is cheaper to bring the finished product here, what do you call it?

I call that a major understatement.

Just a matter of time. We haven't seen it yet but it's coming. We need to move on to a new game or perish. It is that simple. Cost wise we cannot compete or even come close. How can we play that game? They make it for $1 and we make it for $5. You are starting behind as it is.

mwood · #13 03-28-2007, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

When a Jap factory can make the same car for $2000 less and we are getting our asses kicked from production costs to the point where it is cheaper to bring the finished product here, what do you call it?

I call that a major understatement.

Just a matter of time. We haven't seen it yet but it's coming. We need to move on to a new game or perish. It is that simple. Cost wise we cannot compete or even come close. How can we play that game? They make it for $1 and we make it for $5. You are starting behind as it is.

We can't significantly change our cost base but we can change the playing field with import tax's and demand more balanced trade. There are solutions and they better be implemented or there will be dire economic consequences. There are millions (?) of manufacturing jobs in the US, what would happen to those people and their families if those jobs went away? Who would support them;me and you, thats who, then all of our taxes go sky high and we can't afford to pay our bills. I'm not going to continue this arguement, I just stated MY opinion; I won't shop at WalMart.

Ara T. · #14 03-28-2007, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

When a Jap factory can make the same car for $2000 less and we are getting our asses kicked from production costs to the point where it is cheaper to bring the finished product here, what do you call it?

I call that a major understatement.

Just a matter of time. We haven't seen it yet but it's coming. We need to move on to a new game or perish. It is that simple. Cost wise we cannot compete or even come close. How can we play that game? They make it for $1 and we make it for $5. You are starting behind as it is.

The Japanese offerings are usually higher priced. You get what you pay for generally, as far as interior quality goes.

al76slc · #15 03-28-2007, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuan

What bugs me is the thing probably costs $1 to manufacture and ship. Why is one place $20 and another $10? I just feel screwed. I've seen the same thing for $30 even. I mean, gosh, it's a piece of neoprene with a zipper.

I'm an importer and when I buy something retail, I often look at it and figure out the manufacturing cost. But if I need or want it, I still buy it.

When I go into a restaurant, I don't figure out what the food costs. But I know that the high end restaurants don't pay much more for my meal than the local diner. That's why, by and large, I'll stick to the diner.

Or, closer to home, does an MB cost that much more to make than a Chrysler? Or are you paying $$$ for cachet and exclusivity.

I manufactured something for a customer recently. I sold them two thousand pieces for $5 each. It's being sold on their website for $250.00 each. Only add-on is the instruction sheet and a fancier cardboard box.

Hey, it's a free country. Do what you want (within limits, of course.)

Every business has its own business plan. Some choose to sell cheap and rely on volume. Others try to wring as much as possible out of everything. If you guess wrong, you're out of business.

Walmart serves its purposes.