quote:

Originally posted by David Lee:
What would become of all the chinese made junk?

You mean that same stuff that everybody else sells ?

In my small town, Walmart is the largest employer I can think of. We do have other grocery stores, however there are quite a few things you can only get at Walmart here. Need a mixer for the kitchen, griddle, an iPad or TV.

It would have a significant impact on our small town.

The bigger picture ripple effect for the nation as a whole would not be good.

Wal Mart is the shopping mecca and cultural gathering spot for all the weird, crazy dregs of society in every town, where would they shop? And think about how convenient it is for the police to have half of the crime in town contained inside the interior and parking lot of one store.
Yes, every community would suffer without the freakshow that comes with your local Wal Mart.

How about the pics of the People of Walmart? I would find alternatives for shopping.

If all the Walmarts closed, where would the thieves go to do their shopping?

I don’t think the mom and pop stores could absorb the losses as long as Walmart has.

No Walmart in my town. I have to drive 35miles one-way to get to one.

So would I, or most of the people in my town, miss them? Highly doubtful!

^^^^^^^^^^^^Replying to Muddflap
Not so sure about that. Most of the convenience stores around here have armed owners, unlike Walmart. We also have DAs that will prosecute. They got four at Walmart last week, locked them up and the mugshots were on the news. It is a start.

quote:

Originally posted by Muddflap:
If all the Walmarts closed, where would the thieves go to do their shopping?

Your and my front door.

A big lesson of Walmart, and later Amazon, is that economies of scale count. Your "thousands of business opening back up" wouldn't have those, and will get crushed by the next operator who can get to the size where they have them.

The most immediate effect would be more business going through Amazon. Longer term, the players in the market would have to see if the further shift to online sales that a Walmart closure caused wasn't permanent, and left room for a large scale B&M low cost player. Of course, the prime candidate to do that would be Amazon itself. But there are plenty of other who could step up (thinking Target specifically.)

Retail isn't going back to the 1960's

quote:

Originally posted by downtownv:
There would be thousands of business opening back up such as Pharmacies, sporting goods hardware clothing shops, etc. The vacuum would be huge and filled rather quickly. My Walmart is actually filled with lots of local residents that are pleasant vs many I have been into across the country, that employ some people that clearly hate their job.

Exactly. Most of Walmart's success is thanks to logistics efficiency and economy of scale, which a mom-and-pop store or even a local chain can't come close to matching.

Think about ALL the businesses that closed once Walmart came to town. There would be similar businesses returning, but with higher prices, since they can purchase at the level Walmart does.

Did I miss a news story? Why was December 27th chosen as close date? What’s the point?

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
Did I miss a news story? Why was December 27th chosen as close date? What’s the point?

It's just one of bendable's thought experiments.

Earlier he suggested december 32nd.

In retail tons of people spend their Xmas money on the 26th and even more people return Xmas presents on the 29th through Jan 6th.

Folks wouldn't know where to go to trample people after Thanksgiving.

If they closed China would go bankrupt. Also the local police would lay off half their officers as Wal Mart generates most of their calls for service.

As others have hinted, I think the myriad _________Dollar__________Stores would fill in the gap right quick.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:

What would happen ?

In my area, they would be accused of racism, for disparate impact on minorities, since that is all that work there.

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
In my small town, Walmart is the largest employer I can think of. We do have other grocery stores, however there are quite a few things you can only get at Walmart here. Need a mixer for the kitchen, griddle, an iPad or TV.

It would have a significant impact on our small town.

The bigger picture ripple effect for the nation as a whole would not be good.

A ripple affect for the whole nation ? Serious Clark ? Seems before Wallyworld we had Sears, Montgomery Ward, Department Stores, etc. So instead of getting everything from Wallysmart, you'd get your duct tape and ammunition from Montgomery Ward, your appliances, vacuum cleaners, and bed sheets from Sears, and your clothes from Department Stores. Everything that is has been before and everything that has been will be again. You know the thing...

I like Walmart myself, and lots of people don't, I understand and respect that preference. But this is not Iran, this is not Russia. This is the United States of America, We put a man on the moon in 1969. America is not Walmart. Walmart is an American story but is not America. In spite of the sorry state of things wrought by the worst parts of our society egged on by disgusting evil democrats, the highway is still crowded and crazy driving to work every day. That is America.