• So it is looking like

    From billv@21:1/5 to All on Fri Apr 29 16:33:47 2022
    It is looking more and more like Walmart is failing. I saw
    similar difficulties with Montgomery Ward's Sears, Kmart,
    builder's square, JC Penny's and others in the past as they
    were in their death spirals. Some lasted quite a long time,
    others disappeared rather quickly.

    First there are shortages of goods, especially in the house
    brands and then inventory gets reduced across the board with
    profitable but lower markup items biting the dust early on.

    Two keys are house brand insulin shortages and then those
    little 50 cent pies that are suddenly unavailable in all
    stores in my region (that's 4 stores total.) Distances to
    those stores are 60, 60, 70, and 90 miles, all in different
    directions. The largest of those stores has the cheapest
    prices. AFAIC an increase in retail price of 10% or so
    might save the chain and despite the predictable complaints
    I think that would be an acceptable compromise if that
    saves the chain. There's nothing available today that could
    replace the function for me and it is doubtful anything will
    spring up quickly nationwide.

    Hate to see them go. Still, probably they'll outlast me.

    Perhaps they've just had their run and the problems run
    deeper than we on the outside can appreciate.

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