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Old 05-03-10 | 08:24 PM
  #15  
Robert Foster
Banned.
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,498
Likes: 2
From: Southern california

Bikes: Lapierre CF Sensium 400. Jamis Ventura Sport. Trek 800. Giant Cypress.

Originally Posted by Roody
Well, not to get back on topic or anything....



Walmart's business plan is to drive competitors--especially smaller local stores--out of business. As a carfree cyclist, I find these smaller stores actually provide me with better value than the Walmarts. The savings at Walmart are exaggerated and overstated. The quality of their goods is often lower than the same goods (even the same brand names) bought at a smaller store.

Combine that with the unappealing location of most Walmart stores--far from town and on a busy arterial street. Add in the greater time expenditure of Walmart, and most of them don't even have bike racks, even though they're the largest seller of bikes in the world. Although I do shop occasionally at Walmart and other big box stores, in general I'm happier with my local alternatives.

Once again I am sorry for dragging things off topic.
I realize the market tactic Wally uses. And I posted the Caveat that it wasn’t the best choice for many car free people. Even if our Wally World has the longest bike rack I have ever seen. But the model works and it works well. If you go to the average small mom and pop store there are times when there is simply no one buying anything for maybe an hour. These big box stores have people shopping in them all day long. For me it is a 3 mile round trip ride with my trailer and I can bring home a week’s worth of food or if I am careful maybe 2 week’s worth. And I get a bigger selection.
If I compare it to a small market I will save between 15 to 25 percent on my food bill. No I don’t get to know the store keeper personally as you do but I do get to spend my money more frugally and living within our budget is one of the things most people in these forums normally look to do.
So I believe someone can be car free and coexist with Wally, Costco, and the others quite well. And save more to spend on bike upgrades.
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