These are 'cradle to grave' stores or at least that is what I
have heard them called. There is a Wallyworld about 1 1/2 miles from
me I go to, but like shopping for AMC stuff, I would rather buy my AMC
stuff from AMC vendor as opposed to chain like O'Reillys or Auto Zone
knowing I will probably pay a little more, but support the little guy
who has made the big investment to try to keep out cars on the road,
as opposed to big chain that has 11 year old stamping out radiator
hoses for 30 cents a week. Sometimes you can't get around it however,
as only game in town.
Awhile back there was big argument on internet about Chinese made
musclecar parts. Think about it, you have a $100K rotisserie
restoration and some of the parts are Made In China on it simply
because it could not (or would not) be feasible to do them reasonably
priced in US. That is like wiping your ass before you shit. But I see
it all the time, and big key word here is outsourced.
You look at some of the major AMC vendors catalogs and suddenly
realize how much of the stuff is not made in US anymore. Simply due to
cost.
Back to the cradle to grave thing. You see same thing with this
current administration trying to be everything to everyone.... cradle
to grave. Wallyworld has actully done it however!
more with article
yikes! I wonder if they toss in a free greeter?
Bart, part of the problem is most people are hooked on crack for
lack of better term, but hook on uber low prices stuff. Whether it
made in China, Mexico, Malaysia, Hong Kong, don't matter. Even labor,
if I want my driveway done or drywall and sheetrock and painting
inside house done, I go up to (pick one) corner of Witte and Long
Point, or in front of Home Depot, or corner of Blalock & Long
Point, or any corner under Westpark Tollway from Loop 610 west for 30
miles and there are dozens of Mexicans, Hondurans, Brazilians, Costa
Ricans, Nicarguauans, Cubans, you name it, they swarm your car when
you pull up so pick a few guys out to work labor! I pay $10 a hour
which is something like the GDP of most of their toilet native
countries, which is why they here, for work. Eh, ok, some to sell
drugs for MS-13 also. But the honest guys will bust their asses for
you from sunup to sundown for a days pay. And there is no shortage of
them either. Go do a google Street View search for Witte Road &
Loong Point, Houston, Texas and you can actually see the dozens of
vatos standing around waiting for work.
There are few places left out there like Doc speaks of, or as
Bart said 'where you knew the people behind the counter'
unfortunately. If you do know some, support them! There is a O'Reillys
(yes, I know, a chain) on Gessner 2 miles from me but the guys there
more than happy to look thru rows of books at end of counter to find
me right AMC part and I spend $10K +++ a year there. But going back to
Sprawlmart.. ....funny how you can go from one city to next and it all
looks the same sometime.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, November 13, 2009
4:42 AM
Subject: [BaadAssGremlins] Re:
Speaking Of Wal-Mart
Bart the cheap
Chinese crap is part of it. The other is them driving all the local
small businesses in town here out of businesss. I try not to
frequent any chain stores if at all possible with Wal-Mart one to
NEVER GO TO. I have been going to the same hardware store for 40
years, one auto parts store for 30 another for 20, Automotive paint
supply store for 30, another for 10 and so on. Liquer store for 40,
same with the supermarket even though it is a chain store. People
know me and I feel you get better service too. The Home Depot opened
2 stores within 15 miles of me drove a few small lumber yards out of
business. I still go to the small one next to where I worked 20+
years ago. Treat me right and I am a loyal customer forever, don't
and you wll never see my fat old butt again.
"Doc"
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