OT: Wal-Mart set for war with British rivals

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/et?ac=000154642417163&rtmo=awsebNNL&atmo=99999999&pg=/et/99/8/8/nwal08.html

ISSUE 1535 Sunday 8 August 1999

Wal-Mart all set to launch store wars By David Bamber, Home Affairs Correspondent

BRITISH supermarkets are preparing for a price-cutting war as Wal-Mart, the giant American retailer, completes its takeover of the Asda chain.

Wal-Mart plans to use the same tactics it has employed in Germany since taking over the Rewe Eurospar group there two years ago. It slashed prices, most recently cutting the cost of 50 best-selling products, from butter to beer, by 30 per cent.

The German government has launched an unprecedented investigation into the aggressive price cutting, amid allegations that Wal-Mart was selling goods at below cost price to drive other shops out of business. In Britain, Wal-Mart executives have held a series of meetings with store managers to highlight the advantages of the £6.7 billion takeover and announced a twinning arrangement with US stores.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), August 07, 1999

Answers

It seems to me that the British could use a boot up the butt when it comes to their prices. The price fixing that goes on there is ridiculous and very in your face. They actually sell their automobiles cheaper in other countries than in their own. Why? Because they know they can get away with it. There will be a real stink made over Wal-Mart's practices. Asda already had merchandising rights terminated for selling vitamin supplements and apparel too cheap. It is high time that country, advanced as they are, learn something about competition.

-- Gia (laureltree7@hotmail.com), August 08, 1999.

Gia,

you are 100% correct.

I just got back from 3 weeks in London and the prices were outrageous.

i.e. the Gap Jeans selling in the UK for 40% more than the US, Levis 501's at 50%+, Nike shoes at 40%, McDonalds at about 40-45%. the daily Mirror has a campaign underway to try and correct this...

All the US companies said "no comment"...

the UK is regarded as a goldmine by these companies as they know they can rip us off, same goes for cars and motorcycles...

It's a total stramash over there...

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), August 08, 1999.


Now you know why I feel so hacked off when I see you posting the price of beans!

One envious Brit.

-- Chris (griffen@globalnet.co.uk), August 08, 1999.


goodness Gia, I always thought that ASDA prices for clothes were ever so dear!! I would never think of them selling cheap apparel! Any city centre shop is cheaper!!!

-- thiwo (theo@theo.theo), August 08, 1999.

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