Walmart versus Meijer: Holiday price wars set to begin?
The world's largest retailer is ready to engage Michigan's largest retailer in combat over the lowest holiday prices.
And Meijer appears to be aggressively fighting Walmart back, even as other stores - like Target - take aim to score the consumer's dollar, too.
"(The) bargain-hunting attitude among millions of consumers is fueling a bare-knuckles price war among retailers," according to a recent article in the Grand Rapids Press.
Walmart executive are saying they won't be beaten on price. But Meijer recently jabbed back with ads taking that claim to task.
In Washtenaw County, we might be seeing some fallout soon. The three Meijer stores ringing Ann Arbor now have a second Walmart - with groceries - open near Saline, changing the balance for many shoppers who may not have wanted to travel to the Ypsilanti Township store.
Consumers can hope that "fallout" means lower prices from the competition. Meijer is advertising its new Everyday Best Price program in its newly formatted, smaller ad pages. Walmart brought back its Price Rollback in time for the holidays.
The stakes are different for each store. Walmart has to please shareholders. Meijer, still a private company, doesn't have that burden.
Click here to read more from the Grand Rapids Press story.
And please comment below if you're noticing any local examples of either store taking a lead in the battle.
Comments
15crown00
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 8:58 a.m.
Small local stores simply can't be price competitive with the big stores because the big stores simply buy more merchandise from their suppliers then do the smaller ones and therefore payless for whatever it is.In turn they can and do sell things cheaper and still make money.King of them all is Wal-Mart.like them or hate them that's the reality.Other than food itself a large portion of the merchandise assortment at the large stores comes from outside the USA.Whether it's Mexico,Canada,Russia,China,India,Indonesia,Germany etc.outside the borders is outside the borders and they all take jobs away from us.SAD BUT TRUE.THAT'S -------THE-------REALITY.AND&&&&&IT&&&&&AIN'T&&&&GONNA&&&&&CHANGE&&&&ANYTIME&&&&&SOON.
Ryan Munson
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 9:59 p.m.
Mumbambu--I agree the Zeeb Rd. store is excellent. It's probably one of the finest examples I've seen yet of herding people like cattle through a space logistically.
Jimmy Olsen
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 7:43 p.m.
Last week I started out my shopping at WalMart. The Halloween things I bought were....Made in America...how about that! I then stopped in at Country Market and got some of my favorite cheeses and meats sliced fresh from the deli....then swung into Busch's to get a couple things that I like from there. To my utter amazement...each store seemed to have about the same amount of shoppers. How about that ladies and gentlemen! It IS all about CHOICE. So make your choice and stop all the ranting. I suspect WalMart is not unionized, just like all the foreign car company factories are not unionized. Unions abused their basic tenet, which was to protect workers from abusive management. They got greedy. They did NOT create the middle class. Lets just say "jobs bank" - paying people not to work as one classic example. I quit working at a union grocery store in 1981. I was making 10.81 an hour. Anyone else wonder why supermarkets aren't paying much more than that 28 years later? Greedy unions.
Anthony Clark
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 7 p.m.
Not only is the price so low that it can't be made in America, but so low that the suppliers can't pay a living wage or offer benefits. Walmart and other companies like them drive down wages. Not just retail wages, either. The relentless pressure they exert on their suppliers has a ripple effect that spans nearly every industry across the country. Walmart is lowering America's standard of living. Everyone always says "their prices are so low!", but hardly anyone ever asks why the prices are so low or what the long term effects of very low prices are. When you support this company, you are hurting your neighbors, your friends and family, and yourself in the long run. Walmart is bad for America.
belboz
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 6:27 p.m.
What is wrong with Wal Mart and similar stores... They force suppliers to minimize the price by telling them the price they will pay for the product - say a TV. It is so low that they are unable to make the product in America, so they outsource the manufacturing. Sure, it is great for the consumer in the short run. People walk around in these mega stores and feel happy with so many choices and prices so low. But now, people are shopping there because they can't afford to pay other prices. The economy is in shambles. And, it is because our economy as focussed on the consumer, not the economy as a whole. So, Wal Mart comes to town, hires people, and people feel empowered with so many choices. But, for every person hired by Wal Mart at the low wages they pay, 4 other jobs are lost someplace else as a factory closes. That is not a good trade off.
Mumbambu, Esq.
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 3:44 p.m.
But if we all buy locally, local business owners will end up becoming rich... We can't have that.
Duane Collicott
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 2:41 p.m.
@in4mation - Oh, I wish. And I second the mention of Tree Town Toys. It's a great place, and owned by people who live in Ann Arbor.
Arbormommy
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 2:20 p.m.
As for toys there are a lot of great local toystores. Lexi's Toy Box (Downtown), The Learning Express (Westside), Tree Town Toys (Northside). Keep your dollars local!
Paula Gardner
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 1:34 p.m.
citrus, Not a problem, but thanks for the followup comment!
citrus
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 1:25 p.m.
You know, I think I should back off from my last comment some. I had first seen this headline as another carrot being dangled so commenters would predictably jump. (Eg. another dog leash story.) Seeing the simultaneous stories about local retail closings and struggles, it's clear there's need for more discussion. So, sorry Ms. Gardner for dissing your post.
YpsiLivin
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 1:04 p.m.
No matter which way you slice it, Michigan is Michigan and Arkansas isn't Michigan. I shop at Meijer.
chosen1
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 12:59 p.m.
what toys for children are still even made in america? video games? Im asking for knowledge, not being sarcastic
Duane Collicott
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 12:58 p.m.
All I want to know is who has the lowest price on LEGO!
treetowncartel
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 12:43 p.m.
@ citrus, it is actually a piece from the Grand Rapids Press, where Meijer has a much more vested interest in the community and vice versa. Ann Arbor.com just pasted it here. I'm sure a more fervorant discussion on the issue can be found at the Grand Rapids Press website.
A2Writer
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 12:40 p.m.
@Bill: One key difference in shopping local vs. a Walmart or other big box store is the percentage of dollars remaining in the community is notably greater when you support a hometown business, in that your money flows to locally-based small business owners and oftentime local lenders in addition to employees and state tax dollars. When you purchase from non-locally owned stores, owner/shareholder profits leave the community. (Perhaps someone with more time/greater recall of statistics than I have at the moment can post this data, which I believe I've seen on this site at least once before.) * You also touch on another key reason why shopping local is critical in my book: the unique and interesting flavor and overall quality of life enhancement these shops bring to our community - which in turn attracts people to the region, increases our ranking on lists of desirable places to live, boosts property values, and so on. * And AnnArbor.com staff - any chance you could link Paula Gardner's excellent articles from yesterday on the importance of shopping local ("Ann Arbor retailers say stakes are high for local stores during holidays" and "Poor seasonal sales could yield more - and longer - Ann Arbor retail vacancies") to this piece? Certainly seem like "Related Articles" to me. Thanks.
citrus
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 12:31 p.m.
It's hardly surprising/news that retailers will be lowering prices to get shoppers for the holidays. This seems like a teaser headline to restart the argument about Walmart all over again. Do you feel a little used? I'm getting out of this while I still can.
goodthoughts
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 12:01 p.m.
I agree that buying locally, and supporting American made products (even better Michigan made products) is important. I agree that shopping locally is important too. But lets be realistic what am I going to buy a sixteen year old from downtown Saline? A $300.00 decorative Pineapple? There is only so much "local" shopping one can do. The Walmart in Saline is nice, and is a welcome addition, but I still have a loyalty to both Country Market and Mejier (who carries plenty of Made in China products). They both carry plenty of things that are either better or they simply have a better selection than Walmart. However, like someone said earlier, competition is good.
SDP
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 11:58 a.m.
Would you choose the lowest price retailer if you suspected their goods were stolen or otherwise illegally procured? Where is the line - how about wrong and immoral, but not illegal? When looking at Walmart's business practices, I've come away deciding they're not the kind of organization I want to do business with. I've looked at what the Meijer and Walton families give back to their communities when deciding who I want to do business with. The effect on my life goes beyond the cost of the goods.
Theresa Taylor
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 11:49 a.m.
Whoops - that's "Zeeb.";)
Theresa Taylor
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 11:49 a.m.
I am a Meijer Loyalist through and through! Their Zoob location is wonderful.;D
dotdash
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 11:31 a.m.
Of course you can save money by shopping at Walmart -- but most of that money goes out of your community. Why not shop at local stores and buy products made in this country? You might pay a bit more, but you support your neighbors and our workers, and the money you pay stays in the community. It's well worth it. It also saves your tax dollars. Small family-run retailers tend to purchase health insurance. Many workers at big-box stores can't afford health insurance, so you pay for their health care with your tax dollars. Be smart with your money. Buy local.
ladydi
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 11:25 a.m.
This comment is for "Homeland Conspiracy"...do you REALLY believe that not a single product at Meijer is made in China? Just curious why you would bring up the WalMart documentary and then profess your loyalty to Meijer? The only difference between the two are that Meijer is union and Wal-Mart is not. You would be amazed at how much money my family has saved in the past two weeks shopping at the Wal-Mart in Saline.
Bill
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 11:10 a.m.
I shop at the smaller, local stores because I like the people and the atmosphere but really, how much of a difference does shopping at Walmart make? Michigan people are getting paid. The company is paying Michigan taxes. Are they not supporting the Saline area and Michigan?
timjbd
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 10:57 a.m.
Support your neighborhoods and shop local. If you enjoy Michigan's 15+% unemployment, keep sending your money to the multi-billionaires in Arkansas and the rest to China by shopping at Walmart.
treetowncartel
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 10:49 a.m.
The Doll Hospital and Toy Soldier Shop on Twelve Mile in Berkeley has some really great gifts for kids. Although it is not in Washtenaw County, it can still be considred local. I've gotten some really big smiles on Christmas and birthdays by being a consumer there.
Homeland Conspiracy
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 10:45 a.m.
I wonder what % of products in both stores are made in China. I will still shop at Meijer even if I have to drive out of my way. Check out the documentary Walmart The High Cost Of Low Prices.
John Galt
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 10:43 a.m.
Competition. A good thing.
Mumbambu, Esq.
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 10:34 a.m.
The redesigned Meijer on Zeeb is excellent. When the change was going on I was skeptical, but just like changes in the facebook interface, once you get used to it, it's much better.