Wal-Mart Shuts Down DRM Music Service; Users Take to the Internet

Metalica went #1 without Wal*Mart and GNR (Axl’s Cover Band) went with Best Buy (which actually sux almost as bad as Wal*Mart). Wal*Mart is known for censorship and bullying companies regarding editorial content. I think that Wal*Mart should stick with selling cheap toilet paper.

Bobby: Apparently censorship regarding editorial content does NOT extend to WalMart’s OWN videos,i.e., exploding gas cans ,and, crossdressing Bentonville execs at managerial meetings.

who cares big deal bobby and ddrb

matt SHUT UP FOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

MATT IN in gresham,oregon,

“who cares big deal bobby and ddrb”

Matt,
It does not surprize me that you would not care about censorship. It really only effects people who are trying to comprehend.

Actually this thread does merrit some discussion about another big problem with Wal*Mart’s monopoly on American Retail. Along with having a strangle hold on wages, not just at their own company, but at their suppliers (Sending Millions of good paying American Jobs Overseas), Wal*Mart also has a huge effect on, and this is a Biggie, Consumer choice in the Marketplace. Many great products are developed that never see the light of day in the USA, simply because Wal*Mart doesn’t want them to. Wal*Mart is to a large degree an entity that was not even immaginable when the anti-monopoly laws were written. There is no doubt, that they should not be allowed to continue in their current form. It’s time for for new laws. Simply jacking up the minimum wage, is a political bandaid. The next President, Congress and Senate are going to have a pretty crappy situation dumped in their laps. I would guess one of the fastest ways to get us moving in a fiscally responsible direction, would be for the government to address the root issues that have allowed investments in America’s Failure as oppsed to its Future.

who cares big deal bobby and ddrb” ~~~~~~~~Matt~~~NOTE:One could only HOPE the administrator of this blog, would!

Bobby,

“Many great products are developed that never see the light of day in the USA, simply because Wal*Mart doesn’t want them to.”

Guess you don’t watch much late night T.V. infomercials!!  And, both Wal-Mart and Walgreens, have sections that feature many of those “As seen on T.V.” products!!  Give us an example of a product that Wal-Mart kept from the market!!

RDS,
I can’t answer some of your questions without compromising some confidentiality issues. There are some things that I’ll never post because, quite frankly, I don’t want to jeopardize or lose access to certain relationships that I am fortunate to enjoy. I don’t know if you know anyone involved in manufacturing, but this is not even a big secret. Manufacturers go to the buyers and show them a group of new products. If they get enough orders then they go into production. No biggie, just smart business. The problem arrises out of lack of competion. With Walmarts presence so large in the American Market, there are less buyers and competition amoungst buyers. With Wal*Mart shelf space fetching a premium, you wind up with less selection. This is hardly a big secret. Ask anybody high up in retail or manufacturing. If I point out specific products, I not only betray a trust, but risk exposing my identity.

This is just another failed example of Bentonville thinking they can do anything. Time after time they have botched attempts at diviating from bottom-feeding retail.

Which reminds me, can you still get your ears pierced at Wal-Mart?

What’s good for Wal-Mart is BAD for America!

This is just another example of FAILED REPUBLICAN judgment:~~~~~~~~~Poll:” Public Rejects McCain’s Claim That Dems To Blame For Bailout Collapse”
By Eric Kleefeld - September 30, 2008, 12:35PM
It looks like the McCain campaign’s efforts to pin the failure of the bailout on Barack Obama and Congressional Democrats aren’t getting any traction, according to the new ABC/Washington Post poll, the first survey to look at this issue.

The numbers: Among registered voters, 44% blame the Congressional Republicans—that is, the ones who actually voted against the bailout—compared to only 21% who blame Congressional Dems, and 17% who blame both equally.

Also, the Democratic arguments over who is to blame for the crisis appear to be winning the day. George W. Bush is seen as the single most important cause of the crisis by 25% of voters, followed by financial institutions with 18%. Congress is blamed by only eight percent~~~~~~~~~TPM Election Central

Well one question I have to ask is: I wonder how much Wal*Mart junk was bought for all those forclosed houses out there? Just think back a few years ago with all the new homes and values going up. Running off to Home depot and fixing up your place. Pretty Utopian if you ask me.

America could be right back up there if we ever get out from under the fake, credit driven Wal*Mart economy. Real Jobs, paying Real Wages. Wal*Marts “ulra efficient” supply chain leaves no room for anyone to make a living except a very few people. No matter who wins the election, as long as Wal*Mart remains the nations largest employer, we are going down.

Bobby,

“With Walmarts presence so large in the American Market, there are less buyers and competition amoungst buyers.”

It would seem to me, that if I had products that Wal-Mart didn’t want to stock, but would be in demand, I would go to Target, K-Mart, Shopco, Walgreens, Costco, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree and any other retail business, with my products!!  And, with Food products, there are many grocers!!  If they knew that Wal-Mart doesn’t sell these products, it would be a ‘good’ opportunity for them to draw people from Wal-Mart and into their stores!!  There is more competition out there than you care to admit!!

What’s the saying from the movie, ‘Field of Dreams’, “Build it and they will come”!!

zip your mouth fred

It would seem to me, that if I had products that Wal-Mart didn’t want to stock, but would be in demand, I would go to Target, K-Mart, Shopco, Walgreens, Costco, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree and any other retail business, with my products!!

As I mentioned,
Wal*Mart’s market share is too big. What you are suggesting does happen, but on a miniscule scale. The situation is real, and while it can be debated it remains the same. Less choice in the market place. Less choice for America.

Bobby,

“Wal*Mart’s market share is too big.”

And, why is that?  Could it be, that Wal-Mart provides what customers want?  If it didn’t, wouldn’t people be leaving Wal-Mart and shopping at their competitors?  And, if Target sold products that people wanted and weren’t sold at Wal-Mart, wouldn’t Target get more business from people who shop Wal-Mart now?  If a business wants to beat Wal-Mart, they need to ‘compete’, not just cry about how they can’t ‘compete’!!  That’s exactly how Wal-Mart beat out K-Mart, who USED to be in Wal-Mart’s position!!

“The situation is real, and while it can be debated it remains the same. Less choice in the market place. Less choice for America.”

That’s what ‘competition’ means, providing More choice in the market place and More choice for America!!  Want to stop Wal-Mart?  Then come up with a BETTER business model and put it into action, until someone does that, Wal-Mart will remain on top, no matter how much your side complains!!  I have suggested that because of the union’s size, they could start a retail chain, that could incorporate the ideals they say would be best and if they are right, they could turn the market around and provide the services they think are the correct ones!!  Why won’t they do it?  Because they know what they advocate, won’t work!!  In order to promote ‘change’, you need to provide valid workable alternatives!!

Retail 101 Lesson for Bobbo and Friends

And, if Target sold products that people wanted and weren’t sold at Wal-Mart, wouldn’t Target get more business from people who shop Wal-Mart now?

Playing-off what RDS said, Target does sell certain things that Wal-Mart doesn’t (or won’t) sell (designer label clothing and high-end electronics, among other things).

Wal-Mart, on the other hand, sells stuff that Target doesn’t/won’t sell (wider range of sporting goods/automotive parts).

As for Kmart, they do have something that both WM and Target doesn’t have—empty parking lots!

As for Kmart, they do have something that both WM and Target doesn’t have—empty parking lots!

I hope Wal-Mart doesn’t consider KMart an example of a clean kill. Bentonville did everything* they could to completely destroy KMart and it’s still ALIVE! A mere shadow of it’s former self perhaps, but still taking customers away from Wal-Mart.

*At the time KMart went under Chapter 11, Bentonville alumni were at the helm of KMart and it’s number one grocery supplier (which also went belly up).

Two ambitious executives who left Bentonville, Ark., include Mark Schwartz, former president of discount chain Kmart Corp., and Mark Hansen, former chief executive of food distributor Fleming Cos. Inc.

At Fleming, analysts say, Hansen overextended the business by racking up a string of acquisitions during his tenure as CEO from 1998 until last month. He also sought to reconfigure the company’s supermarkets into low-price food stores, an area ruled by Wal-Mart. Dallas-based Fleming was Kmart’s food distributor and when its 10-year, $4.5-billion contract with the discount chain was canceled, the financially shaky company fell into bankruptcy.

As any Anti Wal-Marter can tell you, these retail chains die slowly!

Ken V,

“I hope Wal-Mart doesn’t consider KMart an example of a clean kill. Bentonville did everything* they could to completely destroy KMart and it’s still ALIVE!”

Only because it is on ‘life support’ because they refused to ‘pull the plug’!!  It’s basically, in a coma!!

“Schwartz and Hansen tried to mirror Wal-Mart’s success and failed, as both companies are in Chapter 11 bankruptcy”

You can’t always save a patient who is almost dead, no matter how hard you try!!  It was too little, too late!!  The main thing that K-Mart was and is lacking, is ‘customers’!!

RDS
“Schwartz and Hansen tried to mirror Wal-Mart’s success and failed, as both companies are in Chapter 11 bankruptcy”

It alway’s helps if the first lady is on your board of directors.

Bobby,

“It alway’s helps if the first lady is on your board of directors.”

Was Hillary Clinton on Wal-Mart’s board in 1998?  I don’t think so!!

BTW: I wonder how it is, that K-Mart, once ‘King of the hill’ in the retail space, couldn’t maintain their business, but retail stores like Dollar General, Family Dollar, Target, Shopco, Aldis, Walgreens, Kohls, Pennys and many others are not only staying in business, but GROWING as well!!

...once ‘King of the hill’ in the retail space...

That should be a lesson for all you pro folks who think Wal-Mart is too big to ever fail. I think they said that about the Roman Empire as well.

“A better legacy than a Wal-Mart would be a vacant lot.” ~ Linda Bevard

Wal-Mart does NOT censor music.  Wal-Mart sells albums that the record company AND the artist has censored.  If the “artist” was a true artist he or she would NOT allow the album to be edited.  It comes down to $$$$ and greed on the artists’ part and the record company.  Just say “NO.” I WON’T release an edited album.

OK RDS I’ll Bite,
What does 1998 have to do with Hill being on the board of directors at Wal*Mart. She feft the post shortly before her husbands presidential run. The mechanisms for the wal*mart’s rise were all put into place in the 90’s. So what are you reffering to in 1998?

Wal-Mart does NOT censor music.

Sorry, Kenny, but that’s like saying Wal-Mart does NOT encourage their suppliers to move to China, Bangladesh, etc.

If the “artist” was a true artist he or she would NOT allow the album to be edited.

Wal-Mart has asked artists and their labels to clean up records for years, but the issue crystallized with a New York Times article and the retailer’s banning of Sheryl Crow’s album because of the lyric: “Watch our children as they kill each other with a gun they bought at Wal-Mart discount stores.” Crow refused to change the verse.

I suppose the argument can be made that Wal-Mart does NOT censor music or encourage expatriation directly but the results are the same.

What’s good for Wal-Mart is BAD for America!

Bobby,

“So what are you reffering to in 1998?”

First, Ken V. said that Schwartz and Hansen worked for K-Mart and could bring K-Mart up, even by mirroring Wal-Mart!!

Hansen, it is stated, took over in 1998!!

Then you stated that “It alway’s helps if the first lady is on your board of directors.”, but, Hillary was NOT on the board in 1998 or while she was the first lady, so how could she be on Wal-Mart’s board during Schwartz and Hansen’s try at saving K-Mart!!  Get it now?  So, your claim that “It alway’s helps if the first lady is on your board of directors.” is not factual!!

Correction: Should have read, “could NOT bring K-Mart up,”, sorry!!

...Schwartz and Hansen’s try at saving K-Mart!!

Perhaps if you reread my earlier post, RDS, you will see Schwartz and Hansen didn’t try to save KMart. The argument can be made they did everything they could to finish KMART off.

The (Schwartz’s) plan backfired and contributed to a liquidity crisis that eventually led to bankruptcy.

I don’t believe for a second that you can undo Bentonville brainwashing. I do believe, however, that Schwartz and Hansen were still under Bentonville’s control. Using Limbaugh Logic, I will continue to believe that until someone can prove me wrong.

Wal-mart is the most sued company in the world. ~ Orrin Woodward

Ken V,

I reread your post and I think these 3 statements there show that they WERE trying to save K-Mart:

“Schwartz and Hansen tried to mirror Wal-Mart’s success”, “At Troy-based Kmart, Schwartz helped devise an aggressive plan to compete with Wal-Mart” and “He also sought to reconfigure the company’s supermarkets into low-price food stores, an area ruled by Wal-Mart.”

Just because their plans ‘backfired’, doesn’t mean they didn’t try to save K-Mart, it only means they FAILED!!  Like I said, if a company is near death, it is not always likely that you can save them!!  Once ‘customers’ leave, it’s hard to get them to come back!!  How many times have you heard it said here, “No matter how much Wal-Mart changes, I will never shop there again”, same goes for K-Mart!!  And, that goes for ANY business!!

hey ken k-mart cut its own throat by their higher prices not anything wm ever did fool.where were you buddy whining when k-mart was at the top yrs ago?

...where were you buddy...(/)

One more time in the irrational hope it will sink in, MATT.
I am not anti big box retail. I am only anti Wal-Mart!

Savvy?

What’s good for Wal-Mart is BAD for America!

I am only anti Wal-Mart!

Translation for Matt V:

“Wal-Mart hurt Ken, and now Ken, through the power of his computer, is gonna hurt Wal-Mart back!”

How much of that did I get right, Kenbo?

I am only anti Wal-Mart!

Translation for Matt V:

“Wal-Mart hurt Ken, and now Ken, through the power of his computer, is gonna hurt Wal-Mart back!”

How much of that did I get right, Kenbo?

How much of that did I get right, Kenbo?

50%

Burt Flickinger III, managing director of Strategic Resource Group, a retail consulting firm, said Wal-Mart initiated its ($4 drug) program as a “loss leader” to draw traffic to its stores and increase its business, but added it has not had as much of an impact as the giant retailer had hoped because of the quick response by competitors and because of the company’s broader marketing problems.