I don't completely disagree. Sam Walton was the first to say that he didn't fully understand the grocery business. After all, they had only opened between 6-10 Supercenters before his death, so he didn't really see the full benefit of them. But he did believe in them. I think Walmart had to evolve somewhat, away from the fully non-gimmicky environment, or they wouldn't have survived in the grocery business.
Where I live in Louisiana, there are 4 main competitors: Albertsons, Super 1 Foods (Brookshire Grocery Company), Winn Dixie (though lesser than before) and Rouses. None of those multiply coupons in any way. I think the only company with a Louisiana presence who does is Kroger, and that's just Lake Charles, Alexandria and Shreveport.mbz321 wrote: ↑January 23rd, 2018, 5:44 pm I'm not even talking about advertised items...I'm taking about regular everyday prices. Walmart in reality really isn't that much lower, if they are lower at all. Now in certain markets (Florida as an example), they are lower, because the only real large scale competition they have is Publix and to a much lesser extent, Winn Dixie. Savings Catcher is about as gimmicky has having loss leaders. Walmart also does horribly in my area because every grocery chain except for one that I can think of doubles manufacturers coupons to a certain value, and Walmart won't do it.
As far as competitive prices, like I said, it isn't about everyday pricing. You go in to save on what you can to get it to balance out with other stores, and use Savings Catcher to get back in. Essentially, the tortoise (slow and steady) wins the race over the rabbit (all out fast but haphazard). Albertsons is trying this philosophy, but their center store pricing is so bad that it doesn't offset everything else. Winn Dixie is the same. Super 1 Foods somewhat balances out, but there aren't as many of them, and Rouses somewhat balances, plus they have the peripheral departments to outweigh pricing. It's all about how you want to shop.