Retail Watchers

I am going to throw something out there. I feel that, if this merger does happen, that the combined company should, as a condition of the merger, eliminate the loyalty card programs and instead allow everybody to purchase items at sale prices, and lower the shelf prices. I have noticed regular price...

I am not convinced that the Albertsons name will entirely disappear, especially in Idaho, but could also see this brand remaining in Montana and Wyoming.

It's interesting that Kroger is opening these while the Fred Meyer brand, with the similar format, is stagnant in regard to new locations.

Walmart is getting rid of the tile because concrete does not need wax or expensive chemicals. Tile floors need to be stripped and waxed. It is a cost and labor savings measure. Well, they are putting wax, chemicals, or something on the floor to make it shiny. Concrete doesn't look shiny by itself. ...

Went into the West Longview Walmart this morning. They decided to remove the tile floor and switch to polished concrete flooring, as they had shelving removed in areas of the store, with other areas already done back to their previous layout. (they are going from the center of the store and moving o...

I accidentally posted in the wrong place. Sorry.

In the Pacific Northwest, there will almost certainly be an elimination of at least one or two banners if this moves forward. It's going to be hard to justify having Fred Meyer, QFC, Haggen, Albertsons, and Safeway all remaining in the areas where all of those brands are presently in use.

A lot of the problem with higher prices has to do with higher minimum wages, and the pandemic restrictions, unfortunately, have served as a convenient excuse to provide subpar service and limit the hours of operation. I am somewhat surprised by how long some restaurants have kept restrictions in pla...

Another closure has been announced in Austintown, Ohio:

https://www.wkbn.com/news/local-news/jc ... he-valley/

So far this year, it seems like the small markets are the ones JCPenney is closing.

Some of these things could be addressed in a Sam's Club format, which restricts entry to begin with. Do they actually do that? I may have been in one once or twice, but not recently. BJ's that we have here did that when they first started, but now only check people leaving, no one checks for a card...