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tosh

(4,423 posts)
Fri Apr 5, 2013, 10:14 AM Apr 2013

ROFLMAO!! Wal-Mart.....

Now Wal-Mart wants you to make its deliveries

The retailer mulls a plan to ask store customers to drop off online orders. Is it a way to compete with Amazon, or cut costs?

By Aimee Picchi Mar 28, 2013 1:46PM

http://money.msn.com/now/post.aspx?post=51a59563-9212-4b0c-81ba-67abc46ab36b#scptih$

Retailing giant Wal-Mart (WMT -0.77%) is eyeing the "sharing economy," but that might mean unloading some of its costs onto customers.

That's because it's considering a plan that would ask in-store customers to deliver packages for online buyers as it seeks to remain competitive with Internet retailer Amazon.com (AMZN -1.40%), according to a report from Reuters.

The plan raises questions about Wal-Mart's motives, such as whether the company -- known for its tight controls on spending -- is seeking simply to defray delivery costs by unloading the burden on its customers.

Wal-Mart said it would offer a discount for in-store customers if they agreed to drop off packages for online buyers while on their way home, according to the report. Joel Anderson, the chief executive of Walmart.com in the U.S., said the discount would cover the cost of gas.

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There is more at the link.

This is so hair-brained!

I can only surmise that they've sensed that they are going down!




13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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HiPointDem

(20,729 posts)
1. they need to share more, then i might consider it. like their 16 billion in profits from last year.
Fri Apr 5, 2013, 10:17 AM
Apr 2013

all of it.

that would be a real sharing economy.

JHB

(37,161 posts)
2. It's one thing to have merchandise walk out the back, it's another to...
Fri Apr 5, 2013, 10:29 AM
Apr 2013

...give it a kiss and wave goodbye.


What are their losses going to be, thanks to false names, identity theft, and people never delivering the merchandise in question. Or someone stealing it at the point of delivery. "I put it inside their screen door. Not my fault no one was home."

And if their attempts to safeguard against that become too onerous, how many reliable people will put up with it? Enough?

Then there are liability issues: accident or injury while delivering? Either receiving or causing.

Cirque du So-What

(25,949 posts)
3. And for all the problems inherent to this scheme that we can think of
Fri Apr 5, 2013, 10:34 AM
Apr 2013

there are likely at least an equal number of problems that haven't even yet been considered - not even by the legal beagles in Bentonville. I predict this scheme will never see the light of day.

 

IdaBriggs

(10,559 posts)
9. ^== This (JHB) post. Because why hire employees when idiots will do it for free? **
Fri Apr 5, 2013, 11:53 AM
Apr 2013

** Except when they take the "discount" and steal the merchandise, or give it to someone else.

"Customer Volunteers: When Paying Employees Costs Too Much."

Hassin Bin Sober

(26,330 posts)
11. Yeah, how bout it.
Fri Apr 5, 2013, 12:43 PM
Apr 2013

What was the old joke?:

"Why not give the US mail to Jehovah's Witnesses, they're going to your house anyway."

But who would have dreamed the largest US employer would also have the most employees on public aid?

Joke's on us, I guess.

mysuzuki2

(3,521 posts)
6. Take a look at the web site "People of WalMart"
Fri Apr 5, 2013, 11:45 AM
Apr 2013

and ask yourself whether you want any of those people to show up at your front door.

Myrina

(12,296 posts)
12. Sure, why not ... if it's something I happen to need/want ...
Fri Apr 5, 2013, 12:46 PM
Apr 2013

... the delivery may sorta not happen. Then the purchaser can seek recompense from the corporation.


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