Wal-Mart: Our shoppers are running out of money

[St. Auggie]

It's not the sprawl it's having a dependence on a fuel source that is out of our control. This article is about the effect of gas prices, if the H powered car or elect car was available in abundance sprawl means nothing in this discussion. It's been obvious since Carter was pres that we were going to ignore the real problem.

[ChriswUfGator]

Sprawl is the cause of that dependence, in large part. Drive less = use less fuel.

What do you think happened the past 30 years as we developed this unsustainable growth pattern where a 30 mile daily commute is normal? And everybody moved to suburbia so there are no viable walking or public transit options. What do you think that did to our energy usage? Nothing?

[dougskiles]

I don't necessarily see electric cars promoting sprawl.  People driving them will be much more conscious of their limited range and choose to live closer to work, shop closer to home and play in the neighborhood.

[sheclown]

Ironically, higher gas prices might just save local economies.  Take cheap transportation costs out of the equation, and mom and pops just gained a more level playing field.  Local farms can compete against mega ones, little hardware stores against Lowes.  

I think about the gas cost now.  I'll gladly pay an extra $2.00 for a bucket of drywall compound at Pasco's Hardware if it saves me from having to drive and pay for the gas for a 15 minute ride to Lowes.

Higher gas prices aren't necessarily a bad thing in the long run.  Just sayin'

[dougskiles]

I used to be secretly pulling for $5/gallon gas.  Now I am openly pulling for $6/gallon.  I would love nothing more than the return of the mom and pop stores!

[RMHoward]

What IS pretty obvious to the Wal-Mart folks is that people have less money to spend on their stuff, most people, at least 47% in Jacksonville are underwater on their mortgage, because they used to use their home as a piggy bank, buying cars and "stuff" until they cashed in all the "equity". So the good times of the 2000s are over and we are faced with the sobering reality that someone needs to pay for all of the mess. A serious cleanup on aisle 5.

I love how you generalize. Makes you sound good & dumb.

Most people I know who are underwater didn't do any of the sort & the only thing they were guilty of was buying a home at the wrong time.

Not saying there weren't people doing what you described, but I think you need to reach further into your "I'm smart, everyone else is stupid" bag of blame. You know, the one with the shiny "Know-it-all Republican" seal on it. It's much deeper than that, chief.

I was about to agree with everything you said.  I bought my house in 2005, put down 30%, make all my payments, and have not taken out any loans on it.  Not sure how much equity i have lost, but it is at least 50k.  You accuse the guy of over generalizing folks.  Then at the end, you drag politics into your otherwise intelligent comments and basically accuse Republicans of being know it alls.  Now, i think i know how you feel about all republicans. What hippocrits you folks can be.  This place would be such a great place to communicate with other members of the communtity if not for the rabid political name calling that goes on.

[acme54321]

This place would be such a great place to communicate with other members of the communtity if not for the rabid political name calling that goes on.

[wsansewjs]

What IS pretty obvious to the Wal-Mart folks is that people have less money to spend on their stuff, most people, at least 47% in Jacksonville are underwater on their mortgage, because they used to use their home as a piggy bank, buying cars and "stuff" until they cashed in all the "equity". So the good times of the 2000s are over and we are faced with the sobering reality that someone needs to pay for all of the mess. A serious cleanup on aisle 5.

I love how you generalize. Makes you sound good & dumb.

Most people I know who are underwater didn't do any of the sort & the only thing they were guilty of was buying a home at the wrong time.

Not saying there weren't people doing what you described, but I think you need to reach further into your "I'm smart, everyone else is stupid" bag of blame. You know, the one with the shiny "Know-it-all Republican" seal on it. It's much deeper than that, chief.

I was about to agree with everything you said.  I bought my house in 2005, put down 30%, make all my payments, and have not taken out any loans on it.  Not sure how much equity i have lost, but it is at least 50k.  You accuse the guy of over generalizing folks.  Then at the end, you drag politics into your otherwise intelligent comments and basically accuse Republicans of being know it alls.  Now, i think i know how you feel about all republicans. What hippocrits you folks can be.  This place would be such a great place to communicate with other members of the communtity if not for the rabid political name calling that goes on.

I am not a member of MetroJacksonville committee or being one of the moderators, but the moderators are doing everything as humanely as possible to maintain a proper and civil environment without abusing the freedom of speech.

-Josh

[peestandingup]

What IS pretty obvious to the Wal-Mart folks is that people have less money to spend on their stuff, most people, at least 47% in Jacksonville are underwater on their mortgage, because they used to use their home as a piggy bank, buying cars and "stuff" until they cashed in all the "equity". So the good times of the 2000s are over and we are faced with the sobering reality that someone needs to pay for all of the mess. A serious cleanup on aisle 5.

I love how you generalize. Makes you sound good & dumb.

Most people I know who are underwater didn't do any of the sort & the only thing they were guilty of was buying a home at the wrong time.

Not saying there weren't people doing what you described, but I think you need to reach further into your "I'm smart, everyone else is stupid" bag of blame. You know, the one with the shiny "Know-it-all Republican" seal on it. It's much deeper than that, chief.

I was about to agree with everything you said.  I bought my house in 2005, put down 30%, make all my payments, and have not taken out any loans on it.  Not sure how much equity i have lost, but it is at least 50k.  You accuse the guy of over generalizing folks.  Then at the end, you drag politics into your otherwise intelligent comments and basically accuse Republicans of being know it alls.  Now, i think i know how you feel about all republicans. What hippocrits you folks can be.  This place would be such a great place to communicate with other members of the communtity if not for the rabid political name calling that goes on.

I was in no way generilizing all Republicans as know-it-alls, just him, because that's what he always comes off as & makes the type of comments you're talking about. To be honest, I consider myself a conservative, because I believe in a lot of those core values (more of a Goldwater conservative, not these newfangled types).

I don't like the political angle being used in every discussion either. Maybe I should have refrained, but I was trying to give him a taste of his own medicine & make him realize how stupid he was sounding. I normally don't drag it into the discussion though.

[Shwaz]

I used to be secretly pulling for $5/gallon gas.  Now I am openly pulling for $6/gallon.  I would love nothing more than the return of the mom and pop stores!

Couldn't be more short sighted here. Do you think Mom & Pops have the operating capital to survive the slow times and the great recession better than a massive company such as Wal-mart? Do you think M & P's have the profit margins to withstand the cost of goods increases that are tied to price prices at the pump? Do you understand that Wal-Mart has there own fleet of trucks and purchases gas at wholesale to move product throughout the country?

[danem]

I used to be secretly pulling for $5/gallon gas.  Now I am openly pulling for $6/gallon.  I would love nothing more than the return of the mom and pop stores!

Couldn't be more short sighted here. Do you think Mom & Pops have the operating capital to survive the slow times and the great recession better than a massive company such as Wal-mart? Do you think M & P's have the profit margins to withstand the cost of goods increases that are tied to price prices at the pump? Do you understand that Wal-Mart has there own fleet of trucks and purchases gas at wholesale to move product throughout the country?

I agree. Gas prices are going to do a lot more than merely make it more expensive to drive to Wal-mart. Prices of many, many things are going to increase, and it will hurt everyone in many ways. "Mom and Pop" and other competing businesses need to focus on differentiating, being stronger in areas where Wal-mart falls flat (and there are several!). THAT is how they are going to do well, not waiting for Wal-mart to fail.

[KenFSU]

"Mom and Pop" and other competing businesses need to focus on differentiating, being stronger in areas where Wal-mart falls flat (and there are several!). THAT is how they are going to do well, not waiting for Wal-mart to fail.

Could not agree more.

Well said.

[BridgeTroll]

I used to be secretly pulling for $5/gallon gas.  Now I am openly pulling for $6/gallon.  I would love nothing more than the return of the mom and pop stores!

Couldn't be more short sighted here. Do you think Mom & Pops have the operating capital to survive the slow times and the great recession better than a massive company such as Wal-mart? Do you think M & P's have the profit margins to withstand the cost of goods increases that are tied to price prices at the pump? Do you understand that Wal-Mart has there own fleet of trucks and purchases gas at wholesale to move product throughout the country?

Higher fuel prices only hurt M&P stores... Wal-mart can ride it out... M&P cannot.  Ya missed on this one Doug...

[Shwaz]

I used to be secretly pulling for $5/gallon gas.  Now I am openly pulling for $6/gallon.  I would love nothing more than the return of the mom and pop stores!

Couldn't be more short sighted here. Do you think Mom & Pops have the operating capital to survive the slow times and the great recession better than a massive company such as Wal-mart? Do you think M & P's have the profit margins to withstand the cost of goods increases that are tied to price prices at the pump? Do you understand that Wal-Mart has there own fleet of trucks and purchases gas at wholesale to move product throughout the country?

Higher fuel prices only hurt M&P stores... Wal-mart can ride it out... M&P cannot.  Ya missed on this one Doug...

No BT - as soon as the marquees are changed to $6 a gallon Wal-Mart will close it's doors. Everyone wil be able to sell their under valued homes and move back to the core.... and all of the new technologies that are currently being held back (for no reason what-so-ever) will launch worldwide... life will be a green utopia... it's gonna be great!

[Ralph W]

[/quote]

Higher fuel prices only hurt M&P stores... Wal-mart can ride it out... M&P cannot.  Ya missed on this one Doug...
[/quote]

No BT - as soon as the marquees are changed to $6 a gallon Wal-Mart will close it's doors. Everyone wil be able to sell their under valued homes and move back to the core.... and all of the new technologies that are currently being held back (for no reason what-so-ever) will launch worldwide... life will be a green utopia... it's gonna be great!
[/quote]

Is there enough room in your cheek to hold all that tongue?