Why WalMart failed in germany...

No. . .I really don't care. So what are we arguing about?
We both know that "les frites" are as Belgian as "moules et frites" or the "steak et pomme frites" is to the French.

What I don't understand is why you seem to feel so threatened by this. And, shouldn't we get back on topic? Because, obviously, the subject here is not ketchup or fries, but the success (or lack thereof) of Wallmart in Europe.

Now. .. I believe that you will agree that Wallmart will never replace Auchan or Castorama in France, right?

 

I was stationed in Germany in 1971-72 I was there for seven months. About the only people I ran into that weren't at least moderaty fluent in English, and that includes a little Gasthaus out in what passes for the country in Germany, that had some really good hasenpfefer, were some Turkish waitresses in Munich where I played in a Chess tournament.

 

If you don't occasionally fail, you just aren't trying hard enough.

Maybe Wal-Mart didn't work in Germany. It'll work someplace else.

Mickey D's does OK in France.

 

LMAO! Hold your breath!! This is just the top 50. You will recognize some of those names.

http://www.gaccny.com/fileadmin/ahk_gaccny/Communications/Publications/Top50Ranking2010.pdf

 

Nice. But the fluency in English, while MUCH more common in Germany than in almost any other countries in continental Europe (except for Holland, of course), is still not general. It is more common in areas where American bases are established (i.e., Frankfurt and Munich), but it is not generalized.

But obviously, if you were an American military stationed in one of the bases, you would have been surrounded by people and businesses catering to the US military base.

 

Yes! You beat me to it!

I think that many people here do not realize that so many business are of German origin (i.e., many people don't realize that their beloved BAYER aspirin is German!), and the importance of German business in the US labor market.

 

It is a simple and absolute fact, the the living standard in Germany is higher than in the US. I have lived in both countries. You are a victim of propaganda.

 

Who said I feel threatened? I'm not the one who started this petty debate. But if you want to know I used to shop at Auchan to find French products when in Houston. Though I admit I don't remember shopping at Walmart, I much prefered what Randalls had to offer .

 

That's one of the reasons I tried to get out of the big cities as much as possible. The response to GI's was somewhat less virulent out in the countryside.
The response of many Germans, though scarcely all, in what were essentially military towns, was quite similar to what it was in Britain during the Build up to D-Day, which ran something along the lines of "There's only three things wrong with GIs, they're oversexed, over paid, and over here. All in all I can't really say that I blame the German Civilians. A ot of GI's I knew up to and including Noncoms and some officers seemed to go to great links to earn that distaste.

 

Apparently, Germans don't like cheap goods available 24 hours a day. What a strange breed of people.

 

Actually, you responded to a comment I made to criticize my comment. . . so I don't think I was responsible for this silly exchange.
I have never lived near a Auchan store in the US, but that was where I shopped at least once a month when I lived near Versaille (Parly II). I am not sure I know Randalls. . . and I do remember shopping a few times at Walmart when my kids were younger. Never again.

I like FRESH vegetables, and Wallmart seems to be the WORST store with the smallest selection for fresh vegetables!

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Correct, Europeans prefer QUALITY goods that are FRESH daily and are not CHEAP but GOOD VALUE FOR THE MONEY.

Nothing you can find (at least not in the grocery department!) in Walmart!

 

Lol! That was cute. But we're talking cheap in price, not quality. Nothing you buy at Walmart is any different from anything you buy at any other grocery store. It's the same damn product. It's just available 24 hours a day and will often cost you less money. And anything you're about to say to the contrary is just an empty emotional response. And if you're honest with yourself, you should be able to admit that. I just find it funny that Germans are offended by greeters. That says a lot about their culture to me. Not very friendly people, are they?

 

You may not have been talking about the quality. . .I was. And Walmart (at least in their produce department) is NOT cheap, their vegetables are rarely fresh, and they offer very little choice. . . .I guess they prefer to sell can goods!

"Greeters" may or may not be friendly. . .most of them are just doing a JOB and would much rather be home if they could afford it. While German are not known for their outward warmth, they are DIRECT and private, and I personally do not enjoy having to get a false smile when I am in a hurry and want to get in and out. I would MUCH prefer to have an extra cashier to speed up the check out than ANY greeter.

Same with the over-attentive waiters in restaurants. . .they are not "good," they are ANNOYING! It is just NOT the style of good service in Europe.

By the way. . .greeters are often "the watch dog" of who comes in and out of the store, and the "greeting" is kind of a misnomer!

 

Two things I don't like, greeters (especially those who hand out store catalogs) and sales people hanging around me and following me around the store when I'm just browsing.

 

I agree! It is the fastest way to get me to leave the store! If I want assistance, I like to ask for assistance.
But waiters who come every 5 minutes to ask if everything is alright are also very annoying. ..especially when they usually come when one's mouth is full. . .and then disappear when one is ready to leave and it is time for one to ask for the check!

 

Yeah, they must have morals or something..not wanting child labor mega profiteers coming in and strip mining their country like they do in the US. Chinese garbage apparently doesn't appeal to them either...yes, very different.

 

bull(*)(*)(*)(*), almost no one in eastern germany or not so big cities speaks english.

 

Thats funny, because we spy you to make big money. Several large multi billion $ contracts from your government went straight to Siemens lately. Siemens was able to deliver exactly what they wanted before they even announced it...maybe you should change your spy target system.

 

I'm young, i'm healthy. I have strong arms. Give me a reason why i should allow bull(*)(*)(*)(*) jobs being created that are senseless and baseless? I put my goods into the bags myself. Its that easy.

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Not in my country. Here it wasn't accepted and they hold no authority anyways.

 

German corporations rule in the US...Daimler, VW, Porsche, BASF, Bayer, T-Sytems...

 

How is it friendly to exploid a poor person in a stupid job, no one would take if not in need? I dont support slavery. I support honorable people.

 

*Glitch posted in wrong thread*

 

So far as I can see, apart from failure to adjust to differences in customs, everything in your analysis is anecdotal and unsubstantiated.

But the failure to adjust to customs is not shocking, nor is it really damning of the company. Name a German retailer comparable to Wal Mart (that is, one of a comparable business, so not BMW) that has been able to compete successfully on the US market. There are significant cultural differences - that that is a problem is not shocking nor is it damning.

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Germany's trade balance is largely based on the backs of migrant workers, to a greater extent than the export of the United States is - and you complain about American companies and their supposed "slave labor"? Are you hoping that we don't know about the Turks in Germany and their plight?

 

That no one would take a given job if they were not in need does not make it slavery - that makes it a free market. Supply meets demand. Or is Germany still racist by "exploiting" it's "slave" migrant work force?

 

Erm.. Why did you like my post?

I hope you don't think I did a sneaky edit, I just accidently posted something intended for the gay marriage thread.