The nation's largest retailer keeps working to make headway against the largest online seller.
Wal-Mart drew more shoppers to its namesake stores in the United States and its online sales soared 29 percent in the fourth quarter, which covers the critical holiday shopping season. That's an indication that its efforts to lower prices and improve web services are helping it compete better against Amazon, which has built fierce loyalty with its Prime two-day shipping program.
Like other traditional retailers, Wal-Mart has been trying to improve its online operations to challenge Amazon, which accounted for 33 percent of total U.S. online sales last year, according to the research firm Euromonitor. Wal-Mart moved into second place last year ahead of eBay, accounting for 7.8 percent of online sales, up from 7.4 percent in 2015. But Wal-Mart's online sales still only account for about 3 percent of its global sales, or about $14 billion. That compares with $94 billion in global net product sales for Amazon.com.
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It's interesting karma that the behemouth Amazon is eating up the smaller Walmart.. threatening to put them out of business.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that what Walmart has done for years to the mom-and-pop businesses in the communities where they go? Determined to be the big dog, they undercut the smaller guys till they wither and blow away.
What goes around comes around, eh?
Call it the "Walmart Effect".
Interesting, the karma here-- Walmart comes into a town and puts the smaller guys out of business with predatory pricing, then takes over.
ReplyDeleteNow Amazon is killing them with the online business...
What goes around comes around, eh?
Call it the "Walmart Effect"
** Note to online Walmart electronics buyers: When you are buying and checking out, then find out that there is no way to access extended warrantee (usually 2 years) know that Walmart has a brand new recent unspoken policy, if this should happen to you. You cannot go to store and get the extended warrantee ( I tried). They will also NOT take item back or refund your $$$'s even though it does not work. Excuse given? They did not sell it (on their Walmart site), a third party sold it. You'll have to go to them/send it back (by registered mail for smart people/cannot dent they received it upon return), not us at Walmart. I just learned this on a $99.99 call blocker that was purchased as brand new and arrived not working, dirty inside box, owners manual missing = an already returned/repackaged item = I'm on my own and have yet to make contact with seller - Walmart Does NOT back what they sell anymore.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up, 4:17.
ReplyDeleteI suspected something like that, but now I know.
There are 3rd party sellers on amazon too. You need to look at what you are buying before hitting the buy button on the cheapest item. Products on walmart's website that are sold by walmart can be shipped to and picked up at any walmart and for free.
ReplyDelete