I also follow the views of the financial experts.  Most put it at about a 1
in 4 or 1 in 5 chance of survival to as bad as no chance in the walmart
world.  They did agree though that if the kmart team pulls it off it will be
with brand power with the martha stewart and craftsman names as the leaders.
Again the problem being that walmart types have made brand names in many
areas meaningless.
Walmart may be on the edge soon though in some areas.  There are many things
they are starting to get burned on because of the cost/value difference. Get
burned on cheap junk enough and you start buying the slightly higher cost
but far better products instead.  I have several neighbors that wont shop in
walmart at all anymore because of it.  They were refused zoning for
stores 4 times in the last three years here in the denver area.  Here in
aurora a super kmart wqs approved but the application for a walmart to
become a super  walmart was overwhelmingly turned down.
........................................
jimt
Planned insanity is best.
Remember that sanity is optional.
----------------------------- Clip ----------------------------------
Now that we're completely off the Vanagon realm of things.
In Dallas we now have Costco and they appear to have better merchandise but
even though you have the same name and the box looks similar you can bet
that the Wal Mart merchandise has had the necessary cost cutting corners to
meet their demands.
It's just frustrating to me to have to return defective merchandise. It
certainly takes the bargain out of it when your $20.00 item requires roughly
an hour and three or more gallons of gas to return.

Stan Wilder
Engine Ceramics
214-352-4931
www.engineceramics.com

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