WalMart dresses ~ Lulupink
 

Just felt compelled to write a wey bit of history as I know it in regards to different pricing between little boutique's pricing versus WalMart, and the like. In the past I have done millions of dollars with WalMart (ladies wholesale) with manufacturing companies that I worked for. WalMart writes HUGE orders, and either you meet their prices or you don’t get the business. They plan out their business up to a year before the garments hit the floor. During that time manufactures negotiate everything they can down to the penny, literally. When you are dealing with 100 of thousands of garments pennies do count. Most manufacturers want their business because the volume makes up for the low profit margin, but man, they are a pain in the ass to deal with. They call the shots, and everything that goes into their stores is run through a vigorous quality control program. The majority of manufacturers will sell to them under their (Walmart) brand label, and sell to other stores using their “better” label. WalMart on occasion will demand the “better” label, and depending on the company they will normally get what they want. Those huge orders are very hard to turn down no matter who you are.

Anyway, the purpose of my post is one must realize that the small boutiques here are not getting WalMart wholesale prices, they are being charged the max as most businesses here are small. They get no breaks as to wholesale prices. I can almost assure you, the retail prices being paid for a dress at WalMart is more than likely less then what our merchants here are buying the dresses for wholesale. It’s just the way business works, so what some might see as an outrageous markup, probably is not really the case. The bottom line is please don’t judge our small boutiques prices as being absorbenant as compared to WalMart, they are not getting the same wholesale prices, and just trying to make a living. As a vendor I would be plenty po’d if I bought the line and had no idea WalMart would be carrying the same thing……..

In the meantime I did go to WalMart this am and bought a few Lulupink dresses, they are adorable, so this thread is not about not getting a good deal, it’s about realizing what goes on behind the scenes and understanding what the small business owner is dealing with in many cases.

I can completely understand their situation, but people are going to shop where they can get the best deal for their dollar. That's just a fact of life. I don't think our vendors are trying to rip us off, but keep a float.

:yeahthat: I don't really think it was about businesses doing high prices but that people will go where the items are cheaper... And just because someone say the will go to the cheaper place doesn't mean they are trying to hurt the other business. If someone mentions a cheaper place then I will try it out. They weren't trying to hurt anyone just point a person to a cheaper direction...

I can definitely understand that small businesses can't sell for the same price as larger businesses.

I don't see them as trying to rip anyone off. Plus, any store can mark their products up to what they want and that's their business. If people choose to buy at that price, then that is great -- and the prices of items vary so much from store to store that I can walk through my mall from store to store and find 4 different prices on the same item. And, I definitely don't think Sears is ripping me off because Bon Ton has the thing I want cheaper. It's just how it happens.

I don't think that posting a great deal though was trying to hurt someone's business. I would be excited too if I saw Lulu Pink in Walmart for a fraction of the cost I normally see it at. There are only so many clothes I can buy for my furkids, having multiple ones so when I see great deals I get super excited because i can buy more -- so I think it was just someone being nice and trying to help out others, not someone being rude or hurtful to anyone else.

Perhaps my post is being misinterpreted...... I was only giving a synopsis, nothing more, nothing less of what a small business owner is up against....

It was NOT personal against anyone........Geez...I'm all for a great deal, and did buy Lulu at WalMart this AM. Where I said someone was trying to hurt someone else's business in my post is beyond me.........

Walmart has Lulu pink ??? Where ?

Agree! We all know that she wasn't trying to hurt businesses but trying to show us a great deal. And we understand about why items are priced at such because of what that business was charged at wholesale determines how much the consumer has to pay/being charged...

Some people might post about how the way she went about it was wrong and blah blah blah, but till they know it was a mistake and houldn't dwell on it because she learned and many others have, too.

Either way, I don't think this tread should have been created. What ever happened should be between them two. I think this thread might get unwanted attention and think this should be close. It's just asking for trouble.

Oh I know but I was saying that because when people read this they will go back to 'that' thread...

I agree!!:thumbup: :thumbup:

Sorry but i don't think the person was trying to do anything wrong it was an honest attempt to help other yt members out on getting a good deal. Some venders get great prices for some of thier wholesale products and choose to raise the price after to sell and that is their right but it doesn't mean that anyone should come on and bash and threaten someone for finding a good deal else where. I have looked into whole selling and it's ridiculous for some things for ex..
You buy a shirt at wholesale price of $7.99 and then you turn around and sell it for $36.99:eek: sorry but if i find the same shirt for $12.00 i will buy it at that price. Sorry but if walmart carries it for a cheaper price then i guess everyone will have to lower their prices or not carry the item anymore but don't come on here being rude to someone for finding a good deal. JUst MPO

Just felt compelled to write a wey bit of history as I know it in regards to different pricing between little boutique's pricing versus WalMart, and the like.

I agree... when I was collecting Barbie dolls I originally had to buy certain ones at Mattel approved doll stores, high end stores or buy them directly through Mattel. These dolls were higher priced and simply not available anywhere else. THEN all of a sudden Sam's Club had a Calvin Klein Barbie for $25 when we had paid $89.95 plus shipping!!! Not only was that the decline of the "Limited Edition" Barbies (obviously) but the value of these dolls dropped and they have never recovered.

I didn't buy for resale - only my own pleasure but as you can imagine I was furious with Mattel. Time and time again it was happening. We all learned to wait for these to come out at WalMart, Sam's Club or simply on clearance. What a shame - greed caused the demise of this American Icon. Not WalMart - but Mattel's!!! Once something is mass produced it's not longer a Limited Edition and valuable.

It's only been in the last year or two that Mattel has tried to go back to limiting the number of dolls being made and they are now color coded (ie silver, gold, pink etc). Problem is... now no one believes that they won't do it again and no one is buying these high end dolls.

BTW the dolls stores were paying more for their dolls than WalMart, Sam's etc and in the end many stores went under because of it.

We all like a good deal, and we all want to pay less - it's the big companies/manufacturers that are making the money! :(
</IMG>

:thumbup: The way she went about saying he shouldn't have done that was RUDE. and she knew it was a mistake, too but still she was saying it wasn't right... She got it already!

But still, IT'S OVER!

That other thread is gone for Pete's sake, this has NOTHING to do with that, I am just as much up for a good deal as everyone else. My post last night only had to do with using links, I think it was more than fair........I just thought some people might want to know what it takes to deal with big business.............But if it's taken personal, so be it, I just don't get it......as it was NOT about that........

You say it is not about that but people will THINK it was about that. Why post a thread about the dress in the first place (in the title) and not just say wholesale?! That's why I say it should be close because people will think of how it relates to that tread. And I am not the only one that is relating them, too! I am not trying to argue so I won't go back to that thread, is that OK?

I agree that big business hurt small busnisses it happens everyday. I also think that if anyone is going to be upset they should be upset at the business not the person that found the deal.
\
BTW there was more than one link listed to other sites it was merly IMO a link to show what the dress looked like but it got blowwn out of proportion

Oops forgot to mention that I did pick up a couple things for the kids. I just happened to notice that Lulu Pink and WalMart's brand name SimplyDog are made by the same manufacturer....