Comments on: Are You Kidding Me? Wal-Mart Announces Economic Stimulus Plan

By: Clayton

Clayton — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:03:09 +0000

thanks !! very helpful post!

By: Reba

Reba — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:44:10 +0000

I haven’t been to a Wal-Mart in almost ten years.

By: Bryan Riley

Bryan Riley — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:53:43 +0000

Joe, I grew up in Wal-Mart country here in NWArkansas and even worked for Wal-Mart for 2+ years. I have seen them do a lot of great work and I like low prices. But a corporation is just that – a corporation and as such it has no soul.

By: Bryan Riley

Bryan Riley — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:49:42 +0000

I’m not anti-Wal-Mart either. I agree with what you’ve said, Bob. I am saddened by consumerism, but not Wal-Mart. I am also saddened by the mentality expressed by this exec’s quote.

By: Bob Corscadden

Bob Corscadden — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 23:19:32 +0000

Thanks for the feedback. While I’m generally not against Wal-Mart, I’m always against people trying stupid marketing tactics thinly clothed in good will.

Have a good one.

By: Joe Kennedy

Joe Kennedy — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 04:11:09 +0000

I’m pretty well with both of you guys. It’s ridiculous. But I’ve been anti-Wal-Mart for a few years now. They only have one thing I need, and that’s Rain-X Windshield Washer Fluid.

But… you must be one devoted fan, Bryan, if you’re going to watch the game from England. I’m guessing you guys made it back there with a visa in hand, right? Because the game’s going to be on pretty late in the UK.

By: Bryan Riley

Bryan Riley — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 03:28:33 +0000

Having sat in on a few of those types of meetings myself, Bob, I know you are right. Thanks for writing because your comment adds a ton to this post! LOL at “I love it when you talk marketing speak…”

And, I really don’t mean to be quite such a killjoy; I really am reacting to the stupidity of the quote. If the money is so tight that a person can’t afford to buy gas to get to work, I surely hope they aren’t spending extra money on doritos and Mountain Dew for a big Super Bowl party. And doing such definitely isn’t helping our economy.

By: Bob Corscadden

Bob Corscadden — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 01:37:27 +0000

As a professional marketing guy I had a huge laugh when I saw the press release this morning. Talk about being out of touch with reality. If they had done this kind of “stunt” when the economy was rolling along it would have been great. As it is, it shows just how low they will stoop to make a buck.

Here’s how the conversation probably went in Flemings office as they were coming up with this idea:

Fleming – hey it sucks that the ecomony is so bad. We can’t get rid of all this inventory we have on stuff we decided to buy.

Ad Exec – yea I know it sucks. Hey did you see about the stimulus package that they are going to pass. Man what a bunch of idiots. Heck, we won’t see the money until some time this summer.

Fleming – by then all of our stuff is going to be stale and the TV’s we sell will be obsolete. Too bad people can’t get the money until then.

Ad Exec – I got an idea, why don’t we have a contest and give people the stuff we can’t sell and then donate the rest to charity.

Fleming – donate? Are you kidding me. No way. My bonus is riding on us selling this stuff. Hey, wait. I have an idea. Why don’t we piggy back on this national crisis and look like we are being the good guys. We can use some of the money that the manufacturers give us to lower prices, look like we are doing something good, and then get lot’s of press.

Ad Exec – yea. We can make it look like we really care.

Fleming – yup and I still get my bonus. Everyone wins.

Ad Exec – it’s a win win.

Fleming – I love it when you talk marketing speak.

By the way I spent over 20 years in Corporate America and was the Chief Marketing Officer for a fortune 100 company. I don’t think I’m too far off of what really happened up there at Wal-Mart.

I’d love to hear what everyone else thinks.

Cheers and go Patriots