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Wal-Mart Plans Big Holiday Deals

By MICHAEL BARBARO,

The New York Times

Posted: 2007-11-01 14:29:35

In what is shaping up to be the earliest holiday shopping season ever, Wal-Mart Stores says it will offer door-buster discounts this Friday, three weeks before they are traditionally unveiled on the day after Thanksgiving.

More Coverage From BloggingStocks: Wal-Mart Launches Secret Sales Site

The giant discount chain is expected to announce a plan today to sell five major products like a $350 laptop beginning at 8 a.m. on Friday in a bold effort to jump-start holiday shopping two days after Halloween.

The move is likely to put growing pressure on Wal-Marts competitors, like Best Buy and Toys R Us, to begin marking down merchandise well ahead of Nov. 23, known as Black Friday because it was historically the day stores turned a profit, or went into the black.

The pre-Thanksgiving price-cutting underscores how worried the retail industry is about consumer spending this season. With the housing market in a slump and energy prices high, industry analysts expect retail sales in November and December to grow at the slowest rate in five years.

In the phenomenon of creeping Christmas, stores like CompUSA and Gap have begun opening their doors at midnight on Thanksgiving to drum up business, delighting some bargainhunting consumers and irritating some others who bemoan the earlier-than-ever start to the season.

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381 comments

lovebethtwo 11:57:22 AM Nov 02 2007

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My daughters first job was at Wal Mart. It was ok for a teen, she made ok money. They did cut hours a lot and didn't offer hardly any full time positions, mostly part time, that ended up working 40 hours a week anyway. But, I had had my fill when my daughter was fired because she was given a discount on an item from a cashier she didn't even know. We went through her receipts in her wallet, and sure enough, there was .40 (cent) discount there that she didn't even notice. It was a blessing really, she went on to get a job as a computer tech. But the entire situation left a bad taste.

lovebethtwo 11:49:02 AM Nov 02 2007

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he devils store.. I don't know wether that as funny or just sadly pathetic

jgamens632 01:50:02 AM Nov 02 2007

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Um... in response to the guy saying Walmart treats everyone great - I work for Walmart, and it pretty much sucks. Bad money, understaffed, they find ways to cut your hours, etc. Thank goodness it's only a college job.

c289226 11:12:07 PM Nov 01 2007

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lynanjimsmom - ok.

lynanjimsmom 11:10:33 PM Nov 01 2007

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ill be doing my holiday shopping at kmart where i can layaway my gifts. I have 3 kids and walmart stopping there layways means I wont be shopping there

c289226 10:33:41 PM Nov 01 2007

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peachis77 - again I say meaning????

peachis77 10:30:00 PM Nov 01 2007

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c289226 09:40:58 PM Nov 01 2007

Report This! Norwood234 - Good comments!! BUT you're forgetting one thing here - the people on here BASHING WM constantly, day after day, have nothing better to do w/their lives. Putting down WM apparently fills some void for them - so while I agree totally w/your comment as gee, it actually makes SENSE, DUH - most of the commenters don't want to hear anything positive here - it RUINS their day!!!!! LOL!!!!! Let's not make them have a bad day by taking away the only thing they have to get them through each day!!!!

c289226 10:28:31 PM Nov 01 2007

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peachis77 - meaning????

peachis77 10:24:00 PM Nov 01 2007

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c289226 I thought you had better things to do

c289226 10:23:35 PM Nov 01 2007

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OK people - it's one thing to keep condemning WM, it's a corporation - but why do you insist on belittling the people who work there??? Is it easier to just go after the employees then the company itself??? Easier access perhaps??? You're really not being fair in doing that - kinda cruel ya know!!!

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381 comments