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2006-07-28 Europe

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Posted by mcsegeek1 2006-07-28 13:36|| || Front Page|| [5 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 frustrated by razor-thin margins and tight labor and trade laws

Chicago's next.

Posted by RWV 2006-07-28 15:34|| 2006-07-28 15:34|| Front Page Top

#2 I understand that German law prevents stores from being open late at night. It supposedly protects the Kultur. What's convenient for the shoppers doesn't come into play at all. Not the Wal-Mart way of operation.

Posted by Eric Jablow">Eric Jablow 2006-07-28 17:42|| 2006-07-28 17:42|| Front Page Top

#3 Eric, I doubt it's changed too much since I lived in (West) Germany in the 1970's. Regular stores had to close by 6 pm, IIRC, but could stay open until 9 just before Christmas (just the department stores did that in practice, at least in Frankfurt am Main). Closed all day Sunday, Saturday by (I think) 2. Bakeries could be open in the early morning only 7 days a week for obvious reasons; flower shops could be open midday Sundays for cemetary visitors to pick up something.

You also couldn't wash your car or hang up washing (outside) on Sundays - Sunday was ~~an enforced day of no work~~ a day of rest, but the Germans weren't/aren't religious.

Also I couldn't take a shower in my apartment building (or anyone else's, AFAIK) after 10 pm or before 6 am. (Of course, that wasn't really a problem, since the hot water was cut off then anyway.)

We followed their laws, since it was their country, and didn't bitch to them about it, but we always thought they were a little nuts in that regard.

As Wal-Mart must have been to think they would do well with their business model in that economic venue.

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2006-07-28 19:20|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com] 2006-07-28 19:20|| Front Page Top

#4 A retailer can compete on price, quality, or service. In the US, Wal-mart competes solely on price. Apparently that doesn't work in Germany.

Posted by DMFD 2006-07-28 19:31|| 2006-07-28 19:31|| Front Page Top

#5 Yeah, in German you gotta have that Gemutlichkeitfarhenwagenlebenskleben.

Posted by 6 2006-07-28 20:03|| 2006-07-28 20:03|| Front Page Top

#6 I've always gotten good service at Wal*mart. They take back any product they sell, even without a receipt at our store.

I suspect the Germans made enough laws for them that they couldn't implement their model. Sort of like yjr Peoples' Democrat Republic of Maryland.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-07-28 20:16|| 2006-07-28 20:16|| Front Page Top

#7 LOL, #5 6.

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2006-07-28 20:49|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com] 2006-07-28 20:49|| Front Page Top

#8 #6

I live in Virginia, so I know the Maryland situation. A judge overturned the Wal-Mart law, by the way.

I just saw a story on Davids Medienkritik that quoted the New York Times. According to the NYT, Wal-Mart displeased its German customers because its cashiers offered to bad groceries and because they smiled too much.

Posted by Eric Jablow">Eric Jablow 2006-07-28 22:06|| 2006-07-28 22:06|| Front Page Top

#9 The Euros tag any US company with the "globalization" smear. They don't know what it means, but they hate it.

I recall being tossed out of a Swiss restaurant because staff were about to take their one-hour meal break. Flexibility doesn't translate well.

Posted by Griper Whegum8464 2006-07-28 23:46|| 2006-07-28 23:46|| Front Page Top

03:17 genetic eradication
03:15 genetic eradication
03:12 genetic eradication
00:11 C-Low
23:46 tu3031
23:46 PBMcL
23:46 Griper Whegum8464
23:37 Griper Whegum8464
23:36 Ulinesh Unoling4868
23:31 Barbara Skolaut
23:31 leroidavid
23:29 Sherry
23:21 Pappy
23:18 CrazyFool
23:16 Pappy
23:12 DMFD
23:11 11A5S
23:11 DMFD
23:09 Griper Whegum8464
23:06 Manolo
23:02 Griper Whegum8464
22:54 Griper Whegum8464
22:51 KBK
22:32 leroidavid