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By Apryl Duncan, About.com Guide to Advertising since 2000

Study Shows Mattel's Recalls Affect Wal-Mart

Tuesday September 11, 2007
A new study shows consumers are losing their trust in Wal-Mart over Mattel's recalls. Strategic Name Development, a marketing consultant group, conducted the study between August 22 and 23, just before a third Mattel recall was announced. The company surveyed 503 consumers online and found that only 40-percent of them trust Wal-Mart to keep them safe from products made in China. When asked about buying from Wal-Mart vs. Target, 39-percent said they were more fearful to buy from Wal-Mart while only 22-percent said the same about Target.

More on the Recalls Affecting Retailers

A whopping 56-percent responded that Wal-Mart cared more about profits than people while 41-percent said the same about Target. Even though the study doesn't show favorable results for Wal-Mart, a spokesperson for the company tells Brandweek the company is doing fine.

Comments

September 17, 2007 at 12:14 pm
(1) VmR says:

What people always fail to recognize or acknowledge about Wal-Mart is that it keeps prices down. This means the quality of the consumer’s life is improved because of what they can afford. Thanks to Wal-Mart. Every time I go into a Wal-Mart it never ceases to amaze me how many people are in there, regardless of what time of day it is! Get a clue. IF you don’t like what Wal-Mart’s business practice is, don’t shop there or create your own business.

September 17, 2007 at 7:54 pm
(2) Angie says:

To the previous commenter, if the products aren’t safe and nothing is done to make sure the products being sold are as safe as they can be, then who cares what the price is?

October 31, 2007 at 12:21 am
(3) JProc says:

People tend to overlook some of the reasons Wal-Mart can offer such low prices. A major reason is their incredibly unfair treatment of employees. They pay their employees so poorly that they, in some instances in low income areas, hand out info about government assistance, especially for people with families. Open your own business? Good luck when Wal-Mart’s goal is to absorb any and every dollar possible that anyone could ever possibly make. The fact that they’re trying to get into providing medical care is sickening. Anyone who would go to a Wal-Mart for quality medical treatment, unfortunately, deserves what they pay for. Just like everything else you get there.

November 2, 2007 at 1:16 pm
(4) BJ B says:

Wal Mart has conditioned many of us to believe that “low prices” are the most important thing in the world. As the above poster demonstrates, Wal*Mart shoppers don’t care if child slaves, working in terrible conditions, made the products they consume. They don’t care if frozen fish from China is sold that is coated in pesticides that are illegal in the U.S. They don’t care that their consumerism is contributing to the destruction of the environment in China. They can’t see beyond the price label and the good feelings they get from shopping at Wal*Mart. Go figure (must be a republican).

My original reason for posting is that I seem to remember dispute Mattel was having with Wal*Mart several years ago. Wal*Mart was saying that Mattel HAD TO sell to Wal*Mart and Mattel was saying they could sell to whomever they wanted, or not. THAT story reminded me of how Wal*Mart basically put RubberMaid out of business and moved the ‘New’ Rubbermaid’s production overseas. My guess is that Mattel was faced with the same situation and caved-in to Wal*Mart instead of going under.

BTW VmR; I never shop at Wal*Mart. Haven’t for nearly 15 years. I also have personal experience with a mid-sized company that was screwed by Wal*Mart; took it to court and “won” (after spending 100’s of thousands of dollars) but had to agree not to reveal the details of the case in order to get the settlement. Wal*Mart must pay millions every year in hush/gag-money. I believe even their advertising dollars are used to ‘hush’ critics.

God Bless Mexamericanada!

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