| I have some thoughts about the flour and rice shortages. A few things cause me to wonder. Obviously, there are real rice shortages in other countries and the cost is steadily increasing over here. However, what is up with Sam's Club limiting customers to fewer bags per visit? I mean, people will just come back the next day or hours later and get more. For some reason, I was not suspicious when Costco limited sales to one bag per customer per visit. Sam's Club AKA Walmart, is another story. I am suspicious when they set a limit of 4 twenty pound bags per customer. I have a rice conspiracy theory. I think they are limiting bags of rice in order to actually sell more. Think about this: What does it mean when Uncle Sam is not rationing food, but Sam Walton is? I believe that this rationing will enable them to sell more...and they know it. I figured this out after reading headline after headline about "Sam's Club Limiting Rice." I was looking at pictures of white rice and I found myself wanting to buy it... and our family only eats brown rice! It was as if they were advertising rice. I began to wonder, what kind of head games are they playing? Telling people they are limiting bags of rice could create a panic. It's kind of like having a run on money at the bank after stating that there might not be enough. They want to have a run on rice. They say they don't want people hoarding rice, but they're hoping that people will do exactly that. They say that restaurants will try to buy more rice, that's exactly what they want to happen! Like I said, I'm suspicious. They got a lot of free advertising over this one. On the subject of Walmart... I have friends who work at the Walmart Distribution Center. One guy's wife told me about the rewards they give to the employees. How about a framed picture of Sam Walton? I'm not joking. If anyone from the DC has one of these framed photos, I want to see it. If it's actually hanging on your wall, I want to interview you. I've heard that the other "prizes" are just as bad. Such things would, however, be perfect white elephant gifts. The people working at the DC can't say it for fear of being fired from their non-union jobs, so I am saying it for them: They need better gifts over there! Give them money. Remember, if it's not a marketable product, chances are, your employees are not going to like it. I have never seen photos of Sam Walton for sale in Walmart. Giving framed photos of Sam Walton absolutely blows my mind. It raises other theories, like is Walmart a cult? And maybe Sam Walton isn't actually dead. Perhaps, like Elvis, he is still alive and just doesn't want anyone to know it. Personally, I think Sam Walton is alive, living in the witness protection program somewhere, but still overseeing his vast supercenter empire. My mind is churning with conspiracy theories. Oooh! Joe said that some readers aren't going to like this article because they will say that I am against Walmart and their looming supercenter. He said, "When they gripe, I'm gonna say, 'I told you so!" I guess that people love Walmart because some of their products are made in America. Well, their imported rice is not. If you think I hate Walmart, you're wrong. Remember the sticker story! I've had plenty of nice things to say about Walmart in the past. Longtime readers know this. But when each person can purchase up to 80 lbs of rice and make as many return trips as they want, is it right to call this "limiting sales?" Who, besides a restaurant, would need this much rice? Oh that someone would report the real story... The real news is the shortage, not Walmart's response to it. Cheaper by the dozen... Contact me. Sign the Guestbook Back to the Homepage at www.redbluffismytown.com |
