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Saturday, August 08, 2009

#627 Wal-Mart and Cookies

Goodness gracious. It has been a week since the last posting. I have really been a slacker. It is time to rectify that.

Just the other day I heard a news report about Girl Scout cookies (GSC) and Wal-Mart deciding to test market a couple of GSC knockoffs - thin mints and tagalongs. For a more complete discussion of this you can go to an MSN.com site and the Harquail blog.

Essentially, WalMart wants to continue to provide a product that most Americans have come to love and look forward to buying. We purchasers have to wait for the annual sale to get our favorites. I particularly like the peanut butter cookies, as well as the aforementioned. From a business perspective, it seems "reasonable" to provide similar cookies to a ready-made audience.

Frankly, I think it stinks. Shame on Wal-Mart. Granted the GSC's are expensive. You don't get that many in a box. Consequently you have to buy more boxes. But, they are a bargain when you consider the help you are doing for the girls and the organization.

Our daughters were Girl Scouts and Maryann was a troop leader for several years. Cookie sales time was a very big deal. It still is. I, for one, will continue to support the Girl Scouts.

I have yet to set foot in the newest Wal-Mart store that recently opened in our area. I will prolong that experience for as long as I can. However, I do know of one business that has benefitted by the store's opening. Homestead Greenhouse is on the street most people use to get to Wal-Mart. Julie indicated that more people are finding their greenhouse as they go to Wal-Mart.

I would hope that Wal-Mart would make a very substantial, continuous contribution to the Girl Scouts as long as they are selling such cookies. Or, WM could stop the cookie knockoffs.

What do you think?

#627

12 comments:

boneman said...

Girl Scout Cookies, WalMart knock-offs.
No competition whatsoever in this house.
Sure, Somoas and the Lemon ones are treats, but, when they are gone (GSC) then it's fig newton generics, oreo generics and we make our own.
(call it paranoia if you want, but, peanutbutter cookies ARE better when you make your own.)

However, my eating habits aren't the point. Wally's finding a popular thing and making knock-offs (China's best trick, actually) is harsh. It is also the core of the copyright laws...big companies making knock-offs of anything and mass producing/selling them and I hate it. But, not the copying so much as the mass producing.
(odd bit, there, eh?)
I am an artist (well, that's what I tell myself in the mirror in the mornings, and then, after a good laugh, I go have breakfast) and fully realize that people should be allowed to do with what they have in anyway they want. Recreate it? Sure. No problem. Just not at a fifty pieces per minute rate.
If someone wants to copy one of my paintings...go for it.
In the first place, it'll never be quite the same (which is good because a different artist will introduce a different perspective) and in the second place, I don't think it would do any harm to me.
Umless, like I said, they stamp out fifty every minute and sell them at a dollar each at the dollar staore.

There is a problem in what I'm saying here, though, and if any hard core republkkkan'td land here, they'll mention that I'm trailing very close to (GASP!!!) socialism.
Screw that!
If that's the name of it, fine.
I don't think ANYTHING needs to be made in mass production in the name of any artisnship.
Screws, nails, hammers? Fine.
Paintings, cookies, cars? Heck no!

Christina said...

I agree with you...Girl Scout cookies are practically sacred!

Puss-in-Boots said...

Oh I agree totally, Jack and I do hope Wal-mart donate a lot of the profits to Girl Scouts. Nothing is sacred nowadays...it's all for the mighty buck!

Peter said...

Trust "big business" to cash in on someone else's efforts.

Karen said...

Current and former female WM workers say the company has discriminated against them in pay and promotion policies because of their gender.

My daughter was a girl scout, also, so that's just another reason, along with their gender discrimination, that I've never stepped a foot in a WM and never will... apparently they hate females.

Merle said...

Dear Jack ~~ WalMart have so many other things to sell, a pity they took on the Girl Guides. I have quite a good article SOMEWHERE about
Walmart selling a recipe. I will post it next time I see it.
Glad you liked the Brick story and jokes, Take great care, my friend.
Regards, Merle.

Sandee said...

I don't think it's right. The girls scouts work very hard with this fund raiser every year. We won't be going to Wal&Mart for their knock-off cookies. Just saying.

Have a terrific day. Big hug. :)

Merle said...

Hello again Jack ~~ I was so sorry that Sam had to get through 6 months of treatment and healing, and still die.
So glad you liked the Anger Management story. I laughed typing it. Didn't like the swear words, but they fitted the story. I agree, laughing is so good for us all. Take care, my friend. Regards, Merle.

The Real Mother Hen said...

To me, it is only right IF WalMart donates the profit back to the Girl Scouts. Buying the Girl Scouts cookies, for me personally, aren't about the cookies, but the little contribution to the Girl Scouts.
Ho-hum
:()

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your comments. Perhaps I will get some inspiration to post something else.

Jack K.

Duke_of_Earle said...

Jack, Your comment on my last post inspired my post of today. Gee, is that synergy?

Thanks!

John

Merle said...

Hi again Jack ~~ Thanks for your comments and I hope my laptop comes good tomorrow when the technician comes.
Glad the pics came through well. I am
using a Safe Mode, (with big printing)
but it doesn't do everything.
Take care, my friend, Regards, Merle.