Comments on: Walmart sets the record straight on its $298 laptop http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2009/07/30/walmart-sets-the-record-straight-on-its-298-laptop/ Helping readers to use bargains wisely since 2005 Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:24:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Cynthia Bremner http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2009/07/30/walmart-sets-the-record-straight-on-its-298-laptop/comment-page-1/#comment-291632 Cynthia Bremner Sat, 14 May 2011 15:04:26 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/?p=1722#comment-291632 I have to disagree with you Kevin M. I learned a lot about Wal-Mart in business school and Wal-Mart keeps pressuring companies to figure out ways to sell their products for less. Companies cut manufacturing costs by figuring out a more inexpensive way to make the product which may include buying more efficient machinery or robots, paying employees a lower salary, or buying parts in bulk etc. Computer manufacturers are getting much lower margins on these computers when they sell to Wal-Mart, but they are gaining market share which is why they try to please Wal-Mart. When these same companies sell the product through Best Buy, or some other store that has no where near the low prices Wal-Mart does, they are still using the same manufacturing process to produce these computers, meaning the same parts and same quality. These computer manufacturing companies are just earning higher margins and the customer might receive better customer service or some added value when you purchase the computer through Best Buy or another store that does not follow the cost leadership strategy. If you want a very high quality computer, they are probably not sold at Wal-Mart in the first place because this would deteriorate their brand image. I have to disagree with you Kevin M. I learned a lot about Wal-Mart in business school and Wal-Mart keeps pressuring companies to figure out ways to sell their products for less. Companies cut manufacturing costs by figuring out a more inexpensive way to make the product which may include buying more efficient machinery or robots, paying employees a lower salary, or buying parts in bulk etc. Computer manufacturers are getting much lower margins on these computers when they sell to Wal-Mart, but they are gaining market share which is why they try to please Wal-Mart. When these same companies sell the product through Best Buy, or some other store that has no where near the low prices Wal-Mart does, they are still using the same manufacturing process to produce these computers, meaning the same parts and same quality. These computer manufacturing companies are just earning higher margins and the customer might receive better customer service or some added value when you purchase the computer through Best Buy or another store that does not follow the cost leadership strategy. If you want a very high quality computer, they are probably not sold at Wal-Mart in the first place because this would deteriorate their brand image.

]]> By: Fim Art http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2009/07/30/walmart-sets-the-record-straight-on-its-298-laptop/comment-page-1/#comment-186393 Fim Art Tue, 04 Aug 2009 07:40:09 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/?p=1722#comment-186393 It's quite interesting that an officer from Walmart responded to your post. That's a great testimony to the power of Web 2.0. It also testifies to the customer service orientation of Wal-Mart that they care what is being written about them on an independent blog. I wish more corporate organizations are like that. It’s quite interesting that an officer from Walmart responded to your post. That’s a great testimony to the power of Web 2.0. It also testifies to the customer service orientation of Wal-Mart that they care what is being written about them on an independent blog. I wish more corporate organizations are like that.

]]> By: Pgarcia http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2009/07/30/walmart-sets-the-record-straight-on-its-298-laptop/comment-page-1/#comment-186354 Pgarcia Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:48:04 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/?p=1722#comment-186354 Of course, the fact that the same factory makes PCs for a number of different retailers doesn’t mean the quality of all the PCs is the same. Obviouly they can use different type of parts the expensive one's for expensive computers and so, and I' really dessapointed in general with the factory warranties that only helps you when the computer you bought died, when it don't turn on anymore, do not replace or fix internal errors without even miss all the programs you installed on your PC. Of course, the fact that the same factory makes PCs for a number of different retailers doesn’t mean the quality of all the PCs is the same. Obviouly they can use different type of parts the expensive one’s for expensive computers and so, and I’ really dessapointed in general with the factory warranties that only helps you when the computer you bought died, when it don’t turn on anymore, do not replace or fix internal errors without even miss all the programs you installed on your PC.

]]> By: william http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2009/07/30/walmart-sets-the-record-straight-on-its-298-laptop/comment-page-1/#comment-186189 william Sun, 02 Aug 2009 07:27:02 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/?p=1722#comment-186189 I agree on Kevins comment about quality, the manufacture alone does not dictate the quality of the product. Most manufacturers especially those who build laptops for various companies build or should I saw assemble based on the clients requirements. So in most cases the components inside make all the difference in quality. However an inexpensive laptop is a must to let those less cash rich to be able to join in mobile computing. I agree on Kevins comment about quality, the manufacture alone does not dictate the quality of the product. Most manufacturers especially those who build laptops for various companies build or should I saw assemble based on the clients requirements. So in most cases the components inside make all the difference in quality. However an inexpensive laptop is a must to let those less cash rich to be able to join in mobile computing.

]]> By: william http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2009/07/30/walmart-sets-the-record-straight-on-its-298-laptop/comment-page-1/#comment-186188 william Sun, 02 Aug 2009 07:25:52 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/?p=1722#comment-186188 I agree that quality that the manufacture alone does not dictate the quality of the product. Most manufacturers especially those who build laptops for various companies build or should I saw assemble based on the clients requirements. So in most cases the components inside make all the difference in quality. However an inexpensive laptop is a must to let those less cash rich to be able to join in mobile computing. I agree that quality that the manufacture alone does not dictate the quality of the product. Most manufacturers especially those who build laptops for various companies build or should I saw assemble based on the clients requirements. So in most cases the components inside make all the difference in quality. However an inexpensive laptop is a must to let those less cash rich to be able to join in mobile computing.

]]> By: Kevin M http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2009/07/30/walmart-sets-the-record-straight-on-its-298-laptop/comment-page-1/#comment-185990 Kevin M Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:48:16 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/?p=1722#comment-185990 I'm going to take issue with Ryan Halford's first point. The fact that the same factory makes PCs for a number of different retailers doesn't mean the quality of all the PCs is the same. Why do you think some PCs sell for $300 or $400 and others sell for $2000? It's not because Super Expensive Retailer decides to sell a PC for $2000 and Big Discount Retailer decides to sell the same exact PC for $400. It's because the one factory uses different components for different PCs. It's because the $400 PC uses cheaper (and probably lower quality) components and the more expensive PCs use higher quality (thus more expensive) components. So, yes, if the factory makes a $300 PC for Walmart and a $300 PC for Best Buy, the two PCs are probably comparable in terms of quality; but a $300 PC is probably not comparable in quality to a $1000 PC. So, your original point about the HP pavilion is not negated by Halford's point. Based on your description of the Pavilion, I'd say that your original point is probably correct: it was a cheaply made PC, and one of it's cheap components was most likely the cause of the problems you saw. I’m going to take issue with Ryan Halford’s first point. The fact that the same factory makes PCs for a number of different retailers doesn’t mean the quality of all the PCs is the same. Why do you think some PCs sell for $300 or $400 and others sell for $2000? It’s not because Super Expensive Retailer decides to sell a PC for $2000 and Big Discount Retailer decides to sell the same exact PC for $400. It’s because the one factory uses different components for different PCs. It’s because the $400 PC uses cheaper (and probably lower quality) components and the more expensive PCs use higher quality (thus more expensive) components. So, yes, if the factory makes a $300 PC for Walmart and a $300 PC for Best Buy, the two PCs are probably comparable in terms of quality; but a $300 PC is probably not comparable in quality to a $1000 PC.

So, your original point about the HP pavilion is not negated by Halford’s point. Based on your description of the Pavilion, I’d say that your original point is probably correct: it was a cheaply made PC, and one of it’s cheap components was most likely the cause of the problems you saw.

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