Saw on the news that K mart has filed for chap 11 protection. layoff estimates between 10000 to 15000 with as many as 500 store closings. Wal Mart wallops another one. At least the county co-op is still strong.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 22, 2002

Answers

One more reason to work for yourself

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), January 22, 2002.

They shouldn't be laying off anyone yet. Ch 11 just means re-organization. It's now up to a bankruptcy court judge to decide what the choices are for the company. Their top echelon (read execs) will be forced out, if they haven't been already. Liquidation is further down the road. When that happens, then the employees get laid off..

-- matt johnson (wyo_cowboy_us@yahoo.com), January 22, 2002.

The Bear Stearns analyst predicts Aug to Nov for reductions and Martha Stewert may be courting Wal Mart and Sears for her line.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 22, 2002.

I think Martha Stewart would go to Tarzhay before Wal-mart. I honestly was (happily) surprised to see her in K-Mart--her line was too nice for them, and it's 'way too upscale for Walmart.

We can hope for the best, not every place that files for reorganization goes completely under, like Montgomery Wards.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 22, 2002.

Just heard on the national news (ABC) tonight that Martha Stewart is sticking with K-Mart. K-Mart will be closing 300 stores. My son-in- law works for K-Mart and they are not doing any laying off at this time. They need to have court approval for the closings, etc. They just filed today and it takes a while to get assigned a trustee, etc.

-- Karen (db0421@yahoo.com), January 22, 2002.

I don't shop Kmart much cause the sales people won't help me at all when I need help. It seems that they've all taken the same "How to disappear when a customer appears" course. That's the way it is at our Kmart here.

-- Cindy (colawson@mindspring.com), January 22, 2002.

Once again, just another reson to be self sufficient. How mant times do you have to get burned before you figure it out. It took me 3 times. If I get burned again it is because of me. I will NEVER work for anyone again

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), January 22, 2002.

Tracy, you are a very determined woman, and with that attitude and a little luck and hard work, hopefully you will realize your dream of self sufficiency and never HAVE to work for anyone else. Please keep us posted on your progress because I am very interested in hearing how it works out for you.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), January 22, 2002.

Cindy: Funny you should say that. My local KM was the only place where sales people would actually take you to the location of the merchandise rather than say it's in aisle 12. Not so at Target or at Wally.

-- matt johnson (wyo_cowboy_us@yahoo.com), January 22, 2002.

KMart hurt itself I believe If my local store is any indication. The biggest problem I have with KMart is that they never have what is in their sales paper, or only a very small quantity. Once they had some shotgun shells at a very good price but I went to buy them the sales person told me they didn't carry what was advertised ever, and he had been there for awhile.

-- aw (possumdog@yaho.com), January 22, 2002.

10000 to 15000 americans layed off because of kmart filling chapter 11. Dont forget the 1 million chineese workers that will be idled.

I personally could care less if Kmart goes under. There people are rude, many of there products are inferior low cost junk. They were made to be cheap, not good.

Kmart has failed for the same reason so many other companies have. They shifed the corporate focus from the customer to the stock holders.

-- Gary (gws@columbus.rr.com), January 22, 2002.

IMO, K-Mart might have taken a clue from algore's loss......

He lost the gunowners, and as soon as K-Mart got Rosie-Lesbo, and did away with guns and ammo, they lost their market share....

At least they lost me and my family and friends as customers.

-- Birdlady (A_Birdlady@hotmail.com), January 22, 2002.

He lost the gunowners, and as soon as K-Mart got Rosie-Lesbo, and did away with guns and ammo, they lost their market share....

-- Birdlady (A_Birdlady@hotmail.com), January 22, 2002.

Was it really necessary to include Rosie O'Donnell's sexual orientation in your post, especially in such a vulgar manner? I agree with your opinion of her politics but you've lost all credibility with me because of your prejudice.

Stacy in NY

-- Stacy (KincoraFarm@aol.com), January 23, 2002.

Stacy, Rosie O'Donnell tossed her sexual orientation into the public arena for public digestion and comment. She also throws her unwanted political/social beliefs in our collective faces. I think she deserves all barbs and slurs anyone cares to aim her way.

-- Steve in So. WI (Alpine1@prodigy.net), January 23, 2002.

All of those were "contributing" factors in K-Mart's demise, but not the real reason. The truth is upper echelon didn't understand retailing and marketing. They're conception of purchasing left much to be desired. They never sought the lowest bulk pricing, happy to get the second tier, but never seeking the third (or lowest). They along with Wally went overseas rather than buying from the USA or NA in general. They took their overbloated salaries and didn't care what happened to the stores and their employees. They didn't properly train them. Why do so many eventually go to work for Wally? Low wages and no chance for advancement. ShopKo, Target, even Sears have better wages and benefits.

In their plan for re-emerging from bankruptcy (planned for 02/03), no effort to correct the problems of the past is indicated.

Dumb, just plain dumb.............

-- matt johnson (wyo_cowboy_us@yahoo.com), January 23, 2002.

Steve could you show me one time Rosie has ever brought up that she is a Lesbian? I am an avid watcher of her show, she has never said this in public, you must be reading the tabloids! Anybody who shops Kmart can tell you why they are going under, their stores are always dingy, they sell the worst quality of clothes and here in Houston have the worst service. I would doubt bullets had much to do with it! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002.

K-Mart got caught between Target's higher quality line and Wal-Mart's more deeply discounted pricing. The lost out in the middle, I'm afraid.

As to gun owners being the demise of K-Mart, I doubt it much as I doubt it was Rosie O'Donnell, regardless of her private life. While no job loss is good, the vast majority of these are minimum wage, entry level jobs.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), January 23, 2002.

As to gun owners being the demise of K-Mart, I doubt it much as I doubt it was Rosie O'Donnell, regardless of her private life. While no job loss is good, the vast majority of these are minimum wage, entry level jobs.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), January 23, 2002

Sorry folks But I have to side with Birdlady on this one.

Gary look at Jeep's problem that the gun owner/hunters are causing RIGHT Now. Over 100,000 have wrote them for portraying hunters as fools in their commercial during the game. Last I saw Jeep sales were down. It really does not pay to jab at the customer base that keeps you going. K-Mart had the hunting group spending in the millions of dollars each year. They lost it much like S&W lost millions of hardcore Smith buyers when they bedded down with Clinton.

Maybe K-Mart will get back to the basics of marketing. Or at least the 4-P's.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002.

Stacy, Rosie O'Donnell tossed her sexual orientation into the public arena for public digestion and comment. She also throws her unwanted political/social beliefs in our collective faces. I think she deserves all barbs and slurs anyone cares to aim her way.

-- Steve in So. WI

That's my point, Steve. Rosie O'Donnell has never tossed her sexual orientation into any arena. To my knowledge, she's *never* offered up her sexual orientation at all. *If* she's gay, that's her business, it has nothing to do with her politics and the nasty slur in the post was totally uncalled for.

Stacy in NY

-- Stacy (KincoraFarm@aol.com), January 24, 2002.

OK folks, enough is enough already. Leave Rosie out of future posts.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), January 25, 2002.