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immargarita t1_iw9uo1d wrote

Reply to comment by alquix in Gotta love Giant Eagle. What a sale.... by kniki217

Not entirely their fault though. It's basic economics. Walmart is GINORMOUS, they can and will always be able to buy things for cheaper and sell them for less. They are the USA's largest employer. Giant Eagle is but a speck of dust in comparison. Same way with Home Depot and Lowes, and home Depot especially, they can afford to bring you cheaper prices. Out of principle I try to avoid big chains but I know not everyone can pick and choose. In good faith, I cannot shop at Walmart.

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Der_Missionar t1_iwael8u wrote

No, Giant Eagle absolutely can lower prices, they've played anti competitive crap over and over, keeping competition out. They know exactly what they are doing. They see themselves as whole foods, and are pricing themselves up and marketing themselves as whole foods. It's positioning.... all while forcing competitors out. I've heard the higher ups talk about it.

By the way, the owners... there are stories about the owners.

Seriously... GE is not one you want to be defending here.

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DennisG47 t1_iwanrxw wrote

They actually bought a huge piece of property in the North Hills just to keep a competitor from getting it.

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Jupichan t1_iwaq447 wrote

Right. And when Bottom Dollar came to Pittsburgh, they opened up their own version of the stores right next door to almost every one of them, priced them out of town, and when Bottom Dollar folded, they closed all of their cheaper stores within a few weeks.

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Der_Missionar t1_iwbjgvd wrote

The North Hills situation was a Super Walmart was moving in -- Giant Eagle created a ridiculous campaign that it was going to bring in crime and drugs from the inner city. They gave yard signs to people all over Wexford - protesting. Then they bought the property, or something...

In the other case, I'm surprised Bottom Dollar didn't sue for anti-competitive behavior.

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