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THE KLEEFISCH REPORT: A TURKEY OF A DEALBy Charlie SykesHow is it that Walmart- or any other retailer for that matter--can offer a turkey for 86 cents a pound in Wisconsin, but drive over the border, and you can get it for just 40 cents a pound in Illinois? That would be Wisconsin's minimum markup law at work--the law that bans selling things below cost. (They can sell below cost to match competitors' prices.) Part of commerce in the new millenium is "loss leaders"-the things so insanely cheap that customers are drawn into a store to buy those... and then they leave with a bunch more stuff. The loss leader may be sold at a loss, but the other stuff makes up for it---plus. It's marketing, it's a way to drive profit and it's part of the way business works now. How is it that Wisconsin is one of only a handful of states that has a problem with this type of business competition?
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Thursday, Nov 5 at 10:10 PM Hank wrote ...
Yes, as usual, the LIBS are Nuts to support such a stupid law.
31674169 Flag for moderationThursday, Nov 5 at 9:20 PM That One wrote ...
I agree. I bet if the minimum mark-up law was removed, Walmart employees would no longer comprise the top spot in Badgercare consumption in our state. I say don't stop there, let's have a tea party and clamor to allow Chinese dumping. What could be better than even cheaper Chinese products?
31672499 Flag for moderationThursday, Nov 5 at 7:04 PM Papa Z wrote ...
Grocery store "Loss Leaders" are nothing new. I worked in the grocery business in Maryland 20 years ago, and it was widely practiced then. Get the turkey at bargain cost -- and you're likely to buy the potatoes, beans, pies, cranberry sauce, etc., at regular prices. Wisconsin's law is archaic. What may have been necessary 80 years ago, is no longer necessary.
31667181 Flag for moderationThursday, Nov 5 at 12:11 PM Mombo Napolitano wrote ...
If we can have a law on how low prices can go on consumer goods then let's also have a law on how high our Wisconsin taxes and fees can go.
31643759 Flag for moderationThursday, Nov 5 at 11:29 AM Chris from Milwaukee wrote ...
This law becomes an issue every year around this time. The Black Friday sale prices differ at local big box retailers then in other states because of this law. WI residents frequently miss out of savings that occur during "price wars". Currently the big boxes are taking on Amazon offering new release hard-cover books below $9 by authors such as Palin, Crichton, and King. We miss out on that offer because of the law - maybe it is time for change.
31640989 Flag for moderationThursday, Nov 5 at 9:56 AM 8rent wrote ...
It's because it was a magistrate ruling, and could not strike down laws on the books. The onus is on the legislature to repeal it, but small business owners, usually the bulwark of pro-capitalist policy, are [inexplicably] balking at it, and legislators are scared to tinker with it. It's all politics and disinformation. Minimum markup needs to go, and it needs to go 65 years ago.
31634526 Flag for moderationThursday, Nov 5 at 9:34 AM D in Ripon wrote ...
Honestly, haven't seen a difference in gas prices since this was rescinded. I'm all for free competition, and free market, but we're still seeing prices change consistently from one gas station to the next. What's a consumer to do?
31633061 Flag for moderationThursday, Nov 5 at 9:28 AM Harlan wrote ...
I tried to buy Sarah Palin's book through Walmart, but was rejected when they said a state regulation didn't allow them to send it to a Wisconsin address. Obviously, the mark up law was the reason.
31632646 Flag for moderationThursday, Nov 5 at 9:10 AM Jeff K. wrote ...
We can't allow evil corporations like Walmart to offer affordable products to low income people. If people have more money in their pocket they may not need to be as dependent on the government. We can't allow that now, can we?
31631324 Flag for moderationThursday, Nov 5 at 8:46 AM Jay Pee wrote ...
Policitians in Wisconsin could care less about the residents of Wisconsin. All they want is our tax money, nothing less. The modern supermarket began by using loss leaders years ago. Unfortunately in Wisconsin, the Great Nanny State, we are not allowed to progress, only allowed to be taxed to death.
31629779 Flag for moderationThursday, Nov 5 at 8:27 AM WA Dan wrote ...
What the Wisconsin politicians don't realize is that the minimum mark up law hurts the govt pocket book! If you live close to the Illinois boarder why wouldn't you just go there to save money? All that sales tax money for the sale items and everything else that is bought there then goes to ILLINOIS! Likewise, if you are not close to the boarder you will buy less in the long run so again the govt gets LESS sales tax money! Govt can't even consider the consequences on themselves!
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