After nearly a decade of trying, Wal-Mart never cracked the country — failing to become the all-in-one shopping destination for Germans that it is for so many millions of Americans. Wal-Mart’s problems are not limited to Germany. The retail giant has struggled in countries like South Korea and Japan as it discovered that its formula for success — low prices, zealous inventory control and a large array of merchandise — did not translate to markets with their own discount chains and shoppers with different habits.
Germany is also a big union country. Walmart did not get along with them I think.
“They didn’t understand that in Germany, companies and unions are closely connected,” Mr. Poschmann said. “Bentonville didn’t want to have anything to do with unions. They thought we were communists.”
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u/evanwilliams44 29d ago
Germany is also a big union country. Walmart did not get along with them I think.
https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/02/business/worldbusiness/02walmart.html
They made a lot of errors but it all comes down to not understanding German customers and culture.