Random Thoughts Today and Tomorrow

I’ve never been to a Sam’s Club in US, but I assume it’s huge like a Costco. I’ve been to Walmart. I think people can agree with me when I say it’s where we go for the cheap stuff. Not so good quality, but cheap. 

So there’s a lot of things that we’re used to having in the US, that’s kind of hard to buy in China. Not impossible, just not usually at the local farmer’s market. So we go to a nearby Sam’s Club/Walmart. It’s just simple things like butter and cheese. 

First of all the parking lot is truly kickass. There’s a little light and sensor above each parking space. It’s red of there’s a car and green if it’s empty. Instead of driving slowly around looking carefully for a space, you can go straight to the green. I love it. There are always things like this that I wonder why isn’t really incorporated in US. But then, it’s never quite as crowded in the US as it is in China. 

The other thing I noticed is that everything at Sam’s Club/Walmart is really high-end and expensive compared to the local stores. I’m not very good with brands and such, but I do know Clarks just because I have a pair for work. Sam’s Club/Walmart had a little stand for Clarks. 

Going straight to the butter/cheese. It’s interesting, because here at a local supermarket you can find like a dozen different brand of cheese and butter. There probably isn’t a huge difference between them, but the point is that the market is really saturated. 

There at China Sam’s Club/Walmart, there was only one brand of cheese and butter. Not the brand that I buy in the US. I’m sure this brand had to cut a deal with Walmart. 

I can’t help but think that the US brands that haven’t made it into China are probably missing out on some profits.  

Another brand I love and was able to still get in China – Dreyer’s ice cream.  A lot of brands, even though it’s technically the same brand, the product is extremely different. I don’t really understand it. Well I understand that the “American” brand bought in China, is really made in China. But isn’t the “American” brand bought in America also made in China? 

I’ve written before about how Mead Johnson’s Enfamil’s formula is really disgustingly sweet and completely different in the two countries. One label – two different products. 

Now I’m writing – the Dreyer’s ice-cream is even better in China.