content: A leader in big box retail, Wal-Mart is also a leader in technology to reduce costs.  One of my former bosses explained that "Cost Walks", that is the biggest expense item in most companies (but especially retail) is Salary and Wages.  They are in the forefront of innovations to reduce this cost.  We already see the growing "self-service" checkout areas, and automated inventory as well as automatic restocking can't be far off (My guess is at night.)  We know they're working on it.  From a competitive standpoint, whatever can be done to reduce all costs must be done in order to remain in business.  We consumers flock to lower prices, whether we need the stuff or not.  Re: "You get what you pay for.." I would add sometimes.  Often we/they get less than we pay for, sometimes far less.