Wow! Lidl is just like Wal-mart! And all this time shopping at Lidl, and I'd never noticed. Thanks for enlightening me.

If she weighs more than a duck...

Yes, getting really silly now. Have a nice day.

What's Wal-mart got to do with my post? I wasn't even responding to you? I've no idea what you're on about now tbh.

The culture of a country encompasses a whole range of experiences, and shopping is certainly one of them, whether it is a big supermarket, a corner shop, a big open market, or a farm shop. Each country has its own character and way of doing things.

I miss Australia's delis (delicatessens) which can be small or big, selling just provisions, cold drinks and icecream, newspapers and magazines, or having a cafe atmosphere selling hot and cold foods. They are part of Australia's culture, whereas shops like this don't seem to exist in the UK.

The debate was cultural differences. One poster suggested there aren't any. Mass consumerism is the same everywhere - and used Germany as an example.

But German consumerism is markedly different - as evidenced by Wal-Mart's failure - because it is contrary to German culture (and this isn't a secret - it's pretty well known that's why they failed).

Then another argued that Wal-Mart failed in Germany because they already had Lidl.

But I argued that Wal-Mart and Lidl are as about alike as 'chalk and cheese'. Lidl is a food store that offers a sort of 'discount bin' with random offerings in it, whilst Wal-Mart is a mega store offering a very broad range of goods, one of which is food, and that just didn't work for Germans.

That same contributor then continued the argument by offering examples of non-food items sold at Lidl, in an effort to disprove the notion that Lidl is any different than Wal-Mart. Although it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see or realise the difference.

Clearly, it was just an obvious attempt to discredit the entire assertion that there are any differences between cultures, which strangely, is the very antithesis to the argument about US/CA/UK.

The rest is history. Adios.

As above, I've not got a clue what you're on about. I've never set foot in a Wal-mart, wasn't responding to anything to do with that, and was simply replying to somebody that said they'd bought a clock in Lidl.

It was explained in the post you quoted. It might be helpful to read it before responding.

I did read it, and wondered why on earth you felt any of that was relevant to my post, not to mention the fact that you'd actually gone and found a picture of Wal-mart, a shop that I'd never even mentioned and have never been to.

I will repeat again - I don't know Wal-mart, I wasn't referring to Wal-mart, Wal-mart has no relevance to the post of mine you quoted.

Head, meet wall.

Our first supermarket -- we are all consuming --like mad-- but it hasn't changed our "culture" (I don't think so anyway).
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This is fun! Perhaps we should start a competition to find a photo of the biggest store in Europe.

Oh Hey its the KaDeWe in Berlin, at 6ha three times the size of the largest Walmart in the USA.

Who knew?

Any comment Ami?

Thanks for that.

Still all nicely compartmentalised I see.

• Ikea: A furnishings store.
• Media Markt: A gadget store
• Deichmann: Moda / Clothing / Shoes / Fashion
• Kaufland: Supermarket- Food / a Lidl competitor
• Real: Largely home and Garden - probably the closest thing to a 'mega-store', sans food of course

Here in Mallorca we have an interesting mix. Traditionally, and to a certain extent still somewhat prevalent, the 'neighbourhood shop' is the place where people buy food. And for convenience, the local ferreteria is still the place to buy DIY, and for all else, local shops - each still specialising in one thing or another.

But in the past 15 years or so - and especially lately, the big stores have begun to prevail. Lidl moved in about 15 years ago, Aldi just opened their first shops in Mallorca last month. Bauhaus opened about a year ago... Brico Depot at the same time. Carrefour (much like wal-mart) has three stores now. And then there's El Corte Ingles, the only true department store. But all are all centered in Palma, and so they aren't quite yet 'daily' experiences for most (except perhaps for Lidl, who now have stores in every major town - I am a regular customer).

I for one, am pleased to see it. They provide (much needed) greater selection, price competition, etc., Although the downside is that it is at the expense of the (usually very expensive, limited selection) locally owned shops that do bring a certain charm to it all. But that's progress for you.

Still this is nothing like in the UK, where shopping centres are generally within easy reach - in neighbourhoods and even outside the suburbs, and a daily experience for most.

And in the US, well, obviously those conveniences extend far beyond the cities and well into the countryside. Shopping centres are a daily experience for most Americans. UK cities still have the 'high street', which most cities in the US don't, but suburban malls are quickly taking their toll on that too. Besides, the 'high street' in many UK cities increasingly resemble shopping malls, just like in the states. Many similarities.

For christmasoompa - you just got caught in the crossfire - my apologies.

Real actually has everything and not only garden stuff. They have toys, sport clothing etc. The point is that life isn't much different and even in the US you won't find a mega store in the sticks. It only seems that they are everywhere in the US, because a small village has more people than a town here.

Well, there's one, by golly.

Still you won't find all that many of these like you'll find in virtually every US city (and suburb):

True, I recently went to the Aran islands where 1200 people live and was so surprised that they didn't have a shopping mall. It was a culture shock and I didn't expect that. They did have a Supermacs though