Obviously this entire situation is insane from many perspectives, but strictly speaking, it’d be 30% added to the cost of acquiring merchandise, rather than the overall margin. The price of goods is a small fraction of Walmart’s overall expenses, compared to logistics and freight, labor, real estate, shrink and such. The actual impact to margins is probably more like 10% or so. Which is simultaneously both something Walmart could probably eat, and more than the Walton family is willing to swallow.
Obviously this entire situation is insane from many perspectives, but strictly speaking, it’d be 30% added to the cost of acquiring merchandise, rather than the overall margin. The price of goods is a small fraction of Walmart’s overall expenses, compared to logistics and freight, labor, real estate, shrink and such. The actual impact to margins is probably more like 10% or so. Which is simultaneously both something Walmart could probably eat, and more than the Walton family is willing to swallow.