News, Wal-Mart to Outfit 650 Stores with Cree LEDs in Next Year.

[Fontucky]

If you ever need an example of just how big they are, read this:

By taking out the light bulbs in the coke machines on the premises, the company saved $1 million a year.

[recycled]

I have a Fenix brand CREE LED flashlight (made in China, no surprise) and it puts out a blinding amount of light and uses very little power. I use two rechargeable AA batteries, and it can run in high power mode for several hours. I bicycle commute everyday year round, and this little flashlight can be mounted in a bracket and serve as a backup light source for my bike, in case my primary halogen headlight fails. I am guessing that Walmart got an incredible price for CREE LEDs, much cheaper per unit than my $50 CREE LED flashlight.

Since Walmart does so much business in China, I am guessing they made a direct deal with several of the many LED light factories. Walmart likes multiple suppliers of generic products, it gets them to bid against each other and if one falls through and can't deliver they have another supplier already in the supply chain.

I shop at the local Walmart about once a week. I WALK to Walmart because it's only a block from where I live, so it's a "green" place to shop because I don't have to drive. I bring my own shopping bags too, and the people that work there are OK in my book. Some of my apartment neighbors work there. I haven't noticed the LED lights yet, but I'll take a look up next time.