The Costco Effect

[57Brave]

Saw this article this morning and thought after the negativity brought out by the practices of Wal-Mart the past few days perhaps we spotlight an enterprise where the CEO caps his own salary in order to spread the profits around. To all those that -- contribute to the profit
curious to see who thinks what
===========================

This comment from article:


"I wouldn't be happy with the funneling.

The average stock in the S&P 500 for the past 10 years is up 75% versus 45% for Wal-Mart (google finance).

The stock market, which over ten years is weighing machine and not a voting machine, doesn't think Wal-Mart is doing a great job giving money back to shareholders or Sam Walton.

Wal-mart's profit margin has also declined the past 10 years."

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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/1...-Costco-Effect

[sturg33]

Costco's a great company. But they are just as ruthless as Walmart..

Costco Canada is my client for our business, and they squeeze every penny they can out of vendors.

[57Brave]

My friend does work for Chic-fil-A = and tells me the only portion of the business not operating on Sundays is the stores -- or, what the public sees.

Do you think the CEO accepting "only" $500K per year a PR stunt - or that they pay a living wage, stay closed for business and give paid holidays 5-6 times a year nothing more than a PR stunt?
The fact that they squeeze every nickel does not make them ruthless - it is how and on whose back they squeeze every nickel that makes one ruthless.

[BedellBrave]

Then Chic-fil-A has changed since the days when I was around several who worked in the main office (including a VP). But whatever...

[Oklahomahawk]

I'm a little curious as to why good old Wal-Mart, the all American organization doesn't seem to have any nativity scene stuff (except for one tiny one I got that there the other day). Why do you suppose they aren't catching hell for not carrying more of them, they used to do so...

[goldfly]

I'm a little curious as to why good old Wal-Mart, the all American organization doesn't seem to have any nativity scene stuff (except for one tiny one I got that there the other day). Why do you suppose they aren't catching hell for not carrying more of them, they used to do so...

i remember when they were proud of being "made in america"

**** that hellhole of a company

[57Brave]

Then Chic-fil-A has changed since the days when I was around several who worked in the main office (including a VP). But whatever...

my friend was called away from brunch one Sunday morning - I innocently made the comment "thought they were closed on Sunday". The story of when I got his response.
My guess is upper level Wal-Mart management were not working Thanksgiving either.

Kinda the sore spot- goes back to that whole 99% vs 1% thingy

[Oklahomahawk]

i remember when they were proud of being "made in america"

**** that hellhole of a company

I remember that too, Sam Walton may have been bat****e crazy but he was pretty good to his people and I believe he actually cared about people, his employees and his customers. I was working there back when his health got bad and he had to just back off and let the bean counters and his relatives take over and you could tell a HUGE difference right away.

Oh and anyone here who likes to stir the pot could send an anonymous message to Bill O'Reilly and have him check into why Wal-Mart doesn't seem to want to handle nativity scenes this Christmas. It might be worth it just for the "effing with him" factor (on the O'Reilly Factor).

[BedellBrave]

my friend was called away from brunch one Sunday morning - I innocently made the comment "thought they were closed on Sunday". The story of when I got his response.
My guess is upper level Wal-Mart management were not working Thanksgiving either.

Kinda the sore spot- goes back to that whole 99% vs 1% thingy

It wasn't just upper management in the main office or personnel in stores that were off, it was regular working bees in the main office. I'm sure they've got maintenance and skeleton crews on call though. Nature of the beast. I wouldn't impute bad motives to CFA.

[sturg33]

I really hope 57 didn't watch any TV, listen to any radio, go get gas or groceries, on Thanksgiving day...

[Tapate50]

my friend was called away from brunch one Sunday morning - I innocently made the comment "thought they were closed on Sunday". The story of when I got his response.
My guess is upper level Wal-Mart management were not working Thanksgiving either.

Kinda the sore spot- goes back to that whole 99% vs 1% thingy

Kinda a chitty comment to your friend.

No one ever has emergencies...ever. LOL.

Your friend can probably go to some other fast food chain and not get called in to work 99% of his Sundays...oh wait.

[57Brave]

a) we were at brunch

b) he made the comment

c) point was - friends opinion was their being closed had more to do with PR than principal. Which I don't doubt motivates Costco to a degree and is ignored by Wal-Mart because with friends like you Tape - they will always have people that will support them no matter what.

[acesfull86]

I really hope 57 didn't watch any TV, listen to any radio, go get gas or groceries, on Thanksgiving day...

I've yet to hear anyone stand up for the TV people who put on the Macy's parade, the football games, etc. Faux outrage at its finest. Let's just rail against the businesses we don't like.

[Tapate50]

my friend was called away from brunch one Sunday morning - I innocently made the comment "thought they were closed on Sunday". The story of when I got his response.
My guess is upper level Wal-Mart management were not working Thanksgiving either.

Kinda the sore spot- goes back to that whole 99% vs 1% thingy

a) we were at brunch (FANCY!!!)

b) he made the comment ???

c) point was - friends opinion was their being closed had more to do with PR than principal. Which I don't doubt motivates Costco to a degree and is ignored by Wal-Mart because with friends like you Tape - they will always have people that will support them no matter what.

It might have to do with both. My point is, emergencies happen. It isn't crazy to work on the weekends if needed. I do\would in a heartbeat if people needed my help.

He probably isn't "CFA material" anyway. Let's be honest....

I can\will be critical of CFA if they f up, but you just rail against businesses that are in the upper echelon of behavior "just to do so". There was no point and no resolution to your 'anecdote'. Just a pitch in bitch at a huge company you jilted. Good use of your time.

He should be applauded for going above and beyond, something you obviously are against.

[57Brave]

How does a thread about how one company doing it right turn into a pissing contest about something totally different?

Had you and the Fist Shakers read the whole post it asked if Costco was guilty of my friends opinion of CFA policy.

/////

Is CFA a Fist Shaker hot button topic --- still?

[sturg33]

If you don't want those "evil" rich people to have so much then don't give them your money. When you buy a laptop at Walmart this Christmas you are deciding that the value that the Waltons, Michael DELL and Bill Gates are delivering to you is worth more than the labor it took you to earn that $399 you're spending. If you VOLUNTARILY turn over your money to them then you forfeit the right to tell them how to spend the money that you CHOSE to give them. It's now theirs. You got more in return than what you gave else you would NOT have chosen to turn over that money.

If you don't want them to have the money then buy LOCAL and VOTE with your dollars.

[sturg33]

I also love that folks like 57 support a minimum wage increase. As all that does is help major corporations like Walmart… Unlike the local smaller retail shops, Walmart can actually afford a minimum wage hike.

[57Brave]

[sturg33]

Wow… What a great guy. Settling for a mediocre $550,000 salary. I'm sure he has zero stock in the company… nope, none at all.

[goldfly]

Wow… What a great guy. Settling for a mediocre $550,000 salary. I'm sure he has zero stock in the company… nope, none at all.

i feel you are making our point for us now