Pigtails

Costco is a publicly-traded company based out of the Seattle area.

Pigtails

http://www.hipmama.com/node/9271

Very interesting article!

Pimpbot

For $30 bucks, we thought what the hell. We may even renew our Costco cards in November.

Britdrinker

It's not that easy, especially in semi-rural areas. By the time Wal-Mart has closed down all the 'competition', there's nowhere else to go and work. Wal-Mart may represent the biggest bang for the buck, but it's at the expense of suppliers (who have to cut costs and increase quality constantly to avoid losing their contract) and poorly paid employees, who earn minimum wage and aren't offered affordable health insurance.

Here in liberal Austin a couple of Wal-Marts have not been allowed to open due to the forecast negative impact on the local watershed. Snowbunny may know more about that.

fatbrit

It's about being fleeced by the pharmaceutical companies, not about Wally World fleecing America.

Pigtails

Have you seen the title of the thread my dear? If I was deciding between the two, this article would swing my vote.

Now stop trying to pick a fight. Be a good boy for once.

mdyoung

I can't see how people are going to do worse if Wal-Mart comes to town and they lose their job at Bob's Hardware. You do have the opportunity to move up the ladder at Wal-Mart, where are you going at Bob's Hardware?

Why are you against Wal-Mart forcing suppliers to cut costs and increase quality. Is Wal-Mart supposed to sell overpriced crap, so that employees at XYZ company can keep their jobs?

Pigtails

And I'm sure Bob's Hardware has affordable health insurance too don't you think

fatbrit

Costco v. Wal-Mart: How They Stack Up
Global Workforce
Wal-Mart: 1.6 million associates
Costco: 113,000 employees

U.S. Workforce
Wal-Mart: 1.2 million
Costco: 83,600

U.S. Union Members
Wal-Mart: 0
Costco: 15,000

U.S. Stores
Wal-Mart: 3,600
Costco: 336

Net Profits (2004)
Wal-Mart: $10.5 billion
Costco: $882 million

CEO Salary + Bonus (2004)
Wal-Mart: $5.3 million
Costco: $350,000

Average Pay
Wal-Mart: $9.68/hour
Costco: $16/hour

Health Plan Costs
Wal-Mart: Associates pay 34% of premiums + deductible ($350-$1,000)
Costco: Comprehensive; employees pay 5-8% of premiums

Employees Covered By Company Health Insurance
Wal-Mart: 48%
Costco: 82%

Employee Turnover (estimate)
Wal-Mart: 50%
Costco: 24%

Sources: Wal-Mart, Costco, Business Week, Forbes.com

BritGuyTN

a couple of female friends are drug reps

they are never happy when I tell them they have a completely pointless job and they are just perpetuating the broke US healthcare system

they started off with guff like 'i think I really make a difference to patients lives, making sure doctors know what drugs are out there'

bOllOcks

I am NOT liberal and I beleive that people should stand on their own two feet, but when I see my wifes grandmother having to decide between heating fuel and paying for prescription drugs it makes me sick

sorry

bit O/T

fatbrit

No, it's not OT at all.
We have in this one thread the acceptable and the unacceptable face of capitalism. One is red and the other is blue. And it is as clear as daylight to me.

Pigtails

But how do they stack up to Bob's Hardware??

fatbrit

How do they stack up to slavery or the Victorian workhouse would be more to the point!

Pigtails

HUH??


Walmart is a PRIVATE company and can pay people whatever they want. PRIVATE citizens can chose to shop there, work there or boycott it.

Personally,after seeing that they have NO union employees, I'm even more tempted to shop there.

NJ_Dave

More importantly, how does a thread about wholesalers end up being about politics? Is it a slow news day, or is this just the next thing on your long list of gripes?