Wal-Mart bans man for life for matching ads - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

davidmash · #1 12-14-2013, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmbdiesel

Interesting, and true. Apparently Costco pays a solid wage and provides health insurance for their full time workers, and yet it does not seem to hurt their business.
Costco's success over the last years is proving that lower employee turnover, higher productivity and better service can be very profitable for investors in the long term.
Costco, Whole Foods, and The Container Store: 3 Companies Proving That Happy Employees Can Make Shareholders Happy

The High Cost of Low Wages - Harvard Business Review

We now return you to our regularly scheduled WalMart bashing....

Full health benifits/401k/vacation/sick time are also provided for part time employees as well. Not too many companies will do that.

elchivito · #2 12-14-2013, 01:04 PM

I'm sure the target demographics of the two stores are different, but do people shop at a particular location because they're part of a demographic? Is it a rule or something?
We make Costco runs (2 hr drive there and back) about every two months and pack the Element to the gunnels with necessaries. Soap, detergent, bathroom and laundry stuff, pantry supplies and meats like bacon that we typically don't raise ourselves or don't make enough of. I don't see any benefit WalMart has over Costco when it comes to the supplies I buy there, so from an individual customer's vantage point it's a fair comparison. Costco's cheaper including the gas and the annual fee. I also feel better shopping there knowing the people manning the store probably aren't on food stamps. I don't know how their pay schedule works over all, but I do know the store we shop at starts part timers at 16 bucks an hour plus benefits.
Is anyone striking or protesting Costco?

davidmash · #3 12-14-2013, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elchivito

I'm sure the target demographics of the two stores are different, but do people shop at a particular location because they're part of a demographic? Is it a rule or something?
We make Costco runs (2 hr drive there and back) about every two months and pack the Element to the gunnels with necessaries. Soap, detergent, bathroom and laundry stuff, pantry supplies and meats like bacon that we typically don't raise ourselves or don't make enough of. I don't see any benefit WalMart has over Costco when it comes to the supplies I buy there, so from an individual customer's vantage point it's a fair comparison. Costco's cheaper including the gas and the annual fee. I also feel better shopping there knowing the people manning the store probably aren't on food stamps. I don't know how their pay schedule works over all, but I do know the store we shop at starts part timers at 16 bucks an hour plus benefits.
Is anyone striking or protesting Costco?

I believe starting pay at Costco is about $11.50 not $16.

elchivito · #4 12-14-2013, 01:11 PM

To WalMart's credit, I have to applaud their produce section and other aspects of their grocery. They are open about produce sources, nearly everything is labeled by country of origin. Their organic selection continues to expand. Their deli is very good. I can buy organic olive, grapeseed and coconut oils FAR cheaper than anyone else sells them. Their seafood freezer has wild caught salmon fillets for 5 bucks a pound. FIVE bucks a pound. Certainly not the best wild salmon, but far superior to the poisonous farmed stuff most butcher cases get 8 dollars a lb. for.
I go there. I'll give them credit where it's due. Doesn't mean I'd rather not.

davidmash · #5 12-14-2013, 05:07 PM

I am curious how the 100% increase in the profit margin affects pay for the labor force in light of the fact that the profit per employee is not 100% more at Costco. If Walmart were to reduce their profit margin to the same same as Costco, would they have more money to pay their labor force?

It also appears that Costco is able to run it's stores with few employes (about half if I read it correctly). I wonder what the full time/part time ratio for each company is. If Costco has more full time employes they do not need as many people to run the stores in the manner that they do.

Also (check the math) it seems that Costco is making about $1500 a sq/ft when WalMart is only making $942 a sq/ft

When you look at the chart Costco is paying their help more and making more money off of each employee and it seems is much more profitable per sq/ft but WalMart has a higher profit margin. Not sure why WalMart could not stream line their plan and do the same if not close to the same as Costco.

Hatterasguy · #6 12-14-2013, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmash

I am curious how the 100% increase in the profit margin affects pay for the labor force in light of the fact that the profit per employee is not 100% more at Costco. If Walmart were to reduce their profit margin to the same same as Costco, would they have more money to pay their labor force?

It also appears that Costco is able to run it's stores with few employes (about half if I read it correctly). I wonder what the full time/part time ratio for each company is. If Costco has more full time employes they do not need as many people to run the stores in the manner that they do.

Also (check the math) it seems that Costco is making about $1500 a sq/ft when WalMart is only making $942 a sq/ft

When you look at the chart Costco is paying their help more and making more money off of each employee and it seems is much more profitable per sq/ft but WalMart has a higher profit margin. Not sure why WalMart could not stream line their plan and do the same if not close to the same as Costco.

In my experience Costco hires a higher quality worker than Walmart so they are able to get more out of them. The people who can't get jobs at Costco go down the retail totem pole.

Air&Road · #7 12-14-2013, 05:36 PM

You're trying to compare oranges to apples. These two stores are completely different business models.

As far as the ratio of top management to worker salaries, I don't like them any more than anyone else, but they are private companies and are free to do business as they please within the law.

I don't like it, so I vote with my feet. It's a rare time when I darken the doors at Wal Mart OR Costco.

cmbdiesel · #8 12-14-2013, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air&Road

You're trying to compare oranges to apples. These two stores are completely different business models.

As far as the ratio of top management to worker salaries, I don't like them any more than anyone else, but they are private companies and are free to do business as they please within the law.

I don't like it, so I vote with my feet. It's a rare time when I darken the doors at Wal Mart OR Costco.

Agreed that they are different business models, no two are exactly alike, and what works for on may not work for the other, but it sure is interesting to see two different approaches to employee wages with their resultant outcomes.

In general, it seems as if a more generous policy, within the bounds of profitability, yields a much more motivated and productive workforce.

I can't recall ever going to a Costco, and only visit Walmart for specific items, as posted earlier, so we are similar in that respect.
I also make a concerted effort to avoid Chinese products, for a variety of reasons.

elchivito · #9 12-16-2013, 04:11 PM

I'd be willing to bet that any store that has to put a begging barrel outside the door for it's customers to donate food to it's EMPLOYEES is gonna have an employee theft problem.

Botnst · #10 12-16-2013, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elchivito

I'd be willing to bet that any store that has to put a begging barrel outside the door for it's customers to donate food to it's EMPLOYEES is gonna have an employee theft problem.

Well that sure explains Anthropologie's problem, huh?

elchivito · #11 12-16-2013, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

Well that sure explains Anthropologie's problem, huh?

Talk about different business models.

Botnst · #12 12-17-2013, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elchivito

Talk about different business models.

Way to miss the point!!!

Anthropologies doesn't have food collection barrels and has an employee theft problem.

Thus, your theory that food barrels are indicative of an employee theft problem is undermined.