More on the case for Costco over Walmart

[Glenda]

http://www.mydd.com/story/2004/8/11/13343/7664

Kerry vs. Bush and Costco vs. Wal-Mart
by Chris Bowers

Argument by analogy is dangerous, by Daniel Gross in Slate produces a beauty (links and emphasis in orginial):
Last week, Jeffrey Brotman and James Sinegal, chairman and chief executive office of Costco, respectively, joined the list of executives who endorsed John Kerry for president. (...)
Costco also has the sort of labor policy that would bring a smile to Barbara Ehrenreich's face. Pay starts at $10 an hour. About one in six employees is represented by a union, and workers receive nice health benefits. Sinegal has a non-zero-sum view of employee relations. Give people good jobs at good wages, and they'll be more likely to work harder, less likely to leave, and less likely to steal. As Helyar reported, Costco's turnover "is a third of the retail industry average of 64%," and "shrinkage"--the amount of inventory lost to theft--"is about 13% of the industry norm."

On the right: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (...) The company's labor policies are state-of-the-art, for the 1890s. It has been investigated for hiring contractors who allegedly hired illegal aliens to clean Wal-Mart stores and for locking them inside overnight. (One wonders if the Wal-Mart employees who in April were bused in to hear Vice President Dick Cheney sing the company's praises at Wal-Mart's headquarters were similarly confined.) In June, a federal judge certified a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of female Wal-Mart employees who claimed discrimination. The average wage at Wal-Mart, which has no unions and bitterly opposes raising the minimum wage, is lower than Costco's lowest wage. Turnover at Wal-Mart, according to the Economist, is 44 percent, meaning it "has to hire an astonishing 600,000 people every year simply to stay at its current size."(...)

Through July 6, according to Sheila Krumholz, research director at the Center for Responsive Politics, Wal-Mart--the company, its PAC, and individuals employed by it--have made political donations of $1.658 million. Of that, $1.34 million, or 81 percent, went to Republicans.

Wal-Mart and Costco show two very different ways this country can be run. The stark contrast of working conditions at Costco versus those at Wal-Mart show just how effective and beneficial to the country a well-articulated Democratic economic message could be. Who would ever want to work at Wal-Mart instead of Costco? When the lies about handouts, laziness and inefficient government surrounding the liberal / progressive economic message are torn away, you are left with good jobs at good wages that empower workers and save companies billions because of worker satisfaction.
Much like Kerry and Bush, Costco is starting to pull away from Wal-Mart in sales. Shop the Vote.

[BlueEyedSon]

1. Anyone know where BJ's Wholesale Club fits on the "political correctness"

spectrum?

[friesianrider]

9. I think they're owned by Wal-Mart...

:(

[BlueEyedSon]

13. You sure you're not thinking of SAM'S CLUB?

(Sam Walton was the creator of Wal-mart)

[Glenda]

2. How much Costco give to Dems

http://www.slate.com/id/2104988/

So far this campaign cycle, Costco CEO James Sinegal has made campaign donations of $93,500 according to OpenSecrets.org—all of it to Democratic candidates and entities. Brotman has donated $38,250 in this cycle, again all to Democrats. In addition, Brotman and Sinegal have also given $95,000 apiece to the Joint Victory Campaign, one of the most influential of the anti-Bush527 committees, independent entities that can accept unlimited donations from individuals. Sol Price, the founder of Price Club, which merged with Costco in 1993, has given more than $44,000 to Democratic campaign causes this cycle.

[libbygurl]

3. Is there a way to ask Costco to open a store in my little town that's

awash with WalMart Supercenters?

[proud patriot]

4. My Friend who died last Saturday worked for Cosco

the Funeral and Memorial was Yesterday . :cry:

Cosco provided all the food and refreshments for
the wake afterward .

Damn fine Company if you ask me .

[Glenda]

6. Wow. That's sad about your friend.

But a very human thing to do by Costco

[ever_green]

5. We don't have a Costco, but plenty of Walmarts :(

I stay out of Walmart anyways.

[RandomUser]

7. The only thing I needed to know about Costco

was that wallstreet was criticizing them for treating their workers too well and not being cutthroat enough to stay competitive a while back. Any company that does right by their employees is a company I like.

Costco gets my vote.

[Sara Beverley]

8. OK, can we get some ultra rich Dem to begin a competive chain of

discount super stores to rival Wal-Mart? It takes the guts to not want to make unreasonable profits to serve the greater good. No one should be in business to lose money, that's not what I am talking about but if, instead, someone could stand to make a 70% profit instead of 130% profit and compete with Wal-Mart we could turn this thing around. George Soros, where are you?

[AndyTiedye]

12. They Already Did. Costco Blows the Doors off of Walmart

[friesianrider]

10. Shop at Costco...BOYCOTT Wal-Mart!

I started doing it as soon as I heard this a few weeks ago. Costco will get ALL of my business now.

[Dropkick]

11. Find a Costco near you!

I just found out that there's one right by me!

http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/Locator.aspx

[Abelman]

14. Always boycott Wal-Mart.

Always.