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Is being generous good for business? Costco CEO profits as he offers top pay, benefits
Houston Chronicle ^ | July 16, 2005 | Steven Greenhouse

Posted on 07/20/2005 12:54:46 PM PDT by Ace of Spades

ISSAQUAH, WASH. - Jim Sinegal, the chief executive of Costco Wholesale, the nation's fifth-largest retailer, crows about Costco's private-label pinpoint cotton dress shirts.

"Look, these are just $12.99," he said while lifting a crisp blue button-down inside Costco's cavernous warehouse store here in the company's hometown. "At Nordstrom or Macy's, this is a $45, $50 shirt."

Combining high quality with stunningly low prices, the shirts appeal to upscale customers — and epitomize why some retail analysts say Sinegal just might be America's shrewdest merchant since Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart.

(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: benefits; costco; walmart; workplace
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To: BikerNYC
And then business and investment will expand, the economy will get better and salaries will go up. When labor gets expensive, the opposite will happen.

Command economies, such as what occurs during a major war, such as WWII is when the government needs to get into the economic management business. Otherwise, stay out of it.

101 posted on 07/20/2005 4:30:59 PM PDT by Moonman62 (Federal creed: If it moves tax it. If it keeps moving regulate it. If it stops moving subsidize it)
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To: truth_seeker

Global warming, perhaps? Naaaah! It's only 112 here today and balmy. Playing golf tomorrow. Our big problem isn't the heat, it's the brush fires started by lightning.


102 posted on 07/20/2005 4:44:26 PM PDT by Paulus Invictus
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To: Ace of Spades
The point is, Wal-Mart could treat its employees better and still make money.

What arrogance allows you to decide how Wal-Mart spends their money?

Will you post your budget here so we can tell you how to spend your money?

Why don't you start your own "Ace-Mart" then you can pay even more than Costco and be a hero instead of a whiner.

103 posted on 07/20/2005 4:47:38 PM PDT by RJL
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To: truth_seeker

Yes, exactly 120 in the shade. It's truly a shock to the system!!! But then I go outside my door and JUMP in the Colorado River which is about 56 degrees!!! Can't even go in our pool because it's about 90 degrees!


104 posted on 07/20/2005 6:21:47 PM PDT by Hildy ("You miss 100% of the shots you never take." - Wayne Gretzky)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
And those would be?

Well, first off, they come into small towns like mine and underprice all the service people, which is what communities like mine are made up of. I can go into Walmart and get my eyeglasses made, (taking business away from local eye stores), have my hair and nails done, make my vacation plans and have my photos developed and buy all my groceries, all cheaper than anyplace else in town. It's really not fair. That's the argument.

105 posted on 07/20/2005 6:24:28 PM PDT by Hildy ("You miss 100% of the shots you never take." - Wayne Gretzky)
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To: Non-Sequitur
Whatever Costco is doing, the market seems to like it more than whatever Walmart is doing.

But...but who's the world's largest retailer, employing more people than the Federal government?


106 posted on 07/20/2005 6:38:53 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
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To: GLDNGUN

Banana recipes sound good, but I don't know about the shake thing--sounds kind of different to me. Now, the banana bread, I can do that!


107 posted on 07/20/2005 7:06:39 PM PDT by Pure Country
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To: Husker8877

no, its simply an observation.


108 posted on 07/20/2005 7:07:45 PM PDT by oceanview
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To: MarkL

"I like the size of their jars of minced garlic and Miracle Whip..."

Don't ask me why, but when I read that line the first thought that lept into my mind was a picture of someone deaing with a weight problem and in serious need of a breath mint. LOL


109 posted on 07/20/2005 7:18:09 PM PDT by commonasdirt (Reading DU so you won't hafta)
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To: Hildy
Well, first off, they come into small towns like mine and underprice all the service people, which is what communities like mine are made up of. I can go into Walmart and get my eyeglasses made, (taking business away from local eye stores), have my hair and nails done, make my vacation plans and have my photos developed and buy all my groceries, all cheaper than anyplace else in town. It's really not fair. That's the argument.

What you are saying is that it is not fair to the established gentry class who have become accustomed to minimal competition and therefore extract much higher prices than necessary from their captive rural customers.

What about the poor people who have to pay those higher prices? Don't they count at all? There are a lot more of them!

Wal-Mart did not become the largest retailer in the nation by accident. They are the most highly computerized, automated company on earth, and they have used that information power to become the most efficient distribution system on earth.

By vastly increasing the efficiency of the commodity-delivery market (food, clothing, sporting goods, auto supplies, pet food, etc., etc., etc.), Wal-Mart has done more to raise the standard of living of the working class poor than all the billions of dollars of federal poverty programs ever created.

What the ant-Wal-Mart lobby (unions) always fails to mention is that the consumers who save money there have more money left over for non-commodity items like education, bigger houses, newer cars, motorcycles, RVs, etc. The mom-and-pop grocery stores being out-competed by Wal-Mart are being replaced by more specialty shops that sell higher end, specialized products.

The economy is not a zero-sum game, and there are many more winners than losers when Wal-Mart comes to town. The losers just cry a lot louder.

Wal-Mart has now become the nation's number one employer, replacing General Motors, who used to be.

The unions destroyed GM by demanding such high wages, employment security and fabulous medical coverage that GM is now buckling under the strain and will probably go bankrupt within the next five years.

Inefficient companies eventually die no matter how great they are to work for.

By bashing Wal-Mart, you are assisting the unions in their drive to destroy it.

110 posted on 07/20/2005 8:08:45 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Drug prohibition laws spawned the runaway federal health care monopoly and fund terrorism.)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
But...but who's the world's largest retailer, employing more people than the Federal government?

Regardless. Their stock price has been stagnant or declining for years.

111 posted on 07/21/2005 3:38:06 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur
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To: twigs
I agree with your posting. We live close to a WalMart, Sams and a Costco. One of the big differences we have found between the WalMart operations and Costco is the general condition of the stores. Costco are always neat, very clean, wide isles with merchandise neatly presented and rarely out of place. I feel that the general quality of Costco merchandise is superiour to WalMart/Sams and the employees are a real step above in attitude.
112 posted on 07/21/2005 4:25:21 AM PDT by engrpat
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To: Non-Sequitur
Regardless. Their stock price has been stagnant or declining for years.

Do the millions of people who shop there care?

113 posted on 07/21/2005 6:03:37 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
The mom-and-pop grocery stores being out-competed by Wal-Mart are being replaced by more specialty shops that sell higher end, specialized products.

This is another key issue that the Wal-Mart bashers fail to recognize.

A Walmart SuperCenter near my home also has next to it:

(1) A sporting goods store that makes the sporting goods department at Walmart look like some kid's closet

(2) A fabrics and crafts store

(3) A Best Buy (BTW - I wouldn't be caught dead buying electronics at WalMart)

114 posted on 07/21/2005 6:07:32 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
Do the millions of people who shop there care?

The hundreds of thousands who invest in Walmart should.

115 posted on 07/21/2005 6:11:32 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur
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To: Non-Sequitur
Now you're suddenly concerned about Wal-Mart investors after spending the thread ripping the company they invested in.

Nice, real nice...

116 posted on 07/21/2005 6:14:39 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
Now you're suddenly concerned about Wal-Mart investors after spending the thread ripping the company they invested in.

And suddenly your concerned about the shareholders, after having unconditionally supported corportate management? The same management that has presided over the stagnation in stock prices? Nice, real nice...

117 posted on 07/21/2005 6:17:53 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur
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To: engrpat

We LOVE Costco. My husband groans when I say I want to go with him, because he knows that always means another book purchase. I like the way they display their books and I like their selection much better.


118 posted on 07/21/2005 6:27:33 AM PDT by twigs
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To: twigs

My Costco phrase is: "I am going broke saving money!"


119 posted on 07/21/2005 7:03:33 AM PDT by engrpat
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To: engrpat

You and my husband! He calls it "spaving."


120 posted on 07/21/2005 8:09:32 AM PDT by twigs
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