Job Loss

I'm really sorry to read this Yearight2, I can tell almost for sure you or someone really close to you lost your or his/her job for this reason, right? 

In today's bussiness management you know that every company (and even small ones) are trying to cut costs in everything the can.  Unfortunately, this includes human operating/manufacturing costs.

I have to agree with you that the main goal of every company (specially big corporations) is money.  Sadly, this has become a greed issue.  I don't think upper managers care for one country  more than other.  A job can be moved today to Philipines (i.e.) and in two or three years when the pressure to reduce costs in back that same job will move to another location and so on.  And then, that poor person will be writing a post in this forum or any other complainting, just like you... or even me... only God knows when could it happen to you or me, right?

I really feel sad this is happening, not only here, but all over the world.  Every day the poor population is growing.  I'm not talking poor families increasing by birth but the  worldwide poor population growing. 

As I said before in another topic in this forum, what will happen when there is none human being in this world willing to do a job for less and less money or even for free?

GAME OVER!

Yes, we know. 

Another way they save money is having the hourly call center people make the sale on phone orders, rather than letting a commissioned sales person do it. One of my customers had to threaten NOT to buy unless they connected him to me in the store.

Since 2005, commission rates paid to me have decreased by about 10% on avaerage--selling the same things today nets me 10% less than four years ago. In the old days, more work netted MORE pay, not LESS.

But it's all for the good of the team! I'm sure the senior managers and CEO, leading by example, have taken a 10% cut in pay as well.  :P

a62dave said: "...have taken a 10% cut in pay as well..." 

Well, even if that was true, it's not the same going from earning (i.e). $150,000 per year to $135,000 (10% off) vs $20,000 to $18,000 (or less) per year, isn't it?  Who of the two of them do you think is going to feel that their world is coming apart?

Job shifting is a national topic, much above what Sears cares could do.

I'm really sorry to read your post Yearight2, but i can't see anything to blame to Sears for job loss. I am an advocate for free economy--but i am unwilling to pay a higher premium for everything to prevent job loss. I strongly dislike socilaism.

However, i think government should budget more for career training for those who need a job.

I strongly disagree  with everything  you said..I think the online layaway it is an excellent idea, and I am waiting for Walmart to get back on the ball. They cancelled their entire layaway program a couple of years ago, and I think they have lost some business. We don't have any Kmarts here, so some people have moved their layaways to Sears or Target. I can understand how a store wouldn't want to have a physical in-store layaway. But I think on-line would be perfect for those shoppers

I've seen positive comments towards Kmart's new, discount for the unemployed..

many are really loving the idea. to the point they are thanking Kmart and Sears

for pulling off this surprising move.. you should see these comments. anyway

i believe you are talking about Walmart not Sears.. did you know more

then 200 store associates quit there job at Walmart. in just 1 year.

they are just sick of being mistreated at Walmart

Here is that article  i was talking about..  read those positive comments

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/09/29/kmarts-new-recession-play-discounts-for-the-unemployed/1#comments

I think the American public needs to understand the difference between communism, socialism, and capitalism.

If Communism, and Socialism are the same thing, then why weren't Tito and Stalin best friends?

We don't even have a Senior Citizens discount at our Sears Appliance.

I've got a question, how do you survive on $200 a week, part time?

And, why do they make everyone part time?

So you don't qualify for benefits they would have to shell for.

I'll never forget losing a high-tech job, one week before Christmas.

That year, I put Christmas lights on a used toilet, that I dragged onto the front lawn.

It seemed a very "appropriate" decoration and statement about the holidays, that year.

It was accompanied with a nice little sign, entitled "Trickle Down Economics".

I've always felt a little apprehensive and nervous, since that wonderful Christmas.

Don't blame Sears, Walmart, Dell, or anyone else. Blame yourself and the American public.

I buy everything I can american made. We have become a disposable society that values "cheapness" over quality or statesmanship.

I feel that I live, work, and raise my children(to become future american workers) in the united states, so my money needs to be spent here.

If you get someone on the phone who you KNOW is not american, ask to speak with someone in the US(that is always an option), before you buy/subscribe, ask what country customer service is handled in.

I will not leave TMobile, Comcast(although that one is debatable on customer service quality), etc for those reasons. I left MCI when they changed over to India for their customer service. My phone costs me no more to have it serviced in the US, but I am potentially putting my neighbor, friend, cousin to work by buying/using american products and american supported products. These days it takes a lot of research to find american made products, but if all of us did it, the demand would increase, they would be more readily available and we would have a better economy....but that is my own utopia, in the mean time, I will continue to support my country!!

Remember:

"Pride bears two seeds, life, and death."

-Nathaniel Hawthorne

The unfortunate truth, is that money has become more important than people.

Our country's greed, excess, and avarice have only been outdone by the Roman Empire.

And, we all remember how successful they were in the long term...

Their roads lasted longer, though.

Americans care, generally as much or less than our oversears counterparts.

Call center jobs in the phillipines for example, generally required college degrees and are some of the highest paying jobs out there (in there country).

I think any one who works at a job for more thasn 20 year because of finacial reasons is goign to end up not caring and not doing their best.

But you are right, all of this is based off of corporate corruption, not much we can do unless obama puts some boxing gloves on.

Guys,

It isn't evil to want to buy the highest quality goods at the lowest price.  That's capitalism.  Let's let the market decide.

Meanwhile, let's do a few things to fix it - let's have a product the rest of the world actually wants.  Customer service can easily be moved anywhere in the world; that's not something we're going to be able to protect in an open and fair economy without providing a better service.  Rather than complaining about moving service, America needs to start providing the best value again.   

What can we produce? I'm pretty sure the marketting majors have done everything we can. We need to realize that america is no longer a manufacturing power house, we are above and beyond that with the amount of people we have who are college educated. We just need proper regulations on large companies,  or not giving them bail outs.

Can I get a bail out?