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Forums10
Topics38,496
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Apr 29th, 2024
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 585 Likes: 9
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 585 Likes: 9 |
A good story about a good American Company - L. L. Bean.
I have a pair of the very familiar L. L. Bean Maine Guide Hunting Boots. The ones with the rubber bottoms and leather tops. I have had these boots for 40 years.
20 years ago I sent them back to Bean in Maine and they put on new rubber bottoms for $20.00.
It is time again for new bottoms so I went to our new L. L. Bean retail store near Rochester, NY to inquire about the process of returning them for new bottoms. Instead of new bottoms, they offered me new boots of the same type at no cost - Zero $$, free, for $150.00 new boots.
These boots are like an old friend and hunting companion so I'll spend $43.00 to have the bottoms replaced in Maine.
That's good Customer Service.
Jolly
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ben-t
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ben-t
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I won't say any argument made here is wrong, because in some circumstance it is probably right, but how much do most of you think a working American should make annually, considering possible layoffs, health care and rising prices and taxes? I have been a conservative all my adult life, but I see corporations continually being bailed out or being supplimented with tax dollars and executives taking big bonuses. I just can't understand the thinking. The average working American may make two million dollars in his or her lifetime, but the arguement for multimillion dollar salaries are "they are worth it" or "they are taking risks". I can't help thinking a person making $25 an hour, who can loose his job when banks make bad loans or a company's inflated stock values "readjust" has a bit of risk too? Once a person has two million in the bank they are at least assured an average working persons standard of living. And the thing about the boots, I mentioned earlier, the ones made in China are only a couple dollars less than the ones made in the U.S.A.. The Chinese aren't getting that profit margin. Profit margin is the key, I think. Can a company exist with less of a profit margin and better paid employees who can afford to pay for their own health care and save for retirement or does a company have to make large profits, make their executives millionaires and pay out large dividends to their stock holders? The answer is of course- yes, to the latter! That is what those with power want and their arguement is "that is what makes America strong". So we have working people without health care and at real risk of becoming homeless every business cycle, but that is alright because the wealthy and powerful are keeping America strong. Working class people fear they may loose their income or health and the wealthy fear being like working class people. We know who will always win. It just a shame they have to complain so much. Unions leaders are just the wealthy in a different niche. Perhaps it is just a combination of fear and lack of discipline, both rich and not?
Last edited by ben-t; 05/10/11 12:59 AM.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,158 Likes: 1153
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,158 Likes: 1153 |
VIZIO, Inc. was founded in 2002 by William Wang with the idea that everyone deserves to own the latest technology. Mr. Wang's first two employees, Laynie Newsome and Ken Lowe, were honored as co-founders and eight years later are still hard at work taking entertainment freedom by storm! By providing a myriad of high definition entertainment options and unmatchable value, VIZIO has grown to over 160 employees and remains the first American brand in over a decade to lead in U.S. LCD HDTV sales.
This would be good news, if the TVs were actually built here using American parts. Think that's the case? Ask yourself, how can they (produce and) sell millions of TVs a year, as they claim to on their own website, with only 160 employees? Hmmmm. SRH
May God bless America and those who defend her.
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,008
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,008 |
I won't say any argument made here is wrong, because in some circumstance it is probably right, but how much do most of you think a working American should make annually, considering possible layoffs, health care and rising prices and taxes? I have been a conservative all my adult life, but I see corporations continually being bailed out or being supplimented with tax dollars and executives taking big bonuses. I just can't understand the thinking. The average working American may make two million dollars in his or her lifetime, but the arguement for multimillion dollar salaries are "they are worth it" or "they are taking risks". I can't help thinking a person making $25 an hour, who can loose his job when banks make bad loans or a company's inflated stock values "readjust" has a bit of risk too? Once a person has two million in the bank they are at least assured an average working persons standard of living. And the thing about the boots, I mentioned earlier, the ones made in China are only a couple dollars less than the ones made in the U.S.A.. The Chinese aren't getting that profit margin. Profit margin is the key, I think. Can a company exist with less of a profit margin and better paid employees who can afford to pay for their own health care and save for retirement or does a company have to make large profits, make their executives millionaires and pay out large dividends to their stock holders? The answer is of course- yes, to the latter! That is what those with power want and their arguement is "that is what makes America strong". So we have working people without health care and at real risk of becoming homeless every business cycle, but that is alright because the wealthy and powerful are keeping America strong. Working class people fear they may loose their income or health and the wealthy fear being like working class people. We know who will always win. It just a shame they have to complain so much. Unions leaders are just the wealthy in a different niche. Perhaps it is just a combination of fear and lack of discipline, both rich and not? ben-t, this is a very thoughtful post and while I can disagree with small parts of it, overall it's spot-on. People are so fearful of what they think is "socialism" that they selectively ignore the socialism that really exists in this country - the wealth is being transferred from the working class to the oligarchs. And the working folk support this and think it's "patriotic" If low marginal tax rates are needed to create jobs, where are the jobs? We've had record low tax rates for a decade. Where are the jobs? German companies are making money hand-over-fist and German workers are well-paid and have universal health care. The whole health care argument is bogus. The balance of power in this country has tipped and unless you've already gotten yours, you'll never get it nor will your children. The pols on both sides are bought off by the really big money. Sorry for the rant - I realize this started off as a Cabellas post and there, too, I agree - I try not to buy Chinese stuff.
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,199 Likes: 7
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,199 Likes: 7 |
People are so fearful of what they think is "socialism" that they selectively ignore the socialism that really exists in this country - the wealth is being transferred from the working class to the oligarchs. And the working folk support this and think it's "patriotic"
If low marginal tax rates are needed to create jobs, where are the jobs? We've had record low tax rates for a decade. Where are the jobs?
German companies are making money hand-over-fist and German workers are well-paid and have universal health care. The whole health care argument is bogus. The balance of power in this country has tipped and unless you've already gotten yours, you'll never get it nor will your children. The pols on both sides are bought off by the really big money.
Sorry for the rant - I realize this started off as a Cabellas post and there, too, I agree - I try not to buy Chinese stuff. Yup. A couple things that need mentioning when comparing the German model to the US model (and the US model comes up short every time): 1. In Germany, unions have seats on companies' boards of directors. They have a stake in the company and a voice in corporate decisions across-the-board. As a result, companies work not just for the owners but also for the people who work there. 2. In Germany, basic health insurance costs somewhere around $100 a month. You're required to buy it, but it's affordable and the companies can't screw you around with "prior conditions" and such. 3. In Germany, they believe schools are for educating children, don't carp about overpaid teachers' unions and don't look at schools and teachers as places to cut budgets. Teaching is a respected profession and treated accordingly. And most Germans who go on to college speak, read and write English better than most Americans. (I know - in my lawyering work I've done "document review" reading thousands of emails and letters written by Germans in English, and theirs is better than most Americans'.) And don't get me started on the perversity of taxing hedge fund people at 15 percent and ordinary folks at 28 or so percent. (BTW - those jobs that the low marginal tax rates were supposed to facilitate creating? They're in China.)
fiery, dependable, occasionally transcendent
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 20
Boxlock
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Boxlock
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 20 |
Cabelas now has a CEO(former Remington CEO)who will "cheapen" products as much as possible.(Remington) has fallen to producing a dirt product.Cabelas will follow this as well,they have "increased their profits" at the bottom line,without passing any saving to the customer.They do NOT want their clothes or Cammo to last more than year so they will sell more.I used to buy their boots,but no longer has they are made in China and do not fit my American feet.The Cabelas family now have no say in the company and it's all abouut the stock holders.
They are off my shopping list for good....
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 244
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 244 |
If we don't buy from Cabelas, where would we go for a big selection of mail order items at a fair price?
--shinbone
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,879 Likes: 15
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,879 Likes: 15 |
I don't mind having a laundry basket from China, but my sxs won't be Chinese, that's for sure.
While I'm no particular fan of Chinese products and I despise low quality in any product, I think the past Cold War isolation of China, and associated threat of nuclear war, was a situation the world couldn't ensure stability of forever. So, it's my opinion, the price we are paying of having China in the world economy and the U.S. trading with them, is the lessor of the evils. Something about '...keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer...'
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 219
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 219 |
I have not went through this whole post and it may have been said before But we can blame nobody but ourselves. Your next door big shot neighbor who doesnt give a darn if you have a job or not just so he can cut cost and keep his pocket full. Till they see the light WELCOME IMPORTS and soon no money to buy,
Last edited by plumber; 05/10/11 12:23 PM.
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,036 Likes: 48
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,036 Likes: 48 |
Remember Boyt Harness?
Imported now, no more lifetime guarantee.
"The price of good shotgunnery is constant practice" - Fred Kimble
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