How aspirin helped Amazon escape the jaws of doom

[crich70]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

For those that haven't heard the story of the "Amazon Door Desks":
http://askville.amazon.com/Jeff-Bezo...estId=43240113

Hey, whatever works in a pinch right?

[frahse]

Originally Posted by Jessica Lares

Well, I think the problem is that many people initially wouldn't mind a job where they package boxes all day. You don't have to deal with angry customers, and it's almost like being a secretary in a way, except you don't have the massive amounts of paperwork to do for your boss.

But what good is 1,000 workers if they're not up to the task of making your business more efficient? This isn't a place where you can just chit-chat with co-workers everyday. Nor is this the place where you can make a mistake without losing customers.

It's not that they're punishing people for choosing the job, they just want you to work and not waste their time and money.

Sometimes I have large crews working on a project. Sometimes just a few guys. On occasion, if we are putting something into an old plant, the work is dirty, and very hot. It is always serious and sometimes dangerous work. It is not a place where "fun" is encouraged.

(We usually hire a specialist sub-contractor for hazardous nasty work.)

We will provide fans if called for particularly to keep sweat and slipperiness minimal.

The people have breaks, and lunch. I usually only have lunch on the run.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by TGS

I'd guess Amazon pays their staff somewhat less than their labour brings in for the company. That's how capitalism works.

So they should, Amazon is supposed to make money (otherwise why even run a business?), they are not a non-profit run solely for the benefit of their employees. People should be thinking about how much money they are making for the company they work for --- if you are bringing in a lot more than you make then speak up. You will be heard because you are making a valuable contribution and they need you. If not --- you should better be quiet and count your blessings.

Obviously a company that pays people MORE than they bring in won't stay in business for long.

[medard]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

So they should, Amazon is supposed to make money (otherwise why even run a business?), they are not a non-profit run solely for the benefit of their employees.

That's true. But what's the differnce between Amazon and Walmart then? Is Walmart hip or cool, or Aldi? I don't think so.

I think the difference between Walmart and Amazon is that you won't see this on Amazon's webpage. You just see a nice virtual catalogue but not what happens with this stuff.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by medard

That's true. But what's the differnce between Amazon and Walmart then? Is Walmart hip or cool, or Aldi? I don't think so.

I think the difference between Walmart and Amazon is that you won't see this on Amazon's webpage. You just see a nice virtual catalogue but not what happens with this stuff.

Amazon is a company that is successful because it treats its customers right, which includes keeping costs down. It is their website, incredible variety of merchandise, prices, efficiency, and return policies which makes them hip. The same is true for Aldi, people complain about the long checkout lines but go there anyway because of the cheap prices and good quality of the merchandise. Now imagine Aldi suddenly hired more cashiers and raised their prices to pay for that --- they would lose most of their customers to Lidl. Aldi is the most extreme (even Walmart couldn't compete with them), but they give customers what they want.

Yes, you don't see what happens with the stuff at Amazon. Which saves you time and money: you don't have to drive there, pick out the items, carry or cart them back to your home, or stand in line.

[medard]

Maybe the difference between us both is that books from Amazon (no matter if printed or virtual) are not cheaper where I live. They cost just the same. If quality books would only cost 50% of the regular price, I'd like Amazon more I guess.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by medard

Maybe the difference between us both is that books from Amazon (no matter if printed or virtual) are not cheaper where I live.

And whose doing is that?
And is Amazon prevented from discounting anything or just special snowflakes?

[forsooth]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

And whose doing is that?
And is Amazon prevented from discounting anything or just special snowflakes?

sour grapes!

[fjtorres]

NBC news has a piece of a story on minimum wages, listing how long a minimum wage worker has to labor to buy a Big Mac meal:

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/time...mac-6C10945727

Wikipedia has the full story, a list of minimum wage by country (not pretty!):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ges_by_country

As it turns out, Amazon's US warehouse wages are in the top tier, right there with New Zealand and France.

The only countries with a significantly higher minimum wage are Australia and, amusingly... Luxembourg.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

NBC news has a piece of a story on minimum wages, listing how long a minimum wage worker has to labor to buy a Big Mac meal:

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/time...mac-6C10945727

Wikipedia has the full story, a list of minimum wage by country (not pretty!):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ges_by_country

As it turns out, Amazon's US warehouse wages are in the top tier, right there with New Zealand and France.

The only countries with a significantly higher minimum wage are Australia and, amusingly... Luxembourg.

You will never convince the Amazon and Walmart haters that Amazon's and Walmart's wages are fair. Washington DC passed a special law that would require a new Walmart to pay 50% more than the Federal minimum wage and then it was pointed out that Washington DC didn't pay that themselves. They went by the Federal standard.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by frahse

You will never convince the Amazon and Walmart haters that Amazon's and Walmart's wages are fair. Washington DC passed a special law that would require a new Walmart to pay 50% more than the Federal minimum wage and then it was pointed out that Washington DC didn't pay that themselves. They went by the Federal standard.

Also lost is that DC residents are *already* shopping at WalMart; they just go to the suburbs and give the sales tax and employee income tax money to Maryland and Virginia.
Or that the WalMart at issue is to be the anchor of a much needed community-boosting shopping complex generating a lot more jobs than just the Walmart staff. Walmart already made it clear that they will just cancel the store if the Major signs the bill. Which will kill the whole development.

Its a game of political grandstanding with people's livelihoods at stake.
But, hey, they get to make a stand against "evil".
Way to save the village...

[ucfgrad93]

Originally Posted by frahse

You will never convince the Amazon and Walmart haters that Amazon's and Walmart's wages are fair. Washington DC passed a special law that would require a new Walmart to pay 50% more than the Federal minimum wage and then it was pointed out that Washington DC didn't pay that themselves. They went by the Federal standard.

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Also lost is that DC residents are *already* shopping at WalMart; they just go to the suburbs and give the sales tax and employee income tax money to Maryland and Virginia.
Or that the WalMart at issue is to be the anchor of a much needed community-boosting shopping complex generating a lot more jobs than just the Walmart staff. Walmart already made it clear that they will just cancel the store if the Major signs the bill. Which will kill the whole development.

Its a game of political grandstanding with people's livelihoods at stake.
But, hey, they get to make a stand against "evil".
Way to save the village...

Well said, gentlemen. Karma to you both!

[GlenBarrington]

The first thing I thought of was Robert Aspirin, the author. All the subsequent posts were a bit of a disappointment for me!