If you have the option, do you use the cashier or the self checkout line at the grocery store? What about other types if store like hardware stores?

  • iegod@lemmy.zip
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    5 days ago

    Head in the sand my dude. Canadian groceries were caught red handed colluding on bread price fixing. There was a massive class action lawsuit. Companies charge as much as they can get away with and will always push the numbers higher. They’re not eating costs out of the goodness of their heart, loss-leaders lead to more spending.

    • Hapankaali@lemmy.world
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      5 days ago

      Head in the sand my dude. Canadian groceries were caught red handed colluding on bread price fixing.

      Yes, I am aware there are cartels and other anticompetitive practices. I said as much in a comment on Lemmy not long ago - with some detective work you may be able to find it.

      Companies charge as much as they can get away with and will always push the numbers higher. They’re not eating costs outbid the goodness of their heart, loss-leaders lead to more spending.

      Obviously. And what they can get away with is profit margins up to a certain limit (assuming no monopolies, and at least moderately effective anti-cartel measures), that limit being the point where it becomes easy to enter the market or undercut a competitor, gain massive market share, and still make a lot of money.

      They cannot get away with just endlessly taking all profits from productivity gains. These gains have been enormous since the start of the Industrial Revolution, and in most markets profits are on the order of a few percent of turnover, if that.

      • W98BSoD@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        4 days ago

        … with some detective work you may be able to find it.

        You reference it, you cite it.

        They cannot get away with just endlessly taking all profits from productivity gains.

        Oh ho ho, they can and will.

        • Hapankaali@lemmy.world
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          4 days ago

          You reference it, you cite it.

          It’s right here in the comment chain.

          Oh ho ho, they can and will.

          Okay, but they don’t, profit margins are typically a few percent.

          Riddle me this: why did Kmart (for example) declare bankruptcy? They just wanted to throw away free money?

          • W98BSoD@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            4 days ago

            Conaway and Schwartz were accused of misleading shareholders and other company officials about the company’s financial crisis while making millions and allegedly spending the company’s money on airplanes, houses, boats and other luxuries. At a conference for Kmart employees on January 22, Conaway accepted “full blame” for the financial disaster. As Kmart emerged from bankruptcy, Conaway was forced to step down, and was asked to pay back all the loans he had taken.

            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kmart

            Then they bought Sears, though that brand was already a sinking ship.

            See; this is how providing proof works. Not just spouting something and saying “go look it up”

            • Hapankaali@lemmy.world
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              4 days ago

              Every large company wastes millions on overpaid executives.

              If companies pocketed all gains from productivity boosts, a T-shirt would cost a thousand dollars or so. Not only that, but no one would think to start selling T-shirts for hundreds of dollars or less, despite them costing 10 cents a piece to make in a sweatshop.

              Is that what happens?