Saturday, November 27, 2010

Costco v. Aldi, Round 2

Here is an interesting side by side comparison of Costco's prices versus Aldi's. A cursory, unscientific look seems to show that Aldi's prices are better for pantry items and frozen foods with a slight advantage to Costco on other items.

Result: Draw (but remember the differences I cite in my prior post)

Costco v. Aldi



Interesting vid. Aldi is set to open in Rego Park in the beginning of 2011. Did I just say'in Rego Park?' I meant to say on the street , with easy access, just a few feet away from the elevators that bring you down to Costco's congested dungeon. Aldi's mission statement is clear;

At ALDI, our philosophy is also the foundation for our less-is-more approach to grocery retailing. Everything we do, from selecting suppliers to scouting locations to building and operating stores, facilitates savings substantial enough to impact your every-day living. (emphasis mine)

HMMMMMMMMMM, Sounds like another store we know. The differences?:

1. Aldi - NO membership fee
2. Aldi - Located on the street level. No need to fight through crowds at elevators and in hallways.
3. Aldi - Don't need to buy in bulk.

Costco is not well suited for its surrounding neighborhoods. In Queens, most reside in small apartments. Bulk items are not practical. And Costco cannot survive selling rotisserie chickens alone......

The irony

People get written up or get counseling sessions because they dont pick up paystubs from the admin. If you dont pick them up, and I have heard this from a few people, you are given a counseling session. At the counseling session, you are told that it is imposrtant to pick up paystubs because they contain valuable, private, sensitive information and Costco values the protection of its employees.

But in order to pick up your paystub, you have to thumb through, without supervision, all of the paystubs of every store employee. Usually there is nobody there. Some SOB could easily pocket anyone's private info. No safeguards no protections. And employees get the shaft,

HMMMMMM.

So me not pickin up my own paystub is a privacy danger, but you leaving all of Costco paystubs at a paystub buffet for all employees to feast at is ok.

Again. HMMMMMM

Guy goes up to a manager and says.......

I could use more hours. Manager says, oh well they can use you in XYZ Department. Employee, assuming the obvious by implication - they will get more hours, agrees. Person gets the same amount of hours with a crapass schedule.

HMMMMMMMMMM

The EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK SAYS.....

All schedules must be posted by the Monday prior to the subsequent week. Next week's schedule was posted on Friday night at about 6PM.

HMMMMMM

And THEY will write you up for being a couple of minutes late?

What about when management is a few days late?

HMMMMMM

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Union

I have made good contacts with a couple of major unions. They are excited about unionizing Costco. I told them about the horror stories at Rego Park and are interested in moving forward with unionizing the store.

New employee

I an a relatively new employee of Costco. When I was hired I was told that it wouldnt be long before I would be working full time. Six months later I am working 25 hour shifts with no prospects of workin more. Such is Costco.