It's not about competition, folks...

It's not about competition, folks...

I was listening to NPR the other day after Richard Clark testified. They gave snippets of Clark's testimony. Then they gave a report stating that Clark had said things a year ago that contradicted his current testimony. Hey, I thought, NPR's giving both sides of the story, maybe they've turned a corner. Alas, later during the dreaded "pledge break" the local station was giving out copies of Clark's book with a $75 donation. Yikes! chuck Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of my employer. "B_Sing" wrote in message news:6aea2e89.83@WebX.WawyahGHajS... > NPR is funny like that (as are many others). Yesterday after the Rice testimony, the commentator (Nina Totenburg, perhaps?) just matter-of-factly referred to Richard Clarke as a "whistleblower". Yeah, right. More like hornblower.

It's not about competition, folks...

I think this is interesting: http://www.internetnews.com/ent-news...le.php/3338121

It's not about competition, folks...

NPR is funny like that (as are many others). Yesterday after the Rice testimony, the commentator (Nina Totenburg, perhaps?) just matter-of-factly referred to Richard Clarke as a "whistleblower". Yeah, right. More like hornblower.

It's not about competition, folks...

Chris said: "It is NOT my responsibility to ensure that every business that opens a store stays in business forever." Amen. 96% of all new businesses fail in the first 5 years. Imagine if the government were called in to try to prop them all up! chuck Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of my employer.

It's not about competition, folks...

Susan said: "With middle class jobs leaving the country, there is less disposable income available" Boy, I don't see that in my area. When disposable money is tight weeknight restaurant fare is the first hit. Just try to get into a Chili's on a Tuesday night and it's a 30 minute wait. Same for almost any restaurant around. chuck Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of my employer.

It's not about competition, folks...

Joe said: "I commented on what was reported" And that seems to be the problem with many opinions these days. We BELIEVE what is reported. I listen to NPR (National Propaganda Radio) periodically not to get the news, but to get a laugh. Their news is so far left that it's a joke. So, just take every news source and discount it by about 50% and then you might have a valid news item. chuck Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of my employer.

It's not about competition, folks...

Chris, What is an HH Gregg? chuck Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of my employer. "Chris Ringer" wrote in message news:6aea2e89.74@WebX.WawyahGHajS... > Well, the real question is where are you located? Why is Circuit City closing doors there? Surely your local newspaper has written about this. Perhaps they are closing doors because their outsourcing projects failed. Just tell me the name of your city (and country?) and maybe I can do a google search or call their customer relations and tell you why! > > HH Gregg is about 5 miles from me, an easy drive. Best Buy is closer but... > > Have you heard of the internet? It allows you to buy things online. Ask Mark Cuban. He bought a $40 million dollar jet online. Or do you need to shop and have the product on the same day? > > Chris

It's not about competition, folks...

Joe said: "Personally, I think the demands of Wall Street are often diametrically opposed to what is good for the American worker." This is exactly right. And it's because the regulations of the SEC require public companies to do what is best for the shareholder not the employee. This is why I work for private companies. chuck Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of my employer.

[J.Pluta]

It's not about competition, folks...

I commented on what was reported: "And the company says it might dissolve its information technology department and use an outside company instead. About 900 IT jobs could be affected." Where have you read that the jobs will be absorbed? Are you certain it will be EDS or Accenture? Because Best Buy changes its story often. "Best Buy may be looking to outsource more of its IT operations, sources say. Accenture is being considered for the contract, according to the sources. No details were available about which IT operations might be involved in such a deal. A Best Buy spokesperson wouldn't confirm or deny the deal." http://www.informationweek.com/story...cleID=18401086 On March 19th Best Buy wouldn't confirm nor deny the rumors. And as recently as March 27th, Best Buy was flatly denying it: "The company also denied that it would cut an undisclosed number of technology and call center employees with their duties assumed by another company, Accenture. No agreement has been signed, the company said." http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breakin...5504-7906r.htm And then suddenly, the news comes out on March 31st that they are cutting jobs. Four days after denying it. What else might they be less than forthcoming about? Perhaps about where the jobs will go? Because Best Buy has been known to use Indian companies for outsourcing, going so far as to name Wipro as its "premier information systems partner" in 2002. So exactly what misinformation has been had? They are laying off 900 workers. Nearly 1000 programmers will be out on the street, for no reason other than adding a few cents to the earnings per share. I didn't misrepresent that. And putting people out of work when business is booming just to make a few extra bucks is a bad idea; bad enough for me to stop patronizing the store. Maybe you're upset about my intimation that the jobs could go to India. I didn't say they WOULD, but I said they would "in all likelihood" be offshored to India, and I still believe that based on Best Buy's long relationship with Indian bodyshops such as Wipro and Tata. Loss of jobs in Minnesota rarely means more employment elsewhere in the United States these days. Yet, you state as fact that this will result in more jobs in "Texas or Illinois". Where is your proof that the jobs lost will be "absorbed" by EDS, or that EDS is even the company getting the contract? It could be Accenture. Or it could be Wipro, at which point we know there will be no hiring in America. And even if EDS or Accenture gets the job, it's just as likely that they'll increase staff using offshore workers as onshore workers. I've seen nothing to indicate that either company would be willing to take on the salary burden of 900 American programmers. Where is your proof? And that is more to the point: my statements are simply opinions based on reports from news sources. I've presented them as such, and I provide links to my sources of information and then express my opinion; you are free to make up your own mind. You, however, are making statement of fact with no corroborative information. Additionally, your tone is consistently antagonistic and uncivil. If you expect me to respond to any more of your comments, you'll need to post as a professional. Act civilly and start providing proof to your statements. Otherwise, don't expect responses. Joe

[ACT]

It's not about competition, folks...

Joe said: "They plan to put nearly 1000 American IT workers out of work, in all likelihood shipping their jobs to India" The truth is most of them ( not all, since the VP already resigned ) will be absorbed by EDS or Accenture, which is under negotiation. This will bring more revenues to Illinois or Texas. In short the JOBS will stay here in the USA not offshored to India. I suggest you double check your source to avoid this type of trouble typical in "Parachute Journalism". I understand that some people from this tread go ballistic after this misinformation that not only American I.T. jobs will be lost, worst of all it will be offshored to India. Sorry folks FALSE ALARM !!!!! I suggest you apologize to Best Buy for putting them in bad faith.

It's not about competition, folks...

Well, the real question is where are you located? Why is Circuit City closing doors there? Surely your local newspaper has written about this. Perhaps they are closing doors because their outsourcing projects failed. Just tell me the name of your city (and country?) and maybe I can do a google search or call their customer relations and tell you why! HH Gregg is about 5 miles from me, an easy drive. Best Buy is closer but... Have you heard of the internet? It allows you to buy things online. Ask Mark Cuban. He bought a $40 million dollar jet online. Or do you need to shop and have the product on the same day? Chris

[dmjae2004@yahoo.com]

It's not about competition, folks...

Joe wrote "What I am saying is that I find Best Buy's employment practices reprehensible: in a period of huge growth, they are laying off IT workers. Because of this, I will choose to shop elsewhere." But as I read the articles Best Buy management believe they can be more efficient by outsourcing their IT. The vast majority of their existing employees transfer as part of that outsourcing. I am missing what is so reprehensible about this action. As per my original post of this thread, I think you jumped to an incorrect assertion that this was all happening as an offshore effort with a major loss of US jobs.

[R.Daugherty]

It's not about competition, folks...

Gee, someone that makes me look nice in comparison. That's hard to do. rd

[ACT]

It's not about competition, folks...

Chris said: "Circuit City is on the list of offshore outsourcers. HH Gregg is not" Where in the world is HH Gregg located? Timbuktu? Joe said: "Folks, I'm not suggesting anybody else do anything, so this isn't as organized as a "boycott"." This is "Parachute Journalism" at it's finest. Now I can call you a liar. Next time make your reporting accurate for credibility is very volatile. Also, take a refresher course in history. Susan said: " Perhaps no electronic store opened in your area because there is no "slack" to pick up" Their is a slack to be pick up, but the problem is that it will take time ( 2 years of planning, feasibility study, buiding and organizing staff to my knowledge ) to put up a store. "It's easy to demolish, but difficult to build" so the saying goes.

[J.Pluta]

It's not about competition, folks...

"So should Joe be boycotting Best Buy or Accenture and EDS?" Folks, I'm not suggesting anybody else do anything, so this isn't as organized as a "boycott". What I am saying is that I find Best Buy's employment practices reprehensible: in a period of huge growth, they are laying off IT workers. Because of this, I will choose to shop elsewhere. I hope other people do the same, but you need to come to that conclusion on your own. Why I continue to post in this thread is because some people have the mistaken belief that maximizing profit to the exclusion of all else is capitalism. Not true. Capitalism does not mean cutting every cost to the bone. It means creating a successful business. If you can get comparable return for the same investment, you consider it, but any such change demands that you factor in incidental costs (turnover, training, and so on) and intangibles, such as customer satisfaction and employee loyalty. It also means having certain responsbilities to the community and to your employees. But these sensibilities get lost once a company becomes locked into the 90-day stock price cycle. Personally, I think the demands of Wall Street are often diametrically opposed to what is good for the American worker. This case is a perfect example. I feel Best Buy is practicing poor corporate citizenship by dumping employees solely to add a few pennies to the earnings per share column. If you don't feel the same as me, then by all means, buy stuff at Best Buy. As to Accenture and EDS, I by definition boycott them, if you'd like to use that term. I won't do business either with or for them. Joe