A better example than Costco would be WinCo, which is employee-owned. It doesn't have the same Paradox of Choice exploitation of one item like a Soviet supermarket, it has several choices. And bulk bins. And they don't accept any credit cards to save on processing fees, whereas Costco was AmEx only and now has Visa only.
More generally, workers take care of something as if it were their own when they have an equity stake in it because it is (partly) their own. Just being treated well isn't enough of an incentive to go the extra mile when they have no connection to the profits, only laid-off when the business declines. It seems foolish to be content to accept benefits that most every other industrialized country on the planet already guarantees as a basic right. I think an uncomfortable truth is Americans don't know how bad they have it, and shouldn't sit back while corporate investors amass trillions on their backs, no matter how well or badly they are treated. They are being cheated only because of their failure to get organized and push-back together in some fashion and failure to demand UBI by taxing corporate profits made off automation, longer hours and productivity increases. At some point, if reasonable assistance isn't offered to those who's survival seems threatened (marginal propensity consume is 1.0) and have nothing left to lose, there will be more mass shootings, homeless encampments will expand, more internal migration, less average purchasing power, and more people flamewar-ing in Youtube comments.
> It doesn't have the same Paradox of Choice exploitation of one item like a Soviet supermarket
Honestly I love this about Costco (and especially Trader Joe’s).
I want them to do a little research and taste testing and stock the item that they think is the best quality and value. I don’t want to crapshoot between 6 different brands of spaghetti.
Trader Joe’s also does a great job at this. It may not always be objectively the “best” item, but it’s usually good and they’ve built up trust with me that gets me to try new and potentially expensive food items.
Costco's largest value add is their curated selection. They never stock the best nor the worst. Shopping is relaxing because you know you won't be screwed, and you only have to answer one question: "Do I want this type of product?", you don't have to answer "Yes, which one of the 5 or 10 available?"
I've only shopped at WinCo once, in Utah. It was a sad affair. The store was messy. Employees didn't look happy. Many shelves were empty. Forklifts were left in the middle of the aisle, with goods partially unloaded. The lack of credit card payment reduced the peace of mind of a safe transaction. Just no.
I think there's a handful of WinCo locations in Utah, so I don't know if the one I've been to many times is indicative, but it's been decent, maybe not quite as good as some California locations (best: Folsom), but maybe not quite as bad as some California locations (Pomona, lookin' at you, but I still love you).
My WinCo in Southern California is impeccable.
I think how well kept the store is has a lot to do with who the people running the store are - especially management, I would imagine.
I shop at both, and I think what you're observing is primarily that WinCo has much leaner margins. It's a place where the poor and stingiest shop, whereas Costco is really aimed at the upper-middle class. If you're market is the wealthy, then yes, you can afford to make your store a much nicer place.
Credit card transactions are safer than debit card transactions because if something goes wrong, banks are more likely to investigate and reverse the transaction. You are technically spending their money, not your own. I thought it's common knowledge.
Are there places where you can use a debit card but not a credit card (or vice versa)? I've been to places that may only accept a particular card vendor (e.g. AmEx or VISA only), and places that are cash only, but never to one that disallowed only one type of card.
Pointing out the obvious on Hacker News isn't going to change America. Go ahead and put your energies into organizing. Convince people with skills you don't have to follow your lead on this amazing, incredible opportunity you envision. If only we just knew what you do, and how bad we have it, it would surely succeed.
More generally, workers take care of something as if it were their own when they have an equity stake in it because it is (partly) their own. Just being treated well isn't enough of an incentive to go the extra mile when they have no connection to the profits, only laid-off when the business declines. It seems foolish to be content to accept benefits that most every other industrialized country on the planet already guarantees as a basic right. I think an uncomfortable truth is Americans don't know how bad they have it, and shouldn't sit back while corporate investors amass trillions on their backs, no matter how well or badly they are treated. They are being cheated only because of their failure to get organized and push-back together in some fashion and failure to demand UBI by taxing corporate profits made off automation, longer hours and productivity increases. At some point, if reasonable assistance isn't offered to those who's survival seems threatened (marginal propensity consume is 1.0) and have nothing left to lose, there will be more mass shootings, homeless encampments will expand, more internal migration, less average purchasing power, and more people flamewar-ing in Youtube comments.