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gordonzolaThere’s a certain argument that happens in my store that, honestly, I try to avoid. Mostly because it never goes anywhere except to hard feelings. Still, if someone asks me a direct question, I feel it’s my duty to bring it up.
I don’t have a problem with people shopping at Trader Joe’s. It’s cheap. People need cheap food. It’s usually better quality than most cheap food. I could go off on why it’s generally not a good idea for producers to get hooked into their world, but sometimes a cash infusion is important for a business to survive.
But sometimes people just wanna fight. A woman approached the counter the other day and said, "You’ve really raised your prices on this Dutch Goat Gouda."
"Well," I replies, "all imported cheese prices went up at the beginning of the year due to the dollar doing so badly and added transportation costs."*
"Well, this cheese is $9/lb now. It used to be $7.99."
"Yes, that’s true."
"Trader Joe’s has it for less than you. How come?
"Well, they’re a huge company that can buy big volume, they don’t pay union wages, and they only carry a small amount of products compared to other grocery stores."
"No, their prices are lower because of their volume. They pay their workers a fair amount for the job. Sales clerks get $10/hour at least."**
I love it when they tip their hands. Obviously she already had an answer for the "question" she asked. And the only acceptable answer is the one that TJ’s endlessly markets. My answer enraged the customer because I mentioned that people’s wages are actually tied to the price one pays for goods. Now, there’s not a direct ratio obviously, otherwise Whole Foods would be a lot cheaper than it is, but she didn’t want to hear about it.
And honestly, I didn’t even wanna talk about it because showing any kind of class solidarity among jobs generally provokes a negative reaction. Mostly because it’s fucked up when you have to pay more, especially when you can’t afford it, to show that kind of class solidarity. The Nation actually had a decent article recently. One that discussed unions and Wal Mart where the unions admitted that their workers had no choice but to shop their because it was cheap.
The reason I don’t usually mention things like that in response to unknown customers is that they assume I’m trying to guilt them. Not an off-the-wall response really, since the Left’s most notable achievement from, say, 1981-1999, was creating a we’re-so-defeated-this-is-the-best we-can-come-up-with semi-politics of liberal consumerism and "Green" consumption. Sigh.
*All food products must be certified terrorism free by having a documented direct line of ownership and handling from farm to customs. Producers responded by raising all their prices. Plus there’s the whole price of gas thing.
**I tried looking up job applications online but couldn’t fin anything completely comparable. Their management positions seem to start at about $13/hour based on a "47.5 hour week". Did you know that they have to call their managers "Captains" and assistant managers "First Mates"? It’s like the fucking Salvation Army. Food samplers (Hello![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
elusis!) and part timers seem to start at $8/hour in big cities.
I don’t have a problem with people shopping at Trader Joe’s. It’s cheap. People need cheap food. It’s usually better quality than most cheap food. I could go off on why it’s generally not a good idea for producers to get hooked into their world, but sometimes a cash infusion is important for a business to survive.
But sometimes people just wanna fight. A woman approached the counter the other day and said, "You’ve really raised your prices on this Dutch Goat Gouda."
"Well," I replies, "all imported cheese prices went up at the beginning of the year due to the dollar doing so badly and added transportation costs."*
"Well, this cheese is $9/lb now. It used to be $7.99."
"Yes, that’s true."
"Trader Joe’s has it for less than you. How come?
"Well, they’re a huge company that can buy big volume, they don’t pay union wages, and they only carry a small amount of products compared to other grocery stores."
"No, their prices are lower because of their volume. They pay their workers a fair amount for the job. Sales clerks get $10/hour at least."**
I love it when they tip their hands. Obviously she already had an answer for the "question" she asked. And the only acceptable answer is the one that TJ’s endlessly markets. My answer enraged the customer because I mentioned that people’s wages are actually tied to the price one pays for goods. Now, there’s not a direct ratio obviously, otherwise Whole Foods would be a lot cheaper than it is, but she didn’t want to hear about it.
And honestly, I didn’t even wanna talk about it because showing any kind of class solidarity among jobs generally provokes a negative reaction. Mostly because it’s fucked up when you have to pay more, especially when you can’t afford it, to show that kind of class solidarity. The Nation actually had a decent article recently. One that discussed unions and Wal Mart where the unions admitted that their workers had no choice but to shop their because it was cheap.
The reason I don’t usually mention things like that in response to unknown customers is that they assume I’m trying to guilt them. Not an off-the-wall response really, since the Left’s most notable achievement from, say, 1981-1999, was creating a we’re-so-defeated-this-is-the-best we-can-come-up-with semi-politics of liberal consumerism and "Green" consumption. Sigh.
*All food products must be certified terrorism free by having a documented direct line of ownership and handling from farm to customs. Producers responded by raising all their prices. Plus there’s the whole price of gas thing.
**I tried looking up job applications online but couldn’t fin anything completely comparable. Their management positions seem to start at about $13/hour based on a "47.5 hour week". Did you know that they have to call their managers "Captains" and assistant managers "First Mates"? It’s like the fucking Salvation Army. Food samplers (Hello
elusis!) and part timers seem to start at $8/hour in big cities.
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no subject
Date: 2004-09-16 10:33 am (UTC)I read the article in The Nation, but I still don't buy that people have to shop at Wal-Mart. Even if you're stuck shopping at other discounters who aren't much better than wal-mart, there are a few options left.
I don't expect my divorced sister who isn't getting child support and who works as a waitress to buy her kids organic milk, but there are times when making a short term sacrifice is necessary to have any hope of a better future. I've never met anyone who wasn't homeless that didn't have some luxury good (even if it's only drinking soda instead of water) that they could cut out and use that money for more socially responsible shopping.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-16 10:43 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2004-09-16 10:43 am (UTC)It's not the actual practice of "aware shopping", but the fact that it's been the focus of so much effort and judgement by the left that bothers me. In the grand scheme, someone bringing a Coke to a political event may have a tad of hypocrisy but is doing more good than harm.
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Date: 2004-09-16 10:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-17 05:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-16 10:54 am (UTC)Another person, concerned only about price and happy with Trader Joe's policies would simply GO TO TRADER JOE'S IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Meanwhile, why is the local coffee place's organic fair trade shade grown gormet coffee more expensive than the Folger's brewing at the convenience store?
no subject
Date: 2004-09-16 10:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-16 11:16 am (UTC)Not an off-the-wall response really, since the Left’s most notable achievement from, say, 1981-1999, was creating a we’re-so-defeated-this-is-the-best we-can-come-up-with semi-politics of liberal consumerism and "Green" consumption.
Remember the days when radicals had figured out that markets didn't operate the way bourgeois economists said they did? Ah, those were the days...
We may already be doomed to irrelevence
Date: 2004-09-16 11:57 am (UTC)Oh shit that made me laugh. Long and hard.
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2004-09-16 11:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-17 05:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-16 11:28 am (UTC)It's like Cool Hand Luke!
Date: 2004-09-16 11:33 am (UTC)Re: It's like Cool Hand Luke!
Date: 2004-09-17 05:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-16 11:41 am (UTC)I did this even before I knew you. I guess that's almost as weird as deliberately arguing with the staff.
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Date: 2004-09-17 05:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-16 11:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-17 05:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-16 11:54 am (UTC)What a tool. Your customer, not you.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-17 05:57 pm (UTC)govARRnment cheese
Date: 2004-09-16 12:46 pm (UTC)So there is an upside, is what I'm saying.
Re: govARRnment cheese
Date: 2004-09-16 12:46 pm (UTC)Re: govARRnment cheese
From:Re: govARRnment cheese
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Date: 2004-09-16 12:50 pm (UTC)i have nothing to add to this argument as i will pay for cheese if i want it; whatever it costs. if i don't have the money, no cheese. Tashanomics.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-16 01:11 pm (UTC)Crap I am so hungry.
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From:anti-stalker superstition
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Date: 2004-09-16 01:22 pm (UTC)Just wondering.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-17 06:02 pm (UTC)I definitely do NOT need to deal with the overly-needy and abusive but it's a fine line sometimes. With her, I just kept nodding and saying "hmmmmm" even when she "asked" me more questions.
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Date: 2004-09-16 01:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-16 02:09 pm (UTC)How is Kmart better than Walmart?
Kmart is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, so that's probably a bad example.
But another major discount chain -- Costco -- is fucking UTOPIAN compared to Walmart (higher wages and better benefits, for one thing!) Target corporation used to be a model for "good corporate citizenship", but this is changing thanks to Walmart
One of more pernicious effects of shopping at Walmart is that not only do they force their suppliers to pursue the lowest wages imaginable overseas, but they've also forced their competitors (such as Target), to adopt a similar corporate strategy. Its a race to the bottom.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-16 03:06 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:Free Terrorism with every purchase!
Date: 2004-09-16 02:10 pm (UTC)** Are the First Mates called "cast members" too?
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Date: 2004-09-16 02:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-17 06:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-16 03:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-16 09:44 pm (UTC)<3 <3 <3
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Date: 2004-09-16 05:29 pm (UTC)I make way more than $8 an hour though by "way more" I hardly mean "a real living wage given the way my benefits (fail to) work, the cost of living in my area, and my life stage."
Which is why vendors want to pay outside demo companies rather than me.
Ugh, must not start thinking abou tstore demo program right now or I'll get grumpy.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-17 06:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2004-09-16 07:27 pm (UTC)Marginally related question. I shop at the Bowl (union busting and crowded they may be - I won't try to justify it) and Strauss cheese is like $90 an ounce these days. I assume this isn't just the Bowl's pricing: they tend to be low average as far as I can tell. any idea why Strauss cheese prices have been going up? I'm genuinely curious - not looking to brawl. and I'll keep buying the stuff either way cuz I want to shop local and organic.
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Date: 2004-09-16 07:30 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2004-09-18 06:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-18 09:34 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2004-09-19 11:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-19 11:20 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2004-09-20 12:02 pm (UTC)