Comments on: In the News: Costco’s Got a Great Focus on Employees http://addictedtocostco.com/2009/10/22/in-the-news-costcos-got-a-great-focus-on-employees/ Just a few of the reasons why I love Costco Mon, 21 May 2012 13:11:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Kimberly http://addictedtocostco.com/2009/10/22/in-the-news-costcos-got-a-great-focus-on-employees/#comment-6719 Kimberly Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:07:21 +0000 http://addictedtocostco.com/?p=1617#comment-6719 Miranda, thanks for weighing in on this one. It's great to get an opinion from someone that actually works at Costco. Miranda, thanks for weighing in on this one. It’s great to get an opinion from someone that actually works at Costco.

]]> By: Miranda http://addictedtocostco.com/2009/10/22/in-the-news-costcos-got-a-great-focus-on-employees/#comment-6711 Miranda Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:57:00 +0000 http://addictedtocostco.com/?p=1617#comment-6711 I work at a Costco in Spokane, Washington. It's true that the sample folks are a different employer, so I have no idea what their wages are like. However, they all seem to love their jobs and seem to mostly be semi-retired or retired people who want to keep working, but at an easier pace. As for costco itself, there are at least 300 employees per store, with everyone making from $11.00 on up. From what I understand, we have higher wages to keep the employees happy, and some locations are union so they set the standard to mirror the union wages. I work at a Costco in Spokane, Washington. It’s true that the sample folks are a different employer, so I have no idea what their wages are like. However, they all seem to love their jobs and seem to mostly be semi-retired or retired people who want to keep working, but at an easier pace. As for costco itself, there are at least 300 employees per store, with everyone making from $11.00 on up. From what I understand, we have higher wages to keep the employees happy, and some locations are union so they set the standard to mirror the union wages.

]]> By: Kimberly http://addictedtocostco.com/2009/10/22/in-the-news-costcos-got-a-great-focus-on-employees/#comment-6626 Kimberly Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:47:36 +0000 http://addictedtocostco.com/?p=1617#comment-6626 Ryan, I think the problem is that Walmart and Sam's Club just don't pay that well. From what I've read Sam's Club has lower salaries for associates, which is surely where the bulk of employees are for both companies. From what I have found, Sam's Club starts associates at a salary that is about $7.50 per hour versus Costco's $11.00 per hour for an associate. Sam's Club probably has higher turnover too, so they have more people that are paid the starting salary, rather than long-term employees that are earning more. Though I'm just guessing about their turnover rate since I can't find that information in any articles online, I also cannot find the number of employees that they have. Ryan, I think the problem is that Walmart and Sam’s Club just don’t pay that well. From what I’ve read Sam’s Club has lower salaries for associates, which is surely where the bulk of employees are for both companies. From what I have found, Sam’s Club starts associates at a salary that is about $7.50 per hour versus Costco’s $11.00 per hour for an associate. Sam’s Club probably has higher turnover too, so they have more people that are paid the starting salary, rather than long-term employees that are earning more. Though I’m just guessing about their turnover rate since I can’t find that information in any articles online, I also cannot find the number of employees that they have.

]]> By: Ryan http://addictedtocostco.com/2009/10/22/in-the-news-costcos-got-a-great-focus-on-employees/#comment-6625 Ryan Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:14:13 +0000 http://addictedtocostco.com/?p=1617#comment-6625 This is always a bit misleading; there are actually very few employees that work at Costco, and all the people who provide product samples do not work for Costco, and earn much lower wages. This is part of why Costco is able to pay such high wages. Since all Sam's club's product sample people work for Sam's club itself, their average wages are quite a bit lower. This is always a bit misleading; there are actually very few employees that work at Costco, and all the people who provide product samples do not work for Costco, and earn much lower wages. This is part of why Costco is able to pay such high wages. Since all Sam’s club’s product sample people work for Sam’s club itself, their average wages are quite a bit lower.

]]> By: Clue http://addictedtocostco.com/2009/10/22/in-the-news-costcos-got-a-great-focus-on-employees/#comment-6618 Clue Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:07:23 +0000 http://addictedtocostco.com/?p=1617#comment-6618 This, above all else, is why I have always chosen to shop at Costco above all others. It is also why Costco is the only individual stock I own. Another of my favorite Jim Sinegal quotes is: "The biggest concern to me is that we lose our way and start thinking it doesn't matter if we charge another dime or another dollar or another hundred dollars. Without that discipline, we don't have anything." ~Jim Sinegal, Costco Founder/CEO. This, above all else, is why I have always chosen to shop at Costco above all others. It is also why Costco is the only individual stock I own.

Another of my favorite Jim Sinegal quotes is: “The biggest concern to me is that we lose our way and start thinking it doesn’t matter if we charge another dime or another dollar or another hundred dollars. Without that discipline, we don’t have anything.” ~Jim Sinegal, Costco Founder/CEO.

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