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Passing the Cost to the Consumer from a Business Owner's Perspective

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posted on May, 12 2014 @ 06:21 PM
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originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

Sure did. Like the people who thought it was okay to bring their own meals and sit at one of our tables and eat for free.


I find a whole lot wrong with that behavior.
I would never do that to someone else, it's "trespassing" in a few ways, as I see it.

There are 'lines drawn' everywhere in our social system, and many are based on "Respect and Dignity". If you respect and dignify other humans you will never cross the majority of these lines, although mistakes always happen, sincere apologies can amend them.

First of all, it is cool that the people thought highly enough of the establishment to want to use the table. But if they didn't realize that it's insulting to bring outside food in and disrupt the atmosphere thus lowering the quality, they aren't being respectful of the owners nor the customers.

Now if they were able to come in first, talk to management and work out something, like offer to pay 5 or 10$ for table fees, and cover some issues like making sure the "entrance, meal, and exit" are very subtle and unnoticed by the other patrons (assuming it's fine dining more effort is necessary), I could totally see it working out potentially. I bet most managers would be so pleased by the outgoing and friendly nature of the person they would wave the fee and possibly even offer complimentary water or something like that.

I can't really see many legit reasons for someone wanting to just use a table though, but maybe there are a few, like some guy wanted to propose to his lady and wasn't planning on ordering any food or something, and brought his own 5,000$ bottle of wine or whatever. I dunno, but I'm sure there's exceptions. It seems really strange to me though personally, I would be very very unlikely to ever just use a table somewhere without having a rare reason, and I'd ask for permission first. If it were rainy and I were traveling I'd just eat in my car in the parking lot quickly and leave...or I'd buy food at the place I went in at.

I've met a lot of cool folks all over, and all you gotta do is respect and dignify them to really get on the right track, but at the same time I occasionally run across a very upset person that is willing to yell or scream over the smallest little things. It's always a tense situation because you never know how far someone will snap. I've been quite concerned a few times.

We just gotta realize that yelling at a few workers and others waiting on a meal won't get me anywhere nor improve anything. However I know that asking kindly to have something fixed and being patient yet affirmative while courteous tends to get me instant improvements in conditions and some free stuff too typically. If a waiter is having a bad day and I want better service, I'll give them a reason to have a better one, me lol. It works to be friendly and respectful most of the time.

edit on 5/12/2014 by muzzleflash because: (no reason given)



posted on May, 12 2014 @ 06:27 PM
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originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

How about it? You telling me the only chickens you can find are the Chinese processed ones? Certainly not the case where I live.


How will I as a consumer know where all this Chinese Chicken is being used, such as McDonalds, Burger King, Wendies and mom and pop restaurants an so on. How will I as the consumer know where this chicken is used to make secondary products in the grocery store such as soups, pizzas, chicken patties and so on?

The better solution is to do like the Corporate and Banking Lobbyists did. Form Unified Groups and put an end to unfair trade pacts that put the common American at a disadvantage. But since money=freedom of speech....



Yeah? And it is the consumer who keeps them here by purchasing them with great frequency. Simple supply and demand. If you stop buying it the stop making it.


It is all about the consumer and nothing about the trade pacts put in by lobbyists first? Fine, then you will have no problem in stopping these Trade Pacts because according to you, it is the consumer and not the trade pacts that decide what the consumer buys.


Actually, cheap Chinese made goods increases your buying power by allowing you to stretch your dollar, that is why so many people do not care.


You are making the same mistake many others make that is destroying this country.
Short Term Profits and Gains RIGHT NOW, over Long Term Gains and Stability for THIS Country.

So shipping a good chunk of our technological know how, manufacturing plants and so on is to strengthen Commie China is good for the USA?

If we ever get in a fight with Commie China, I hope those that sold us out to them are at the front lines.
The lesson learned from your perspective is I will not be supporting it because there is no profit or self interest in it for me.



posted on May, 12 2014 @ 06:33 PM
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originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: Sremmos80
Ya i already admitted defeat many pages ago


I would not call it 'defeat', you learned something. Which is pretty much the reason all of us are here. It takes a lot to admit you have changed your perspective so cheers to you.


Learning something is never a real defeat. It's always an ultimate victory for everyone involved. The real defeat is when we don't learn much of anything.

Plus anyone who can admit being wrong after learning reasoning that trumps a prior held belief, or at least will remain open to alternate possibilities if they are unsure, shows that they are willing to be a sincere and reasonable person which is the best we can ask from anyone including ourselves.

Very few people will admit they are wrong, in my opinion as a result of our societal conditioning that makes it shameful to admit fault but rewards blaming everything else for our ills. It affects everything.

So I have tons of respect for anyone who will own up like that.
Takes some major guts in our culture.
edit on 5/12/2014 by muzzleflash because: (no reason given)



posted on May, 12 2014 @ 07:41 PM
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a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

I think my favorite thing as a small business owner is having to take my time and use my stamps to withhold payment from an employees check to directly pay their bill collector because they have a garnishment against an employee. I really enjoy playing bills for adults who can't manage their money.

My second favorite thing is having an employee file a false workman's comp claim, they lose the comp claim, but still having my comp insurance go up by $5,000 a month. That seems fair!

My third favorite thing is how the minimum wage increase is treated like it is the same amount of money and buying power across the US. In some parts of this country businesses are unable to pass the increase in cost of business on to their customers, without losing the customers, so it becomes a drag on employment unless the economy eventually catches up to the minimum wage bump.

*Insert sarcasm here*

If you wonder what is killing the mom and pop businesses in this country it is our Government, its regulations, and raising the minimum wage which the big businesses can afford to absorb and the little man can't.

I don't know why I even respond on these things, because people just don't care. The reality is people just don't care, and they get what they deserve for it.
edit on 12-5-2014 by Stuship because: add a rant.



posted on May, 12 2014 @ 10:32 PM
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Not accusing anyone here of this, but, too many business owners take home too much money and pay their employees too little, AND charge too much for their products. Some don't just want to make a good profit anymore, they wanna reach in the consumers pocket and clean'em out. Greed.

But it's not all the business owners fault. Wall Street speculators are to blame for inflating everything. It's just a free-for-all these days. When I was younger, I worked for my parents a little as they owned a few business', so I'm familiar with how gas stations, restaurant and hotels work. Capitalism is good as long as it's in the right hands.
edit on 12-5-2014 by Fylgje because: unforgivable typo



posted on May, 12 2014 @ 11:05 PM
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originally posted by: Fylgje
Not accusing anyone here of this, but, too many business owners take home too much money and pay their employees too little, AND charge too much for their products. Some don't just want to make a good profit anymore, they wanna reach in the consumers pocket and clean'em out. Greed.

It's limited by what the market will bear. Why should a business owner care about anything else? Capitalism is about making as much money as you can. Why not try to win the game by playing the rules as tightly as you are able?


originally posted by: Fylgje
But it's not all the business owners fault. Wall Street speculators are to blame for inflating everything. It's just a free-for-all these days. When I was younger, I worked for my parents a little as they owned a few business', so I'm familiar with how gas stations, restaurant and hotels work. Capitalism is good as long as it's in the right hands.

Should businesses be required to take a test to insure they are the kind of people you approve of? The real problem is the consumer that continues to support the businesses you don't approve of. Without the consumer, business is nothing.

It's our fault that business has such unrealistic regulation and taxation. We are the government. We allow it to happen. IMHO, business should only be regulated for safety and pollution just like an individual. We can't say we have a free market economy and then tell the economy how to behave. Our nation demands capitalism. It should be allowed to have it along with all its shortcomings.
edit on 12-5-2014 by gentledissident because: (no reason given)



posted on May, 12 2014 @ 11:09 PM
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There is a crisis in this country where small business is no longer going to exist soon, due to rising costs. There are costs that the consumer never sees, like credit card surcharges to businesses, rising utilities and taxes, rising cost of insurances.

It is all spiraling out of control. The people elected to represent us are no longer extensions of their communities, they are elitist corporate vessels. When they enacted the AHA and exempted themselves from it, that one of the many reasons I lost faith in our republic.

I want my local community to abandon the federal government, much like they have abandoned us. Rally up a group of people that refuse to pay federal or state taxes of any kind. If enough people get on board, the federal government would not be able to enforce such a large protest.

Federal income tax is unconstitutional and unapportioned back to the people. We as a people, have no idea where that money goes, or what criminal actions it is supporting worldwide. State taxes never reach my small county and if a separate tax entity was created within my county, we could see some serious change.

It is a long shot, but I believe the most liberating force to get away from the government is energy. If I could lose my dependence on oil and electricity from the grid, it would be life changing.



posted on May, 12 2014 @ 11:24 PM
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a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Dear op, S&F


You have no idea how much i can relate to ur words on this thread. It may aswell have been written by me, because i speak your words on a daily basis!

I would need a thread to tell you my story, but yeh.... most people dont get it until its spelled out to them!



posted on May, 12 2014 @ 11:40 PM
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All of these increases are ultimately paid by one person. You, the consumer. - See more at: www.abovetopsecret.com...


Not really as no one is forced to buy anything from you or going next door or someplace else that is 'cheaper' like online 'marts' like Amazon.

Buy hey who cares!



posted on May, 13 2014 @ 01:31 AM
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i bet all those time business boomed, you passed that on to the customer too. you dropped prices, right?

how about when your workers went above and beyond, i bet you gave them all bonuses, right?

costs are passed on to the consumer, but profits passed on to your pocket.



posted on May, 13 2014 @ 01:58 AM
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originally posted by: stormson
i bet all those time business boomed, you passed that on to the customer too. you dropped prices, right?

how about when your workers went above and beyond, i bet you gave them all bonuses, right?

costs are passed on to the consumer, but profits passed on to your pocket.

Why is it his job to care? The point of capitalism is to maximize profit. This should be clear. There are multitudes of poor people in the USA that will take the job if the current help doesn't want it. Capitalism is competition. There will be losers and casualties.



posted on May, 13 2014 @ 01:59 AM
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Im going to throw my hat in on the side that the OP does in fact see the customers as a way to offset increases. I also agree that people used to go into business because they loved what they did. Of course money is a factor but being your own boss and providing the customer with the service you feel they deserve is an even bigger factor.

Truth is, my area is full of small businesses that refuse to pass on increase expe ses onto us customers. They absorb them and do there damnedest locally to fight such increases. I know this because I actually know a large portion of them.

The bussiness practices you speak of are more along the lines of Bane Capitol or the local walmart/large corps. You bleed a bussiness for maximum profit and when you no longer see the profit you like, you sell.



posted on May, 13 2014 @ 08:00 AM
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a reply to: gentledissident

You may want to rethink your socialist self identification. You sound more and more every month like a Libertarian.

I do agree with almost everything you have stated within this post.



posted on May, 13 2014 @ 08:36 AM
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originally posted by: macman
a reply to: gentledissident

You may want to rethink your socialist self identification. You sound more and more every month like a Libertarian.


I just know how capitalism works. That doesn't make me any less of a socialist. I don't rule out the free market, though. In my vision of a technological socialist utopia, we'll still need trinkets.



posted on May, 13 2014 @ 08:56 AM
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originally posted by: Chickensalad\

Truth is, my area is full of small businesses that refuse to pass on increase expe ses onto us customers. They absorb them and do there damnedest locally to fight such increases. I know this because I actually know a large portion of them.

The bussiness practices you speak of are more along the lines of Bane Capitol or the local walmart/large corps. You bleed a bussiness for maximum profit and when you no longer see the profit you like, you sell.



Well, I would offer that those businesses will be out of business soon if they drop their profits down instead of passing the costs of doing business down to the end user.

I work with about 150 small business intimately, I know their books, sales, expenses, payroll, profit level ect..... I can tell you for a fact that if you don't adjust your pricing to market conditions, most businesses will fail. I regularly warn business owners that they are heading into the red and that they have to make changes in the way they conduct biz. Don't get me wrong, raising pricing isn't the only option nor even the first option, but it's the ultimate option, once you have squeezed all the other opportunity areas dry.

If you were a business owner or a landlord, you might understand more. I just don't get how some here think even passing costs of doing business on to the consumer is somehow an evil practice.

Hell, even the Government does it to us....tax increases anyone?????



posted on May, 13 2014 @ 09:56 AM
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a reply to: gentledissident

People should go elsewhere when a business displays greedy, bad behavior, but it seems the sheep flock to them regardless of that fact. It's strange.

I think that you could take home half of what you do and still be sitting pretty, all the while, your employess could get higher pay and live a happier, better life, instead of having to sign up for government assistance, -on top of working. This is a broken system. I think if a company makes so much then they have to share a percentage with the employees. The economy would be better, many people wouldn't be struggling, and there wouldn't be this frightening movement of hate towards rich people. If things keep going the way they are, I predict that we'll start seeing people snap and go after the elite with sniper rifles, etc.. People are tired of being in poverty after working hard all the time. It isn't worth it anymore. While some of you buy fancy cars and boats, many are having to decide on food or gas. Not to mention the basic necessities. Employees deserve to at least be able to have some money left over after bills. Not be in debt to money lenders or having to take on 2-3 other jobs. It sickens me.


edit on 13-5-2014 by Fylgje because: (no reason given)



posted on May, 13 2014 @ 10:03 AM
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originally posted by: Fylgje
As much record profits that corporations are making, people should be living good, the economy should be incredible.

Why? Companies aren't legally bound to make that happen. If they were, it wouldn't be a free market.



posted on May, 13 2014 @ 10:04 AM
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a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

I do not know much about small business's but I was always thinking that this new proposal to increase the minimum wage will simply not work. If a person is making a few bucks more, those few bucks will break even because the cost of that item will then cost a few bucks more to make up for the few bucks extra the person is making. At least that is how I kind of see it.
Firepiston



posted on May, 13 2014 @ 10:06 AM
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a reply to: gentledissident

This is a greed fest at everyone elses expense. It isn't right. This system is broken. When a person has to take on 2-3 jobs and still live in poverty while the companies that they work for rake in record profits,-it is a failed system that has hurt humanity.

I'd like to see some of you support a family on what you pay. Either you don't understand or you don't care. Which is it?



posted on May, 13 2014 @ 10:09 AM
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originally posted by: gentledissident
I'm a socialist, but I believe that if you're going into business, your 1st goal should be to maximize profit. Of course, it's tempered by what the market will bear. That can't be helped. Making as much money as you can is the goal of capitalism. The company I work for is climbing every year on the Fortune 500. It's growing like crazy. Each year we get less hours to work with. Our annual raises are now fixed. We get cheaper tools. Consumer costs rise. My company has an obligation to use employees and customers to line the pockets of the owners and shareholders. This is the American way. Love it or leave it.

Regarding taxes, I don't trust the American government with anything, much less my money.


Yeah, there are a lot of negatives associated with public ownership of corporations (corporate stocks) - Wall Street analysts like to see growth, especially in profit - most often, corporate CEO's are rewarded based on such performance as well. Too often, we take a quarter-by-quarter approach to management, and absent revenue increases, cost-cutting is the only way to keep to that magical upward trend in profit.

But in a truly competitive marketplace, such an approach can't last forever - if you substitute cheap product, use less-skilled and lower-paid workers, or cut benefits, or raise prices, you under-cut what made your company successful in the first place. At the heart of most truly innovative companies are great people, with great ideas (obviously, there are some commodity-type companies, where trained chimps could replace the workforce, but this is rare.) And if you start hacking their benefits, or make them fear for their jobs, they're the first to go - those geniuses always have other options. When the truly smart people begin to leave a company, time to pull the rip-cord. Because eventually, the market catches up to you, and when it all falls apart, well, the CEO takes his millions and moves on to another company to ruin.

I've worked for two companies that went under - one went under from sheer incompetence, as the new President changed strategy and priorities monthly, (among other things), and managed to take a multi-billion dollar company into the dustbin in 2 years. The other company was destroyed by the insatiable greed of the majority stockholder and CEO, who took nearly all of our working capital as "bonuses" to himself and his friends who comprised the rubber-stamp Board of Directors; this caused a cash crunch that forced us to cancel our product launch marketing plans, cut the workforce, cut employee hours, and quickly turned what could've grown to be a multi-billion dollar company into a distant memory.

I'm not sure how you legislate against this kind of thing - stockholders "own" the company, and theoretically, should make the decisions. But they often don't, unless they have a huge number of shares in the company (and in my latter example, the majority shareholder *did* make the decisions, and he "decided" to loot the company.) Now, I'm not saying that someone who owns $100 worth of stock in a company should have the same say as someone who owns $100M - but stockholders do need a greater voice in how companies are run.

It's a screwed-up system in many ways, but it works - most the the first-world's population are employed, fed, clothed, housed, transported, medically-treated, etc, etc, by publicly-owned companies. For all its flaws, it does work.

Regarding taxes, totally agree - I hate the amount of taxes I pay - but not because I hate taxes, it's because the government is so feckless and incompetent with what we give them. And if we give them more, they just waste more. And we can start with our political "leaders", too many of whom think of themselves as American Royalty, our "betters", entitled to massive wealth and privilege by virtue of their positions - and not what they're supposed to be, our representatives.




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