Re: Scargill was right! : Thu Jan 09, 2014 12:53 pm  

Richie wrote: Unlike the state, big business (why do you differentiate from small business here?) can't force you to hand over your money. AFAIK, Glaxosmithkline produce drugs, rather than prescribe them. When talking about Big Pharma, they pretty much can. When death or Illness is the alternative. You are kind of over a barrel. http://www.phillipsandcohen.com/P-C-New ... ment.shtml Big Business, doing what big business does. I can only ask again, who would you trust to prescribe you the best drugs for you. Your local NHS GP, or friendly local GSK sales rep?

Richie wrote: Unlike the state, big business (why do you differentiate from small business here?) can't force you to hand over your money. AFAIK, Glaxosmithkline produce drugs, rather than prescribe them. When talking about Big Pharma, they pretty much can. When death or Illness is the alternative. You are kind of over a barrel. http://www.phillipsandcohen.com/P-C-New ... ment.shtml Big Business, doing what big business does. I can only ask again, who would you trust to prescribe you the best drugs for you. Your local NHS GP, or friendly local GSK sales rep?

Re: Scargill was right! : Thu Jan 09, 2014 12:55 pm  

SmokeyTA wrote:

Never trust big business. It exists solely and purely and unequivocally to take your money.

It exists solely to MAKE money, it normally does this in exchange for goods or services, if people don't intrinsically trust a company it fails.

What has happened in the last decade is big business having failed to grow their market, are in a saturated market or a shrinking market have looked at way of growing the bottom line without expanding the business, this has meant squeezing wages of the majority of its work force, finding new and not always legal ways to evade tax and their social responsibilities.

This is by no mean all big businesses and many major companies have invested in the work force, treated them as valued employees and let them have a say in the direction of the company, John Lewis for instance, makes good gross profits, treats its employees fairly, pays them a fair wage all while still maintaining a good bottom line.

Most of us are not completely anti big business (I'm certainly not) and see its place in the world as one of bring benefits, however big business does need reminding of its responsibilities not only to shareholders but to its stakeholders too, its employees, suppliers and its customers.

We should be looking to the entrepreneurs of the past such as Lever, Roundtree and Cadbury to see how businesses can thrive and build huge brands while not being dicks.

Re: Scargill was right! : Thu Jan 09, 2014 1:08 pm  

SmokeyTA wrote: When talking about Big Pharma, they pretty much can. When death or Illness is the alternative. You are kind of over a barrel. http://www.phillipsandcohen.com/P-C-New ... ment.shtml Big Business, doing what big business does. I can only ask again, who would you trust to prescribe you the best drugs for you. Your local NHS GP, or friendly local GSK sales rep? Which single big pharma has it's customer over a barrel with a product unavailable from anywhere else? I'm still not clear why you differentiate according to the size of a business. Your question is as valid as asking who would you trust to research and develop new medicines: GSK or a local GP? Interesting though, I'm an IT sales rep. Part of my role is helping clients run their IT infrastructure and helping resellers understand IT infrastructure. Those clients and partners trust my expertese, despite me working for big business. Should they seek advice from the gov instead?

SmokeyTA wrote: When talking about Big Pharma, they pretty much can. When death or Illness is the alternative. You are kind of over a barrel. http://www.phillipsandcohen.com/P-C-New ... ment.shtml Big Business, doing what big business does. I can only ask again, who would you trust to prescribe you the best drugs for you. Your local NHS GP, or friendly local GSK sales rep? Which single big pharma has it's customer over a barrel with a product unavailable from anywhere else? I'm still not clear why you differentiate according to the size of a business. Your question is as valid as asking who would you trust to research and develop new medicines: GSK or a local GP? Interesting though, I'm an IT sales rep. Part of my role is helping clients run their IT infrastructure and helping resellers understand IT infrastructure. Those clients and partners trust my expertese, despite me working for big business. Should they seek advice from the gov instead?

Re: Scargill was right! : Thu Jan 09, 2014 1:12 pm  

Big Graeme wrote:

It exists solely to MAKE money, it normally does this in exchange for goods or services, if people don't intrinsically trust a company it fails.

What has happened in the last decade is big business having failed to grow their market, are in a saturated market or a shrinking market have looked at way of growing the bottom line without expanding the business, this has meant squeezing wages of the majority of its work force, finding new and not always legal ways to evade tax and their social responsibilities.

This is by no mean all big businesses and many major companies have invested in the work force, treated them as valued employees and let them have a say in the direction of the company, John Lewis for instance, makes good gross profits, treats its employees fairly, pays them a fair wage all while still maintaining a good bottom line.

Most of us are not completely anti big business (I'm certainly not) and see its place in the world as one of bring benefits, however big business does need reminding of its responsibilities not only to shareholders but to its stakeholders too, its employees, suppliers and its customers.

We should be looking to the entrepreneurs of the past such as Lever, Roundtree and Cadbury to see how businesses can thrive and build huge brands while not being dicks.

I think there is space for a variety of approaches here. Whilst some customers like the behaviour of JLP and Richer Sounds and will pay a premium for it, there are others who prefer the likes of Aldi and Ryanair. Horses for courses etc,

Re: Scargill was right! : Thu Jan 09, 2014 1:15 pm  

Well done for completely ignoring 99% of my point and focusing solely on price, oh BTW Richer Sounds is a discounter not a premium retailer.

Re: Scargill was right! : Thu Jan 09, 2014 1:20 pm  

Big Graeme wrote:

Well done for completely ignoring 99% of my point and focusing solely on price, oh BTW Richer Sounds is a discounter not a premium retailer.

I was being nice and agreeing with 70% of it I was focussing on value and service BTW.
Has Richer changed? I haven't used them since I left Leeds 13 years ago. They used to be known for charging more but having good advice, facilities to test and try products, and treating their staff well - one perk being the loan of a nice car for good performance, which probably had the ulterior motive of wanting to create a desire to own such a car and so work harder, sell more stuff and earn more money to be able to buy one.

Re: Scargill was right! : Thu Jan 09, 2014 1:34 pm  

Richie wrote:

I was being nice and agreeing with 70% of it I was focussing on value and service BTW.

Apologies then.

Richie wrote:

Has Richer changed?

No they have always been a discounter, usually selling left over stock, end of lines, last years models and grey imports, what they don't do is sell the lower end stuff you'd find in most Tescos (apart maybe from a few models of TVs, they compete with your local specialist store selling high end equipment.

The staff are good because they employ good staff paying them a good wage and more importantly in retail treating them as valuable asset rather than an expense.

Re: Scargill was right! : Thu Jan 09, 2014 1:40 pm  

Richie wrote:

Which single big pharma has it's customer over a barrel with a product unavailable from anywhere else?

Any with a patent on a particular drug.

I'm still not clear why you differentiate according to the size of a business.

Because big businesses arent the same as small ones.

Your question is as valid as asking who would you trust to research and develop new medicines: GSK or a local GP?

my Local GP, he already does this. HTH

Interesting though, I'm an IT sales rep. Part of my role is helping clients run their IT infrastructure and helping resellers understand IT infrastructure. Those clients and partners trust my expertese, despite me working for big business. Should they seek advice from the gov instead?

Do their lives depend on buying the right version of Windows?

Re: Scargill was right! : Thu Jan 09, 2014 1:43 pm  

SmokeyTA wrote:

Any with a patent on a particular drug.

What did their customers do before they developed that drug?

SmokeyTA wrote:

Because big businesses arent the same as small ones.

How? What? Why? Where? What's the differentiator? Are there medium businesses? Or is this just black and white?

SmokeyTA wrote:

my Local GP, he already does this. HTH

Exactly, because that's his role.

SmokeyTA wrote:

Do their lives depend on buying the right version of Windows?

Their careers do at least.

Re: Scargill was right! : Thu Jan 09, 2014 1:46 pm  

I am not sure what Scargill would make of all this.
Was he on drugs at the time he decided not to hold a national ballot?