Why is everything in consumer / American life so fucking shitty now - and companies literally just say 'oh bc peofut margins' and we're now expected to swallow that and sympathize?

https://lemmy.world/post/8785207

Why is everything in consumer / American life so fucking shitty now - and companies literally just say 'oh bc profit margins' and we're now expected to swallow that and sympathize? - Lemmy.World

like I went to taco bell and they didn’t even have napkins out. they had the other stuff just no napkins, I assume because some fucking ghoul noticed people liked taking them for their cars so now we just don’t get napkins! so they can save $100 per quarter rather than provide the barest minimum quality of life features.

Yep.

Corporations have a fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders. They have to make money. And how much money do they have to earn? MORE.

To grow, they offer good food at a reasonable price. It seems cheaper to put the drink machine out for customers to make their own drinks choices… but then we need those extra pennies, so behind the counter it goes, so customers don’t get free refills… then how can we source cheaper stuff, beef beans etc. there will be c constant demand to squeeze every penny from the system… Bob is making too much; better fsck his schedule until he quits so we can hire Alice as she make only minimum wage.

I’m not sure where napkins fall in the chain but yes the quality likely will continue to spiral down.

There are very few companies who recognize that there is a quality floor they should not go below. Where they acknowledge that we can’t get any worse, but they have to raise prices. And depending on the managers this cycle will continue back and forth

Dumb question: did the laws change or was it a change in trends to maximize shareholder returns?

A shift in corporate mindset to maximize growth and profit. Go research Jack Welsh.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/part-one-jack-welch-is-why-you-got-laid-off/id1373812661?i=1000612309266

‎Behind the Bastards: Part One: Jack Welch Is Why You Got Laid Off on Apple Podcasts

‎Show Behind the Bastards, Ep Part One: Jack Welch Is Why You Got Laid Off - 9 May 2023

Apple Podcasts