'Which company would you close?' poll discussion

mcgazz

weejimmys wrote: »

i cant see why people vote tesco? (just more sheep folowing what the papers say)
would you rather asda took over and all the profit went to usa?
or mayby youd prefer the money went to germany etc?
i use tesco as it means my money will have a higher chance of staying in the uk that way, as tesco is uk company.

Given that Tesco has gone to unprecedented lengths to avoid paying tax on its massive profits, it's a fair bet that very little of their enormous profits end up in the hands of Joe Public.

As for "a UK company", Tesco goes where the money is, like all large corporations. They'd leave Britain tomorrow if they felt that they weren't making enough money here (I hear they're doing very well in China).

When I hear about UK company BAE Systems selling more hideous weapons and military hardware to appalling regimes like Saudi Arabia, the fact that some of the profits might come to the UK, rather than go to the USA, doesn't make me feel any better.

mcgazz

Bobl wrote: »

In your opinion!

Others may think otherwise about a group of people who refuse to change working practices in order that the business becomes profitable - otherwise they will disappear!

Royal Mail *is* profitable.

Anyone who cares about the postal service should read this.

Primrose

Tesco got my vote too, although I was tempted to opt for British Airways because right now their staff are causing untold misery and distress to people and families over Christmas - just sheer selfishness when they are all better paid than their counterparts in other airlines. Tesco management are some of the most arrogant people you could meet. They are quite ruthless about putting small shop keepers out of business and although they have now taken over our High Street too, most local people are boycotting them because of their aggressive alcohol marketing & selling policy which is fuelling anti-social behaviour.
Perhaps we need another poll for companies we could keep going at all costs. I'd opt for John Lewis/Waitrose who trade ethically with their suppliers, and whose helpfulness and quality of their sales and customer support staff is first class. (But then, all their staff are shareholders in the business and understand how their livelihoods and wallets depend on the success of their organisation).

Bobl

mcgazz wrote: »

Royal Mail *is* profitable.

Anyone who cares about the postal service should read this.

For now.

"Today's figures show that while the headline profits are in the millions, the pensions deficit is in the billions and confirms that the Royal Mail remains in a precarious financial position," said Business Secretary Lord Mandelson.
"With today's results confirming that the pensions deficit has doubled this year and that mail volumes are expected to fall by as much as 10% every year, the need for urgent modernisation and fundamental reform is crystal clear."

minerva_windsong

Purely for ethical reasons, Esso. I would get rid of all tabloid newspapers but I'm with Voltaire on that one.

I don't think banks and utility companies should be got rid of, they just need a radical overhaul which basically involves profits being fed back into making things cheaper for their customers rather than into execs' pay packets.

competitionscafe

weejimmys wrote: »

i cant see why people vote tesco? (just more sheep folowing what the papers say)
would you rather asda took over and all the profit went to usa?
or mayby youd prefer the money went to germany etc?
i use tesco as it means my money will have a higher chance of staying in the uk that way, as tesco is uk company.

Tesco make billions in profit every year and yet they were given a £5 million grant (taxpayers money!) by the Scottish Government to 'encourage' (bribe!?) them to open their financial services HQ in the UK (Edinburgh). Why should we subsidise a company that makes billions in annual profits, with our taxes!?
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article6802921.ece

M&S, Waitrose, Morrisons, Co-op and Sainsburys are all UK companies too and most of them seem to be more ethical than Tesco in the way they do business and treat their suppliers, staff and customers.

However if you really want to support local business use the local greengrocer, fishmonger, butcher, market etc (if you still have them!) rather than a supermarket -you may even be pleasantly surprised at the difference in quality and the lack of difference in price.

As for the Daily Mail - these two blogs do a good job of exposing/lampooning them:

http://www.angrymob.uponnothing.co.uk/
http://www.dailyquail.org/

rickbonar

The majority of the votes seem to be for The Sun yet it is the most popular and successful paper in country by a long way.

I voted for BT and I'm surprised they hadn't got 80% of the vote.

Price rigging and 084 and 087 and other premium number scandals ignored ... the most expensive and backward network possible in the world (yet should be one of the most advanced, cheapest and efficient)
Virtually no investment in infrastructure unless under government pressure (internet) then the minimal possible.

Let this be a warning to those recommending the Post office to go private.

don't forget the privatised Railways fiasco too.

Yet you lot are worried about The Sun yet keep buying it!

No one forces anyone to buy newspapers yet the phone network and railways and other privatised utilities are an entirely different matter!

Mommeedee49

I voted for Virgin - absolute rubbish at everything! L have TV, Internet and Phone with them and lose service on a regular basis. Trying to get through to them is nigh on impossible and if and when you do you are greeted with automated responses, foreign call centres and rude uncaring staff. They can't even organise a new connection without constant delays and problems - the saying - 'they couldn't find their own backsides unless you shouted its behind you' springs to mind!

John_Pierpoint

mcgazz wrote: »

Royal Mail *is* profitable.

Anyone who cares about the postal service should read this.

"Granny Smith" the postie's blog is on BBC Radio 4 this week.

allsinginganddancing

I wouldn't like anyone to loose his or her jobs but my biggest objection to the Sun is that it calls its self a Newspaper :whistle: