Target

[The Sheck]

I never thought I'd say this. I, like most of you, am a diehard Target fan. My family has shopped there since store #1 near the Har Mar mall in St. Paul, MN.

Today though, I am disappointed in Target. They're farming out phone center jobs to India and Canada. The thought that Target would join this slimy trend never occurred to me; I assumed that Target, being the good corporate citizen I've always considered it to be, wouldn't do it.

The foreign call centers became apparent when I made two calls seeking information on a couple of products.

If the mere fact that Target is shipping jobs away from the U.S., wasn't bad enough, the employees on the other end of the call are instructed, when asked, to be evasive about where they are. When I inquired during the first call where the gentleman with the Indian accent was located, the reply was, "Target headquarters are in Minneapolis." When I noted that I had asked where *he* was, not where Target HQ is located, he disclosed he was in New Delhi.

On the second call, when I asked where the rep was located, she replied with the same stock headquarters answer. Again, I asked where SHE was. "Near the border," was her reply! WTF?! "What city are you in?," I then asked. She then got honest and me it was Toronto, I think it was. Wherever it was, it was Canada.

Maybe I shouldn't be so surprised and disappointed. Target IS corporate America. I just thought it was the type of company that would avoid this type of bad behavior and do the right thing.

Maybe the Salvation Army was right, after all.

signed,
Not As Loyal Anymore

[postfeminist]

this does suck....but a corporation is still a corporation. i'm never too surprised by the shit that they do, esepecially when it helps them make more money. :(

i still prefer target over mal-wart any day of the week...

[tobedawg]

I am a former TARGET employee and am not really surprised by this move..

However, I do think they are still the lesser of two evils when pitted up against Wal-Mart..

Outsourcing of American jobs is the Modern American reality.. Sad but true.. I don't see this ending anytime soon either.. As long as Wal-Mart is ahead in the game, they dictate many of the retail rules.. AND as long as people continue to shop at Wal-Mart, and on and on and on..

[rocketman70]

I agree of the two I'd take Target any day. WalMart blows.

[akip]

i admit i go to target (i even have a target credit card for the 10% off day), though i won't set foot in wal-mart. gotta save money on buying soap somewhere.

[Louisianagrl]

I admit to visiting Target at least twice a week and to having the credit card. I refuse to go in the wal-mart that is literally right behind my apartment because it is too gross and annoying.

I can't say I'm surprised by this move, since farming out call centres is a continuing trend. Heck, AMERICA Online did it already (and it has "America" in the name)

[akip]

Heck, AMERICA Online did it already (and it has "America" in the name)

america online will do anything to annoy its customers and to frustrate anyone who wants to quit the service.

[purple_octopus]

Has anyone here ever worked in a call center? It SUCKS. I say give it to them. Especially since the $400 a month they make in India (doing tech-support type work anyway) is ten times what the average salary is over there. They deserve to eat too.

[Slar]

Previous interesting discussion. (http://www.woxy.com/boards/showthread.php?t=23035)

[Duemellon]

The funny thing is when ppl call my call center, we have a few Asian & Mideastern ppl working here so they have to reassure them that we're in 'merica.

[tobedawg]

Has anyone here ever worked in a call center? It SUCKS. I say give it to them. Especially since the $400 a month they make in India (doing tech-support type work anyway) is ten times what the average salary is over there. They deserve to eat too.

Alot of jobs sucks, but there are many Americans who will lose their jobs and NOT be able to provide for their families because of the Corporate outsourcing.. A majority of Americans aren't happy with the jobs they have, but they figure "It's a job".. The reason why jobs so much now is because they are becoming scarce few and far between, and the corporations are smart to this and the treatment of workers falls to the wayside behind keeping investors and shareholders happy (which is #1) and keeping the prices low to stay on "top of the game"..

We live in a pretty sad day and age, when minimum wage jobs are requiring background and credit checks AND lie detector tests (in some states)..

[Slar]

Top 5 reasons to send American jobs to third-world countries:

1. No OSHA

2. No EPA.

3. No insurance.

4. Cheap labor.

5. No unions.

For a corporation, it's a no-brainer.

[purple_octopus]

Alot of jobs sucks, but there are many Americans who will lose their jobs and NOT be able to provide for their families because of the Corporate outsourcing.. A majority of Americans aren't happy with the jobs they have, but they figure "It's a job".. The reason why jobs so much now is because they are becoming scarce few and far between, and the corporations are smart to this and the treatment of workers falls to the wayside behind keeping investors and shareholders happy (which is #1) and keeping the prices low to stay on "top of the game"..

We live in a pretty sad day and age, when minimum wage jobs are requiring background and credit checks AND lie detector tests (in some states)..
But I suppose Indians don't deserve to support their families. You know, because they have it so much better than we do. :rolleyes:

The only way corporations are going to "get it" is when Americans demand quality service - and refuse to do business with outsourcers that provide inadequate service. I have to say that I've spoken with foreign call center employees, and as long as I can understand them, I do not care. Even when I can't understand them, they tend to be more polite than their American counterparts. I've had atrocious service from American call centers. As long as the service from an outsourced call center is good, I don't care where there are located. The pittance they are paid goes much further where they live than it would here, and I don't think corporate profit is a bad thing.

[Fernie]

As much as I want to shun large corporations, I work for a mid-sized one. My hubby works for a HUGE one.

He works for Wells Fargo. They, however, are trying very hard not to outsource. They have one or two minor call centers in India to appease the stockholders. Wells actually waited as long as they could before starting those. While Wells is big corporate, I have to give them kudos for that and their left-leaning ways. They are a huge contributor to Gay rights and Habitat for Humanity. (Plus they are sending us to Hawaii in April as a reward for all of Mr. Fernie's hard work.)

[tobedawg]

The only way corporations are going to "get it" is when Americans demand quality service - and refuse to do business with outsourcers that provide inadequate service. I have to say that I've spoken with foreign call center employees, and as long as I can understand them, I do not care. Even when I can't understand them, they tend to be more polite than their American counterparts. I've had atrocious service from American call centers. As long as the service from an outsourced call center is good, I don't care where there are located. The pittance they are paid goes much further where they live than it would here, and I don't think corporate profit is a bad thing.

I agree that Corporations are dictated by the American public.. However, if you look at how much a Corporate CEO makes compared to a low-level worker, you have to wonder why they would need the extra cash by outsourcing American jobs?

But I suppose Indians don't deserve to support their families. You know, because they have it so much better than we do.

I didn't say that.. The people of India definately deserve to live better and support themselves, but the quality of American life shouldn't be brought down as a result, nor should the principles of this country.. India's Culture should also not be compromised as a result.. AND how do we actually know that these Corporations are making "Life Better" for the people of India? As Mussolini once said "Corporatism is the First step towards fascism"..

[keyst2891]

I have seen the pains that companies have gone through to keep everything in the United States. My mother was one of 30 National Sales Directors for Longaberger.

Costs of keeping all production in America has been skyrocketing and this was a company that prided itself on being "American Made". It cost them in the long run. Hard to reach the bottom line with the cost of the workforce here in the United States.

Long story short: My mothers position was eliminated and they had to take certain productions overseas. The Presdient and CEO resigned and the company is just barely floating right now.

Sure, move 200 jobs overseas if it means saving the thousands of jobs that the company has in the United States.

[onest2.0]

I saw a segment on one of the cable financial shows that was about outsourcing jobs to India. Basically, the "experts" said that India workers are close to pricing themselves out of the market. Wages have increased dramatically and turnover at a lot of the places is as high as 70% because of all the competition. Expect all the call center jobs to head to another country soon....like China.

[Drake]

However, if you look at how much a Corporate CEO makes compared to a low-level worker, you have to wonder why they would need the extra cash by outsourcing American jobs?

Do you really think that the money a corporation saves due to outsourcing is directly deposited into the pockets of the CEO and/or upper executives? Any worthwhile corporation takes that money and puts it back into the company, which benefits everyone involved/related to that company.

[Handy Smurf]

I agree that Corporations are dictated by the American public.. However, if you look at how much a Corporate CEO makes compared to a low-level worker, you have to wonder why they would need the extra cash by outsourcing American jobs?



I didn't say that.. The people of India definately deserve to live better and support themselves, but the quality of American life shouldn't be brought down as a result, nor should the principles of this country.. India's Culture should also not be compromised as a result.. AND how do we actually know that these Corporations are making "Life Better" for the people of India? As Mussolini once said "Corporatism is the First step towards fascism"..
why are you quoting mussolini?
who are you quoting next, Pol Pot?

[foolsgold]

why are you quoting mussolini?
who are you quoting next, Pol Pot?

As long as he play ethnicky jazz to parade his snazz, I have no problems.

[tobedawg]

why are you quoting mussolini?

I'm quoting Mussolini because he was a very intellegent man and would know a thing or two about fascism..

Do you really think that the money a corporation saves due to outsourcing is directly deposited into the pockets of the CEO and/or upper executives? Any worthwhile corporation takes that money and puts it back into the company, which benefits everyone involved/related to that company.

Historically, Corporations have always looked out for their best interests above all else.. Corporations are considered a Legal Person with the same rights and benefits as everyone else.. Always looking out for their bottom line and their share holders.. It's all about profit.. Why do you think that Coca-Cola created Fanta Orange for the purpose of having it be the OFFICIAL Soft Drink of Nazi Gemany? Or what about Coca-Cola's actions in Central America?

[classicgrrl]

I have seen the pains that companies have gone through to keep everything in the United States. My mother was one of 30 National Sales Directors for Longaberger.

Costs of keeping all production in America has been skyrocketing and this was a company that prided itself on being "American Made". It cost them in the long run. Hard to reach the bottom line with the cost of the workforce here in the United States.

Long story short: My mothers position was eliminated and they had to take certain productions overseas. The Presdient and CEO resigned and the company is just barely floating right now.

Sure, move 200 jobs overseas if it means saving the thousands of jobs that the company has in the United States.

Longaberger is NOT a typical company and really shouldn't be used as an example. 3rd Tier Marketers are in a class all by themselves. And btw, I worked there too.

I will go onto add that only when "corporations" became multi-national and consolidation began occurring that they went over-sees (began in the 80's). And those profits don't go directly into the pockets of the CEO's - they go indirectly by means of the multi-billion dollar retirement pensions and bonus' that they recieve when they make their abitarily picked numbers that they always make year after year no matter how good the company is doing.

While we are at it lets define "profit". Just how much profit does one entity need? Apparantly just enough to decline the middle class.

Go read Twlight of American Culture by Morris Berman and find out what happened to the Roman Empire, the Aztecs, the Myas and all the other great civilizations of the world when they began to put profit above all else.

[Rafe]

As long as he play ethnicky jazz to parade his snazz, I have no problems.
Agreed. Wasn't he once also famously and rather movingly quoted as saying "You'll work hard with a gun in your back for a bowl of rice a day"? Poetry.

[Duemellon]

ppl do not dictate what the market sells them b/c they only buy what's there for them to chose from.

We've long since left bhind the era when "If you don't got it, make it" was an actual thought process. Now it's: "If they don't got it, u don't need it b/c they kno bettr"

[postfeminist]

I agree that Corporations are dictated by the American public.. However, if you look at how much a Corporate CEO makes compared to a low-level worker, you have to wonder why they would need the extra cash by outsourcing American jobs?

amen...the average american CEO makes 475 times what the lowest paid worker in the company makes... most other "industrialized" nations have an average of 100 time or way less...