News notes from around the interweb:
- How Costco’s Kirkland brand can offer a better product at a lower price they’re the same name brands, sitting side-by-side, supposedly “at least 1% better” than the branded product and cheaper.
- US hotel occupancy is now down less than 40% and average daily room rate is down 28%.
- Air India slashes crew salary by 40% Since changes are retroactive, and involve reduced hours as well, pilots say their compensation cut is more like 85%. (HT: Jonathan W.)
- Braniff Airways Signs Historic Agreement With the Dallas Cowboys, TAC Air and Reed Enterprises for Braniff Headquarters wait, Braniff still exists? In fact the company does,
Braniff Airways, Inc, the former international airline is a leading global historic airline branding and marketing, online retail and historic airliner tour firm, which was originally formed in 1930. Braniff manages over 770 licensing agreements worldwide. The company today operates its lucrative Braniff Boutique Online Retail store that sells to 123 countries worldwide along with three brick and mortar stores. Braniff also administers its original Employee Airline Pass Program, which offers current and former employees discount travel on partner airlines and travel companies.
- Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly says wearing masks should be a basic expectation, everywhere – like wearing pants. But even that is new to some people, as the greatest sketch comedy show of all time, The State, reminds us:
- Some insight into the government’s reversal on allowing New Yorkers into Global Entry.
NEW: After DHS's sudden reversal reinstating NY in the trusted traveler's program, the government reveals the backstory:
Government officials and attorneys gave "inaccurate and misleading statements" in filings and declarations, a new brief reveals.
They "deeply regret" it. pic.twitter.com/TKaweTcl1I
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) July 23, 2020
The article you link to is fascinating. I struggle to think how Kirkland Signature bottled water is 1% better than Arrowhead or Dasani, but someone who drinks a lot of water will certainly tell me.
The workers at my local Costco are arrogant so I don’t shop there
@jason
Judging from your other posts I would say the problem is you and not them
@Doug you seem to be very dumb
@Doug is correct. @Jason is an idiot. Anyone who thinks Costco workers are arrogant is a buffoon.
Jason is a tool. Arrogant workers at Costco? The door greeter and cashier? Or do you expect workers all over the warehouse to be there at your beck and call?
This was a solid article on Costco. I have over two decades in big box retail and know their business model well. Costco runs their margins low and operations tight. As far as 1% better, it can be in package size and not just product quality.
@Brodie two decades in big box retail (about as prestigious as a high school gym teacher minus the pedophilia) and you have the gall to call me a tool?
Kirkland’s rollerboards suck now compared to the ones they offered 10 years ago so not everything in house is better at Costco
Gary the hotel occupancy figures are not counting closed properties, I’m fairly sure.
While I honestly don’t believe the Seattle numbers even among properties that are open, I can count the amount of rooms not even available and tell you it’s just not a remotely accurate number.
I live in the hotel district and frequent the lobbies as a respite from the confines of home. One example is the biggest Hyatt has been closed since March ( a good chunk of the downtown’s total room capacity). The second largest Hyatt is so empty I can go an hour plus in midday without seeing a single guest come or go. Another Hyatt is also closed.
Yeah I too don’t totally believe that hotel data, esp with near zero biz travel
@jason Hey man, you’re always posting crap, so why should anyone agree with you? Not a tool, but a fool, dumber than a box of rocks, kind of like chump. There you go, you have something in common with our great leader chump!
“@Brodie two decades in big box retail (about as prestigious as a high school gym teacher minus the pedophilia) and you have the gall to call me a tool?”
Hey Jason, it paid so well I was able to retire in my mid 40’s. How about you tool?
I have purchased any number of Kirkland branded products, and had always been satisfied.
Until the great, early COVID pandemic period of the toilet paper shortage. All Costco had was their Kirkland 2-ply TP. It is the WORST product ever. Worse than the cheap TP used in the bathrooms at my office building. Worse than the TP used in roadside gas stations. The absolute worst. It may actually be 2-ply, the the total thickness is less than half that of Charmin (Blue).
When I tried to return my multi-pack to Costco (minus the initial roll I removed), they refused to take it back and refund my purchase price. That was a first for me with a Costco purchase.