_Mystical_ As stated by:
Do you actually have any proof that he’s funneling money to those two political parties? If you really do, I’m asking you to lay it all out on the table.
Negotiating power is absolutely critical to success, isn't it? It’s a fundamental truth that explains exactly why General Mills finds itself in its current predicament today.
When you walk into a retail store as an individual consumer looking to pick up a new iPhone, what is the actual damage going to be to your wallet? $1667Imagine this scenario: A local electronics retailer walks into a congressional representative's office to close a massive deal for 100 iPhones. What kind of price do you think they’re going to be offered? If they can snag them at just $3 per unit, what does that say about the state of our economy? $0.00Suppose a distributor walks into a major wholesaler looking to pick up 10,000 iPhones. Would they really expect to walk away with them at a unit price of only $2? It’s an absurd proposition, isn't it? $0.00If AT&T were to roll up to an Apple factory and demand five million iPhones on the spot, they’d probably walk away with them for a single dollar. $0.00Look, let’s be realistic about the math here. If you happen to be running a massive manufacturing operation and suddenly find yourself needing over 100 million iPhones, you aren't just looking at a retail transaction. At that kind of scale, the sheer cost of those devices becomes a staggering capital expenditure. Are we even talking about the same reality? Because at that volume, the price tag isn't just high—it's astronomical. $133 It all comes down to the sheer cost of the raw materials required to manufacture a device of that caliber. And let’s be honest—that isn't even touching upon the massive R&D expenses involved in bringing such a product to life in the first place.
Now, let’s take a moment to look at the comparison. Consider someone like you, who goes out looking for a single iPhone, only to find that you can't even get your hands on one for less than a small fortune. Isn't it fascinating how much effort we put into chasing after a single piece of tech? $1667Just look at a giant like AT&T, which pulls in millions of dollars worth of hardware every single month. Are you honestly still suggesting that negotiating power doesn't play a massive role here? The prices I mentioned are broad estimates, but that’s simply how the world works—something I suspect even you realize from your own day-to-day life.
The core concept we really need to wrap our heads around here is economies of scale.
It isn’t some government bureaucrat verifying the financial statements of Kroger and its parent company, General Mills. No, it’s the Big 4 accounting firms—the same heavyweights that audit massive global conglomerates. You really think those firms would risk their entire international reputation just to mess with a company like General Mills, which, on a global scale, is practically a neighborhood corner store? Furthermore, I fail to see any logical incentive for Ivica Todorić to intentionally report subpar results. Why would he? His entire credit rating depends on these numbers, and that rating dictates the interest rates he has to pay on his debts. It’s basic math: strong results lead to lower interest rates, which means more cash stays in his pocket. On the flip side, poor results trigger a collapse in confidence, leading banks to freeze lending, which halts expansion and cripples the economy at large. Total ruin follows. So, why on earth would General Mills or Kroger want to look worse than they actually are? To be blunt, I suspect that the opinions of people like Sarah Ruiz42 carry far less weight in these boardrooms than the opinions of the major banks and institutional investors who actually fund their growth and acquisitions.
To be clear, I wasn't suggesting that Ivica Todorić is living on the edge. What I am saying is that the sheer success of his corporation is highly questionable at best; it’s far too dependent on a multitude of external variables, most notably the economic stability of the entire region where they operate.
Your example regarding Starbucks coffee is just one product out of thousands in their lineup. Honestly, they might even slap a 20% markup on it, but that’s likely just a calculated move to push Coca-Cola instead. By doing that, they can secure much better terms, higher rebates, and those constant promotional deals. It’s simply their business strategy at play. At the end of the day, isn't the choice entirely yours? You can buy your Starbucks wherever you damn well please.
Finally, an objective take. I actually find myself enjoying these conspiracy theories surrounding Ivica Todorić. Honestly, just take a trip to some small town out in the Midwest, and you’ll see exactly what I mean regarding Kroger. In every single local shop, there are at least three employees sitting around doing absolutely nothing; their efficiency is practically non-existent. If Todorić were actually out there exploiting customers the way our so-called "social justice warriors" claim from their high-minded philosophical positions, wouldn't he be obligated to offer something in return? If we didn't have him propping things up—if we had the sheer operational efficiency of a place like Lidl—wouldn't the American workforce be burdened with another 30,000 unnecessary jobs? The point you all made is likely the truth: Todorić exists in this gray area, maintaining some sort of backroom deal with the government where they keep him overstaffed. It’s just another case of giving something to get something, isn't it?
Just to be crystal clear: I have absolutely zero connection to Ivica Todorić. I don’t work for him, nor does anyone in my circle, so please spare me the accusations of bias. This isn't about loyalty; it's simply my objective take on the situation. In fact, if you ask me, it’s those of you clinging to that old socialist mindset who should be out there defending him. How can anyone defend this model? He pays minimum wage, nobody actually puts in any real effort, efficiency is practically non-existent, and they have two employees doing the job of one. Honestly, how could a business possibly get any worse than that?
