We’ve all done it before. We’ve browsed store catalogue through store catalogue online in order to find the best deals. It seems that Best Buy is learning the tactics of it’s consumers.  They’re thinking about cutting their prices online in order to better compete. 

As the article says, Best Buy is in a bit of a slump at the moment. They’re thinking about cutting costs by shutting down stores while founder, Richard Schulze, believes, “a combination of lower prices and good customer service as the key to saving the company.”

A combination of Apple’s great customer service and cheaper prices online would work… if you were Apple. Best Buy just doesn’t have the ability Apple does to grab it’s costumers. If anything it may just prolong Best Buy’s slow demise.

A deadly fire killed hundreds in Ali Enterprise’s factory in Karachi, Pakistan. You’d expect that a tragedy like this could have been prevented. And you’re right. It could have but in a world where money takes precedence over safety, things like this happen more often then you know of.

There have been numerous occurrences over the years where lack in safety has taken a back seat in order for the company to make more profit. Just to quote a few from the article:

• September 2012: At least 38 killed in a fire at a fireworks factory in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu
• August 2004: A fire in a supermarket in Paraguay kills at least 364 people
• November 1993: More than 80 workers killed in a fire in a toy factory in southern China
• May 1993: At least 188 people are killed in a fire at a Thai toy factory

Almost all these buildings lacked little to no fire extinguishers or fire escapes. In some of the factories, like Ali Enterprise’s, fire exits were blocked off for more storage space. There was one way in and one way out and people were running to escape before the only entrance was smothered in flames.

The lack of safety for more output is a common practice in third world countries. Why? Because they want to meet the demand of their employer. Giant Businesses that have no care of where their product is created. It’s not like it’s subtle either. We, as consumers, are aware of this fact but we’ll still buy the product. To ask a simple question, why?

Footage of the Deadly Fire  

Pictures of the Tragedy 

Additional Reading 

Welcome to UBC Blogs. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!