Hmmm, fuel is down but not shipping charge

[snakelady]

I was wondering why if my rates were raised to offset increased fuel costs last year, then why, now that fuel is less than half what it was then, am I still paying the increased rate?

Odd what you don't think about, isn't it?

Happens all the time with all kinds of items. Prices never go back down unless forced to by outside pressure.

[scutechute]

As much as it's a good thing to talk about issues and communicate - this thread totally bums me out. almost makes me mad! where's my rage face.... there we go! im ticked!

[wilomn]

I guess what really gets me is when do we, we as a whole, stop striving for ever greater profits and become able to be happy with what we have?

Company A makes 200 mil in profit one year. The next year, even though costs are the same if not lower, they only make 100 mil.

Now, they have MADE 100 million in profit, the company has paid ALL expenses and come out 100 million ahead at the end of the year.

Why then do they show a 100 million dollar loss? How can you lose something you never had? The company did not make as much as the year before but they were still in the black, they still made money. Not as much as the year before but still well into making money for everyone.

That's a tough nut for me too.

Is that chase for profit percentage increase really the measurement you wish to be judged by? If costs go down and profit stays high, I don't get sticking it to the consumer.

I get profit, I am all for it. To a point.

If I had more than enough I don't know that I'd strive for even more with the same fervor that I see so often, as with the shipping companies I started this thread about.

[Shrap]

Yeah! Hail Communism!

People complaining about prices not going down...how about people making the decision to earn more? Take a second or part-time job....Go to school...ask for more responsibility at work to justify a raise...market your business better...do something, anything, to be more productive. Seem like the working generation here can't get over their sense of entitlement, and make a change to combat the problem, rather than just complain about it.

Ignorance and arrogance..... what a combination!!

[Gloryhound]

A lot of companies set up yearly contracts for their fuel. Last year while fuel was on the rise companies went for long term 1 year contracts with the anticipation the fuel was going to continue to rise to a given point of supply and demand balance at a given price. Generally the way most products work. The company I work for is still paying $4.29 a gallon of Diesel and will do so until the end of the year. That is the rate the corporate office locked in for us. We now have to figure out other places to make up for the cost over run in our overall heat rate. Which is based on Cost of making enough BTU's to make 1 Kilowatt hour of power.

The company I work for trades shares on the NY Stock Exchange. We have obligations to our share holders to make money for them. If we can not prove the business is viable and not make money for them they sell our stocks and the value goes down which results in less business capitol we can take short term loans on. At this point things continue to cascade and eventually we start closing plants, putting thousands of people out of work, and driving up the cost of the KiloWatt hour to a point that our remaining operating plants become profitable again. We already are planning on the closing of one plant in 2010. This was not due to it not being profitable, but rather the 300 million dollar cost of installing scrubbers does not make sense. It is better to close the plant, leave it sit and rot, find another piece of land, and build a brand new plant that meets current regulation. Now due to GM, Ford, and Crysler not making as many cars their plants do not run as much and use as much power. Then since they are not calling for as much steel and other materials those plants are not running as much and are not using as much power. Discussions are being made for an immediate closure of the plant to reduce supply and thus keep prices at a profitable level.

No it isn't the business that is greedy. It is the people who own shares of the companies that for some reason want to see their investment grow and not dwindle. You know all those people who have 401K programs and such. Those greedy people that push the companies to make money! Oh wait I'm one of them.

[wilomn]

Discussions are being made for an immediate closure of the plant to reduce supply and thus keep prices at a profitable level.

No it isn't the business that is greedy. It is the people who own shares of the companies that for some reason want to see their investment grow and not dwindle. You know all those people who have 401K programs and such. Those greedy people that push the companies to make money! Oh wait I'm one of them.

Yes, the drive for profit. It is in control of many like you. It justifies all sorts of creepy things. I MUST do this because of the stock holders.

BULLSNOT.

You owe it to your stockholders not to make such stupid decisions as to lock yourself into contracts that make you pay twice what a necessary product costs everyone else. What happened to your economic forecasts? No one there reading a paper? Not watching the news? Or are all you and your 401K carrying friends so busy bending over to allow profit to remain high that you forget to take a look around you?

No point in actually taking some of those profits and improving production, no no no, that would cut down of profits. For the short term. We can't have that can we? Going two or three or maybe five years without those profits doubling every year just isn't acceptable. Of course the fact that putting money into infrastructure, like those scrubbers or new plants, would not only increase profits in the long term, but make the world a slightly better place for not only stock holders but the rest of us poor schmucks who don't have 401ks.

I guess to guys like you, from what you have said, that profit, no matter the cost, is the goal.

Go get em tiger, go get em.

[nixer]

Yes, the drive for profit. It is in control of many like you. It justifies all sorts of creepy things. I MUST do this because of the stock holders.

BULLSNOT.

You owe it to your stockholders not to make such stupid decisions as to lock yourself into contracts that make you pay twice what a necessary product costs everyone else. What happened to your economic forecasts? No one there reading a paper? Not watching the news? Or are all you and your 401K carrying friends so busy bending over to allow profit to remain high that you forget to take a look around you?

No point in actually taking some of those profits and improving production, no no no, that would cut down of profits. For the short term. We can't have that can we? Going two or three or maybe five years without those profits doubling every year just isn't acceptable. Of course the fact that putting money into infrastructure, like those scrubbers or new plants, would not only increase profits in the long term, but make the world a slightly better place for not only stock holders but the rest of us poor schmucks who don't have 401ks.

I guess to guys like you, from what you have said, that profit, no matter the cost, is the goal.

Go get em tiger, go get em.

yes thats the goal for shareholders and companies.
they dont give a crap about anyone but the shareholders.
just like every other business that has 100%-500% markup on goods

[monk90222]

Yeah! Hail Communism!

People complaining about prices not going down...how about people making the decision to earn more? Take a second or part-time job....Go to school...ask for more responsibility at work to justify a raise...market your business better...do something, anything, to be more productive. Seem like the working generation here can't get over their sense of entitlement, and make a change to combat the problem, rather than just complain about it.

I make plenty of money, trust me, I'm talking upper 10% of the US income........I still don't like paying $4 for a slice of pizza.

[Gloryhound]

Yes, the drive for profit. It is in control of many like you. It justifies all sorts of creepy things. I MUST do this because of the stock holders.

BULLSNOT.

You owe it to your stockholders not to make such stupid decisions as to lock yourself into contracts that make you pay twice what a necessary product costs everyone else. What happened to your economic forecasts? No one there reading a paper? Not watching the news? Or are all you and your 401K carrying friends so busy bending over to allow profit to remain high that you forget to take a look around you?

No point in actually taking some of those profits and improving production, no no no, that would cut down of profits. For the short term. We can't have that can we? Going two or three or maybe five years without those profits doubling every year just isn't acceptable. Of course the fact that putting money into infrastructure, like those scrubbers or new plants, would not only increase profits in the long term, but make the world a slightly better place for not only stock holders but the rest of us poor schmucks who don't have 401ks.

I guess to guys like you, from what you have said, that profit, no matter the cost, is the goal.

Go get em tiger, go get em.

Maybe some people are willing to invest in a business that is going to make the value of your investment less over the next year. I personally believe it is foolish to do this. Maybe employing an employee who makes more than he adds to the value of the company is something some employers believe to be a good thing. I think it is a way to destroy a business.

Call me what you want, but I like getting a paycheck. I like it when I get a raise. I like when the company I work for makes enough to give me a bonus. I also like to see my 401K's increase as well as my Pensions.

Yes, I guess I am one of those greedy money hording people you hold a grudge against. I wonder who else here would not like to see the same thing happen in their life.

All those who currently get a paycheck raise your hand if you would like to see them stop?

All those who no longer want any raises raise your hand?

All those who wouldn't want a bonus raise your hand?

All those who want to see their 401K's and other stock investments drop in value raise your hand? (Only applicable to those who have 401K's and stock investments.)

All those who want to see their pension funds decrease raise your hand? (only applicable to those with pensions.)

[wilomn]

Maybe some people are willing to invest in a business that is going to make the value of your investment less over the next year. I personally believe it is foolish to do this. Maybe employing an employee who makes more than he adds to the value of the company is something some employers believe to be a good thing. I think it is a way to destroy a business.

Call me what you want, but I like getting a paycheck. I like it when I get a raise. I like when the company I work for makes enough to give me a bonus. I also like to see my 401K's increase as well as my Pensions.

Yes, I guess I am one of those greedy money hording people you hold a grudge against. I wonder who else here would not like to see the same thing happen in their life.

All those who currently get a paycheck raise your hand if you would like to see them stop?

All those who no longer want any raises raise your hand?

All those who wouldn't want a bonus raise your hand?

All those who want to see their 401K's and other stock investments drop in value raise your hand? (Only applicable to those who have 401K's and stock investments.)

All those who want to see their pension funds decrease raise your hand? (only applicable to those with pensions.)

When you stand on the edge of a cliff, do you see only the horizon or do you look down to see what may be at your very feet?