"Kristin A. Ruhle" schreef:
> > Example of the wrong way: a while ago, I saw a documentary about the
> > practices of IKEA. They have their furniture produced in the Third World,
> > and do their best to look like the Evil Oppressor from the West. Several
> > owners of local factories working for IKEA were interviewed, and they all
> > told the same story about long hours, low pay, violence etcetera. One of
> > them also told about the annual "negotiations" with IKEA about the price
> > IKEA would pay for a piece of furniture. Every year it was the same
> > routine: IKEA would "suggest" a price (which everytime was a little lower
> > than the year before) and the factory owner would immediately accept. No
> > discussion possible.
> >
>
> Sigh. That's so depressing. I'd heard about what a cool store IKEA was ans
> what nifty products they have...lessee, Gap is evil and Starbucks Cofee is
> evil and Nike is evil and McDonals is evil. Now we have to aadd IKEA to
> the Shit List.
IKEA is NOT a cool store. This is how the company manages it's low prices. First
they find a subcontractor in the third world and offer them a deal. Usually they
pay more then the local market ever would and offer them garuanteed production
volumes. Contract terms are to be negotiated again each year. This of course
makes the usually small local companies go with that order. BUT considering the
huge order volumes, from then on they cannot possibly produce for anybody else
but IKEA anymore. So exit competition. Then production prices paid are lowered to
an absolute minimum once the owner of this factory is completely dependent on the
IKEA order for survival. If factory owners don't like it IKEA packs it up and
will go on to find another company that will work for them.
As for the ecological aspect. IKEA doesn't care how it's products are made. You
remember some of that nice looking black metal stuff they have in their
collection. Well that stuff is made in the open air. The pre-treatment of the
metal (like f.i. etching to prime the base metal for better paint adhesion
properties like done with that neat black metal stuff that looks like its wrought
iron) is done in open baths with bare hands in solutions of sulphuric acids.
Rinsing. Also done without any form of protection and the run off water goes
directly into the ground. Oh and when the acid bath is too far gone. Just dump it
in the local river. Nice company. Same goes for wood treatments, leather
production and wool coloring. All in the open. No protective gear whatsoever and
no form of water treatments or waste management. Comment from IKEA: 'We have a
responsibility to our customers to produce good quality at low cost. Any form of
environmental policy is for the subcontractor to decide and none of our
business' End of comment. Still wanne have stuff by IKEA?
Sonja
