Did you see Nightline last night?

Wow…am I lucky!

After watching the Nightline episode last night, one has to wonder, how much would it “really” cost for an iPhone if the workers were paid more than $2 an hour! Average wage earned is $427 a month or $14 a day. The Nightline report mentioned that for $17 a month you can live close by in a 8 person bunk-bed room. While not looking very nice, they apparently are much nicer than the homes those workers came from. Workers also have the opportunity to take education classes and have a soccer field nearby.

More than 1 million workers

MacRumors in a discussion reports that Foxconn employs over 1 million workers of which about 10,000 are on the production lines for Apple. Productivity is very high as the units produced each day are impressive to me, but if you were to increase wages to $8 an hour, a 75% increase, working 40 hours each week, that would be an increase in labor cost of 12.5 Billion US dollars. It probably would not drive “retail” prices up 75%, but I certainly would think it would cost us a few more pennies.

Should we be paying 50% more?

According to The Atlantic it would cost more than $1100 to buy an iPad 2. That is close to double the cost.

US Poverty??

It does make you think more about poverty level globally. In the US, if you are living alone making less than $10,890 you are below poverty level. It is good we have assistance programs in place to provide food since a box of healthy cereal costs you $5 these days! Granted we are quite materialistic in this country, so maybe you can live on a very little amount in other countries, but for the wages paid, it would be impossible for any worker to actually own the product they are making!

Miss the report?

Watch the episode online here: ABC Nightline Video Archives

Wrap-up

So most consumers would probably not like paying twice as much for our imports, but seriously, after seeing that report it makes me wonder any way if I really need everything I buy. Sure I single handedly cannot help those workers in other countries, but together I would think we could all make a difference.

There really is a dilemma here…should we push to have all manufacturing and assembly happen in the US and only buy American? Do we lobby for better wages in foreign nations? Either way, people will lose jobs. Sure more will be created elsewhere, but for those currently working for $2 an hour, a mandated wage increase for them could mean a factory relocation or layoffs if another supplier is able to produce products for even just a penny less.

This has probably been my most passionate and heartfelt post ever and I hope that it can help in some way.

2012-02-132021-01-26

Expedia Poor Customer Support

60+ Minutes on Hold

I will elaborate later, but after waiting close to an hour to talk with a representative to perform a “Phone Only” operation, in this case refunding the Expedia Car Insurance, I plan to close my account if I get to person.

Must call Customer Support.

After canceling the related car reservation, you get prompted with a nice reminder that “You must call customer service to cancel car insurance.” One would think this would be a given, and certainly no require a phone call to do.

Account Closure

With so much competition out there, no need to have that account around! I found a FAQ while I was waiting which detailed how to mange your account, including closing, but when I clicked on the link, was given an error basically saying I did not have permission to delete my account. Guess I have to wait on the phone for this too!

2012-01-182021-01-26

Movie Review: Mission Impossible IV – No Spoilers :)

So, I do like action movies, and I do like the Uptown Theatre in Cleveland Park, so this Holiday weekend I was to check out Mission Impossible 4.

Tom Cruise and Paramount?

Maybe I read the tabloids, but I thought that when Tom Cruise declared his belief in Scientology, that Paramount dropped him from all movie contracts, but several years later, back they are working together.

Technology!

While I do work in DC, I don’t work for a defense contractor, so maybe for you guys the technology is already used in the military today, but for me, real or not, it was really cool! While more complicated than one would think, the projection screen with a camera behind it to camouflage them as they moved closer to the guard station was really nice. Also, Apple must have shelled out a few advertizing bucks as the iPad was used quite often and they all had iPhones.

The briefcase with document printer was also really cool. Paired with a camera contact lens, pretty cool.

Probably the cheesiest technical item were the seemingly static cling gloves. While it did not seem that possible, the sound they made when “energizing” was truly annoying. It was really funny when they broke after just a short time, I guess that was the realistic part 🙂

The Best MI Movie?

I do need to watch the first 3 over again, but I do have to agree that the movie was action packed and had the actors tossed in a fair share of comical statements along the way. I am not sure if I will spend the money on Blu-Ray when it comes out, but it certainly will be a movie I will rent for a $1 to see again.

2011-06-142021-01-26

You Don’t Really Want a Hybrid!?

Honda of Tysons Corner

In an attempt to sell more gas powered cars when car companies are unable to keep up with demand for Hybrids even though they are being sold at a higher cost, Honda of Tysons Corner has produced a document given to those interested in their Civic Hybrid which basically says….”At the current price of gas, it will take 13 years based on some magical number of miles driven to make up ~$4000 price difference between gas only and hybrid.

WOW. That is like saying, don’t recycle, just trash your glass bottle since you have to walk 4 feet to the recycle bin from the trash can that is in front of you!

Awaiting Response….

So I wrote to the Tyson’s Honda dealership and while I did not ask for an response, in fact did not want to hear the excuse, have not heard anything besides the automated “We got your email.”

Since I was not able to find an email for Honda USA customer service, I am going to write them a letter to see if I can find out if this is a corporate recommendation or a local dealership trying to sell more cars.

Hybrids are not new

I really do blame Honda for not meeting demands. It is not like they are brand new and everyone wants one. They have been in production for quite some time and since they cost the consumer more, would think you would want to have more available. Now I have heard that the actual cost to produce a Hybrid is much more than a standard combustion engine and maybe that is why production is slow since there would be a greater loss of revenue.

Recycled costs more

In any event, I will keep you updated. In the mean time, don’t let anyone tell you it is bad to help the environment. Sure it does for some unknown cost more money for the recycled products we buy such as paper, or the reduced container refills such as laundry detergent, but for the sake of future generations, please don’t give up over a little money.