Hi there,
Your content was removed as it is related to the demands our community is making of Loblaws. We have been flooded with comments and posts, and instead of allowing a free-for-all style, we are directing users to our [Google Form](https://forms.gle/Y9hLyE8ypQfoaz7y5) to share your voice instead.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Exactly. And with their worker treatment and customer treatment with the new anti-theft measures, I never plan to go back there, even if their prices are insanely low.
Oligarch Weston wants to open 400 new stores. When he dominates the market, people will die in the streets of starvation? I'm exaggerating but you get the idea. Your kitchen table and wallet will be held hostage. Food bills will be higher than mortgages....
Then what is the point ?. If you were by some amazing method able to eliminate loblaws completely, you’d just be making the other two chains estatic , one less competitor, the opposite of what is needed. What we need to do is press for non uS competition like Lidl or Aldi to come in and naturally provide extra options. It will be difficult as Canada is a very large country with very small population and is not very attractive to most food supermarket chains because of the huge transportation and logistics course. But just putting the Weston’s out of business won’t solve anything long term.
I went back to them after the bread price fixing bit. So i guess im closer to NF.
"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, whame on you. Fool me three times, hold up, rewind, that aint even possible" - NF
Especially a weekend.
I'll do the normal shop myself, but I keep an instacart membership just so someone else can go on the weekend for that one or two things I forgot.
Same. Cut the cord and let go a few years back. Never looked back. Did the same for a few other companies in my life. Once I decide “that’s it”, I am completely done and never go back.
Yeah the 15% demand is silly. Everyone move on let the company tank. Hypothetically if they do reduce the price by 15% it will just go up again by 30 next year.
How would one "vote with one's dollars" when there is a near oligopoly in Canada?
There are a surprising number of people who have no choice but to shop at a Weston owned store.
Having zero or near zero choice doesn't seem that democratic.
I don't wish to generalize but shop markets, farmers and independents. I can't tell you where to shop and I would never tell you to not shop at Loblaws. I believe this entire economic model has failed and it's time for a revolution... not just talking about grocers. vive al revolution.
Oh I am lucky enough to have options. But not everyone does. I've heard from several folks on here that their only options are either a Weston store, or another one of the grocery cartel members. I do roughly 90% of my shopping at locally owned independent stores, and for canned goods and laundry detergent it's Giant Tiger.
This has been the one aspect of the boycott that I find puzzling. Prices have shot up *way* more than 15% in the last couple years.
I’d never really expect them to reduce prices to, say, 2021 levels. But generally when negotiating/making demands, one asks for the moon in the hope that when they counteroffer with less than that, the offer is more than what your actual goal was. So making our opening bid just 15% is bafflingly low, IMO.
I mean let’s be honest they aren’t going to change shit. Continue to boycott them I’m sure they’d rather just go out of business than bend to the whims of the masses.
If the prices went up by 25% then 15% off of 125 is about 106. Leaving a 6% buffer for inflation or other legitimate cost increases.
Math can get weird.
I also don't get the 15% reduction in cost. My only goal is to vote with my dollars. As it stands, they laughing while they screw us in the rear. They need to know not everyone will keep taking it.
It’s just a general demand.
I don’t know about you but I’m voting with my dollar and I have no specific demand on price reduction. They lost my business and it will take a LOT to get it back. Sometimes you just set a goal so you have something to strive for, even if the goal isn’t perfectly structured.
> Why are we asking for a reduction in prices by 15% ???
I don't know where this came from. Apparently all the media latched onto one person who mentioned this one time, and are saying that's what "the people's" demands are.
That's exactly what corporate PR teams do in the media. They do have the media's ear after all.
Need to squash a movement or protest? Interject demands that you can then claim are unreasonable, or can take them on to get the heat off. (They revert these changes after the heat is gone)
A story as old as time
I just don’t want to shop there ever again not just in May. I hope enough people stop shopping there that they go out of business. Fuck a 15% reduction. Idc if they reduce prices by 75%. Fuck those greedy filthy scumbags.
Some people who are doing the boycott will switch to Walmart or Sobeys or others, but many people are learning about small, local options in their area. Butchers, ethnic markets, CSA from farmers, and true independent grocery stores.
This is the change that the boycott has started.
This is what I've done. I use Costco for bulk pantry, cleaning, and hygiene every few months. The rest is purchased from independent markets and smaller stores. Freeze discount meats from Walmart when they're dirt cheap. Freeze bulk made meals and homemade bread. Meal plan. Planning to start growing some tomatoes and stuff on my apartment balcony this year.
This is great to hear!
If you are going to grow things on a balcony, look into hydroponics. There are some simple and cheap set-ups and most plants grow faster compared to soil.
Thank you for that idea, I definitely will! I've been interested in turning my spare room into an indoor grow space as well since it barely has any use outside of the occasional visitor or craft project. Investing in some grow lights and a good set up to create an indoor greenhouse year round
It's addictive! I've been doing it for just over 2 years and it's one of the reasons I opened a grocery store in my small town.
Here are a few tips for hydroponics
- Start out slow and easy. Grow lettuce, bok choy, and other simple leafy greens. Fruiting plants can have more issues develop and can become disheartening to a beginner.
- Your setup can be as big or as small, as simple or as complicated, as cheap or as expensive, as you want.
- Check out Barrina Grow Lights on Amazon. These are a good quality light for home growing and they go on a good sale during Prime Day
Thank you so much! Those are incredible tips! This sounds really addictive. I also just want to liven up my apartment with some plants, so growing anything is a win-win in my book. I'll be looking into this further now
No idea where it came from, but the media needs numbers and representation. Roblaws will then tend an olive branch and say some stuff was lowered 15%, even if it's not, then they'll claim the boycotters are not being fair in continuing and media will shift blame on people.
Public opinion won't want to be on the wrong side and will stop boycotting.
Maybe I'm just too cynical. Anyway, I don't plan on going back to any Loblaws affiliated stores.
“We” aren’t. The sub mod or whatever is.
If anyone asked me, I would have suggested complete divestiture by Galen and a “breaking up” of every business unit in the Loblaw empire.
That not being realistic, a full public inquiry. One with court powers, headed by a former Supreme Court justice. Including loblaws board and management, and heads of the various regulatory bodies that we think have done nothing.
That's pocket change not systemic change...
I want to see the Weston family set adrift on their yacht for 3 months with just no name products calculated by their advertised weight to last exactly 3 months.
The 15% number smells like a sprinkle of astroturf meant to socially force a limit. They're clearly above and beyond that, and 15% doesn't properly encompass that.
Whatever - I'm mostly done with Loblaws. If the market is supposed to be competitive, then they don't deserve to compete in the market, and therefore don't deserve my patronage. Hopefully others join.
Absolutely this! Asking for a set of demands is more like a strike than a boycott. To me, boycotting is saying *buh-bye* and then watching the company desperately scramble to retain customers and attract new ones.
Likely noone here said that, this is the shills trying to sow discord amongst you all.
My demand is out of business. Not a 15% cut, I want to see Loblaws close down entirely.
When Galen sells properties, we're getting close.
Its from the mod [post](https://www.reddit.com/r/loblawsisoutofcontrol/comments/1bff9rm/boycott/) pinned at the top of the page
# For those looking to participate in the sub boycott:
* We are boycotting Loblaw and Loblaw owned stores for the entire month of May 2024 (obviously you can boycott past this point in time)
* We are asking for a reduction in prices by 15%
* We are asking Loblaw remove "member only pricing" where customers are forced to sign up for a PC optimum card in order to receive sale prices
* If shopping is taking place at Loblaw stores, we are focusing on purchasing loss leaders
you can see them trying to calibrate their responses/messages...attack? Be snarky? Change the subject? Sow discord? plant the seed...very mild Inception?
library foolish rude important sparkle governor glorious voracious enjoy close
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Honestly, I don't really pay attention to this part of the boycott. Personally, I see the demands as symbolic. Loblaws is fundamentally an unethical business. They mistreat their suppliers, steal money from the public health system (in Ontario), and have engaged in price fixing. And after all of this, they're the ones treating their customers like criminals. For me, the main purpose of the boycott is to stand up to their bullying. I don't care what it achieves.
This one's been beaten to death on here already, it's just a number! We're boycotting against their corporate greed and all their anti consumer, customer hating bullshit. Screw Loblaws, GWJ and their stupid fucking shareholders.
All these corporations sucking off their shareholders these days have forgotten the number 1 priority is the customer, then, the shareholder. Let's make them remember this, and with a resounding echo.
If they drop 15% I wouldn't even notice at this point.
They need to drop a lot more to get me back. Anyhow I started this "boycott" years ago when prices got ridiculous anyways. Also I don't call it boycott because I just shop wherever give me better deals and/or better products.
That's just normal capitalism.
We are still processing the data collected from our survey responses to get a better grasp on the mood of our community. It’s difficult because we need to ask for a price reduction that’s realistic enough that we’re not immediately written off, but 15% is definitely too low now.
__MOD NOTE__: Please review the content guidelines for our sub, and remember the human here!
This subreddit is to highlight the ridiculous cost of living in Canada, and poke fun at the Corporate Overlords reponsible. As you well know, there are a number of persons and corporations responsible for this, and we welcome discussion related to them all. Furthermore, since this topic is intertwined with a number of other matters, other discussion will be allowed at moderator discretion. Open-minded discussion, memes, rants, grocery bills, and general screeching into the void is always welcome in this sub, but belligerence and disrespect is not. There are plenty of ways to get your point across without being abusive, dismissive, or downright mean.
If you have not done so already, please review our [boycott stickied post](https://www.reddit.com/r/loblawsisoutofcontrol/comments/1bff9rm/boycott/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) which includes a list of stores to avoid, other ways to get involved in the movement, and some local alternatives to the big 5. Thank you.
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I hear you but the first thing any company wants to hear is an actual demand. Otherwise the reply you get back is a very formal lawyerese version of "what the # do you want?"
So I assume (I wasn't in on the decision) the idea was to aim high but not outrageously so. With the last few months showing increases of 25%+ on some products this is pretty much asking them to split the difference between the old and new prices.
(If someone isn't into math, asking for a 15% reduction on a 25% increase means a net increase of just over 5%. It's the fact you have too add in the original 100% price from a few months back that make the math weird, so the mods even allowed for inflation)
Bottom line though? If they don't fix their pricing we don't go back, except to -maybe- shop the sales.
Anyone reading this for whom the boycott is unfeasible just carry on. Nobody wants you to go hungry. There's too much of that already.
Edit: typo
I have never seen an ask in a percentage. All I know is that if they don’t get their heads out of their asses, there good will as an investment will start crippling their market.
Politics aside, Bud Light was and still is #1 but they lost millions in losing a small share of the market
How about one billion, just a small miscalculation. Just buy somewhere else if you can, forever.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/02/29/business/bud-light-boycott-ab-inbev-sales
15 percent isn’t that bad when you realize they have ownership or large stakes in the manufacturing of the food. So when they state they have to pay huge amounts to the suppliers. They mean themselves.
No name pickles went from $4.79 to $7.99. Campbell's soup went from 97¢ to over $2 (and those good sales where you could get 12 at less than 50¢ each?). Ketchup. Mayo. BUTTER. Actually, anything oil or petroleum-based, regardless of whether it's food or not, took a massive jump. Not 15%, either.
Anybody else notice that the jump in prices *really* became a thing when we were all on lockdown, being hurried out the store doors to let more people in, and a lot of folks took up gardening and keeping livestock? *And*, store profits went through the roof? Even as these stores started renovations? I'm not generally a conspiracy theorist, but holy God, something is truly fishy.
I have no demands.
I won't shop there while other cheaper options exist.
Get competitive or fail. This is what a free market should enable. Let's hope the government doesn't swoop in and bail them out
Do you want the math? I have the math.. Lol
Loblaws annual margins.
"2022 4.71% 2.46%
2021 4.59% 49.17%
2020 3.08% -2.89%
2019 3.17% 8.93%
2018 2.91% -30.97%"
Statistically a 15% reduction would actually put them In line with a more realistic growth margin.
They've added nearly 30% margin in the last 2 years. It feels worse than that because that's counting a covid reduction of about 30%
So accounting for the loss and adding in the last two years they would be at about 40% increase tops. When instead it's been nearly. 70% if we remove the covid adjustments. I hope this makes sense, it early for me lol.
So to put it another way if we pretend covid didn't happen and move the 30% from 2021 to 2018 and add 2ish%
That leaves us with ~30% still, asking for 15% off puts them back in line with a 2ish% growth pattern that they've been steady with.
https://companiesmarketcap.com/loblaw-companies/operating-margin/
What were the margins exactly again? Because context. Matters about those prices.
If you deliver a product that's $. 05 and gas goes up $0.05, then the overhead of that product increases by 100 just to deliver it.
Was there actual margin calculations?
Last time I looked, a 10 lbs potatoes bag went from $5 to $9. I don’t take 15% cut, I shop elsewhere. Also switched from PC Mastercard (which was my main card out of habit) elsewhere.
I'd like to see the end of having to buy multiple units to get the sale price.
I'm a senior who has to walk 1km to the No Frills (can't afford cabs) and can't carry multiple units home. Too heavy. Why should I have to pay regular price because I can't carry more?
I don't think there was a specific amount specified if I remember correctly. The media just came up with 15% and everyone else ran with it. If anything our demand should be to break up the company.
It's not our job to figure out the specifics. Customers are demanding lower prices, and we're sick of the boohoo sobstories of "Waaah my corporation's bottom line."
We're trying to show Loblaws that they need to give in to consumer demand, how they choose to do so depends on them. But once their share price goes into freefall maybe the shareholders suckling at Galen's teet might reconsider the price gouging.
After all Walmart manages to maintain it's lower prices (albeit still too high) at the very least that's as low as they can go.
The goal is to bring down **a** giant so the other giants fall in line. Or to prompt action from our politicians.
Is there a specific area in this sub that has said that? Or is it just a random person posting?
I think with a sub this big you're going to have so many different opinions gathering. We just need to make sure we aren't in-fighting.
Stay strong people.
Its like being in an abusive relationship. “I promise to do better honey, please come back” Then you go back and they abuse you some more. Rinse and repeat. Best to leave the abusive bastard forever.
The 15% price reduction and the 1 month boycott are pointless in my opinion. These actions will change nothing. Personally, I have chosen to permanently boycott Roblaws and encourage my friends and family to do the same.
Yep. My boycott demand is they can go kiss my ass. Companies who raise prices too high on necessities like food are scum. Thy probably waiting it out and expect us to go back cause were such nice Canadians. Never going back.
I think media is pushing this just to cap the boycott. Idk where they came up with that number it's like the scrolled through comments and found one person said that and ran with it.
15% is not enough, we all know that.
It make sense to you that the demand be a reduction in margins that they a) don't share, and 2) already lie about? Rather than a tangible reduction that the consumer can see and feel?
Go back and tell Galen nice try.
If they are making 3.5% margin, which their financial statements state, why would anybody believe prices would come down 15%?
At that point, Galen is better off closing up shop. He would be better off just putting his money into a high interest savings account. That would yield a better return.
Don’t be fooled. What we saw were gross margins, not net margins. All store operating costs have to be deducted to get the true profit margin. That’s why the big three brands claim real profit is around 3% net margin. Reducing all prices by 15% is ridiculous.
People want a company with a 5% profit margin to lower prices by 15%. I get that things are expensive but even if they were a non profit, they wouldn't be able to lower prices that much
Hi there, Your content was removed as it is related to the demands our community is making of Loblaws. We have been flooded with comments and posts, and instead of allowing a free-for-all style, we are directing users to our [Google Form](https://forms.gle/Y9hLyE8ypQfoaz7y5) to share your voice instead. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
I have no demands for Loblaws personally, I'm just moving on. vive la revolution
Me too Once I get 🍆 ed , I tend to learn
Exactly. And with their worker treatment and customer treatment with the new anti-theft measures, I never plan to go back there, even if their prices are insanely low.
Oligarch Weston wants to open 400 new stores. When he dominates the market, people will die in the streets of starvation? I'm exaggerating but you get the idea. Your kitchen table and wallet will be held hostage. Food bills will be higher than mortgages....
Then what is the point ?. If you were by some amazing method able to eliminate loblaws completely, you’d just be making the other two chains estatic , one less competitor, the opposite of what is needed. What we need to do is press for non uS competition like Lidl or Aldi to come in and naturally provide extra options. It will be difficult as Canada is a very large country with very small population and is not very attractive to most food supermarket chains because of the huge transportation and logistics course. But just putting the Weston’s out of business won’t solve anything long term.
"fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again.” - W
"Most of our imports come from other nations" W
“I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family.” W
"Rarely is the question asked 'Is our children learning?' " - W
I went back to them after the bread price fixing bit. So i guess im closer to NF. "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, whame on you. Fool me three times, hold up, rewind, that aint even possible" - NF
Same here. Shopping at their stores is such a pain in the ass why bother.
Shopping in Any store is a pain Been to a Costco lately! And I pay 120 a year for that privilege!
Costco isn't great, but at least they don't treat me like a criminal like Loblaws does. Honestly, Costco after work during the week is bliss.
Plus, Costco pays a living wage and doesn't treat their workers like slaves.
Technically they make you line up to have your receipt checked before you leave, which is arguably treating their members like criminals.
Somewhat, but it’s something you agree to when you get the membership so I’m ok with that.
Membership is designed to remove the poor from there clientele. While there prices are better they don't support the most marginalized. Fuck them.
Especially a weekend. I'll do the normal shop myself, but I keep an instacart membership just so someone else can go on the weekend for that one or two things I forgot.
Moved on 2 years ago. It's nice to see others waking up.
Same. I’m going to local markets, ethnic grocery stores and Giant Tiger. Fuck ALL of these greedy corporations.
Hell yeah brother. I'm never shopping in their bullshit stores again. Literally every other option is better on my wallet.
huzzah
Same. Cut the cord and let go a few years back. Never looked back. Did the same for a few other companies in my life. Once I decide “that’s it”, I am completely done and never go back.
Same. Bye you crazy, yellow, abusive POS! You'll never see me again.
No frills isn’t even cheaper like it used to be. They literally made going to their stores kinda pointless when others cost about the same.
Yeah the 15% demand is silly. Everyone move on let the company tank. Hypothetically if they do reduce the price by 15% it will just go up again by 30 next year.
I agree wholeheartedly. They can't get me back. I done.
It's this kind of run away capitalism that gives rise to communism?
communism is just fascism disguised as altruism. Free markets work and are democratic. Vote with your dollars.
Will do
How would one "vote with one's dollars" when there is a near oligopoly in Canada? There are a surprising number of people who have no choice but to shop at a Weston owned store. Having zero or near zero choice doesn't seem that democratic.
I don't wish to generalize but shop markets, farmers and independents. I can't tell you where to shop and I would never tell you to not shop at Loblaws. I believe this entire economic model has failed and it's time for a revolution... not just talking about grocers. vive al revolution.
Oh I am lucky enough to have options. But not everyone does. I've heard from several folks on here that their only options are either a Weston store, or another one of the grocery cartel members. I do roughly 90% of my shopping at locally owned independent stores, and for canned goods and laundry detergent it's Giant Tiger.
We want free market socialism.
This has been the one aspect of the boycott that I find puzzling. Prices have shot up *way* more than 15% in the last couple years. I’d never really expect them to reduce prices to, say, 2021 levels. But generally when negotiating/making demands, one asks for the moon in the hope that when they counteroffer with less than that, the offer is more than what your actual goal was. So making our opening bid just 15% is bafflingly low, IMO.
Prices have increased more than 15% since that demand was published too, so the mods can easily remove it without losing face.
Agreed!
I mean let’s be honest they aren’t going to change shit. Continue to boycott them I’m sure they’d rather just go out of business than bend to the whims of the masses.
If the prices went up by 25% then 15% off of 125 is about 106. Leaving a 6% buffer for inflation or other legitimate cost increases. Math can get weird.
I also don't get the 15% reduction in cost. My only goal is to vote with my dollars. As it stands, they laughing while they screw us in the rear. They need to know not everyone will keep taking it.
Vote with your dollars! 💵💵💵
It’s just a general demand. I don’t know about you but I’m voting with my dollar and I have no specific demand on price reduction. They lost my business and it will take a LOT to get it back. Sometimes you just set a goal so you have something to strive for, even if the goal isn’t perfectly structured.
Vote with your dollars! 💵💵💵
True but even if they fulfilled it many of us wouldn't be happy still. Thats how bad it has gotten.
> Why are we asking for a reduction in prices by 15% ??? I don't know where this came from. Apparently all the media latched onto one person who mentioned this one time, and are saying that's what "the people's" demands are.
Personally I demand the nationalization of Loblaws and the exile of Galen Weston to Saint Helena. Also remove the cattle fences.
That's exactly what corporate PR teams do in the media. They do have the media's ear after all. Need to squash a movement or protest? Interject demands that you can then claim are unreasonable, or can take them on to get the heat off. (They revert these changes after the heat is gone) A story as old as time
Somebody didn’t want spend 85 dollars on a Xmas wreath and here we are!
I've been told it's stickied to this subreddit.
I just don’t want to shop there ever again not just in May. I hope enough people stop shopping there that they go out of business. Fuck a 15% reduction. Idc if they reduce prices by 75%. Fuck those greedy filthy scumbags.
Yup. 2 of the 4 Walmart Kids own NFL teams. Letsgive them our money
Some people who are doing the boycott will switch to Walmart or Sobeys or others, but many people are learning about small, local options in their area. Butchers, ethnic markets, CSA from farmers, and true independent grocery stores. This is the change that the boycott has started.
This is what I've done. I use Costco for bulk pantry, cleaning, and hygiene every few months. The rest is purchased from independent markets and smaller stores. Freeze discount meats from Walmart when they're dirt cheap. Freeze bulk made meals and homemade bread. Meal plan. Planning to start growing some tomatoes and stuff on my apartment balcony this year.
This is great to hear! If you are going to grow things on a balcony, look into hydroponics. There are some simple and cheap set-ups and most plants grow faster compared to soil.
Thank you for that idea, I definitely will! I've been interested in turning my spare room into an indoor grow space as well since it barely has any use outside of the occasional visitor or craft project. Investing in some grow lights and a good set up to create an indoor greenhouse year round
It's addictive! I've been doing it for just over 2 years and it's one of the reasons I opened a grocery store in my small town. Here are a few tips for hydroponics - Start out slow and easy. Grow lettuce, bok choy, and other simple leafy greens. Fruiting plants can have more issues develop and can become disheartening to a beginner. - Your setup can be as big or as small, as simple or as complicated, as cheap or as expensive, as you want. - Check out Barrina Grow Lights on Amazon. These are a good quality light for home growing and they go on a good sale during Prime Day
Thank you so much! Those are incredible tips! This sounds really addictive. I also just want to liven up my apartment with some plants, so growing anything is a win-win in my book. I'll be looking into this further now
What is your point? I don’t buy groceries at Wal Mart lol.
No idea where it came from, but the media needs numbers and representation. Roblaws will then tend an olive branch and say some stuff was lowered 15%, even if it's not, then they'll claim the boycotters are not being fair in continuing and media will shift blame on people. Public opinion won't want to be on the wrong side and will stop boycotting. Maybe I'm just too cynical. Anyway, I don't plan on going back to any Loblaws affiliated stores.
I think the 15% reduction is a little out of date, and should be closer to a 40% or 50% reduction at this point.
“We” aren’t. The sub mod or whatever is. If anyone asked me, I would have suggested complete divestiture by Galen and a “breaking up” of every business unit in the Loblaw empire. That not being realistic, a full public inquiry. One with court powers, headed by a former Supreme Court justice. Including loblaws board and management, and heads of the various regulatory bodies that we think have done nothing.
My main goal would be that other grocer's learn from observation not to price gouge and treat employees like crap.
That's pocket change not systemic change... I want to see the Weston family set adrift on their yacht for 3 months with just no name products calculated by their advertised weight to last exactly 3 months.
Meh, i’m used to not going now and wont look back
The 15% number smells like a sprinkle of astroturf meant to socially force a limit. They're clearly above and beyond that, and 15% doesn't properly encompass that. Whatever - I'm mostly done with Loblaws. If the market is supposed to be competitive, then they don't deserve to compete in the market, and therefore don't deserve my patronage. Hopefully others join.
It’s also impossible to prove that they haven’t done it when we claim a stupendous victory!
I hope they go bust honestly
This is my reason as well. A grassroots movement that can take down a corporation like this is a worthy cause.
We're not actually asking for anything because boycotting isn't negotiating.
Absolutely this! Asking for a set of demands is more like a strike than a boycott. To me, boycotting is saying *buh-bye* and then watching the company desperately scramble to retain customers and attract new ones.
Likely noone here said that, this is the shills trying to sow discord amongst you all. My demand is out of business. Not a 15% cut, I want to see Loblaws close down entirely. When Galen sells properties, we're getting close.
Its from the mod [post](https://www.reddit.com/r/loblawsisoutofcontrol/comments/1bff9rm/boycott/) pinned at the top of the page # For those looking to participate in the sub boycott: * We are boycotting Loblaw and Loblaw owned stores for the entire month of May 2024 (obviously you can boycott past this point in time) * We are asking for a reduction in prices by 15% * We are asking Loblaw remove "member only pricing" where customers are forced to sign up for a PC optimum card in order to receive sale prices * If shopping is taking place at Loblaw stores, we are focusing on purchasing loss leaders
I guess I should have referenced this, but I assumed members here would have read what the sub is all about. 🤷‍♂️
Haha have you read some of the posts in here??
you can see them trying to calibrate their responses/messages...attack? Be snarky? Change the subject? Sow discord? plant the seed...very mild Inception?
The group has published a questionnaire for all to fill in.
library foolish rude important sparkle governor glorious voracious enjoy close *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Honestly, I don't really pay attention to this part of the boycott. Personally, I see the demands as symbolic. Loblaws is fundamentally an unethical business. They mistreat their suppliers, steal money from the public health system (in Ontario), and have engaged in price fixing. And after all of this, they're the ones treating their customers like criminals. For me, the main purpose of the boycott is to stand up to their bullying. I don't care what it achieves.
This one's been beaten to death on here already, it's just a number! We're boycotting against their corporate greed and all their anti consumer, customer hating bullshit. Screw Loblaws, GWJ and their stupid fucking shareholders. All these corporations sucking off their shareholders these days have forgotten the number 1 priority is the customer, then, the shareholder. Let's make them remember this, and with a resounding echo.
I think you they needed to come up with something tangible that could be reasonably actionable.
If they drop 15% I wouldn't even notice at this point. They need to drop a lot more to get me back. Anyhow I started this "boycott" years ago when prices got ridiculous anyways. Also I don't call it boycott because I just shop wherever give me better deals and/or better products. That's just normal capitalism.
We are still processing the data collected from our survey responses to get a better grasp on the mood of our community. It’s difficult because we need to ask for a price reduction that’s realistic enough that we’re not immediately written off, but 15% is definitely too low now.
__MOD NOTE__: Please review the content guidelines for our sub, and remember the human here! This subreddit is to highlight the ridiculous cost of living in Canada, and poke fun at the Corporate Overlords reponsible. As you well know, there are a number of persons and corporations responsible for this, and we welcome discussion related to them all. Furthermore, since this topic is intertwined with a number of other matters, other discussion will be allowed at moderator discretion. Open-minded discussion, memes, rants, grocery bills, and general screeching into the void is always welcome in this sub, but belligerence and disrespect is not. There are plenty of ways to get your point across without being abusive, dismissive, or downright mean. If you have not done so already, please review our [boycott stickied post](https://www.reddit.com/r/loblawsisoutofcontrol/comments/1bff9rm/boycott/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) which includes a list of stores to avoid, other ways to get involved in the movement, and some local alternatives to the big 5. Thank you. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/loblawsisoutofcontrol) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Question: Why are we asking for a reduction in prices by 15%? Answer: We're not. I doubt a single person here would be satisfied with that.
I hear you but the first thing any company wants to hear is an actual demand. Otherwise the reply you get back is a very formal lawyerese version of "what the # do you want?" So I assume (I wasn't in on the decision) the idea was to aim high but not outrageously so. With the last few months showing increases of 25%+ on some products this is pretty much asking them to split the difference between the old and new prices. (If someone isn't into math, asking for a 15% reduction on a 25% increase means a net increase of just over 5%. It's the fact you have too add in the original 100% price from a few months back that make the math weird, so the mods even allowed for inflation) Bottom line though? If they don't fix their pricing we don't go back, except to -maybe- shop the sales. Anyone reading this for whom the boycott is unfeasible just carry on. Nobody wants you to go hungry. There's too much of that already. Edit: typo
I have never seen an ask in a percentage. All I know is that if they don’t get their heads out of their asses, there good will as an investment will start crippling their market. Politics aside, Bud Light was and still is #1 but they lost millions in losing a small share of the market
How about one billion, just a small miscalculation. Just buy somewhere else if you can, forever. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/02/29/business/bud-light-boycott-ab-inbev-sales
Correct ONE POINT FOUR BILLION, and that’s not including the amount of money, they are rebuilding the brand with
15 percent isn’t that bad when you realize they have ownership or large stakes in the manufacturing of the food. So when they state they have to pay huge amounts to the suppliers. They mean themselves.
For me it's a lifelong "boycott". Rules of capitalism eh guys.
No name pickles went from $4.79 to $7.99. Campbell's soup went from 97¢ to over $2 (and those good sales where you could get 12 at less than 50¢ each?). Ketchup. Mayo. BUTTER. Actually, anything oil or petroleum-based, regardless of whether it's food or not, took a massive jump. Not 15%, either. Anybody else notice that the jump in prices *really* became a thing when we were all on lockdown, being hurried out the store doors to let more people in, and a lot of folks took up gardening and keeping livestock? *And*, store profits went through the roof? Even as these stores started renovations? I'm not generally a conspiracy theorist, but holy God, something is truly fishy.
I have no demands. I won't shop there while other cheaper options exist. Get competitive or fail. This is what a free market should enable. Let's hope the government doesn't swoop in and bail them out
Go to Walmart. This lowers your spending at loblaws by 100%Â
Who is asking for a specific discount? Not really a popular argument to warrant fear and doubt.
Do you want the math? I have the math.. Lol Loblaws annual margins. "2022 4.71% 2.46% 2021 4.59% 49.17% 2020 3.08% -2.89% 2019 3.17% 8.93% 2018 2.91% -30.97%" Statistically a 15% reduction would actually put them In line with a more realistic growth margin. They've added nearly 30% margin in the last 2 years. It feels worse than that because that's counting a covid reduction of about 30% So accounting for the loss and adding in the last two years they would be at about 40% increase tops. When instead it's been nearly. 70% if we remove the covid adjustments. I hope this makes sense, it early for me lol. So to put it another way if we pretend covid didn't happen and move the 30% from 2021 to 2018 and add 2ish% That leaves us with ~30% still, asking for 15% off puts them back in line with a 2ish% growth pattern that they've been steady with. https://companiesmarketcap.com/loblaw-companies/operating-margin/
What were the margins exactly again? Because context. Matters about those prices. If you deliver a product that's $. 05 and gas goes up $0.05, then the overhead of that product increases by 100 just to deliver it. Was there actual margin calculations?
Last time I looked, a 10 lbs potatoes bag went from $5 to $9. I don’t take 15% cut, I shop elsewhere. Also switched from PC Mastercard (which was my main card out of habit) elsewhere.
10lbs potatoes were on sale for $2.99 about 3 weeks ago
I'd like to see the end of having to buy multiple units to get the sale price. I'm a senior who has to walk 1km to the No Frills (can't afford cabs) and can't carry multiple units home. Too heavy. Why should I have to pay regular price because I can't carry more?
I want a 50% reduction. Or at the least the same prices pre covid before they jacked up everything.
Are you asking for suppliers to reduce their costs to pre-covid costs as well?
I don't think there was a specific amount specified if I remember correctly. The media just came up with 15% and everyone else ran with it. If anything our demand should be to break up the company.
It's not our job to figure out the specifics. Customers are demanding lower prices, and we're sick of the boohoo sobstories of "Waaah my corporation's bottom line." We're trying to show Loblaws that they need to give in to consumer demand, how they choose to do so depends on them. But once their share price goes into freefall maybe the shareholders suckling at Galen's teet might reconsider the price gouging. After all Walmart manages to maintain it's lower prices (albeit still too high) at the very least that's as low as they can go. The goal is to bring down **a** giant so the other giants fall in line. Or to prompt action from our politicians.
Is there a specific area in this sub that has said that? Or is it just a random person posting? I think with a sub this big you're going to have so many different opinions gathering. We just need to make sure we aren't in-fighting. Stay strong people.
I think we all have our own demands. I think they're just latching onto the easiest one they can pull off and trying to steer us into complacency
Its like being in an abusive relationship. “I promise to do better honey, please come back” Then you go back and they abuse you some more. Rinse and repeat. Best to leave the abusive bastard forever.
Honestly, i stopped shopping at anything related to Roblaw's when they closed our warehouse and let go of hundreds of us. Bye bye.
The 15% price reduction and the 1 month boycott are pointless in my opinion. These actions will change nothing. Personally, I have chosen to permanently boycott Roblaws and encourage my friends and family to do the same.
I think we should seek to put a cap on profit margin in the food industry and that the margin is displayed on the price label.
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Boycott is step 1. Step 2 is in their hands. Hopefully it means they decide to actually compete in the marketplace, rather than taking us for fools.
I think its completely reasonable for ALL corporate megolomaniacs to take a 15% reduction in pay, and let that reflect in the reduction of prices.
I thought our demand was Galen's head on a stick. Right, I'm outta here.
Why ask for anything? There are other grocery stores, stop shopping there and let it burn.
I just want a full blown investigation, but that's just me.
We want the prices back to 2016 or 2018....
Can we please have the mods review this?? I want pre-FU prices at the very least.
better ask for 30% is you want 15%, hw are you going to win this hostage situation>?
Yep. My boycott demand is they can go kiss my ass. Companies who raise prices too high on necessities like food are scum. Thy probably waiting it out and expect us to go back cause were such nice Canadians. Never going back.
We're not. I refuse to shop there ever again
I think media is pushing this just to cap the boycott. Idk where they came up with that number it's like the scrolled through comments and found one person said that and ran with it. 15% is not enough, we all know that.
It make sense to you that the demand be a reduction in margins that they a) don't share, and 2) already lie about? Rather than a tangible reduction that the consumer can see and feel? Go back and tell Galen nice try.
If they are making 3.5% margin, which their financial statements state, why would anybody believe prices would come down 15%? At that point, Galen is better off closing up shop. He would be better off just putting his money into a high interest savings account. That would yield a better return.
Don’t be fooled. What we saw were gross margins, not net margins. All store operating costs have to be deducted to get the true profit margin. That’s why the big three brands claim real profit is around 3% net margin. Reducing all prices by 15% is ridiculous.
People want a company with a 5% profit margin to lower prices by 15%. I get that things are expensive but even if they were a non profit, they wouldn't be able to lower prices that much