Letters: Costco chief's a man to emulate

I want to thank you for the Daniel Akst column about James Sinegal, the departing chief executive of Costco ["We need more CEOs like Costco's Sinegal," Opinion, Sept. 5]. At a time when all we see and hear around us is about greed, it is refreshing to hear about a man who refuses to raise prices and take hundreds of millions for himself.

I'm sure he could if he wanted to, but this man has built himself up with a certain formula and he doesn't see the need to change it. He probably lives very well on $3.5 million a year and doesn't feel the need for more. His formula of paying his workers above-average salaries and keeping prices low has worked so far, and he doesn't want to mess with it.

He also proves that not all companies need to pay their executives exorbitant salaries laden with bonuses and other compensation just to keep them on the job. If more companies followed this formula, maybe the rest of us could afford to live a better life without having to choose between food and medications, which my wife and I have had to do.

Let's hope that his successor pays him homage by continuing in his footsteps and doesn't feel the need to change what has proved to work so far.

Andrew Middleton, Bay Shore
 

This story really proves that corporate America can succeed without so much greed and a bit more sharing. The article was refreshing and so positive about James Sinegal's philosophy. However, Daniel Akst put forth one idea that did not sit right with me.

I do not think that the rich shop at Costco and the poor at Walmart. Surely we on Long Island know very well how to divide. That giant Pecorino Romano cheese bag you refer to, when divided in half, no longer is so large. I don't know anyone who does not know how to divide a large quantity into smaller portions, and share the cost and product with family or a friend.

Being rich or poor makes no difference. I do hope the successor to Sinegal will follow his philosophy.

Carole C. Lucca, Huntington