The consistant theme I'm reading here has to do with corporate power, or perhaps consumer impotence. As I mentioned earlier on this thread, I've been very pleased with my local Safeway store for many years. They always treated my parents well. The staff was well paid and regarded. I had the manager trained, and I enjoy shopping there. However, a few years ago, an incident happened that speaks to this thread. Safeway, here in Western Washington state, USA, hired a new marketing director. Quickly, changes were noticed in my store, and all local stores. The first thing this idiot did was to start moving items around. Week after week, the catfood was relocated, then the soap, etc. I complained to my manager, and he listened, but explained that it was out of his hands. One day, I ran into the manage having a meeting with HIS boss, in the store aisle. I recognised the big boss, walked up, and complained that I couldn't find the cat food. Terry, my manager, started to answer me, but I cut him off and suggested that the regional manager become my personal shopper for a while ... have you ever seen a mad Finn! After about 20 minutes, when he couldn't find anything either, he apologized to me, and slunk off. The next day, Terry called me at home and thanked me for what I did. My point is, who's in charge. Obviously not us consumers. Sure, a Nation/world wide boycott would get their attention, but it ain't 'gonna happen. CHEERS, Bob