From the good folks at Walmart Watch: An important message for American women: Wal-Mart wants your business. But be wary of what it is they’re really selling you.
On critical issues of women’s health, women’s work, and women’s worth, Wal-Mart’s real record is a sad one. As the largest private employer in the United States, that record is shameful for the messages it sends to the millions of women whose lives are affected by the company – as an employee or as a consumer.
When it comes to fairness in the workplace it’s too often “Wal-Mart vs. Women.” The Massachusetts decision was a step forward, but a long road is ahead. Here are just four examples of the discrimination and disadvantage women face at the world’s biggest corporation. The message is clear: women be wary of Wal-Mart.
Inkjet refiller lashes out at HP for lawsuit
Rhinotek's chairman has sharply criticised Hewlett-Packard for a lawsuit asserting that the inkjet cartridge refiller falsely advertises its products as new.
I think HP is utilizing a bullying tactic," Gerald Chamales, who also is founder of the 150-employee company in Carson, California said late Tuesday. "I think consumers are tired of being gouged by what I call the cartel, which is the major printer manufacturers, led by HP, Lexmark and Canon, (and which is) forcing people to not have a choice when it comes to ink and toner cartridges." However, Rhinotek hasn't determined its legal response yet. "We are considering all our legal options. We intend on defending ourselves vigorously," Chamales said. "We're considering filing a countersuit for antitrust and business disruption for frivolous litigation." HP, based in Palo Alto, California, sees things differently. "We're not forcing people to use any particular cartridge. We just think it's wrong to sell our used cartridges without telling people they are used HP cartridges," said company spokeswoman Monica Sarkar. HP sued Rhinotek on Monday for false advertising, arguing that the company falsely advertises its recycled HP inkjet cartridges as new. HP also sued another company, Lenexa, Kan.-based InkCycle, for using ink that HP said infringes on three of its patents. Printer supplies called consumables, which include inkjet cartridges, laser printer toner cartridges and glossy photo paper, are a major revenue source for HP and other printer manufacturers. Companies that remanufacture or refill the cartridges cut into the resulting profits, though HP argues it doesn't object to the refilling business in general. HP wants Rhinotek to label its cartridges as used and objects to packaging that calls the products "heavy duty." Chamales said "heavy duty" describes the ink, which lasts as long as HP's or longer. "I think our packaging is fine. We put on there, 'manufactured with recycled components,'" he said. Rhinotek's packaging doesn't use quite those words, however. Under the words "Help the Environment," the packaging says, "At Rhinotek we do everything we can to encourage recycling. We use recycled components in our packaging and products whenever possible."