Comments on: America’s Most Admired Companies: Top 20

By: Vince, Whitmore Lake, MI

Vince, Whitmore Lake, MI — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:49:30 +0000

Toyota USA deserves not just to be on this list, but I believe they deserve to be number one on this list. For all the xenophobes who don’t know any better, Toyota USA IS incorporated in the United States, and to date, has only brought jobs to the US (I’ll bet Ford, GM, and Chrysler wish they could say that as they send US jobs to Canada, Mexico, and China). But, the big reason that Toyota belongs here is product quality, customer care, and corporate citizenship. The most reliable vehicles I’ve ever owned have ALL been Toyotas even though less than 1/2 of all vehicles I’ve ever owned have been Toyota. If I had to drive across country today, I’d take my 1992 Toyota pickup or my daughter’s 1994 Toyota Camry and NOT my 2006 Ford Taurus (it has had to be towed twice in the ~3 years I’ve owned it, no Toyota has ever stranded me). Toyota is a fantastic company.

By: C. Cobb Ridgewood,NJ

C. Cobb Ridgewood,NJ — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:14:54 +0000

Just bought Puffs tissues by Procter and Gamble. Did they think we wouldn’t notice the width of the tissue is substancially smaller than the box itself? I eastimate an approx. 1/20 th of the product is MISSING. Nice try but I won’t be buying again.

By: Mr. Anti-slave Labor, Anytown, Oregon

Mr. Anti-slave Labor, Anytown, Oregon — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 02:37:13 +0000

Wal-mart…admired? Surely you jest! Underpay, under/non-insure, sub-part time scheduled work weeks…I guess if we’re talking slave labor that’s government subsidized while the Fat Cats slave trade ring leaders keep getting greedier then yes, Wal-mart should be admired!

By: Alexandria, Canberra, ACT

Alexandria, Canberra, ACT — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:30:17 +0000

Hi there,

I’m so glad to hear so many great comments about GE.

I just got offered a job at GE Commercial Finance and am really looking forward to starting!!! It’s my dream to work at GE for a long time and I just hope I will be able to make a good contribution to my team. =)

The people I met have been extremely nice and open about their company culture… Congrats GE!

By: Russell, San Jose, CA

Russell, San Jose, CA — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:48:28 +0000

Only executives, directors, and securities analysts were asked to participate in this survey.

Charlies post sums up this survey accurately…
…Fortune needs to rename this list “Companies Most Admired by the People (Business Executives, Investors and Analysts) Who Make Gobs of Cash Off Them Regardless of How The Companies Actually Treat Their Employees, the Environment or the Consumer or Whether Their Products are Any Good.”

Posted By Charlie, New York, NY : March 6, 2007 2:00 pm

By: Ken Atlantic Beach, NC

Ken Atlantic Beach, NC — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 03:03:30 +0000

Toyota?? This demonstrates how ignorant Americans really are. This is a Japanese company that is helping turn the USA into a third world country …and the average citizen is dumb enough to help. World oil is traded in USD; helping increase the US trade deficit devalues the dollar; therefore, buying a Toyota drioves up oil prices and send ALL profits to Japan. The US gov’t can’t even figure this out. AND, Mid-level quality, high recall rate, and why do Americans buy them…pure ignorance.

By: Denise Colorado

Denise Colorado — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 21:28:28 +0000

If you feel FedEx is a good company it is because they have independent contractors that do all of the delivery. The company itself is very poorly run. The independent contractors work very hard for little pay and absolutely no recognition.

By: John Roach, Batavia, NY

John Roach, Batavia, NY — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 01:58:25 +0000

Worked for GE through the 70s & 80s as a toolmaker in the small appliance division, until Jack sold us off. Been looking for a company like GE ever since. Best company I have ever worked for.

By: Ryan, Chicago,IL.

Ryan, Chicago,IL. — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 22:52:50 +0000

Foe the person who said Southwest runs their res. centers like sweatshops, really people who have a job with Southwest should be lucky. All other airline jobs are junk except for Southwest. They have not laid off like other airlines have, they have not cut anyones pay scales, they offer profit- sharing to its employees so, you are barking up the wrong tree. Southwest has been profitable in a time where airlines are struggling and putting its employees on the street. I think Southwest is one of the best companies out there because its leaders care for the employee and in turn the employee cares for the customer.

By: Soon to be ex employee, New York, NY

Soon to be ex employee, New York, NY — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:58:23 +0000

UPS is a different company since the IPO, but the differences are more apparent internally than externally. From the outside, we are a responsible corporate citizen, we innovate, and we provide myriad opportunities for our people. However, from an internal perspective, we have lost the great spirit of teamwork and partnership that defined us in our earlier years. As our competition with other carriers has grown more fierce, the management stress level has risen and the emotional reward has gone away. The financial benefits are also drying up, as the divide between the wealth available to mid management vs the executive levels has widened. What our people are finding out as a result is just how valuable we can be to other companies. There is a mass exodus taking place, and many of our best and brightest have landed new jobs that produce much less stress and much more of everything else, especially financial reward. From the outside, brown is great but you can rest assured that there is considerable turmoil in the guts of this organization. Time will tell what the long term result will be.

By: Myra Wiles Phoenix, AZ

Myra Wiles Phoenix, AZ — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 18:15:40 +0000

Starbucks, the 2nd most admired company: No work life balance for Store managers, downgrading our leadership conference to 8 hours of disconnected speaches from Regional directors, zone vp’s that use the b word publically in professional settings? I wont go on, but the company has slipped considerably since I started there several years ago.

By: Kevin GE Energy, Lake Station, IN

Kevin GE Energy, Lake Station, IN — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 15:37:02 +0000

I have just started with GE, and I have been highly impressed at the professionalism and efficiency at which they have made my transition from the military to their company. The benefits are the best I have ever seen, they pay great, and the facility that I work at has a small business feel with everyone on a first name basis, managers that will listen to everyone’s inputs about how to make it better, and lots of picnics and cookouts(not only for the employees, but also for the contractors that work onsite). I am proud to work for the most respected company and will do my part to keep it in the number 1 spot for a long time to come!

By: Paula Downs Bremerton, WA

Paula Downs Bremerton, WA — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 05:58:08 +0000

Target is my least admired company to do business with. They will not support the Boy Scouts, they do not allow the Salvation Army buckets outside their store, and they will not let the words “Merry CHRISTMAS” pass their lips. The Salvation Army does far more good and spends more money on relief than the Red Cross – and that has nothing to do with religion, thank you! Target also has excessively liberal policies that affect their products and the way they treat their communities. NOT my idea of a responsible company.

By: Don Ritan, Pittsburgh, PA

Don Ritan, Pittsburgh, PA — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 21:34:10 +0000

No one should admire a company or corporation. They collectively have destroyed the American economy by sending jobs out of our country.

By: CA

CA — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 16:03:05 +0000

I worked for a J&J company and let me assure you that due to their decentralized structure all J&J operating companies are NOT the same. Be sure to do your research before you fall for the “J&J” reputation.

By: Paul, Chicago IL

Paul, Chicago IL — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 21:29:27 +0000

I am so glad there are so many people below who will no longer buy Proctor and Gamble prodcuts or shop at Wal Mart or Target because they carry them – all because of the cruel and inhumane product testing they do on animals.

THAT MEANS there will be more left for me and the store aisles will be less crowded when I come through.

I admire companies who make sure the products they put on the market are SAFE becuse they tested them first. Sorry Charlie, but if you want to change the hierarchy, then give animals opposable thumbs and teach them to shoot.

Yeah PP&G!

By: John Smith, Dora Mo

John Smith, Dora Mo — Mon, 28 May 2007 22:03:16 +0000

Southwest Airlines rocks! Anyone who has traveled on any other airline or been a slave (employee) at any other airline probably already knows this. They are a great company because their emplyees come first and it shows!

By: Gary Berman, Atlanta GA

Gary Berman, Atlanta GA — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 18:01:18 +0000

Apple Computer Rocks ! Great products, amazing innovation, and awesome customer service…can’t wait to get my new I-phone !

By: N Larmore, Holliston MA

N Larmore, Holliston MA — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 15:55:03 +0000

WalMart! Are you kidding me! When it comes to employees, they rate almost last on WalMart’s priority list, probably right after pest control. Not to mention all the American comapnies put out of business because of them. Ethics was clearly not a considered factor in Fortunes decision process. WalMart is nothing but “death to the little guy,” all in the name of (excessive)profits. Not that profits aren’t the goal of all companies but Walmart is doing it at the expense of it’s employess, the general public, and the country as a whole. Personally, I don’t ever, ever shop there. I can’t rationalize giving this company one single hard earned dollar.

By: Ginger Doshier-Simmons Madison, Georgia

Ginger Doshier-Simmons Madison, Georgia — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 15:12:29 +0000

Starbucks is an incredible company. I am a store manager for Starbucks and I have never had a job that provided me with more satisfaction. We are encouraged to keep our partners (co-workers) happy, as well as providing great customer service and taking care of our environment. I have never had a bad day at work. I look forward to every day with Starbucks and they deserve all the positive recognition.