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Walmart Whistleblower Claims Cheating In Race With Amazon (bloomberg.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the caught-red-handed dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Bloomberg: In its race to catch Amazon.com in online retailing, Walmart issued misleading e-commerce results and fired an executive who complained the company was breaking the law, according to a whistle-blower lawsuit. Tri Huynh, a former director of business development at Walmart, claims he was terminated "under false pretenses" after repeatedly raising concerns about the company's "overly aggressive push to show meteoric growth in its e-commerce business by any means possible -- even, illegitimate ones." Under Chief Executive Officer Doug McMillon, Walmart has invested billions to catch up with Amazon in e-commerce over the past few years, and last year enjoyed quarterly online sales growth rates surpassing 50 percent, well above peers that include Target and Best Buy Huynh claims Walmart mislabeled products so that some third-party vendors received lower commissions, failed to process customer returns, and allowed offensive items onto the site. Huynh's dismissal in January 2017 -- just a day after a retail-industry publication singled him out as one of the sector's rising stars -- was in retaliation for warning senior executives about the misdeeds, he said in the lawsuit, filed Thursday by employment litigation attorney David M. deRubertis in San Francisco federal court.

4 of 35 comments (clear)

  1. Walmart ruthlessly cheating? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    In a race to the bottom? Where the winner gets to take all? Say it isn't so!

    Huynh went to work for them knowing what they were like. Oh puhleeze, don't try to tell us he didn't know.

    And then he complains because he got caught in it?

    Every Walmart and Amazon employee has to know they'll be on the chopping block sooner or later. It's only a matter of time.

    I feel sorry for each and every one of them. But honestly, start retraining now for something else. Something better. The job you save will be your own.

    1. Re:Walmart ruthlessly cheating? by ClickOnThis · · Score: 3, Insightful

      In a race to the bottom? Where the winner gets to take all? Say it isn't so!

      Walmart's ruthlessness and unethicality are legendary. It's not a stretch to imagine they'd do something like this.

      Huynh went to work for them knowing what they were like. Oh puhleeze, don't try to tell us he didn't know.

      Yes, no doubt he was aware of their history. But his supposed a priori awareness is irrelevant.

      And then he complains because he got caught in it?

      No, he is complaining because he claims he got fired for whistle-blowing. Internal whistle-blowing. Allegedly, he kept his concerns inside the organization, and was rewarded with termination.

      --
      If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
  2. Too bad whistleblower aren't property rewarded... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I wonder what's the future for this executive. I mean, many future employer may see him as someone that isn't loyal.

    Sure he may sue them unjustified lay-off, but f whistleblower lead to a massive lawsuit, I think they should receive a share of the dollar.

  3. And still loosing by geoskd · · Score: 3, Insightful

    How much of a loser do you have to be to cheat and still lose?

    --
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