Day's predecessor had increased the fixed component of store associate compensation, but there have been signs that Day is moving to diminish the fixed component and bolster incentive pay for store associates, particularly for moving higher-margin products like batteries.

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He says supply chain checks find recent component shortage have been fixed.

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The next figure shows the change in fixed investment, excluding inventories, the most volatile component.

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So, cutting the fixed costs of reaching customers, as Apple is negotiating to do, and increasing the variable component, seems like a sensible move.

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