I hear that often but is it really true?

There seem to be tons of companies, typically small to medium ones, who provide quality services and products and have earned the trust of their customers, workers and partners over the years without screwing them over left and right. Some of them additionally have higher standards in regards to environmental issues on top of all of this.

Nobody is perfect, but I don't think it is required to be a bully to find and keep a sustainable market niche.

Overall this behavior is harmful, partly because it puts people into positions where they have overwhelming levels of power and influence. My personal opinion is that this leads to an unreasonable amount of responsibility and an unhealthy detachment or distance from affected people.

Treating customers, suppliers, and employees with fairness, dignity, and respect is a competitive ADVANTAGE in the long term. You might make a quick buck in the short term doing otherwise, but you'll lose out over the long term.