I Heart Closed Systems
Why do companies hate their users? No, seriously - there’s an enormous disconnect between marketing and business affairs across every single industry on the planet. Believe it or not, this isn’t a rant specifically about Microsoft or Apple.
Someone sent me a link to How to Quit the Gym (or Anything) the other day. “Once they’ve got your credit card number, charges on subscriptions, services and memberships can seem impossible to stop.” This really worries me, largely because Ponzi buys every subscription that dangles in front of her face - then she forgets about them and we wind up spending money on services that never get used.
We’re had already been paying for an URGE account - on top of a Napster account - yet that didn’t stop Ponzi for purchasing access to the same goddamned album through another goddamned music service a couple of weeks ago. Jebus! Enough! I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when I read the options that one might excercise when trying to escape a contract:
- Death (with proof)
- Military service (again, with proof)
- Pay more
Really?! There should be a law passed that makes it just as easy to get OUT of a contract as it is to get INTO the goddamned thing. Why do companies hate their users so much? Seriously, why?
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7 Comments
Diet Alert
November 30th, 1999
at 12:00am
t have say in the matter… income tax Related Content:To Plastic Package MakersBank of America (BoA) SucksRIP: TelegramIt’s a Gas, Gas, GasI Tried To Change ThisDon’t Let It EndDear All SUV Owners…eBay Auction for SaleI Heart Closed SystemsModest Needs [IMG]
Giovanni Gallucci
September 21st, 2006
at 7:10pm
breathe….chris….chris? ….breathe…go to your happy place… but, you’re preaching to the choir on that one brother!
Amy Roberts
September 21st, 2006
at 8:51pm
It’s a lot like a Macy’s (it was Marshall Fields at the time) credit card. I had one 7 or 8 years ago. I called and cancelled it 7 or 8 years ago. I went into the store a few months ago to buy a few really nice outfits for job interviews. They said…Hey if you open up a Macy’s credit account you can save an additional 15%. I said sure! That’s when they told me that I still had an active account. I told them I closed it years ago. They told me they never really close the account. WHAT????? I now refuse to shop at Macy’s. :)
Bill Naivar
September 22nd, 2006
at 4:48pm
Two words….Clark Howard.
Paul
September 22nd, 2006
at 11:01pm
Temporary Credit Card Numbers. Seriously. My MBNA (now Bank of American) credit card allows me to make a “temp” CC # that has a limit and expiration date of my choosing. Nice for magazine subs and other recurring charges.
Jim Milton
September 24th, 2006
at 9:13am
Gosh, it really would be nice not to have to read the G–D— words laced in this article. You are too articulate, too neat a guy, to have to use those words. There are so many more adjectives to choose from. Just my humble opinion, and with all respect to your right to choose what words you use.
eas
September 24th, 2006
at 10:09pm
Hey, it could be worse, you could have been paying $29.50/month to rent some swell rotary dial phones (www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-rot18.html)