just to add... double check your receipts and make sure you're not being charged more. i have been seeing this more and more lately, the check out price of say cottage cheese at say duane reade is not the same price as posted.
It's really hard to get a lot of people's attention without some hired shill sneaking in. A Blog as big as Digg attracts the attention of companies and issues groups because it has a wide audience -- it's only in their economic best interest to manipulate public opinion.
While some people NEVER find the actions of any corporation egregious, I'm also sure that there are a lot of people with numerous accounts who are PAID to say the same things over and over regardless of replies debunking their comments.
For a while, we'd get a dozen advertiser links on a topic until they cleaned it up.
>> As far as getting people to move from large banks to Credit Unions -- that seems to be happening.
But you can move from AT&T to Sprint -- you really haven't moved to a more ethical company. In most cases; there is no good choice, and we can only choose between deck chairs on the Titanic.
Or double charged or the "sale price" is not correctly entered or discount misapplied or charged for something not purchased. I have seen all of these happen just in the past month at grocers - either scanners that have had the inventory coded incorrectly or checkers who don't pay attention
So... you "smart people" historically chart the cost per unit of the food that you buy and aren't fooled by the false bottom in the Haagen Daaz container?
Why isn't social media helping groups of consumers band together and act collectively to force more competition and transparency? I would think there is a lot of power in finding others who will collectively switch phone companies, for example, with better T&C's, if their existing provider doesn't change their ways....but maybe it is happening and I just don't know about it?
This is one reason corporations keep attempting to limit the right to class-action lawsuits. An individual won't bother to sue to recover a few dollars in overcharges, but put all of the customers in a group and that "huge bonanza" is at risk.
One thing that is nice in Michigan is: if you get a scanning error don't tell the checker, just let it go through and get your receipt and then go down the isle and snag the price tag off the shelf then take then to customer service. The are required to pay you 5 times the pricing difference: say the marked price is $5 yet it rung up for $5.50, and you prove it to them, they will have to pay you $0.50 X 5 so you'll get $2.50 in return. And I say snag the price tag off the shelf so they don't try to do a switch on you when they "go check the price."
I didn't say I was smart. I sometimes buy items like food by per ounce. A lot of supermarkets list it right by the item price. Especially if I am trying to save money and buy bulk.
Just because I wasn't careful to look for it, doesn't mean they fooled me. If they put MORE ice cream into the container, would they still be fooling you?
Probably a combination of inertia and the relatively nickel and dime nature of most fees....just seems like too much trouble for amount involved to most people. Of course when you multiple all the nickels and dimes by the number of customers it becomes a huge bonanza for the companies.
Also, watch out for affiliate marketing landing pages promoting anything from weight loss products to online penny auctions. If they ask for your credit card chances are you will be charged.
killersquirelJan 16, 2012Buried
auto-buried for worthless comment from a worthless poster.
0ldb0yJan 16, 2012Buried
just to add... double check your receipts and make sure you're not being charged more. i have been seeing this more and more lately, the check out price of say cottage cheese at say duane reade is not the same price as posted.
vitriolandangstJan 16, 2012Buried
It's really hard to get a lot of people's attention without some hired shill sneaking in. A Blog as big as Digg attracts the attention of companies and issues groups because it has a wide audience -- it's only in their economic best interest to manipulate public opinion.
While some people NEVER find the actions of any corporation egregious, I'm also sure that there are a lot of people with numerous accounts who are PAID to say the same things over and over regardless of replies debunking their comments.
For a while, we'd get a dozen advertiser links on a topic until they cleaned it up.
>> As far as getting people to move from large banks to Credit Unions -- that seems to be happening.
But you can move from AT&T to Sprint -- you really haven't moved to a more ethical company. In most cases; there is no good choice, and we can only choose between deck chairs on the Titanic.
cosmicsurferJan 16, 2012Buried
Or double charged or the "sale price" is not correctly entered or discount misapplied or charged for something not purchased. I have seen all of these happen just in the past month at grocers - either scanners that have had the inventory coded incorrectly or checkers who don't pay attention
ljseinfeldJan 17, 2012Buried
So... you "smart people" historically chart the cost per unit of the food that you buy and aren't fooled by the false bottom in the Haagen Daaz container?
spatula7Jan 16, 2012Buried
Why isn't social media helping groups of consumers band together and act collectively to force more competition and transparency? I would think there is a lot of power in finding others who will collectively switch phone companies, for example, with better T&C's, if their existing provider doesn't change their ways....but maybe it is happening and I just don't know about it?
grinningcatJan 17, 2012Buried
This is one reason corporations keep attempting to limit the right to class-action lawsuits. An individual won't bother to sue to recover a few dollars in overcharges, but put all of the customers in a group and that "huge bonanza" is at risk.
jager36cJan 17, 2012Buried
One thing that is nice in Michigan is: if you get a scanning error don't tell the checker, just let it go through and get your receipt and then go down the isle and snag the price tag off the shelf then take then to customer service. The are required to pay you 5 times the pricing difference: say the marked price is $5 yet it rung up for $5.50, and you prove it to them, they will have to pay you $0.50 X 5 so you'll get $2.50 in return. And I say snag the price tag off the shelf so they don't try to do a switch on you when they "go check the price."
thehiddenprojecJan 17, 2012Buried
I didn't say I was smart. I sometimes buy items like food by per ounce. A lot of supermarkets list it right by the item price. Especially if I am trying to save money and buy bulk.
Just because I wasn't careful to look for it, doesn't mean they fooled me. If they put MORE ice cream into the container, would they still be fooling you?
icmpJan 16, 2012Buried
choosing between deck chairs on the titantic is great. I might borrow that :)
brucealmightyJan 16, 2012Buried
Probably a combination of inertia and the relatively nickel and dime nature of most fees....just seems like too much trouble for amount involved to most people. Of course when you multiple all the nickels and dimes by the number of customers it becomes a huge bonanza for the companies.
0ldb0yJan 16, 2012Buried
good one, i have seen this too, especially the double identical charge...
donroccoJan 16, 2012Buried
keep up the good work..
ljseinfeldJan 17, 2012Buried
I'm telling you... We need to better regulate financial institutions, revoke corporate personhood --and start executing people for financial crimes.
rixar13Jan 17, 2012Buried
This $hit is enough to piss off the pope...
1. Banks and credit card companies
2. Cell phone companies
3. The “grocery shrink ray”
4. Cable companies
5. Airlines
dralezeroJan 17, 2012Buried
just a few months ago i was paying $6 at walmart for a full c**ktail shrimp platter. now its half a ring (but with same amount of sauce) for $5.
daronicusJan 17, 2012Buried
So speaking of scummy anti-consumer practices, how about you don't put a 5-item list on three pages just to get that little extra ad revenue?
technochicaJan 17, 2012Buried
Thanks for sharing.
technochicaJan 17, 2012Buried
Also, watch out for affiliate marketing landing pages promoting anything from weight loss products to online penny auctions. If they ask for your credit card chances are you will be charged.