Ok, this is just getting far to common, and it’s making me angry. Just how stupid do companies think we are when they introduce a change to their practices that are clearly designed to help them or make them more money, but they announce them as a great step forward for their customers?? Particularly when they actually make things more of a hassle for these same customers?
Two examples;
1/ Paypal - by default Paypal will debit your nominated bank account (which they insist you give them). If you want to charge something to your credit card you’ve got to jump through hoops. “Have you though of the benefits of debiting your bank account?” It asks. “It is debited immediately!” Ummm, how exactly is that an advantage, I ask? If I charge it to my card I get up to six weeks credit free. That’s six weeks interest in my bank account. Not a big deal, but better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
Clearly Paypal want me to use the account debit because it’s cheaper for them, as they avoid the credit card charges. But nowhere will you find them admitting that. But it’s fine. I can understand why they’d want to avoid those charges. Just stop trying to sell it to me with bullshit about it being for my benefit? Ok?
2/ Microsoft - “Genuine Advantage” they call it. Now, in order to get the security updates to fix the holes in their operating system, you are coerced into enrolling in their 'Genuine Advantage" scheme. This is a great improvement, they tell us, because it lets you check if you have “Genuine” copy of Windows. Sorry guys, I already know my copy is genuine. And I can bet that 90% of those who have a pirated copy already know that too, and the other 10% don’t care and can’t do anything about it anyway. So to get this “Advantage” of not getting attacked through security holes, I have to tell Microsoft everything about the computers I’ve the nerve to be using their software on. Great, this is sooooo going to benefit me. :rolleyes:
Clearly this new scheme is a way for Microsoft to monitor who’s ripping them off with pirated systems, and create a lovely, big fat database on it. But nowhere will you find them admitting that. But it’s fine. I can understand why they’d want this information. Just stop trying to sell it to me with bullshit about it being for my benefit? Ok?
Yeah, so my point is; I don’t mind (much) if a company changes things for their benefit. If I don’t like the changes, I’ll go elsewhere. If you were honest about why you’re doing it I’d probably be fine with it. But when you feed me bullshit I’m much more inclined to deliberately avoid falling in line. I’m contrary like that. Now I always charge to my credit card, and take extra steps to bypass ‘Genuine Advantage’. Just to prove my point. :mad: