# Two really shitty, absurd, unacceptable consumer trends that I refuse to take part in **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 20, 2006, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-really-shitty-absurd-unacceptable-consumer-trends-that-i-refuse-to-take-part-in/340867 "2006-01-20T19:26:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2006, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-really-shitty-absurd-unacceptable-consumer-trends-that-i-refuse-to-take-part-in/340867/21 "2006-01-22T03:02:31Z")
I wish time travel was possible. Because then: 1. We could send VCO3 back to 1965 where he’d be happy, as he seems to hate everything about modern society. 2. I wouldn’t have to see stupid threads of his assaulting technology and modern business practices. 3. By the time he it gets to 2006 again for him he’ll be too old to make a fuss (or dead, depending on how old he is now.) ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2006, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-really-shitty-absurd-unacceptable-consumer-trends-that-i-refuse-to-take-part-in/340867/22 "2006-01-22T17:52:46Z")
1. If people don’t like network-locked contract-tied phones then they are free to buy a SIM-free unlocked model for approx 2 bajillion dollars and hook it up to whatever service plan is available. The service plan itself isn’t a basic consumer good - it’s a basic consumer SERVICE (hence the name) and oddly enough the ones which rely on you paying AFTER you have incurred the expense tend to want something with your pawprint on to make sure you don’t stiff them. I believe similar contracts have historically been popular for the provision of utilities, for instance. Pay in advance - no contract. Pay afterwards - contract. Unless you have a better way of making this work, you’re a :wally 2. On this one, I’m with you all the way. Sneaky fuckers with their sneaky fucking small print. Along with all the surcharges and special fees and whatnot that get slapped all over everything to make you pay three times the actual advertised price. Which then goes up 50% with every full moon. Grrrrrrr ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2006, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-really-shitty-absurd-unacceptable-consumer-trends-that-i-refuse-to-take-part-in/340867/23 "2006-01-23T17:26:55Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > These two things are not nearly as annoying as the freaking ‘rewards’ programs and special shopping cards that you have to have nowadays to get decent prices on anything. As was suggested, vote with your wallet. A Trader Joe’s just opened near me and is now my exclusive grocery store. Three policies: No sales, no coupons, no bonus cards. The price you get today is the price you get tomorrow for the same high quality items. Screw gimmicks. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-really-shitty-absurd-unacceptable-consumer-trends-that-i-refuse-to-take-part-in/340867/24 "2006-01-24T15:22:29Z")
> [@flight](#): > > As was suggested, vote with your wallet. A Trader Joe’s just opened near me and is now my exclusive grocery store. Three policies: No sales, no coupons, no bonus cards. The price you get today is the price you get tomorrow for the same high quality items. Screw gimmicks. Yeah, except they don’t consistently carry the same stuff. You can buy something there one time and not see it again for months. It drives me freaking _crazy._ That, and the fact that even though they seem to be in a consistent state of “stocking” stuff (to the point where they’re constantly blocking the isles and will not think twice about practically mowing you down if you get in their way) they always seem to be out of everything. I love Trader Joes, but I’m finding myself dreading going in there more and more now. It’s a shame, really. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-really-shitty-absurd-unacceptable-consumer-trends-that-i-refuse-to-take-part-in/340867/25 "2006-01-24T15:58:53Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > Fuckin’-A. You now need one for every grocery store to get the “discount.” Har har. Not sure if they have them up by you, but Publix does not have a discount card program. If you walk through the door and grab a cart, you get the discount prices on all of their discounted items. And they have ROCKIN’ deli sandwiches and chicken tenders…another key litmus test of a decent grocery, imho. Kroger, on the other hand…no card means no discount on all of the discounted items, only a portion of them. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-really-shitty-absurd-unacceptable-consumer-trends-that-i-refuse-to-take-part-in/340867/26 "2006-01-24T18:47:39Z")
Doesn’t it seem strange, that with competition, prices are supposed to go down. Now that I have a choice of phone and internet providers, it should be cheeper now. ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-really-shitty-absurd-unacceptable-consumer-trends-that-i-refuse-to-take-part-in/340867/27 "2006-01-24T18:50:29Z")
> [@lezlers](#): > > Yeah, except they don’t consistently carry the same stuff. You can buy something there one time and not see it again for months. It drives me freaking _crazy._ That’s something that I love about TJ’s. I always get stuck in ruts with what I eat, so going to TJ’s forces us to always shake it up. “Looks like we’re having Indonesian Masala Burritos for dinner this week!” ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-really-shitty-absurd-unacceptable-consumer-trends-that-i-refuse-to-take-part-in/340867/28 "2006-01-24T19:06:18Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Doesn’t it seem strange, that with competition, prices are supposed to go down. Now that I have a choice of phone and internet providers, it should be cheeper now. What choice? I have significantly less realistic phone and internet choices than I did 8 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-really-shitty-absurd-unacceptable-consumer-trends-that-i-refuse-to-take-part-in/340867/29 "2006-01-24T21:11:09Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Doesn’t it seem strange, that with competition, prices are supposed to go down. Now that I have a choice of phone and internet providers, it should be cheeper now. Cell phones are much cheaper now than they used to be. You generally get more minutes with a plan, plus free nights and weekends, plus free calls to anyone else in the network - not to mention the coverage is much better and the cell phones you get with the plan are much better and have far more features. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-really-shitty-absurd-unacceptable-consumer-trends-that-i-refuse-to-take-part-in/340867/30 "2006-01-24T23:07:24Z")
When did the typical contract for cellular service go from one to two years? Another contract gotcha - home security. Seems that everyone in this business locks you into a three-year contract. As for the grocery store cards, if you don’t mind carrying the card, you normally do not have to give the store ANY personal information. I walked into Albertson’s, asked for a card and was handed a card and application. I just said “I’m in a bit of a hurry, OK if I fill this out at home and bring it back?” No problem, they say. So, Albertson’s has absolutely no idea who I am. I think they’ve got a checkbox on the form that you can give them a phone number but no further info, enabling you to have the benefits without carrying the card by just giving them your phone number at the register At Safeway, I’m similarly incognito, but got lucky - the person who had my phone number previously had a Safeway card. I just peck my number into the card-reader at the checkout, and am thanked as “Mr. Williams” 😃 No idea what Mr. W’s address is. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-really-shitty-absurd-unacceptable-consumer-trends-that-i-refuse-to-take-part-in/340867/31 "2006-01-25T01:32:23Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > As for the grocery store cards, if you don’t mind carrying the card, you normally do not have to give the store ANY personal information. I walked into Albertson’s, asked for a card and was handed a card and application. I just said “I’m in a bit of a hurry, OK if I fill this out at home and bring it back?” I usually don’t even bother asking. I just use the new card and leave the sheet at the check out. And then I throw the card away on my way out the door because: fuck 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-really-shitty-absurd-unacceptable-consumer-trends-that-i-refuse-to-take-part-in/340867/32 "2006-01-25T16:27:46Z")
> [@Neurotik](#): > > Cell phones are much cheaper now than they used to be. You generally get more minutes with a plan, plus free nights and weekends, plus free calls to anyone else in the network - not to mention the coverage is much better and the cell phones you get with the plan are much better and have far more features. But how much a month does the average consumer pay for ‘phone’ service today compared to say, 1980? I know some people choose to have both a land line at home and a cell phone in their pocket. And yes, a cable or DSL line is better than a dial up connection, but still, it amazes me that they both cost $39.99 a month or nearly $500 a year. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-really-shitty-absurd-unacceptable-consumer-trends-that-i-refuse-to-take-part-in/340867.md?page=1)