4 ms·

Am I being overly cynical in concluding that a growing % of companies will screw over their customers for their own gain. Doesn't this myopic "screw the custome

Am I being overly cynical in concluding that a growing % of companies will screw over their customers for their own gain. Doesn't this myopic "screw the customer" mentality damage brand reputation? Sure does for me. The growing discontent amongst a companies customer base is creating a new market opportunity for a competitor. When I feel screwed by a company like this, I find a good alternative, then jump ship and NEVER go back (even if they course correct some years later). From that point on I'm a vocal detractor of the brand. If no quality alternative exists it's even worse because you know the company is screwing you knowing you have no good alternatives.

pessimizer 5y ago
The monopolist can just buy the competition that you jumped ship to. Now your choice is between A) the services that are too terrible to be bought out, or B) services that are not taking the buyout because they are irrational. Incompetence or insanity.
- vorpalhex 5y ago
  There is always C - services that won't be bought out because Buyer is incompatible with values.
  - Dylan16807 5y ago
    I'm pretty sure B was written to include those.
asdff 5y ago
This isn't anything new to be fair. Marketing books from the early 1900s talk about the strategy of attracting your flock of customers with a product but then cutting costs by offering a substandard product after you've created a reputation with the initial quality product.
- thelittleone 5y ago
  It's like the Lord of the Rings.... the power of the ring (greed in the system) is too powerful for most (companies) to bare. The world needs more Frodos.
HWR_14 5y ago
The part that seems strange is the "growing percentage" part of your cynicism. While a large number of companies do this, it seems like number has always been pretty high. It may be that companies are becoming more capable of doing so in these grand ways as software eats everything and they can use copyright law to continue to exert ownership over part of what they sold you.

pessimizer 5y ago

The monopolist can just buy the competition that you jumped ship to. Now your choice is between A) the services that are too terrible to be bought out, or B) services that are not taking the buyout because they are irrational. Incompetence or insanity.

vorpalhex 5y ago
There is always C - services that won't be bought out because Buyer is incompatible with values.
- Dylan16807 5y ago
  I'm pretty sure B was written to include those.

asdff 5y ago

This isn't anything new to be fair. Marketing books from the early 1900s talk about the strategy of attracting your flock of customers with a product but then cutting costs by offering a substandard product after you've created a reputation with the initial quality product.

thelittleone 5y ago
It's like the Lord of the Rings.... the power of the ring (greed in the system) is too powerful for most (companies) to bare. The world needs more Frodos.

HWR_14 5y ago

The part that seems strange is the "growing percentage" part of your cynicism. While a large number of companies do this, it seems like number has always been pretty high. It may be that companies are becoming more capable of doing so in these grand ways as software eats everything and they can use copyright law to continue to exert ownership over part of what they sold you.