What's up with corporate America?

[Joe Nerve]

I'm starting to become incredibly cynical, and I don't want to become a bitter old man.

I just bought my first brand new car. Yay! But - got lied to throughout the grueling 3 day process by everyone I dealt with, and when I started checking reviews on all the other dealerships around, I found where I bought mine was the same as all the others. Lots and lots of furious people because they were lied to, lied to, lied to, and lied to...

I just went to sign up with Verizon, as they're offering some seemingly awesome new deals. Because I'm becoming cynical I dug a little deeper. The $60 monthly plan I was considering, I found out only after jumping through a bunch of hoops, will actually wind up being more like an $85 (possibly more) + tax plan. They had to transfer me to 3 different people as nobody would answer my direct question of exactly how much my monthly bill would amount to. Last guy I spoke to blurted out really quickly, "You'll only be charged $60, a one time $35 fee, surcharges, and tax". When I asked specifics about the surcharges he said he couldn't answer that, and that it could be up to 45%. Really!?! So they advertise $60, but my bill after taxes could easily come out to almost $100.

What ever happened to truth in advertising? Is this becoming the way of the world? BS people into buying your products or services? I know lots of other companies that pull this kind of crap, but it's really starting to get to me now.

What's up with this crap?

 

[Joe Nerve]

My wife and I are going to go live in an ashram.

 

[ddnidd1]

Apparently you've lived a very sheltered life up to this point.

 

[Phalex]

I bought a brand new car this past September, and I'm still giddy.

 

[Indiana Mike]

What I like is when customer service always says they are sorry.

Ask them what they are sorry about.

They usually have no response

 

[nutdog]

I work at a corporation, mainly for the paycheck. Lying to and screwing people is a perk.

 

[Indiana Mike]

If you can't beat them join them

Play the stock market.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Apparently you've lived a very sheltered life up to this point.

All I ever bought up to this point in my life are basses.

Just imagine going to buy a bass for $500, and then after signing a whole bunch of papers agreeing to that $500, you find the final cost is actually $625 because they charge for strings, a gigbag, and a setup - all of which you are required to purchase - if ya want the bass. And then you're taxed on all that, to boot. I'm surprised actually that it doesn't work that way. I have a new found appreciation musiciansfriend. They really do seem like a friend in this dark and scary world in which we live. If there were a fuzzy teddy bear smiley I'd post it here. Here's a beaver instead . Close enough.

 

[two fingers]

Meh. You're a grown man. You did exactly what you are supposed to do. It's their job to try to talk you into something you would otherwise not do. It's your job to dig deeper and figure what's really best for you. Even as late as the 80s when I was first starting to make major purchases we were taught buyer beware.

The housing bubble bursting a few years back? It simply would not have happened if every one of those people who bought sub-prime adjustable rate mortgages had done exactly what you did. Due diligence. It's on you. Not them. You're grown. You did fine. Keep doing that forever. Salesmen will be salesmen. It's what they do.

By the way, I have sold everything from radio air time to office machinery. Each time I worked for large corporations. Never once was I told by the corporate office to lie, cheat or steal. Never once was I issued training materials or forced to watch a training video that taught me how to con someone out of their money. That is done at the local level. So, please, at least know your target. It's not "corporate America". It's Bob and Fred down at your local Toyota dealership for the most part. Cel phone plans, cable, dish and other subscription services are the exception. I won't even dabble in the politics of where those extra fees and taxes come from. But, yeah, they are trying to hide them because they didn't put them there.

Short version: If everyone acted like you did, the average American would not have thousands in debt or live paycheck to paycheck.

Way to TCB!

 

[ddnidd1]

Right. Wall Street - the epitome of Corporate America - has acted in an honorable and ethical manner. Deaths linked to GM malfeasance...on and on.

However, you do need to look out for yourself. You cannot count on anyone else - local business or large corporation. Sleaze knows no bounds.

 

[nutdog]

Maybe we could protest or something. Who's got some beer?

 

[lowendmafia]

The cellphone thing really irritates me too. I went in and the girl was trying to confuse me with the numbers. I worked in corporate finance and got some paper and started writing down what she was saying and found that all the terms she was talking about work out to exactly the same price in the end. I believe that they do it to confuse people who are either not smart enough to do the math. Like, "oh, it's not that bad, the new iPhone 6 will only cost me an extra $25 per month" crowd. Either that or they are trying to frustrate people who just want the newest technology.

 

[basslayer]

This crap is capitalism. The vendor is working in direct opposition to your interests and often has the power to monopolize.

 

[two fingers]

This crap is capitalism. The vendor is working in direct opposition to your interests and often has the power to monopolize.

Glad to see we're not going to be melodramatic about this.

 

[Alkali Ike]

Buying a new car is unique because you can haggle over the price, research the dealer cost, etc. It's not like buying a sofa where the price is the price.

I've bought MANY new cars. In fact I have a "problem" in that regard. Regardless, the one thing I've learned is if they try to pressure me over anything, whether it's the agreed price, crazy fees, options like undercoating, extended warranty, etc, I tell them firmly No. If they refuse to move on, I start to walk. They ALWAYS back down if the originally agreed price turns a profit for them, regardless of how slim.

 

[Joe Nerve]

This crap is capitalism. The vendor is working in direct opposition to your interests and often has the power to monopolize.

I think they just lie when they shouldn't, and/or don't have to. Had I followed through with the phone I would have switched companies, gotten a new iPhone, and been comitted to a 2 year contract before I found out my bill would be substantially more than what I agreed to. And I'm certain it would have been impossible (without a court case and lawyers fees) to switch back. There would be a termination fee of $300, I'd be told I agreed, it would be hours with customer service... I know exactly how it would go. And I wouldn't have known until I got my first bill. And would have just said screw it, and paid, as millions of people I'm certain do. It's much easier to pay the extra money than go through the aggravation of fighting it. What scum. And they keep winning at their game, and growing.

 

[PWRL]

It's always been like this. You're not cynical, you're wiser.

 

[GregC]

I'm starting to become incredibly cynical, and I don't want to become a bitter old man.

I just bought my first brand new car. Yay! But - got lied to throughout the grueling 3 day process by everyone I dealt with, and when I started checking reviews on all the other dealerships around, I found where I bought mine was the same as all the others. Lots and lots of furious people because they were lied to, lied to, lied to, and lied to...

I just went to sign up with Verizon, as they're offering some seemingly awesome new deals. Because I'm becoming cynical I dug a little deeper. The $60 monthly plan I was considering, I found out only after jumping through a bunch of hoops, will actually wind up being more like an $85 (possibly more) + tax plan. They had to transfer me to 3 different people as nobody would answer my direct question of exactly how much my monthly bill would amount to. Last guy I spoke to blurted out really quickly, "You'll only be charged $60, a one time $35 fee, surcharges, and tax". When I asked specifics about the surcharges he said he couldn't answer that, and that it could be up to 45%. Really!?! So they advertise $60, but my bill after taxes could easily come out to almost $100.

What ever happened to truth in advertising? Is this becoming the way of the world? BS people into buying your products or services? I know lots of other companies that pull this kind of crap, but it's really starting to get to me now.

What's up with this crap?

They count on you not having the time to dig and dig and dig to get the full truth before making a decision. And in a world where many families can't come close to surviving on a single income, they're making an unfortunately good bet.

 

[Jim Nazium]

Lesson learned. Next time, don't buy a car from corporate America - get one produced by glorious people's workers party!

 

[Gorn]

I leased a new car in August. I'm aware of exactly how much it costs. When I signed up for my current verizon cell phone contract, I knew exactly what it would cost every month. Neither bills hold any surprises. This may come off the wrong way, but maybe you just need to pay closer attention to detail.