Watching Dave Matthews band on t.v. He's doing about the one millionth rendition of All Along the Watchtower. A large crowd is applauding. How lame. Turning the t.v. off, going out for a walk with the dogs.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Boycotting - Putting Companies on Probation
The Power of The Purse is Powerful
People are boycotting Whole Foods. Seems the CEO made some idiotic comments about health care reform. You've probably read about it in other media. Fantastic, a group of people with a lot of disposable income is using their purchasing power as a means of protest. Power to them.
I've done this for many years now. I wish more of you would do the same. Think about where you spend your money. Spend it to protest what you don't like and support what you do. Here's how I do it:
I have my own justice system. I put companies on probation or give them a life or death sentence. I am the sole judge, arbiter and decision maker.
I've done this for many years now. I wish more of you would do the same. Think about where you spend your money. Spend it to protest what you don't like and support what you do. Here's how I do it:
I have my own justice system. I put companies on probation or give them a life or death sentence. I am the sole judge, arbiter and decision maker.
Top Ten Sentences I've Issued
1. Microsoft Corporation. Crime - I paid to upgrade to the latest version of windows. I installed it on my computer downstairs and upstairs. 30 days later my upstairs computer shut down. I had to pay to upgrade it. The upgrade was crappy anyway. But they wanted me to upgrade twice; once for each computer. After much wasted time with the tech dept. I uninstalled the upgrade from my computers. Money lost by me $150.00. Punishment - boycott of all Microsoft products for 10 years. In 2010 I may purchase another Microsoft Upgrade if they behave.
2. Sams Club. In 2007, I renewed my business membership for $35. I went there and loaded my basket with approximately $200 worth of goods. The Crime - Only one check-out open with 15 people in front of me. The Punishment - Abandoned the basket, obtained a refund of membership dues. Sam's Club is on probation till 2010.
3. My local Dry Cleaners. I recently dropped some shirts off. They charge $2.50 per shirt. The Crime - counter lady acted as if I didn't exist. No acknowledgement , smile, zero customer service. The Punishment: Banned until I get tired of ironing my own shirts.
4. The Music Recording Industry. Crime - Count one of the Indictment - Overcharging. A compact disc sells for anywhere from $12 to $25. Musicians are a dime a dozen. Free music is available on FM Radio. Conclusion, they are over-charging. Count two of the indictment - Gestapo tactics. I've read articles that they have an enforcement arm that files lawsuits against people for hundreds of thousands of DOLLARS for downlowding some songs. Punishment - Banned for Life. I will never purchase another c.d. as long as I live.
That's it; this is not a 10 best list. I am the boss here, I get to choose how many are on my list. Just as I get to choose how I spend my money. It doesn't have to be fair or logical. After all the real criminal "justice" system is not fair or logical. Just thought of number 5 for my list.
5. The oil companies. Crime - Excess Profits. Punishment. I walk to work, ride my bike as much as possible, ditching my clunker for a high mpg car.
6. The internet. I report spammers. Don't spend a dime on anything unless I've thoroughly vetted it. I stop pop-ups. Ignore advertisement. There is no reason in the world why some geek should have an eternal vacation on the beach, while I pay $80 for some program that's already been developed and get another 10 million people to pay another $80 a head. Sorry, but software is not that valuable. A reasonable price for a program such as Word 2007 is about $2.50. Until they come down to that level, I'll just use Open Office for free. Look at it this way I give to charity already, like my local Children's Hospital. Why should I care about donating money to the Melinda Foundation just because I need a word processor. Then to make matters even worse, I tried the free-trial of Word 2007. I wouldn't want it on my computer if it were free. It is the most frustrating word processor I've ever encountered.
For Crying out Loud. Not Copyrighted. You can put the copyright where the sun don't shine.
1. Microsoft Corporation. Crime - I paid to upgrade to the latest version of windows. I installed it on my computer downstairs and upstairs. 30 days later my upstairs computer shut down. I had to pay to upgrade it. The upgrade was crappy anyway. But they wanted me to upgrade twice; once for each computer. After much wasted time with the tech dept. I uninstalled the upgrade from my computers. Money lost by me $150.00. Punishment - boycott of all Microsoft products for 10 years. In 2010 I may purchase another Microsoft Upgrade if they behave.
2. Sams Club. In 2007, I renewed my business membership for $35. I went there and loaded my basket with approximately $200 worth of goods. The Crime - Only one check-out open with 15 people in front of me. The Punishment - Abandoned the basket, obtained a refund of membership dues. Sam's Club is on probation till 2010.
3. My local Dry Cleaners. I recently dropped some shirts off. They charge $2.50 per shirt. The Crime - counter lady acted as if I didn't exist. No acknowledgement , smile, zero customer service. The Punishment: Banned until I get tired of ironing my own shirts.
4. The Music Recording Industry. Crime - Count one of the Indictment - Overcharging. A compact disc sells for anywhere from $12 to $25. Musicians are a dime a dozen. Free music is available on FM Radio. Conclusion, they are over-charging. Count two of the indictment - Gestapo tactics. I've read articles that they have an enforcement arm that files lawsuits against people for hundreds of thousands of DOLLARS for downlowding some songs. Punishment - Banned for Life. I will never purchase another c.d. as long as I live.
That's it; this is not a 10 best list. I am the boss here, I get to choose how many are on my list. Just as I get to choose how I spend my money. It doesn't have to be fair or logical. After all the real criminal "justice" system is not fair or logical. Just thought of number 5 for my list.
5. The oil companies. Crime - Excess Profits. Punishment. I walk to work, ride my bike as much as possible, ditching my clunker for a high mpg car.
6. The internet. I report spammers. Don't spend a dime on anything unless I've thoroughly vetted it. I stop pop-ups. Ignore advertisement. There is no reason in the world why some geek should have an eternal vacation on the beach, while I pay $80 for some program that's already been developed and get another 10 million people to pay another $80 a head. Sorry, but software is not that valuable. A reasonable price for a program such as Word 2007 is about $2.50. Until they come down to that level, I'll just use Open Office for free. Look at it this way I give to charity already, like my local Children's Hospital. Why should I care about donating money to the Melinda Foundation just because I need a word processor. Then to make matters even worse, I tried the free-trial of Word 2007. I wouldn't want it on my computer if it were free. It is the most frustrating word processor I've ever encountered.
For Crying out Loud. Not Copyrighted. You can put the copyright where the sun don't shine.
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