Comments on: The Eight Ways The Tech Industry Tries To Screw Us — And How To Avoid Them http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/ Gadgets, gear and computer hardware. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:25:02 -0500 hourly 1 By: Norfolk Photography http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-1/#comment-1121222 Norfolk Photography Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:38:44 +0000 http://crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-1121222 Looking back at those old phones remids me of the bricks they were - Now stuck with a 3 year contreact - will see how out of date I am at the end of that Looking back at those old phones remids me of the bricks they were – Now stuck with a 3 year contreact – will see how out of date I am at the end of that

]]> By: Stevo http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-1/#comment-1094856 Stevo Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:06:17 +0000 http://crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-1094856 A new site called Cell Escape is set up a lot better than the rest, and its completely free. I have successfilly used CellSwapper, CellTradeUSA and even Craigslist to get free phones for my family, but they are all a lot of work. The sites are buggy and don’t offer enough detail. Also, the advertisers never respond. http://CellEscape.com seems to have overcome all these issues and are FREE. A new site called Cell Escape is set up a lot better than the rest, and its completely free. I have successfilly used CellSwapper, CellTradeUSA and even Craigslist to get free phones for my family, but they are all a lot of work. The sites are buggy and don’t offer enough detail. Also, the advertisers never respond. http://CellEscape.com seems to have overcome all these issues and are FREE.

]]> By: Mike http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-1/#comment-637553 Mike Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:56:11 +0000 http://crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-637553 How about companies that sell you a faulty product in the first place knowing it is faulty. windows XP doesn't go onto standby if there is a process like antivirus running cost you money on your electrcity bill! How about companies that sell you a faulty product in the first place knowing it is faulty. windows XP doesn’t go onto standby if there is a process like antivirus running cost you money on your electrcity bill!

]]> By: FedUpWithCorpGreed http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-1/#comment-522918 FedUpWithCorpGreed Sat, 10 Nov 2007 09:01:53 +0000 http://crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-522918 We should be punished as customers for wanting to find the cheapest price? Bull. Companies can survive by having good prices if they weren't so damned GREEDY. When the price is too high, people won't buy. When the price is too high people CANNOT buy. And when people cannot buy, everything else suffers (jobs, economy, life-line). By the way AVOID STAPLES and any other retailer that has a return policy that sucks. Such as when buying cameras or other elctronic devices- they only allow you to return it if it's defective (and only for an identical item), never a $ back guarentee unless you make enough of a fit about it. If a product SUCKS you shouldn't have to be stuck with it. "Well try it out in the store" (that does not give enough time or flexibility to actually see how something stands up). "Our policy is like this because how do we know you didn't just buy that camera for 1 night to use at a wedding -like a wedding dress- then return a day later after you don't need it?" Yeah, great policy--have no faith or trust in your customers right off, just because others MAY do that, and therefore have nothing called a "satisfaction guarenteed" policy that shows a company's faith in it's customers-it's life-line! "Yeah well, how do we know you didn't use that unopened bottle of Pepsi as a door stop last night, then don't need it anymore so you returned it the next day??!!" CUSTOMERS ARE ALWAYS KING AND RIGHT regardless of the company's bottom line or other friggin struggles. And when companies loose their trust, faith, and respect for their customers, then they are doomed. We should be punished as customers for wanting to find the cheapest price? Bull. Companies can survive by having good prices if they weren’t so damned GREEDY. When the price is too high, people won’t buy. When the price is too high people CANNOT buy. And when people cannot buy, everything else suffers (jobs, economy, life-line). By the way AVOID STAPLES and any other retailer that has a return policy that sucks. Such as when buying cameras or other elctronic devices- they only allow you to return it if it’s defective (and only for an identical item), never a $ back guarentee unless you make enough of a fit about it. If a product SUCKS you shouldn’t have to be stuck with it. “Well try it out in the store” (that does not give enough time or flexibility to actually see how something stands up). “Our policy is like this because how do we know you didn’t just buy that camera for 1 night to use at a wedding -like a wedding dress- then return a day later after you don’t need it?” Yeah, great policy–have no faith or trust in your customers right off, just because others MAY do that, and therefore have nothing called a “satisfaction guarenteed” policy that shows a company’s faith in it’s customers-it’s life-line! “Yeah well, how do we know you didn’t use that unopened bottle of Pepsi as a door stop last night, then don’t need it anymore so you returned it the next day??!!” CUSTOMERS ARE ALWAYS KING AND RIGHT regardless of the company’s bottom line or other friggin struggles. And when companies loose their trust, faith, and respect for their customers, then they are doomed.

]]> By: Bill http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-1/#comment-376353 Bill Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:04:08 +0000 http://crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-376353 Sentimental and nostalgic. Great. Sentimental and nostalgic. Great.

]]> By: gambling software http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-1/#comment-360608 gambling software Fri, 10 Aug 2007 19:44:33 +0000 http://crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-360608 A pleasure to look at, go on with this! Thanks! A pleasure to look at, go on with this! Thanks!

]]> By: metal dog http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-1/#comment-224516 metal dog Wed, 16 May 2007 21:11:10 +0000 http://crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-224516 I just cannot believe this. The USA is famous for being the best company in the world. I just cannot see any other backward counrty like the one I come from being way in advance of nearly everything. Thats why we see American tourist comming to our countries and bying our technology to sell as antiques back in the states. After all my own house is older than the Declaration of Independance. Its about time somebody ripped it down and built a new one like in America. I just cannot believe this. The USA is famous for being the best company in the world. I just cannot see any other backward counrty like the one I come from being way in advance of nearly everything. Thats why we see American tourist comming to our countries and bying our technology to sell as antiques back in the states. After all my own house is older than the Declaration of Independance. Its about time somebody ripped it down and built a new one like in America.

]]> By: Sam http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-1/#comment-224509 Sam Wed, 16 May 2007 21:02:53 +0000 http://crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-224509 Oh my goodness I think I am about to go crazy. I need a new phone and a new contract but it makes me furious how backward and technologically retarded cell phones and providers are here in the US. Firstly, why in the US is it acceptable to charge for both outgoing and incoming calls??? Just means the companies make twice as much money off us. Two year contracts are too prevalent, who wants that!! The choice of cell phones in the US is like ten years behind the rest of the world. Like its a big deal to give you a free phone with a camera with your contract! I can't beleive you can even still find phones in the shops that don't have a camera or blue tooth or anything I used to take for granted. I'm particuarly mad as I checked out phones in The UK where I'm from and not only do ALL phones have cameras etc..etc.. they now have TV!! UK contracts are 1 year, and get this- THEY GIVE YOU A FREE PHONE UPGRADE EVERY YEAR!!! Why are US consumers so impotent to sort this out??? Oh my goodness I think I am about to go crazy. I need a new phone and a new contract but it makes me furious how backward and technologically retarded cell phones and providers are here in the US.

Firstly, why in the US is it acceptable to charge for both outgoing and incoming calls??? Just means the companies make twice as much money off us.

Two year contracts are too prevalent, who wants that!!

The choice of cell phones in the US is like ten years behind the rest of the world. Like its a big deal to give you a free phone with a camera with your contract!

I can’t beleive you can even still find phones in the shops that don’t have a camera or blue tooth or anything I used to take for granted.

I’m particuarly mad as I checked out phones in The UK where I’m from and not only do ALL phones have cameras etc..etc.. they now have TV!!

UK contracts are 1 year, and get this- THEY GIVE YOU A FREE PHONE UPGRADE EVERY YEAR!!!

Why are US consumers so impotent to sort this out???

]]> By: Hillary http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-1/#comment-221322 Hillary Sun, 13 May 2007 12:42:58 +0000 http://crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-221322 Sentimental+and+nostalgic.+Great. Sentimental+and+nostalgic.+Great.

]]> By: supplyudtm http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-1/#comment-212055 supplyudtm Fri, 04 May 2007 00:06:14 +0000 http://crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-212055 [url=][/url] [url=][/url]

]]> By: Betty http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-1/#comment-167819 Betty Sat, 31 Mar 2007 03:35:44 +0000 http://crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-167819 Hi everybody! Wanna see my cool pages? Visit my sites, please: <a></a> Hi everybody! Wanna see my cool pages? Visit my sites, please:

]]> By: creoms http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-1/#comment-161166 creoms Tue, 27 Mar 2007 13:07:54 +0000 http://crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-161166 Respect guys. Thanx for such interesting site.+ Respect guys. Thanx for such interesting site.+

]]> By: Shirley http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-1/#comment-115433 Shirley Thu, 22 Feb 2007 02:02:43 +0000 http://crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-115433 Hi! Nice site! Hi! Nice site!

]]> By: Cathy http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-1/#comment-115281 Cathy Wed, 21 Feb 2007 23:22:05 +0000 http://crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-115281 Hi! Nice site! Hi! Nice site!

]]> By: [3!]realit http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-1/#comment-70850 [3!]realit Tue, 16 Jan 2007 18:33:10 +0000 http://crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-70850 great site great site

]]> By: [3!]kita66 http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-1/#comment-63770 [3!]kita66 Fri, 05 Jan 2007 06:15:17 +0000 http://crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-63770 While site keep Good work While site keep Good work

]]> By: Freeman http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-1/#comment-37995 Freeman Thu, 14 Dec 2006 18:17:10 +0000 http://crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-37995 1. Buy an unlocked, contract-free phone. 2. Get DRM-free music encoded in a free*, patent-less format ((OGG) Vorbis). When putting audio CD's in your computer, use a free* operating system (GNU/Linux). If you want to stay without trojans from companies like Sony, NEVER use Microsot Windows (insert CD, rootkit installs). When ripping, encode in a free*, patent-less format. 3. Buy an unlocked phone with free* software. If the software doesn't have the features it could easily have, change the source code yourself or install third-party free* firmware. 5. Just wait. And ask for a DRM-free format (that means (I think) neither HD-DVD nor Blu-Ray). 6. Get only free* music. Do not buy music that the Recording Industry Ass. of America has anything to do with. 7. Who wants AOL anyway... Stay away from companies with that kind of reputation. By knowing what's digital freedom and what's not, you can avoid many of these problems. * As in freedom, not necessarily cost. 1. Buy an unlocked, contract-free phone.

2. Get DRM-free music encoded in a free*, patent-less format ((OGG) Vorbis). When putting audio CD’s in your computer, use a free* operating system (GNU/Linux). If you want to stay without trojans from companies like Sony, NEVER use Microsot Windows (insert CD, rootkit installs). When ripping, encode in a free*, patent-less format.

3. Buy an unlocked phone with free* software. If the software doesn’t have the features it could easily have, change the source code yourself or install third-party free* firmware.

5. Just wait. And ask for a DRM-free format (that means (I think) neither HD-DVD nor Blu-Ray).

6. Get only free* music. Do not buy music that the Recording Industry Ass. of America has anything to do with.

7. Who wants AOL anyway… Stay away from companies with that kind of reputation.

By knowing what’s digital freedom and what’s not, you can avoid many of these problems.

* As in freedom, not necessarily cost.

]]> By: IThinkAppleSuxSoYouMustHateMe http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-1/#comment-37915 IThinkAppleSuxSoYouMustHateMe Thu, 14 Dec 2006 16:17:11 +0000 http://crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-37915 Look at all the poor mac fanboys getting all tiffed "AAC is not proprietary! You suxors!" For all normal purposes anything you buy off of iTunes is DRM'd and only plays on an iPod. That sounds proprietary to me. Funny these guys hate the closed Windows systems but love to be choked out by their beloved Stevie J. Me, I hate all closed systems no matter what company it comes from. Bottom line, if your company has to profit from a closed system, you won't profit for long. Good riddance. Look at all the poor mac fanboys getting all tiffed “AAC is not proprietary! You suxors!” For all normal purposes anything you buy off of iTunes is DRM’d and only plays on an iPod. That sounds proprietary to me. Funny these guys hate the closed Windows systems but love to be choked out by their beloved Stevie J. Me, I hate all closed systems no matter what company it comes from. Bottom line, if your company has to profit from a closed system, you won’t profit for long. Good riddance.

]]> By: Nate http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-1/#comment-37883 Nate Thu, 14 Dec 2006 15:43:34 +0000 http://crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-37883 best buy is easily the worst retail offender of bullshit there is. its not even the high prices, and the stupid rebates, and the crappy expensive warranties that they may or may not honor... its the blatant verbal spam you get when you try to buy things... you can ask someone a question without them suggesting you to purchase something else, you cant buy a usb drive without them suggesting geeksquad to come to your house to show you how to use it for a mere $100, and you cant go through the checkout with out having credit card and magazine subscription offers thrown at you. i cant stand it. great place to walk in, see what you want, and then go online and get it elsewhere. best buy is easily the worst retail offender of bullshit there is. its not even the high prices, and the stupid rebates, and the crappy expensive warranties that they may or may not honor… its the blatant verbal spam you get when you try to buy things… you can ask someone a question without them suggesting you to purchase something else, you cant buy a usb drive without them suggesting geeksquad to come to your house to show you how to use it for a mere $100, and you cant go through the checkout with out having credit card and magazine subscription offers thrown at you. i cant stand it. great place to walk in, see what you want, and then go online and get it elsewhere.

]]> By: Ray http://www.crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-1/#comment-37607 Ray Thu, 14 Dec 2006 10:35:38 +0000 http://crunchgear.com/2006/12/13/the-eight-ways-the-tech-industry-tries-to-screw-us-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comment-37607 I see everyone crying about how horrible Best Buys warranties are but I never see anyone praise it. My friend got a chunky ipod a while ago when it was new 40 gigs just music blah blah paid 300 for it.He had it for a long time than he dropped it and it no longer worked, went to best buy with it and was able to get an Ipod video 30 gig as a replacement for it. A great upgrade (considering wut he had before) for the price of the best buy warranty. Best buy warranties arent bad as long as you know what u get with them and you decide whether u want it or not. I see everyone crying about how horrible Best Buys warranties are but I never see anyone praise it. My friend got a chunky ipod a while ago when it was new 40 gigs just music blah blah paid 300 for it.He had it for a long time than he dropped it and it no longer worked, went to best buy with it and was able to get an Ipod video 30 gig as a replacement for it. A great upgrade (considering wut he had before) for the price of the best buy warranty. Best buy warranties arent bad as long as you know what u get with them and you decide whether u want it or not.

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