................ or did you work for?
Quite a few Car4play members slag off franchised car dealer service departments as being dishonest money-grabbing rob-dogs. It would be interesting to know what category of rip-off merchants they work/worked for.
I'll start by saying I worked for a succession (namely, three) of automotive parts manufacturers.
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I've worked for a succession of the (now rather innaccurately but popularly described as) "designer" labels in the fashion industry. Some are, or at least have, got away with charging way more than their goods are really worth in terms of their measureable value. Some of course argue that the value can also be in the feeling of well being that some enjoy when wearing them but...
I could name, shame and indeed praise here but that would be inappropriate. Suffice it to say that there are some brands which appear expensive but which actually represent very good value and others which appear cheap but which do not offer anything like the same value for money.
It's not too hard to work out. Extremes of price are not a bad, if crude measuring stick.
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I worked in the IT industry for a company that invented a sales technique called FUD
Fear uncertainty and doubt.
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FUD must be the default condition of many computer users. Here is a banal story often repeated here:
A chap with an Indian accent and British Christian name called me the other day and asked how I was. I said I was all right, what could I do for him? He said he was calling on behalf of my broadband provider. I said oh yes, who is my broadband provider? He said er, Virgin Media? I said no, goodbye, click.
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I worked for a large, international company that I became so ashamed of I'd tell people I was employed by Inland Revenue instead.
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>> I worked in the IT industry for a company that invented a sales technique called
>> FUD
>>
>> Fear uncertainty and doubt.
or "nobody ever got fired for buying from IBM". Did you have lots of blue suits Zero?
Just googled FUD to see if IBM was credited with it - actually it seems to have been Gene Amdahl who coined the phrase to when he left, presumably to give people a reason not to buy from IBM.
I worked for Next in the 80s, and was reminded the proud boast that we had the biggest Amdahl mainframe installation in Europe, with over 100 MIPS of processor capacity. There's probably more than that in a TV now.
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And where is Amdahl now, just a wikipedia page is all. Gene Amdahl may well have been a genius engineer and computer architect, but the businessman, entrepreneur or strategist he thought he was - most certainly not.
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>> Gene Amdahl may well have been a genius engineer and computer architect, but the businessman, entrepreneur or strategist he thought he was - most certainly not.
>>
And I rember Wang and their non WYSIWYG word processor.
( I still have some very large 1K floppies they required)
Wang too was set to dominate the world and........
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funnily enough, they both blame IBM for their demise....
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>> funnily enough, they both blame IBM for their demise....
This has sparked a little thought, the history of IT is littered with corpses of once very large, very rich, "successful" corporations. I can think of no other industry that has been quite so cannibalistic in such a comparatively short period of time.
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I worked for Wang from late eighties through it's demise into the ownership of Getronics (Dutch telecomms company).
IBM didn't enter into Wang's demise. What did it was the then-CEO casting immense doubt in late '98 (?) that the systems would not be Y2K compliant. I was a senior tech at the time, and there was virtually NO impact from Y2K once the time came along. But the big customers had got off just as quick as they could, despite them being reasonably happy with the mature systems. Once the VS range died (despite attempted resuscitation in the early 2000s) the company had to look elsewhere for revenues - they had a good imaging & workflow product, sold to Kodak (!) because of cash problems. Getronics have recently sold off what I would call teh old Wang.
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Wang was placed firmly in its grave by IBM long before 98. It was a shadow of its former self by then, the VS was never a commercial success.
It didn't help that An Wang and his family were complete fruit cakes.
Last edited by: Zero on Sun 5 Aug 12 at 10:03
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He was pretty good, it was the son the was a nutter. He loved his fast cars etc and wasn't good at business.
Don't recall any direct IBM involvement in Wang's demise. In fact IIRC correctly, Wang went through the fastest Chapter 11 ever at that time. The Wang product pretty much died with Y2K, as above. The name went when Getronics bought them.
Wikipedia sort of confirms this. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_Laboratories
"In 1999 Wang Global, by then back up to $3.5 billion in annual revenues, was acquired by Getronics of The Netherlands," - what demise? :-)
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Revenue? Thats not profit.... As can be seen because they were taken over by a piddly little services company with half the revenue.
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Whatever, IBM can't claim the credit... :-)
Last edited by: smokie on Sun 5 Aug 12 at 10:37
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So Humph , are you George? or F&F?
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I've worked for a couple of dealerships in the last year or two. I've encountered various levels of incompetence, a couple of unpleasantness, no examples of particular dishonesty, no more money-grabbing than any of us, and probably not rob-dogs, although I'm not entirely sure what one of those is.
More usually I work for various venture or private equity funds, sometimes investment banks or other financial institutions.. Professionally they are people I admire, whether or not I personally like or dislike them.
Don't you think that all money making enterprises get slagged off? Sky, Car Dealerships, Banks, etc. etc.
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I worked for a "Licensed" drug producer! - who it transpires have just bought the Olympic drug-testing facilities as a research department for use after the games end!
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Since 1978 I've worked for the best boss in the whole-wide-world ... me!
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I wouldn't work for me if you paid me.
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I work for the council. Probably the biggest rip off merchant in many peoples eyes :)
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Civility and servitude was never for me.
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We don't rip anyone off, in fact we are so good we don't even charge our 'customers'.
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Spent the last 8 years with 2 global electronics companies of East Asian origin.
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We don't rip anyone off it's your choice to pay the expensive rail fare. :-)
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>> Since 1978 I've worked for the best boss in the whole-wide-world ... me!
>>
My first set of Self-Emp' Accounts were in 1977 and I have only worked for the Missus since then. And by George does she crack the whip.........MORE Matron.....MORE.........
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>>And by George does she crack the whip<<
Any pics?
:-D
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"£"
Don't show them to L'Escargot - until you've got a hand-written invoice on velum and he's shown you his wedge...!
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Does his 'Wedge' fit tight these days? (0:-:0)
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>>What category of rip-off merchant did you work for?
I used to work in a Velcro shop. :-)
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I'd have stuck to that if it was me.
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I worked for an MG Rover main dealer '98-'02 first in valeting, then a year in service dept.
They were rip off merchants in that the bills tended to be inflated - try £700 for a big service and MOT on a Metro! But they also did a top quality job and never once did they pretend they were cheap.
Self-employed 10 years this month and I dont feel I rip anyone off, usually customers tell me I dont charge enough though those people tend to tip, so I please the bargin hunters while getting a higher rate from the generous folk.
Ive come to accept that my standards are irrelevant to most people and I try to meet the standard individual customers expect - if they say dont bother this or that, I tend not to whereas in my younger days I would have done, but at the end of the day, so long as they get what they want, job done, however I dont cut corners on what I am asked to do.
When people ask me what needs doing I avoid inflating the job because actually people trust you more if they ask you three times if it needs a polish yet before you say 'could do with it now'. I never put pressure on people to have extra work done, I hate it being done to me so I dont do it to anyone else. Quite often I think jeez the windows are dirty, but I say nothing unless they ask me if they need doing.
My only fault is that if I dont want to do a job, I quote stupidly high ( sustained physical work is beyond me now so anything over 3 hours is a no-no ). Occasionally I get caught out and they say thats ok, so then I say Im booked up for 5 weeks. Typically people carriers, 4x4s and countryside hacks get the unavailable line. If its a semi-clean Porsche Im suddenly available :-)
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>> >>What category of rip-off merchant did you work for?
>>
>> I used to work in a Velcro shop. :-)
Eye wouldnt get hooked on that if i were you.
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I've been ripped off by publishers, editors, minicab operators, market research companies, a school owner, restaurant owners... doubtless others too. But of course it hasn't just been wall to wall being ripped off. Some people were and are all right.
As far as I know I was never ripped off as a labourer in the building industry, or come to think of it by the record industry, although not being a musician I haven't had their hands round my throat as it were. Nor in fact by the tobacco company I worked for in a brief corporate period.
Last edited by: Armel Coussine on Sat 4 Aug 12 at 21:08
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I worked 8 years in Pensions administration, 10 years in supermarkets and now into my sixth year working for a Charity.
The current job is by far, the most rewarding job I have had!
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And here is one to join two threads together, when I worked at Norwich Union many years ago I used to deal with a certain Craig Reedie who was a Financial Adviser at one of the IFAs in Glasgow.
Have just seen him on screen at Jessica Ennis' presentation as he is a member of the International Olympic Committee!! Think badminton was his sport if I remember correctly!
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...he is a member of the International Olympic Committee!!...
He must be one of the few commoners - lots of royal/ruling family members on the IOC I'm told.
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...He is a Sir now !!!...
I bet he still feels below the salt in that company.
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I'm two months into a contract with a bank - the one which which recently lost a Diamond!
I really dislike banks and what they do these days, but it's paying the bills for a bit...
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I'm a prostitute.
I'm pimped out to the highest bidder by the same organisation that had Zero standing on street corners in his fishnets and high heels.
Sleep on that image if you can :-)
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It's OK Kevin, I get pimped out to auto manufacturers so sleep well on 15st Northumbrian in fishnets working on your car...for the last 15 years (various manufacturers).
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>>. . . Zero standing on street corners in his fishnets and high heels.
>>
>> Sleep on that image if you can :-)
>>
Quick! MIND BLEACH!!!!
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The more I think about it the more I like it.
What do they call that street in Paris, runs down towards the Seine from one of the old 17th century city gates... rue St-Denis I think. Down there you may see many a fishnetted Zero, and worse too, no kidding.
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Nah. r. St-Denis, almost for sure.
Made even me feel like a tourist down there...
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Wikipedia
Pigalle (French pronunciation: [pi.ɡal]) is an area in Paris around the Place Pigalle, on the border between the 9th and the 18th arrondissements. It is named after the sculptor Jean-Baptiste Pigalle (1714–1785).
Pigalle is famous for being a tourist district, with many sex shops on Place Pigalle and the main boulevards and prostitutes operating in the side streets. The neighborhood's raunchy reputation led to its World War II nickname of "Pig Alley" by Allied soldiers. The Divan du Monde and the Moulin Rouge, a world-famous cabaret, are both located in Pigalle.
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I used to work for the AA
At first I just took breakdown call but eventually they said that "Service was not as important as sales"
Even on breakdowns they told us we had to "upsell" so rather than just help the poor sod broken down we had to sell 'em more stuff.
Ringing the members in the middle of membership to offer extra packages for nowt because they know that a large percentage of members do not check their renewal notice so these "freebies" are renewed and charged for. If you don't complain withing 14 days you do not get a refund.
Some members got free membership via banks as a benefit to certain types of account. If they were unaware of this and called to join we were not allowed to point out their existing cover. The managers just said "it is up to them to know what they have already" So we signed them up.
Change address and renewals are not seen. I have seen folk with 3 and 4 memberships cos they don't keep track of their bank statements.
VERY icky way to do business.
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I can't resist it. Call me a posturing ponce by all means.
Le fantôme de la Princesse de Galles
Erre, la nuit, dans la place de Pigalle;
Le revenant chic
Demande mornement aux flics
D'Armani la plus proche succursale.
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It's the St Denis area - particularly around the Arche. Used to make me feel young again.
I was always afraid my late mum would find out I was a journalist. She thought I played the piano in a brothel.
Yes, I know...
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>> Used to make me feel young again.
Made me feel pretty young too, battleaxes in full paint and armour more than ready by appearances to do battle... their scornful stares made me feel about seven although I was probably fifty-plus when I took a short cut down there late one night.
Pigalle is totally tourist. Something to do with old fifties gangster movies, Jean Gabin, Rififi, Touchez pas au Grisbi...
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That's right. Not too long ago I was standing outside Le Moulin Rouge and it occurred to me that eight out of ten vehicles in the traffic were coaches full of rubber-necking tourists.
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>> when I took a short cut down there late one night<<
Pull the other one!
(*_*)
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First time in Amsterdam working on the Harwich Hook of Holland ferry for a few months.Special trip with the Queen on board to open the Amsterdam Rhine Canal.Plenty of short cuts can't remember much.>:)
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No, really Perro, go down there around midnight or 1 am if you don't believe me.
Almost at a loss for images, I offer the thought of brisk congress with a heavily made-up giant centipede. But even that is hopelessly colourless.
'Business, earthling?' (Clang squeal!)
Last edited by: Armel Coussine on Sun 5 Aug 12 at 17:32
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It would give me the twitch to go down there Sire, I've lived in Cornwall too long!
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I work for 'Britains leading firm of fixed fee accountants', assuming I still have a job on my return from gamesmaking on Thursday. Rip off merchants we are not.
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I used to work for Dixons, charging £14.99 for a USB cable that they probably paid 20p for. Or perhaps over priced extended warranties especially when the product had a two year manufacturers warranty anyway!.
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I once went to a Peugeot main dealer for a shut-off electromagnet thingy for a 205 diesel (and what a great car it was apart from the unassisted steering). A rather stiff price was quoted. The boy behind the counter looked over his shoulder, then discreetly told me that the diesel specialist down the road would sell me the same part for quite a lot less. And it did.
Excellent lad. I hope you sometimes did the equivalent Sheikha?
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Last 35 years before retiring was in a large UK electronics research lab owned by non-UK
company. Super company to work for. Excellent working conditions and co-workers. A
few characters but no seriously undesirables and I made it on to the principal staff for my
last 15 years. The main company service was second to none. Put that in your RGB pipe.
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>> I used to work for Dixons, charging £14.99 for a USB cable that they probably
>> paid 20p for.
What evidence do you have that they probably bought them at only 20p? In any case, their overheads are probably more relevant than the price they paid.
Last edited by: L'escargot on Mon 6 Aug 12 at 17:08
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The same cable at a main dealer would be £149.99.
Should go to a trusty independent who would let you have it for nothing.
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>> The same cable at a main dealer would be £149.99.
I googled for USB cables but couldn't find one anywhere near as expensive as that.
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>> >> I used to work for Dixons, charging £14.99 for a USB cable that they
>> probably
>> >> paid 20p for.
>>
>> What evidence do you have that they probably bought them at only 20p? In any
>> case, their overheads are probably more relevant than the price they paid.
Blame 'the market'.
Banks sold loans at uneconomic, stupidly low APRs and made the profit on them out of PPI. That was then declared a rip off and they are now having to give the premiums back!
Now that APRs have risen significantly in relation to base rate, banks are seen as profiteering. Not that I hold any brief for them.
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This was back in 2006 think they have put the prices down a bit now as Poundland belt them at for £1 each. A USB cable easily costs 20p or less to make and no doubt DSG buys 10000s of them at massive discount.
They are still at it though, www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/logik-lntse111-cat-5e-networking-cable-1m-10209408-pdt.html
I pay around 80p for those cables, that is not buying them in bulk so how little are Dixons getting them for? Ok mine don't have the fancy retail packaging.
I once got told off for selling an £800 laptop because I didn't sell Norton or a case with it etc.
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Here you go, www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/belkin-f3u154cp-a-to-b-usb-2-0-cable-1-8m-10725293-pdt.html
£17.99 for a USB cable! Of course they do sell cheaper ones, but guess which ones the unsuspecting public should be sold. Edit they do now sell them for £2, but I bet they are quite well hidden in the shop!. Certainly when I was there they were £14.99 but so called half price if you bought a printer.
Last edited by: RattleandSmoke on Mon 6 Aug 12 at 19:00
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As most of our income is State Pension, I guess we "work"" for the biggest rip-off merchants of all - the Government!
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Well I would refuse to take it in disgust ! Vote with your feet.
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>> £17.99 for a USB cable!
yeah but it gets a 10/10 review from Maggie in Sheffield
"Brilliant service, well packaged and works perfectly"
:)
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>The more I think about it the more I like it.
Zero, get a move on! You've pulled.
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If you want to charter one of my company helicopters you are looking at several thousands of dollars per hour....it sounds a lot but the context of that is....
.... to buy each helicopter cost several millions of dollars , multiply by a fleet of 36 and then you have to start adding in the cost of training, crewing ,maintenance , administration etc etc etc......
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What category of rip-off merchant do you work for? - Runfer D'Hills
