Companies you refuse to do business with

[Poli]

I saw this in another forum, thought it might get some interesting responses here as well.

GNC is my first. I worked there, but wouldn't buy anything there without an employee discount. Even with that, you can find products cheaper online. It's more of the convenience factor. I didn't like having to push products I didn't believe in (the store who sells the most Hydroxycut or whatever gets X items!) or for a higher commission.

Volmall.com. Don't even get me started.

[Flasch186]

mpsuperstore online....they suck!!!!

[Easy Mac]

hustler, playboy. We shouldn't have to pay for it.

[hoopsguy]

Burlington Coat Factory - have held a grudge for coming up on 25 years, going back to some fiasco around a sportscoat when I was in 7th grade.

Best Buy - shockingly bad customer service in multiple locations, will look for any and all alternatives before spending money here.

The Great Indoors - a new entry for me, went looking for a Christmas gift there last year and found their customer service to be tragically bad ... bad enough to stand out during Christmas shopping when everyone is running ragged. No one was in the damn store, but all employees were still too busy to help me find a frigging pot rack.

Old Navy - just hated their commercials back in the day. Haven't relented on this one yet.

[Raiders Army]

We're cancelling our Time Warner account and getting internet access through yahoo soon.

I also don't give to bums.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Michigan State University

[Raiders Army]

I'm waiting on the Solecismic response. :)

[sterlingice]

...other stuff...

US Navy? ;)

SI

[Peregrine]

Walmart, I worked there for a while and saw how badly they treated me and other employees, so I don't give them my business.

[Coffee Warlord]

SBC.

[Poli]

US Navy? ;)

SI
Nah, fortunately, the only business I'll be giving them is my taxes...but if I were at the rank I think I should be at I'd stay in.

[GrantDawg]

Bank America

[Warhammer]

American Eagle. Back in college I got a shirt there, and forgot to pay after the first month. They call and tell me it is X, they wouldn't accept a check over the phone, so I cut the check and put it in the mail. From that time, to when it gets to them, it slides into the next period (which happened to be the day after they called me). Which rolls a $1 charge over to the next month. The next month, they hit me with a late charge against the $1 and change. I call and complain and inform that I am not paying it because I had asked them when they called about any finance charge and they said there wouldn't be one if I sent the check immediately. It goes on for about 5 months before someone with a brain understood what I was talking about and looked at the account and saw what happened.

The other is Citgo, Chavez ain't getting my money.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Coors (until it merged with Molson).
Wal-Mart.

[PSUColonel]

The University of Michigan

[Honolulu_Blue]

The University of Michigan

We thank you.

[PSUColonel]

We thank you.



you are very welcome...Is there a reason for your sarcasim?

[FBPro]

Movie Gallery

[Bad-example]

Geico, because they always have their advertising machine set to "11".

[AgustusM]

Earthlink DSL - had to get a lawyer involved when I tried to cancel my service because it didn't work in the new house I moved into - they claimed I "automatically" renewed my service agreement for 2 years by moving and wanted to charge me a cancellation fee even thought they could never get the service up in my new house - took hours on the phone and the work of a lawyer that all cost more then the cancellation fee. However it was all worth it to me - the principle of trying to charge me for a service they couldn't provide was more then I could take.

Dish network - years back I bought an $800 HD/DVR combo from them and it didn't work - when I called I got passed around form one tech to another who couldn't figure it out till another guy told me I needed another part that cost $400. I called comcast and got the same HD/DVR combo the next day for 5 bucks a month. when I called to cancel the Dish - NOW they wanted to assist me, sorry too late.

[rowech]

Best Buy for anything more than $100.

Time Warner once Direct TV finalizes their new HD lineup.

[Subby]

you are very welcome...Is there a reason for your sarcasim?
I am pretty sure that wasn't sarcasim.

[Critch]

Comcast - they suck donkey balls.

[cthomer5000]

Comcast - they suck donkey balls.

If I had a real option, I'd be so on board with this.

[gstelmack]

Best Buy. I've given them an opportunity or two to see if they had righted their ship over a couple of years, and they still screwed something up bigtime in those two attempts. No more, I'm done with them.

I don't think I've ever had a GOOD experience trying to buy something there...

[Antmeister]

I am pretty sure that wasn't sarcasim.

Leave him alone. There are a lot of people that can't spell soccer sim. :p

[Antmeister]

Oh and Bank of America is definitely my choice.

[JeeberD]

Oh and Bank of America is definitely my choice.

Yup, them and MBNA. They both screwed me over mutiple times...

[MacroGuru]

Local store here called Allens Super Market, due to the owner being a jack ass...

Nationally I would have to say....AE due to the piss poor customer service I have received there...

[path12]

Walmart & Capital One

[14ers]

I avoid all products made in China for humanitarian reasons.

[AgustusM]

Comcast - they suck donkey balls.

it is amazing to be the variety to service you get with Comcast.

when they first took over the cable where we live about 8 years ago they were pretty bad and led me to switch to Dish when we got our house.

when I had my issue with Dish I went back to Comcast and they have been AMAZING in the customer service area since we switched about 2 years ago - we rarely have problems and when we do they corrected them pretty much instantly.

[Honolulu_Blue]

it is amazing to be the variety to service you get with Comcast.

when they first took over the cable where we live about 8 years ago they were pretty bad and led me to switch to Dish when we got our house.

when I had my issue with Dish I went back to Comcast and they have been AMAZING in the customer service area since we switched about 2 years ago - we rarely have problems and when we do they corrected them pretty much instantly.

I've had similar experiences with Comcast. Every time something has come up the people on the phone have been great. They are knwoledgeable, helpful, polite, and usually fix the problem. If they can't, someone has always come out right away. The guy who installed our cable and internet in our new house was the bomb. He was here for hours doing it exactly right. He was really friendly and polite. I had to almost force him to take a tip. I have been amazingly pleased with the service I've gotten from them both in D.C.and here.

Direct TV, on the other hand, was horrible. Trying to cancel the service was night impossible and dealing with their billing department was an exercise in frustration.

[dawgfan]

Wal-Mart
Dominos Pizza
Coors
Exxon

[BrianD]

Circuit City - because of their Divx push.

[lighthousekeeper]

Great Clips, after today's fucking disaster.

[Easy Mac]

Great Clips, after today's fucking disaster.

pix plz thx

[miked]

Chase. I had a balance transfer, the guy on the phone told me there was no fee and no interest for a year. Got my bill and there was a 5% transfer fee. I was so mad, I cancelled it and continued making payments (since there was 0% APR) and then a few months later, I noticed I was paying 10% or something. I checked it out, and there was a payment in March or something, and then later that month, a missed payment notification and a rate increase. I called them livid, they told me since I had cancelled, they couldn't lower my rate. When I explained I actually paid and would report them, they waived the late charge they had put on my account, but wouldn't put my rate back. I am still going at it with them and the credit bureau. Dirty tricks.

[Abe Sargent]

Walmart

[st.cronin]

Bank of America is the only one I can think of.

[dj_morton]

anywhere that doesn't ship to APO! i hate that more then anything...i can't get any of the good american products just bc i'm stationed in the UK

[Toddzilla]

I'll never buy a Matrix developed Pro Football simulation

[Toddzilla]

But seriously....

Wal-Mart
Exxon/Mobil
McDonald's

[DanGarion]

Best Buy for anything more than $100.

Time Warner once Direct TV finalizes their new HD lineup.
Time Warner will be doing the same thing...

Anyway, mine would have to be Chase. I hate them, they are idiots.

[DanGarion]

I avoid all products made in China for humanitarian reasons.

So you are living in the stone age still then?

[Subby]

Camden Yards

[Poli]

AE due to the piss poor customer service I have received there...:mad:




:p

[Franklinnoble]

Sony

[Radii]

Wal Mart and I think I'm adding Bellsouth to the list as well.

[Suburban Rhythm]

This doesn't exactly fit the category, since we don't have much control in this decision but--

AFLAC.

AFLAC is who pays the disability claims for my wife's employer (she's a nurse at a fairly highly regarded Children's hospital). Her maternity leave pay is considered short term disability, and therefore paid through the insurer.

Our son was born in early September, and we are still waiting for her check!

My wife has been on the phone with them at least 4-5 times, and me once. They tell us they are looking into it, and will begin processing it. Then, in about 2 weeks, an envelope shows up, and tells us the claim is denied.
I'm not sure if we need to take the baby into the office and/or have her show off the C-section scar.

To make it even funnier, they actually have paid 4 weeks of her 12 week FMLA time. She had some pretty severe morning sickness, and after calling in sick a few times, decided to use a month of her leave at the beginning of the pregnancy, in about February 2006. Those 4 weeks were paid sometime in March 2006.

We had similar issues when our daughter was born in 2004, but nothing like this. It might have been a 4-6 week delay that time.

I am usually pretty calm, but my one time dealing with these people, I just couldn't take anymore. I talked to one girl and one guy, and, while not yelling, ridiculed them both for being so poor at their job. I know it's not entirely their fault, but telling me the same thing that hasn't gotten us 'CLAIM DENIED' the prior 4 times isn't worthy of any praise either.

[King of New York]

Dish Network

Whenever I am feeling down, I remember that I am no longer a Dish network customer, and I start to do a happy dance :D:D

[spleen1015]

Lowes - I hate Jimmie Johnson

[lungs]

Anheuser Busch

Not that they did anything wrong, they just brew their beer in the wrong state.

Kraft

They'll do whatever they can to dick over the farmer and even admit so much.

[wade moore]

Anheuser Busch

Not that they did anything wrong, they just brew their beer in the wrong state.

Kraft

They'll do whatever they can to dick over the farmer and even admit so much.

Hrmm. I think Anheuser Busch brews at least some of their beer in the perfect place.

[14ers]

So you are living in the stone age still then?
It is possible to aviod all products made in China and still lead a normal life.:)

A tip: Just make sure your friends and family know before all the major holidays.



I simply refuse to give a single penny to the Chinese government until basic human rights are addressed.
During the sensitive 2004 anniversary period, officials again held well-known activists, including Ding Zilin, leader of the Tiananmen Mothers advocacy group, under house arrest. State Security officers subjected Dr. Jiang Yanyong to six weeks of intense thought reform. The seventy-two-year-old military doctor had gained international renown for exposing the official cover-up of the SARS epidemic in Beijing. He also had attended to victims the night of June 4, 1989, and, in February 2004, suggested in a private letter to the government that it should “settle the mistakes it committed” in 1989. Dr. Jiang was released on July 19, 2004, but remained under house arrest at this writing.
Would you like to try six weeks of intense thought reform? I belive here in the US we would call this an attempt at brain washing. What is this thought reform? It is just crazy how US Politicians go out of their way to avoid addressing problems in China.

[duckman]

Ultimate Electronics. You can't even go in there to buy speaker wire without someone trying to sell me a big screen.

[Ksyrup]

It is possible to aviod all products made in China and still lead a normal life.:)

A tip: Just make sure your friends and family know before all the major holidays.



I simply refuse to give a single penny to the Chinese government until basic human rights are addressed.

Would you like to try six weeks of intense thought reform? I belive here in the US we would call this an attempt at brain washing. What is this thought reform? It is just crazy how US Politicians go out of their way to avoid addressing problems in China.


That's all fine and dandy, but what's it got to do with the price of tea in China?

[Daimyo]

Earthlink. Signed up for their DSL service six years back and they could never get it to work at my apartment. After spending several months trying to get it to work (and dealing with 2 hour call queues with customer support) I finally just cancelled. Throughout this they were still billing me $50/month for the service. I got a refund and was told I wouldn't have to pay a cancellation fee because the service never worked.

Of course a month later I get my credit card bill with a $150 charge. Tried calling and there was no record or note about not paying the fee. At that point I figured it wasn't worth the hassle to get the money back and just moved on with my life. I worked at a university at the time and tried my hardest to discourage every incoming student I could from using them for service. I hope the $150 was worth it for them.

[RendeR]

Lowes - I hate Jimmie Johnson


Quoted for truth.

[boberot]

RCA [their stuff is crap now]

Wal*Mart

Sallie Mae [I'll be paying off student loans until I'm in my grave. Hate those bastards . . . .]

Time-Warner

Verizon, I am now discovering, is also more than willing to bend you over.
:mad:

[KevinNU7]

Sallie Mae [I'll be paying off student loans until I'm in my grave. Hate those bastards . . . .]

Why is this their fault?

[KevinNU7]

There are plenty of companies I avoid business with and plenty of companies I do not like but still have to do business with but there are no companies I can think of that I refuse to do business with.

[rockboy70]

FEDEX

[BishopMVP]

BOA/FleetBank
Citgo
Starbucks
the Boston Bruins
...

[Izulde]

Domino's & Papa John's - terrible pizza
FYE - way overpriced and unlike Barnes & Noble, which is also overpriced but has the convenience of hard to find items often being available in-store, ranks really, really low on the rarity index

[Glengoyne]

I'll never buy another Sony cordless phone product. Other than that all I have is that online Mat sales company that I'm boycotting.

That about does it. Oh and Nothing that says AOL.

[kingnebwsu]

E.A. Sucks.

If it's in their game, it sucks a lot.

(Rated T for Terrible)

[Craptacular]

I'm very late to the party, but ...

Chili's - ever since they used one of those boy bands in their commercials

Aerosmith - OK, not a company, but I haven't bought a song or album from them, nor really even listened to any of the albums I do have from them, ever since they "performed" with Britney at the Super Bowl

Capital One - we'll hassle you more than anyone else until you get our No Hassle card

Gap / Old Navy - horrible, horrible advertising

Citgo - not just the whole Chavez thing ... the local station sucks a$$

Wisconsin Bell / Ameritech / SBC / AT&T - they can call themselves whatever they want, but they still suck

McDonald's - they've brainwashed enough kids that they don't need to make any attempt at quality

AirTran - if they succeed at taking over Midwest, the only money they'll see of mine is the ~$10 fee you still have to pay when using a FF ticket ... even if they fail, I'll never fly with them

[sabotai]

Not that I REFUSE to do business with these companies, but I avoid them whenever I can.

Borders. They push that "store card" on me multiple times whenever I go in there. Even at the cafe, I got it pitched to me three times. At Barnes and Noble, they just ask me if I have it and that's it. It might be a "per store" basis, like if the store manager demands it or something, but in both Borders I've been to in the last few years, they both tried to get me to sign up for it.

Gamestop. Sort of the same thing. They'll hassle me to preorder a game, which I never do. They'll try and get me to subscribe to a magazine. Try and get me to buy a game cleaning kit or something. I have to decline 2 or 3 things everytime I go in there.

And now Best Buy is getting close to this list as well. No, I don't want the damn Rewards card. And tonight, a $3.99 1-year warrenty for a game? No, stop it!

[EagleFan]

Wachovia - Simply because they used to be FU and that bank really lived up to their initials (I went in to one of their branches with a very valid compliant hoping to speak to a manager and for their version of customer service I was placed at a chair and given a phone which dialed their 800 number so I got the same support as if I were calling from home).

Burger King - Ever since they used TO's agent in a commercial.

Comcast would be close to being on the list but I have no other legitimate option at this point.