The story behind the above article is wrong on so many levels that it
is hard to cover them all. Every aspect of this story points out
both the importance and danger of speaking out against bad service
and dishonesty.
So according to the link a couple ordered a large amount of gifts
from a company website. The website failed to deliver the
merchandise and canceled the order while giving no explanation for
the cancellation. Later, the couple left a less than complimentary
review of the company. The company then fined the couple $3500.00
AND fed bad reports to the three national credit rating services.
The rational was that the couple violated a very hidden clause that
prevents negative reviews on the company website.
Now, on the face of this, the Company's actions were completely
legal. The clause they invoked is in the Terms and Conditions
section of their site and by using the site, it is understood that
you have read the terms and conditions and agreed to them. By
posting the negative review, they violated the agreement and were
subject to punishment because of it. Like I said, completely legal.
However, legal doesn't mean right. First of all, the idea that a
company refuses to allow negative reviews on their website
automatically raises some serious red flags. How much does your
business have to suck to make you ban any negative comments? How
often does what happened to the couple in the article happen to other
people? If you are afraid of people venting their dissatisfaction,
then more than likely you are doing things to earn their ire.
On the other hand, what happened to the couple is a definite
cautionary tale for those who wish to walk the Path of the Ass. More
and more these days, people and corporations are trying to infringe
on the most basic tenets of the 1st Amendment. Besides
the company listed in the article, places like Ebay actively
discourage people from writing uncomplimentary reviews of people who
use their service. Amazon has similar rules. Now neither of those
two actually ban them, but do suggest reaching other methods such as
working with the companies involved to resolve the issue.
It seems like more places and people are trying to legally or even
illegally suppress any negative reactions to them. They put
restrictions on their websites or on their store walls to keep them
safe. And if someone dares to speak out, then they are made to look
bad instead of the offenders. People are being actively discouraged
from complaining when they are treated badly.
I was raised by a man who firmly believed in speaking his mind. If
someone ripped him off, he complained about it and if someone treated
him right he complimented them. He taught me to never be afraid to
say what I feel and to speak out against ill treatment. Even then,
there were perils and pitfalls to doing this. The Path of the Ass
has never been an easy one and the actions of many today are just
making it more difficult.
Like I said in the beginning, the Company's actions are legal at
least on the surface because of an understood contract between them
and the customers. I am not even sure there is a legal recourse for
the couple to escape from the harm that has been done to them.
The 1st Amendment rights of all Americans are under attack
on so many different fronts. Certain corporations are doing their
best to prevent people from speaking out against them. Certain
organizations are doing the same thing. Even certain aspects of our
government are trying to keep people from speaking out. Fear and
intimidation are keeping people from speaking their minds. A special
type of courage is needed now and I pray that more people are up to
the test.
End of Rant
No comments:
Post a Comment