U.S. Government Investigation Doesn’t Stop Online Retailers From ‘Scamming’ Customers ~ The Blade by Ron Schenone, MVP

HOMEWORK, PF3, ENG1

U.S. Government Investigation Doesn’t Stop Online Retailers From ‘Scamming’ Customers ~ The Blade by Ron Schenone, MVP: "Even after an investigation by the U.S. government, most online retailers who participate in a marketing gimmick that appears to deceive online consumers continue in this practice unabated. What is being called a ’scam,’ ‘robbery,’ and ‘theft’ by consumers and U.S. senators involves a marketing scheme that dupes the consumer into signing up unknowingly to monthly charges. The online retailers involved state it is the consumers’ fault, not theirs.

Here is how the alleged scam operates. Once a consumer completes a transaction, what appears as a $10 refund coupon pops up on the screen. If a consumer accepts the terms of the coupon, they are automatically billed a monthly charge. Most consumers do not realize that the retailer provides your credit card information to the companies running these ads.

At CNET, a recent article states:

Now, the bad news: the marketers–Affinion, Vertrue, and Webloyalty–are still in business and judging from the responses of many of the retailers involved, such as Priceline, Classmates.com, FTD, Shutterfly, and Orbitz, it will be business as usual. They see nothing wrong with the marketing practices that millions of angry online shoppers and members of the U.S. Senate have called a “scam,” “robbery” and “theft.”

The inference is clear: The people complaining about this are the ones who screwed up. The terms of the deal were all in the ad so that means anyone who was charged the monthly fee either wanted it at the time or was negligent.

One would think that this would be a simple matter to fix. The online retailer can insert a big bold disclosure stating this is a membership agreement and you will be charged a monthly fee. But this doesn’t appear to be what the online retailers wish to do. They see a money making machine and will continue to scam the consumer.

So what do you think? Scam, or the fault of consumers for not reading the fine print?

Should these sites be boycotted if they continue to use these ads?

Comments welcome."

ENG1

Blackboard Academic Suite: "Mon, Nov 23, 2009 -- ibv.0409.eng1: ENG1 portfolio
to all ENG1 students:

your PORTFOLIO must be made up as a binder including ALL elements listed in your syllabus, appendix 13, page 49! It must be well organized including a TITLE/COVER PAGE as well as a TABLE OF CONTENTS. Posted by: Ellen Nerbonne EI
Announcement Icon Mon, Nov 23, 2009 -- ibv.0409.eng1: ENG1 re: class D--Wednesdays/Nerbonne

Dear ENG1 students:

REMINDER:

1. you must bring your SYLLABUS (2008/9 version!) and MARKET LEADER to all classes (BGB is self study--make sure you do it as scheduled!!).

2. you must be prepared for class as all homework/preparation will be checked in class--as hardly anyone had the ML last week, I need to check week 1 AND week 2 assignments this Wednesday! (PF1 summary: put in your PF)

3. read the instructions on page 5 very carefully ('week 2 preparation') and make sure you do the '(1) case study' (PF2--put in your PF) and '(2) reading and vocab building' (PF3)exactly as described!

4. Team Meetings: you need to follow instructions as given on page 3 (and page 5 (1))!!

good luck further,

Mrs. Nerbonne
ps--If you have not officially registered on PROGRESS go to the admin IMMEDIATELY--you need to be on the PROGRESS class list asap!"

写在荷兰语考试前

11点就考荷兰语了，实在是没有什么心情。这周可是宅的十分厉害，足不出户。这周又没有一些美剧看。于是就很无聊的看些电影。从《第九区》的推荐，下了部《科洛弗档案》看，是上半年就有了的，当时没注意。镜头的确晃得厉害。但是对于我这种打CS的，没有3D眩晕症的人来说就无所谓了。跟《第九区》一样结局有些悬疑，留着给下一部了。