The Shit Companies Blog

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Tip#1 - Google First
Google around the company and it's product or service BEFORE purchasing! See what other users/owners are saying. For example go to Google and type in a search string such as "Amazon Credit Card Reviews".

Tip#2 - Don't Call Sales Call Support
BEFORE contacting (by phone/email or otherwise) the "sales side" of the company, try contacting the support and customer services side pretending to be an existing customer. Usually there will be a stark contrast in the attitude, call hold time Etc.

For example the O2 website offers the number 0870 225 7879 to buy. But you should first ask around owners and get the number you dial after a purchase (which in the case of O2 is 0870 5860860). Call the latter number claiming to not know your number and ask some theoretical questions. Often you will find that non-sales number has a queue so long, an IVR so deep and customer services which such a bad attitude that you can skip the company and try the next one before committing to a purchase.

List of companies that I have found to far exceed their direct competitors.

• Amazon.co.uk (but NOT their credit card offering!)
  
• BBC
  
• Flybe
• Viking-Direct
  

Here is a list of the companies including their products and/or services (where relevant) that I would not touch with a barge pole given a choice. You have been warned!

• O2
• Amazon Credit Card
• Vodafone
• CDR By Mail
• Weatherseal Double Glazing
• Air France
• KLM

Corresponding posts aginst the companies (listed in alphabetical order):

I've long given up on this company and unless I am forced to use them again at some point probably will not bother writing anything up. But I will say that even my credit card company felt so sorry for my experiences with them that they refunded flights that I had taken! The primary reason I avoid them is they seem to cancel flights at the drop of a hat. I had long been suspicious that if flights were not full enough and there was a later one they would cancel the first and put everyone on the second one. I've challenged them about this and they deny it.

http://shitcompanies.blogspot.com/2006/10/amazon-credit-card-story-part-1.html
http://shitcompanies.blogspot.com/2006/10/amazon-credit-card-story-part-2.html
http://shitcompanies.blogspot.com/2006/10/amazon-credit-card-story-part-3.html
http://shitcompanies.blogspot.com/2006/11/amazon-credit-card-reviews.html
I will blog something soon.

I started to avoid them before they got taken over by Air France who I also avoid. Far too many missed connections! Plus they give your connecting seat away very quick so that even if you make it to the gate in time, your seat is gone. I've avoided them long before this blog so I doubt I will write anything unless forced to use them again at some point.

http://shitcompanies.blogspot.com/2006/10/o2-call-centre-gimps.html
http://shitcompanies.blogspot.com/2006/10/o2-can-record-you-but-you-cannot.html
http://shitcompanies.blogspot.com/2006/10/o2-number-blocking-part-1.html
http://shitcompanies.blogspot.com/2006/10/o2-number-blocking-part-2.html