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Hmm, I got the original email about the checkout credits and haven't gotten this email. We'll see.
Hmm, I got the original email about the checkout credits and haven't gotten this email. We'll see.
the refund screwed up a lot of people's 0% BT for life on credit cards that require a minimum purchase.
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Wow, that's the first time I've ever seen people complain about getting a refund!
@Squeezer99: That is the first time I've ever seen people complain about getting refunded! Especially after they complain about NOT getting refunded!
I think these people would have complained no matter what.
Whoops. Sorry about the doublepost... reloaded several times, but the first one didn't appear til after I posted again regardless.
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So Google returned all the money that anyone spent (rent or buy) on a beta service. That you \"had\" to use to buy something online. Now they're going to - on top of that (which is more than I've seen any company do - reverse charges on the credit cards. Saying, \"Hey, guys, keep the refund we already gave you (even those that have rented, which, well: FREE RENTAL).\"
All for a problem that arose because the studios foisted a DRM scheme that - had they their druthers - they wouldn't have used anyway.
And there are people still complaining?
Geezus, there's being an active consumer, and there's ungrateful, misdirected whining. Save the big guns for companies that do evil next time, huh?
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Good. That's what they should have done in the first place.
Anyone who's still pissed should learn a lesson: if you buy something with DRM, you don't really own it. Do not buy DRM.
Yes, this isn't Google being all that great and awesome to customers. This is google being shamed into doing the right thing. If noone complained, then everyone would have been stuck with that Google Checkout credit.
Of course, give Google credit for making amends when they do drop the ball.
@AdmiralNelson: On the other hand, there are companies who would respond to all those complaints with \"neener neener, we're big and rich and there's nothing you can do about it.\"
Some places are willing to take the PR hit to save money. Google, because of the corporate image it's trying to project, isn't. I know it's a cynical move on their part, but I like their cynicism better than the other kind.
Where's the shame? They announced their beyond-the-call-of-duty reimbursement for those who bought into a speculative format the same day they announced, \"This doesn't work in the way that the studios made us deliver it.\"
Again, save the big guns for companies that don't strive to do the right thing. Google at least tries (we can disagree whether they are successful, but it's pretty clear they're trying, right?)
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Hmmm, good business practices=good business.
I still can't believe Google has humans working the company. I hope Google won't be going anywhere for a while. From what I'm seeing Google is a pretty good semi-monopoly, however they do need competition to keep them in perfect line.
But the 2x refund is probably worth it for Google's FUTURE PR.
Glad to see Google doing the right thing. I've always enjoyed their products and hopefully they can show that not being gigantic jerks to your customers is a viable business strategy.