var json_comments = new Array("
\"user-pic\"
dmolavi
March 23, 2009 4:40 PM
Moderate | Flag for review

AIG for the win :)

Reply
7 replies
\"user-pic\"
sporks
March 24, 2009 2:19 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@dmolavi: My brother and I have our brackets filled out. I've got AIG over GM in the final round. I think he's got Time Warner over GM in the final round.

I'm pretty satisfied with my bracket, but pissed that the PCA will obviously get eliminated in the second round.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Greasy Thumb Guzik
March 23, 2009 7:26 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@dmolavi:
I totally agree!
Why are you even holding a contest this year?
No company can possibly beat out AIG at this.
Walmart, United Airlines, Citibank, Bank of America, Comcast, Best Buy & Ticketmaster will all have their supporters, but AIG & its obscene operations will crush the competition.
Peanut Corp would have won in any other year except for the financial meltdown.
US Air won't get many votes, Captain Sully turns the tide for them!

And how come Bernie Madoff isn't in the running?
He had a company, a completely fraudulent one, but still a company.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
coan_net
March 23, 2009 5:28 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@dmolavi: Poor Target, them made it on the Worst Company in America list.

Lucky Target, they got paired with AIG in the opening round

Reply
\"user-pic\"
gStein_*|bringing starpipe back|*
March 24, 2009 2:11 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@coan_net: seriously, who noinated target? and Peanut Corp vs AmEx?
and on the other side, what complaints have people had with GE?

Reply
\"user-pic\"
ViperBorg
March 23, 2009 5:46 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@coan_net: I never thought I'd do this...

*chanting* AIG! AIG! AIG! AIG!

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Irish_Knight
March 23, 2009 5:04 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@dmolavi: took the words outta my mouth....

GM is a close 2nd IMO

Reply
\"user-pic\"
MustyBuckets
March 23, 2009 4:54 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@dmolavi: I second that. I will take bets to that matter, too.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
dmolavi
March 23, 2009 4:42 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

btw, can we get a PDF printable bracket?

Reply
4 replies
\"user-pic\"
ConroyCotta
March 23, 2009 6:30 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@dmolavi: For the sake of trees, I ask you to NOT print this. How frivolous.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
U-235
March 23, 2009 6:59 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@ConroyCotta: Pfft. They (pine trees) are a cash crop. People don't make paper out of mighty Amazon Rain Forest hardwoods. You might have a valid argument if you said \"for the sake of chemical dyes being released into the environment\".

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Greasy Thumb Guzik
March 24, 2009 3:36 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@U-235:
No, but according to news reports the Chinese are cutting down Indonesia's rain forest hardwoods for their paper boxes.
They never bought enough of our scrap paper to come close to supply them.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
curtisawa
March 23, 2009 4:43 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I was leaning AIG without looking, but Ticketmaster will be really tough to beat. A charge to print it myself so they don't have to? Come on.

Reply
3 replies
\"user-pic\"
Guard
March 23, 2009 4:50 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@curtisawa: Pretty much every movie theater does this as well. A \"convenience\" fee is ridiculous, especially considering how much extra work it is.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
JeffM
March 23, 2009 5:30 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@curtisawa: Ummm... Peanut Corp? Ticketmaster hasn't killed anyone (literally) in the last year- (actually I'm not sure, have they?)

Reply
\"user-pic\"
GoldenPolynice
March 24, 2009 3:08 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@JeffM: So your pitch for Ticketmaster is they haven't killed anyone? Setting the bar pretty low there.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
CatMoran
March 24, 2009 4:28 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@GoldenPolynice: It may be epically low, but Ticketmaster cleared it, and Peanut Corp didn't.

I'm just sad that AIG is facing off with Peanut Corp so early.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Rectilinear Propagation
March 23, 2009 5:52 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@JeffM: Yeah, it's kind of a shame that Peanut Corp will have to face off against AIG so early. I'm definitely voting for them over Ticketmaster.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Underpants Gnome
March 23, 2009 4:43 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Barring Walmart institutionalizing a policy requiring all employees be paid in the skins of dead puppies, I think AIG is going to run away with this one.

Reply
4 replies
\"user-pic\"
kaceetheconsumer
March 24, 2009 11:30 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Underpants Gnome: Yeah, normally I have the instant reaction to nominate Walmart for anything along these lines, but this year I had to confess that it wasn't the most evil by far. More like a standard evil. AIG had evil mixed with TEH STOOPID with a side order of fuckwittery.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Corporate-Shill
March 24, 2009 4:27 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Underpants Gnome:


Shush. The memo is already circulating through WallyWorld headquarters as we speak.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
jc364
March 23, 2009 5:11 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Underpants Gnome: That policy, plus a pay increase for all employees, plus a bonus of free wallets made from the skins of more dead puppies.

Although it would still be close...

Reply
\"user-pic\"
rbb
March 23, 2009 5:51 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@jc364: They'd be a sure lock if they used kittens instead of puppies...

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
supercereal
March 23, 2009 4:44 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I'm calling it now -- AIG over Comcast in the biggest blowout of the year!

Reply
4 replies
\"user-pic\"
KCChiefsFan
March 24, 2009 12:18 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@supercereal:

Come on. Comcast is not worse than Peanut Corp of America. I'm calling AIG vs Peanut Corp of America in a bare knuckle brawl for the title.

Then again...Apple is on the tree...and I know a lot of people that would irony vote for it...

Reply
\"user-pic\"
supercereal
March 24, 2009 11:30 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@KCChiefsFan: For someone with a sports team in their user name, I would figure you have a better understanding of how brackets work...

Reply
\"user-pic\"
artki
March 23, 2009 6:17 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@supercereal: Yup, that's the way I'm betting.


Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
ryan_h
March 23, 2009 4:44 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I'm going to have to say, that while there are some beasts on that list, that can go toe-to-toe with the worst of the worst, only one of them went pew pew pew to our economy, so AIG has this for sure.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
dako81
March 23, 2009 4:45 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Comcast vs. AIG

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
Cat_In_A_Hat
March 23, 2009 4:55 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@dako81: Seconded. I'll bet 20 shares of Citi Bank on that one.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
noone1569
March 23, 2009 4:45 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Circuit City isn't a company anymore!

Reply
2 replies
\"user-pic\"
Pete Edlund
March 24, 2009 4:10 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@noone1569: Exactly! In a Worst Company contest, the company that failed, and failed at selling shiny electronics to Americans at that, would seem to have a leg up on the competition.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
courtarro
March 23, 2009 4:54 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@noone1569: If we're looking at the competition year then it was a company during the performance period, so it counts. :D

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
SanDiegoDude
March 23, 2009 4:46 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Going to be tough between AIG (Begging money from the government to keep from failing, then frittering it away on vacations, bonuses and office decorations), Peanut Corp of America (salmonilla sandwich to kill more people anybody?) or Ticketmaster (No no, we don't have those tickets available, but try stubhub, our VERY OWN website where you can purchase the exact same ticket for 5 times the price sold by... whoops, us!)

We'll see. This should be interesting =)

Reply
2 replies
\"user-pic\"
SanDiegoDude
March 23, 2009 9:44 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@SanDiegoDude: @lowercase:

Eh, they're both a market for corrupt resellers.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
lowercase
March 23, 2009 6:23 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@SanDiegoDude: Ticketmaster owns Ticketsnow. StubHub is ebay's.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Matt Dunavant
March 23, 2009 4:47 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

How is Circuit City still on there? They were only operating for 16 days in America. The rest was under a liquidator.

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
Corporate-Shill
March 24, 2009 4:25 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Matt Dunavant:


I have suggest Gordon Brothers takes the CC slot. It is only appropriate.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Caleb Garvey
March 23, 2009 4:48 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

AIG is publicly hated because the media blows everything out of proportion, but they didn't kill anybody.

Peanut Company of America KILLED people...

Reply
6 replies
\"user-pic\"
vladthepaler
March 23, 2009 9:00 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Caleb Garvey:

Fair to say more than a billion people, many of whom haven't even been born yet, will be stuck paying for AIG's idiocy. (Debt from the bailout won't go away quickly, and we're already paying interest on more than $10 trillion.) PCA killed a very small number of people. With all due sympathy for the dead and their loved ones, it's several orders of magnitude from the scale of AIG.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
RedwoodFlyer
March 23, 2009 7:39 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Caleb Garvey: I'm betting that a few people will die from not being able to afford medical needs due to AIG's horseshit now...

Reply
\"user-pic\"
MostlyHarmless
March 23, 2009 7:11 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Caleb Garvey: The problem with AIG isnt the bonuses. The problem is that they CAUSED the original problem which led to the bailouts which caused the media to blow out of proportion the bonuses given to people that caused the original problem.

I hope this makes the cause of the problem clear.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
ncboxer
March 23, 2009 6:36 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Caleb Garvey: But maybe more people killed themselves because of AIG.

I do agree about Peanut Corp. It should be in an easier bracket in order to go further. Those crooks knew their product was contaminated and sold it anyway.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
dragonfire81
March 23, 2009 5:00 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@courtarro: yeah I foresee an AIG vs. Peanut corp deathmatch in the semifinal on that bracket.

I just hope AIG doesn't completely steamroll this thing. I want competition!

Reply
\"user-pic\"
dragonfire81
March 23, 2009 5:00 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@dragonfire81: EDIT: crap that can't be a semi final because they are only two brackets away. Sucky.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
GuJiaXian
March 23, 2009 4:49 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I was thinking that AIG was a shoo-in, but after seeing Peanut Corp. of America in the running...whew. This year the voting will be nasty.

On that note, which is worse--knowingly killing a bunch of people or devastating the world economy?

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
Anonymous
March 23, 2009 8:56 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@GuJiaXian:

They're both responsible for killing people. I'd be willing to bet the number of suicides in relation to the financial disaster far outweighs the people killed by the tainted peanut butter!

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
David M Pondelick
March 23, 2009 4:49 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I am very disappointed that the United States Government is not on here.

Reply
6 replies
\"user-pic\"
snclfe
April 7, 2009 4:41 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@David M Pondelick:
Not a company...

If you want to talk disappointment, I'd like to hear what your HS civics teacher has to say on the matter.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Anonymous
March 23, 2009 10:17 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@David M Pondelick: I can't believe you would even suggest the government. The point of these things are to have a fair competition. Allowing the government to be on the latter would be like letting an NFL team compete in a little league playoff bout.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
vladthepaler
March 23, 2009 8:52 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@David M Pondelick:

So am I. It got quite a few nominations. I'd be curious to hear the rationale for excluding it.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Kitteridge
March 23, 2009 6:28 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@David M Pondelick: Well, it's a cute idea, but as of this past hour, the US Government is not a company.

Not that that can't change, however.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
spoco
March 23, 2009 4:49 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

AIG has an easy first round matchup, but watch out for Peanut Corp of America in the Sweet 16 - that could be an upset.


Walmart is a trendy pick to matchup with AIG in the elite 8, but could get some competition from Best Buy.


Ticketmaster has a cakewalk to the Final Four.


Comcast gets Directv in an ironic first round matchup, and should make the elite eight with ease.


General Motors could provide Comcast competition in the quarterfinal, however.


eBay Paypal should be in everyone's Elite 8, and I don't think Cicuit Shitty should be eligible - they're not a company anymore.


My Final Four: AIG, Ticketmaster, General Motors and eBay/Paypal.


Championship Game: \"The Bailout Bowl\" AIG vs. GM

Reply
3 replies
\"user-pic\"
Rectilinear Propagation
March 23, 2009 5:55 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@spoco: They were a company at some point in the past year.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Cat_In_A_Hat
March 23, 2009 4:58 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@spoco: Agreed. But I wish Ticketmaster and AIG were not on the same end.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
pda_tech_guy
March 23, 2009 4:50 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

i think AIG and the peanut company should be on opposite ends of the bracket, that way they will battle it out for first place.

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
kingofmars
March 23, 2009 6:34 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@pda_tech_guy: Agreed. They deserve as much shame as they can get.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
ADismalScience
March 23, 2009 4:51 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

How does Starbucks get on this list? Maybe a bit of justification for that? They're relatively innocuous.

Reply
4 replies
\"user-pic\"
Corporate-Shill
March 24, 2009 4:24 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@ADismalScience:


I nominated them. I do every year. The air pollution (smells) generated by that company are just horrible.


Burnt Dog Hair is what I call it.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
varro
March 23, 2009 7:24 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@ADismalScience: @ADismalScience: I guess they won the \"Fancy Coffee Companies\" conference, just like Morehead St., Radford, Chattanooga, and E. Tennessee St. won their conferences...

Reply
\"user-pic\"
KyleOrton
March 23, 2009 5:20 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@ADismalScience: For making me feel bad at study groups in college. I looked like such a fool ordering the gourmet soda because I just don't like coffee.

*weeps quietly*

Reply
\"user-pic\"
mzs
March 23, 2009 5:43 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@KyleOrton: How did you have money for gourmet soda in college? I lived on <$2 a day for food my last year, it sucked.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
hi
March 23, 2009 4:53 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Once again Consumerist has failed to include THE WORST Corporation in America \"the Federal Reserve\". Who gave the money to AIG? The Fed. Who is giving away billions of taxpayers money? The Fed. Who refuses to tell anyone where the money went to and what it was spent on? The Fed.

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
Brad Joerres
March 23, 2009 5:31 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@hi: Right on the money. Well, our money!

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
kathyl
March 23, 2009 4:53 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Ugh, T-Mobile against Best Buy? Just based on the way the T-Mobile guys at the mall kiosk ACCOST everyone who has the misfortune to walk past them I want to vote for T-Mobile, but I can't vote Best Buy out of contention in the first round. Damn you!

Reply
3 replies
\"user-pic\"
scoobydoo
March 23, 2009 6:30 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@kathyl: Is that a T-Mobile owned store, or a third party reseller? Because I've never seen a rude corporate owned store, but those resellers are total scum.

I'm not even sure how T-Mobile ended up on the list, have there been that many stories about them that made Consumerist?

Reply
\"user-pic\"
kathyl
March 25, 2009 3:43 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@scoobydoo: No, I'm sorry to tell you that is a *BRANDED* T-Mobile kiosk. I even asked them for clarification once when they wouldn't leave me alone as I stood nearby letting my daughter look in the window of the store by their kiosk. (Asked for clarification so that the complaint I was going to lodge with their parent company would be worded correctly.)

Maybe it's something about the district manager here or something, but every T-Mobile kiosk in the malls around here seem to have a policy of screaming at everyone who goes by and not taking no for an answer unless you actually jog away from them.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
RedwoodFlyer
March 23, 2009 7:41 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@scoobydoo:

3rd party for sure. T.Mo has AWESOME customer service...been with them/Voicestream for 10+ years and we've always been treated great.

Not sure why they're on the list either...

Reply
","","","","
\"user-pic\"
Mike Anderson
March 23, 2009 4:54 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Can we get numerical values on these seeds? I have a vague understanding of what the seeding is, but something like AIG (1) vs. Target (16) would be appreciated. Keep up the good work!

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
PencilSharp
March 23, 2009 7:49 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Mike Anderson: Whoa! Mike! You're actually expecting a bunch of guys who grouch about $200 mil in bonuses and ignore *cue Dr. Evil* one TREEELION dollars in Fed spending to be good at math?
Nurse! More coffee over here for yours truly and Mike. STAT!

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
balls187
March 23, 2009 4:55 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Can you define worst?

If it's by sheer story volume on Consumerist, it's gotta be Worst Buy.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Thomas Oberhauser
March 23, 2009 4:58 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

AIG is this years Enron!!

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
Saboth
March 23, 2009 5:00 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

aig has this all wrapped up.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
NICU
March 23, 2009 5:00 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Man I smell a first round upset with Time Warner taking out Ticketmaster.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
Pixelantes Anonymous
March 23, 2009 5:01 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

AIG and BoA in the final.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Skybolt
March 23, 2009 5:01 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Companies which screw up the economy, like AIG and Citi, do cause deaths indirectly. Anytime you take money out of the system, cause people to lose their jobs, lose health care, increase their stress, etc., a certain number of people are going to die because of that.

Nonetheless it's hard for me not to bet on Peanut Corp., since they knowingly distributed a product that could kill people directly and quickly. Of course we don't really know if Peanut Corp. killed more people directly than Citi or AIG did indirectly.

On the other hand, if you want to look at it in terms of death caused, you have to consider United Healthcare a favorite.

If arrogance, pettiness, and generally having contempt for your customers turns out to be a major factor, then TicketMaster is going to the Final Four.

So that's my Final Four, I suppose: Citibank, AIG, United Healthcare, and Ticketmaster.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Anonymous
March 23, 2009 5:03 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I do like someone's suggestion of the Federal Reserve. They ARE a private company, not a government entity, and they have behaved in horrible ways. However, among the companies that are included in the brackets, there is one thing that stands out to me. Only one company in the running has actually knowingly MURDERED citizens (Peanut Corp). That does kinda stand out, doesn't it?

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Skybolt
March 23, 2009 5:03 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Oops, um, I'll take Peanut Corp. instead of TM.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
deejaypopnfresh
March 23, 2009 5:03 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

best buy and apple get my vote

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
Roy Hobbs
March 23, 2009 5:05 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Without numbers on the seedings here, it is hard to know what the Committee was thinking. AIG is clearly a #1 seed, but everything else is kind of a jumbled mess.

The bracket in the bottom right doesn't have a clear #1, for instance, while AIG's bracket has the Peanut Corporation, which obviously would be a #1 seed in any other bracket.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Skybolt
March 23, 2009 5:05 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I suck. Seeing all those companies together has me incoherent. Peanut Corp., Citibank, United Healthcare, Ticketmaster. K bye.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
Yankees368
March 23, 2009 5:09 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Why is XM not on the list

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
waffles
March 23, 2009 5:20 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Yankees368: Because not enough people voted for it during the nominating period.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
TouchMyMonkey
March 23, 2009 5:20 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

My final four:

AIG
Citibank
GM
BofA

AIG vs. GM in the finals. Beyond that, flip a coin, but I lean AIG.

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
tundey
March 23, 2009 5:20 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Come on, give it to AIG already.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
KyleOrton
March 23, 2009 5:21 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Thanks for making it more concise than last year. I expect to pay attention this time.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
rugman11
March 23, 2009 5:27 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

AIG is the obvious favorite, but don't overlook the Peanut Corp upset in round two. Potentially bankrupting the country is tough to beat, but intentionally infecting people with salmonella could do it.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Bryan Zeski
March 23, 2009 5:27 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Really? Does it get worse than AIG?

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
FessLove
March 23, 2009 5:30 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I'd like to see an AIG, Sprint, Comcast, Bank of America final four

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Oranges w/ Cheese hates what Christmas has become
March 23, 2009 5:30 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

So how do we vote?

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
John Wells
March 23, 2009 5:31 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Why the freak is Apple on the list?

I don't understand this one?
they have made some mistakes, yes. But, to even be in the running for worst company?

I would like to know what the criterion for this decision was??

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Terraxsu
March 23, 2009 5:32 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I think there should be a reshuffling of companies... too many of who I percieve are top contenders ended up on the left side: AIG, Peanut Corp, Best Buy, TicketMaster, etc
But I suppose every team has to lose eventually other than the best of the worst.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
eakwave1
March 23, 2009 5:33 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Peanut Corporation killed people. It has not YET been proven that AIG did. Yet.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
p012382
March 23, 2009 5:36 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

i put my money on AIG.. BIG FAIL right there!

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
ZukeZuke
March 23, 2009 5:36 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

AIG will defeat all.

But no Countrywide?

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
Rectilinear Propagation
March 23, 2009 6:00 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@ZukeZuke: I think Bank of America has owned Countrywide for over a year now. IIRC, they bought them during the last WCIA contest.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
whatdoyoucare
March 23, 2009 5:41 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I would have liked to the Peanut Corp of America on the opposite side of the bracket from AIG. I think those two are the only real contenders.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
bmorg003
March 23, 2009 5:44 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Apart from WalMart instituting a policy of mandatory body cavity searches for customers exiting the store, I gotta say who ever wins round 2 between AIG and Peanut Co. is gonna win in a walk...

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
femmeknitzi
March 23, 2009 5:45 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Wow. So much has changed since last year's brackets. We've gone from companies with bad customer service and inferior products to companies that swindle tax payers and kill people with salmonella to save a buck. How far corporate America has fallen...

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
HungryTuna
March 23, 2009 5:46 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

How did avoid Microsoft not make it on this list? They have a shot at making it into the sweet 16

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Swizzler121
March 23, 2009 5:46 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

So HP is up against WalMart but Gateway, inventor of the Emachine (aka Ewaste) that gets fried every time a thunderstorm comes through. This spring we are going to call death times to at least 20 Emachines in our tiny computer store in Kansas, breaking last years record of 15. I guarantee it.

Reply
2 replies
\"user-pic\"
mbz32190
March 23, 2009 7:05 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Swizzler121: Actually, eMachines was around a long time before Gateway got them.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Swizzler121
March 23, 2009 5:48 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Swizzler121: pressed submit to soon... Gateway, Inventor of The Emachine, is not on the bracket at all? what gives?

*protesting for edit button*

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
audemars
March 23, 2009 5:47 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

i love that apple is on the list, but no microsoft. oh you cute little pc-users.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
Tim Rebstock
March 23, 2009 5:50 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I predict a second round upset of Peanut corporation over, AIG. As bas as AIG has been, they have not been outright responsible for killing anyone. Walmart may be in the running for the whole trampled to death employee thing over Christmas.


Killing people is still worse then bankrupting people in my book.

Reply
","","","","
\"user-pic\"
pepelicious
March 23, 2009 5:54 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I want to say AIG, but I think more people are affected on a day to day basis by Comcast's greediness than were by AIG. I'm used to my tax dollars being wasted, so what's a few dollars more to some old rich white dudes?

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
Rolcol
March 23, 2009 5:56 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

So Apple is a Sponsor? I don't see it at the bottom.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
chrisjames
March 23, 2009 5:57 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Don't forget to declare your winnings on your taxes next year!

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
IC18
March 23, 2009 6:02 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Why in the world is GE in there? If it is for GE Money then I kindda understand.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
coren
March 23, 2009 6:04 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

How does Apple even make this?

More importantly, thank fucking God Diebold isn't on the list this year

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
KStrike155
March 23, 2009 6:04 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

No Microsoft?

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
TerribleDecade
March 23, 2009 6:05 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

This is tough... At least the voting will thin out the herd.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
pal003
March 23, 2009 6:06 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I expect to see Citibank advance forward - as we read more stories about their $10 Million redecorating scam with Taxpayer money.

Disappointed not to see Aetna on the list - they are always at the top of my most-hated list. Along with Comcast - who I expect to make it to the Final Four - they still have the worst pricing and customer service.

But Peanut Co. for the win - because people died from eating food they liked - and Peanut Co. didn't care that people could get sick.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
IC18
March 23, 2009 6:07 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Is it me or does Time Warner Cable has a similar symbol of Ra...(Stargate)?

Reply
1 replies
","
\"user-pic\"
rekoil
March 23, 2009 6:08 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I didn't know defunct corporations (Circuit City, Peanut Corp.) were eligible.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
vastrightwing
March 23, 2009 6:13 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I take issue with AIG. They aren't the problem, sure, they are horrible, but they could not have caused the total mess we're in without the duplicitous B.S. of the U.S. Government. If they had simply let AIG fail, we would all say what a shame and we'd still be in this mess, except now we've thrown away billions of dollars on top of it.


I stand by my previous post, the U.S. Government deserves to win this title and there isn't even a close second!

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
CoarseLive
March 23, 2009 6:14 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Will they receive the coveted golden poop?

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Belabras ate my dingo!
March 23, 2009 6:15 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

AIG vs Comcast for teh win!

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
Jim Fletcher
March 23, 2009 6:17 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

For a more accurate showing, should this be round robin? I have a feeling AIG is gonna stomp Peanut Corp. and force them out of the running early, but that's not an accurate representation of their real ranking... They're certainly gonna be higher on the hate list than, say, Verizon.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
razremytuxbuddy
March 23, 2009 6:19 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I'm going with Citibank as a sleeper to win the whole shebang. There's a long time between now and when the winner is announced, and I predict the public is going to learn a lot of bad about Citibank between now and then. We already know the worst about AIG and Peanut Corp--I think.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
trunkwontopen
March 23, 2009 6:19 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Spring and Verizon on the first tier against eachother in the first round? That is going to be close.

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
diasdiem
March 23, 2009 6:23 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

The real bet's not on which one's going to be the worst. The really wager's on which company's going to come in second to AIG.

Reply
","","","","
\"user-pic\"
kingofmars
March 23, 2009 6:33 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I love the logo, even if it is lifted from the ncaa tournament.
AIG is going to steam roll over Target. Peanut Corp, will also win, which means that either Peanut Corp or AIG will be eliminated fairly early. That's a shame because they both deserve to make it to the Final four.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Chuck Reynolds
March 23, 2009 6:33 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

$100 bux says AIG wins... just fill it in already and call it a day :) But I/We do love all the posts leading up to that with the juicy details.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Joshua Brooks-Budhoo
March 23, 2009 6:33 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Much as I hate UHC and the other insurance companies... I really see AIG running away with this one if their public image keeps getting hammered the way it is right now.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
rolla
March 23, 2009 6:35 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

AIG, but then again, the Peanut Co. did kill people...Peanut Co. gets my vote!

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
rootehound
March 23, 2009 6:37 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

AIG takes it, hands down... BUT, there are a few dark horses that may give them a run for their money. PayPal, Ticketmaster, Walmart have all done some amazingly boneheaded things in the past. There's still time for another monumental screw up from them.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
consumerd
March 23, 2009 6:46 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I can't see AT&T making it to the final four. Ebay/paypal should have no problems getting there. They have screwed more bidders and sellers out of money than what AT&T could on it's best day of the week.

Least with at&t you will hit a human to talk to eventually. Ebay/paypal, you are not even guaranteed that.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
parnote
March 23, 2009 6:57 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

WOW! So many deserved contenders! That's going to make it hard to pick a winner! AIG ... Comcast ... PCA ... Wal-Mart! My, oh my, what a difficult task!

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Project_J187
March 23, 2009 6:57 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Target management just breathed a big sigh of relief. No way will AIG lose to Target in the first round. Til next year, my red logo friend.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
OldStyleLite
March 23, 2009 6:57 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

What about all of the companies that went under? Bear Stearns anyone? I personally nominated WaMu.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Josh Whittington
March 23, 2009 6:58 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Please, tell me, how did Starbucks get on this list? They've done nothing but try to recover from the sinking economy. They've remained innocuous the entire year. How are peoples till hating on them when so many other big players have come into the scene?

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
Rectilinear Propagation
March 23, 2009 9:04 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Josh Whittington: I thought for sure that Cigna would be in there after the story about the girl being denied a liver transplant.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
MarleneMops
March 23, 2009 6:58 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

How do we vote?

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
Rectilinear Propagation
March 23, 2009 9:06 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@MarleneMops: We can't vote yet but they'll be putting up posts with polls in them. They'll all be tagged with \"Worst Company in America\" so you can use [consumerist.com] to make sure you didn't miss any polls.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
bobloblawsblog
March 23, 2009 7:02 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

gotta go w/ paypal. runner up: chase.

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
HooFoot
March 23, 2009 7:13 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I am disappointed by the lack of Monsanto.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Jage
March 23, 2009 7:16 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Why does everyone blame AIG for the bailout?

Why doesn't anyone blame the federal government and B Obama?

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Michelle Halverson
March 23, 2009 7:17 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I'd say any one of the banks or credit card companies on here are the worst. They are clueless about their own industry, what can be worse then that?

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Christian Villegas
March 23, 2009 7:24 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

AIG!

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
Corporate_guy
March 23, 2009 7:38 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

The final game will be Peanut Corp Vs. Sears with Peanut Corp taking it all.

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
Wang_Chung_Tonight
March 23, 2009 7:44 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

let's hear it for the US government!

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Adam Notmyname
March 23, 2009 7:45 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY!!!
2 EXECS!
0 RULES!
1 THUNDERDOME!
THOUSANDS OF WEAPONS!
ONLY 1 BRAND SHAFTS YOU THE HARDEST!!!!!

(not available in all areas, some restrictions apply, thunderdome does not contain thunder)

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Urgleglurk
March 23, 2009 7:48 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

AIG! AIG! AIG!

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
valen
March 23, 2009 7:55 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

AIG: The Strength To Win WCIA

I think AIG will be going all the way (and then some) on this contest.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
okrick
March 23, 2009 8:01 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

How do we vote?

For the first round I pick:
AIG
Peanut Corp
Walmart
Best Buy
Ticketmaster
United Health Care
Citibank
General Motors
GE
Chrysler
AT&T
Starbucks

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Yoko Broke Up The Beatles
March 23, 2009 8:02 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

\"Not sponsored by:\" - classic.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
ShadowFalls
March 23, 2009 8:34 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Talk about kicking someone while they are down, Circuit City is done for already... But they were still existing during the period anyways. Though, if we are going for the worst company of 2009, the one not still in business seems like a certain winner. I guess it depends on your definition of \"worst\".

For those mentioning other things like the \"Federal Reserve\". That isn't a company. If we were going with the worst part of the US federal government of 2009, then yeah...

With the heated emotions of late, we all know AIG is going to be the head of the pack. Even though some of the companies listed there actually were involved with endangering lives or killing people.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Bahnburner
March 23, 2009 8:45 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

U.S. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FTW! The N.Y. Yankees of suck.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
HeartBurnKid, creepy morbid freak
March 23, 2009 8:47 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

AIG vs. GM in the final.

BOOK IT!

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
AstridWoodpecker
March 23, 2009 8:50 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

So how do we place our votes?

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
RandaPanda
March 23, 2009 8:55 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

how and when do we vote? The public is dying to know and place their votes!


Personally I'm of the AIG Vs. Comcast camp.


AIG has been a financial nightmare and comcast is a customer service nightmare, so it balances out alright.


I'm sad to see that Microsoft is not on the list, as well as the US government.


And Starbucks? Really? Unless this has anything to do with the article about the preditory towing and the guy that was AT starbucks, I don't see how they got on the list.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
mrbofus
March 23, 2009 8:56 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

how do we vote?

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Dethzilla
March 23, 2009 8:58 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

This is like... having the Oscars when you know Batman Should get Movie of the year.


Oh wait...

Reply
","","","","","
\"user-pic\"
impetus
March 23, 2009 9:28 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

no Monster Cable?

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
j-o-h-n
March 23, 2009 9:36 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Calling round 1:
AIG, Peanut Killers of America, WalMart, Best Buy, Ticketmaster, UHC, Sprint, Citi
Comcast, US Air, GM, Sears, eBay, Chrysler, Circuit City, BoA

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
ReverendBrown
March 23, 2009 9:52 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Well. I can only hope my picks here beat out my march brackets. Here's to peanuts and AT&T :|

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
trujunglist
March 23, 2009 10:13 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I would've put Peanut Corp and AIG on opposite sides of the bracket because you have to give the \"best\" teams the best chance at winning. Plus, Peanut Corp should be a #1 seed without question. Then it would probably be AIG vs Peanut Corp in the finals with AIG winning it all.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
trujunglist
March 23, 2009 10:16 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Hey consumerist guys, you know what would be fun? You know how big name websites like ESPN have a bracket buster challenge, where you get you submit a bracket, and then the person with the most points wins some sort of prize? You know how you guys have a big name backer for your website that constantly gets to test products, I assume for free? You know how I've always wanted a 50\" Samsung? Do you know that lots of people would visit your site just to take part in this contest?
...Do you guys get where I'm going with this?

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
bananaboat
March 23, 2009 10:20 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I would say AIG but GM is tempting with the same attitude - we're too big to fail so give us millions more than we said 2 months ago. And you think that number won't keep rising like a nasty drug habit.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
nudger
March 23, 2009 10:33 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

The pitchforks and rakes say AIG. But the Peanut People deserve some serious consideration just on style points.


Warning - shameless plug to follow:


You don't have to wait! You can vote right away on all these companies at [www.vanno.com] And your votes get turned into more real-time rankings that you can argue about and comment on right away. The fun happens every day at Vanno...

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
allstarecho
March 23, 2009 10:43 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Seriously, how can you have Circuit City when they aren't in business anymore??

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
yagisencho
March 23, 2009 10:51 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I think AIG wins by default, no? We should just hold a runner-up contest this year.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
runswithscissors
March 23, 2009 11:01 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

As tempting as it is to vote for the Peanut folks, what's the point? They're already out of business and done, gone, kaput.

I want the Golden Turd to go to a company still in business, not awarded to a defunct entity. Seems like wasting the message of the Golden Turd, you know?

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
KenJason
March 23, 2009 11:11 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I like the bracket contest I idea. I'd get in on that.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Bs Baldwin
March 23, 2009 11:46 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

It is going to be Peanut Corp, Ticketmaster, GM and CC in the finals.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
SillyinPhilly
March 24, 2009 12:26 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

Does the company still have to exist at the final? If yes, GM might be a poor bet.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
AtomicPlayboy
March 24, 2009 12:55 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

Can I bet on Apple and take the 2,812,736,239:1 odds? Actually, now that Consumerist is no longer a Gawker property, those odds may have come down a bit. The same people who nonsensically nominated Diebold last year will probably focus their disdain on bete-noire AIG this time around, so that's gotta be even, easy money.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
jwissick
March 24, 2009 12:55 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

Wait! Can we put Congress in there too? They do own a lot of some of the companies.

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
SpruceStreetPhil - in a new Pine flavor
March 24, 2009 2:46 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

screw AIG, where in the world is Monster?

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
RandomHookup
March 25, 2009 4:54 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@SpruceStreetPhil: Which one?


Monster Cables?
Monster.com?
Monster MiniGolf?
Monsters, Inc.?
The Green Monster seats at Fenway Park?


[consumerist.com]

Reply
","","","","
\"user-pic\"
threlkelded
March 24, 2009 4:15 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

Hurrah! It's my favorite time of year!

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Corporate-Shill
March 24, 2009 4:23 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

Circuit City can be eliminated.


Substitute Gordon Brothers into the CC slot.

Reply
","","","","
\"user-pic\"
ageshin
March 24, 2009 4:42 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

I might point out that AIG has changed its name to AIU. I am sure it was because it was to wiggle out of this contest. AIU could care less what AIG does.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
gman863
March 24, 2009 5:57 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

Why are we even bothering with the brackets and voting bullshit? AIG versus the rest of the list is like pitting the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers against Special Olympics football teams.


Next year, my vote is to change the Golden Poo award to an Oscars-style competition: Worst Retailer. Worst Communications Company. Worst Financial Company. Worst Corporate Scandal. One winner from each catagory will then advance to the ultimate Worst Company in America.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Barney_The Plug_ Frank
March 24, 2009 6:58 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

Why is Circuit City in the bracket? They failed to make the playoffs.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
Rectilinear Propagation
March 24, 2009 1:06 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I disagree with the idea that going out of business somehow absolves a company of the wrongdoing they did in the past year or that it's a \"waste\" to acknowledge that they did the most harm.

They shouldn't get a pass just because they'd rather put thousands of people out of work rather than fix their problems.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
veg-o-matic
March 24, 2009 2:48 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Can we have a separate - dignified yet subdued - Awards Ceremony for Technical Achievements?
Hell, it doesn't even have to be a competition, companies like Bealls, AT&T and Whole Foods are all winners!

We can set up a sweet meeting facility at the nearest HoJos.

Reply
","","","","
\"user-pic\"
lunarworks
March 24, 2009 9:04 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

The criteria was nominations. For some reason there's a lot of haterade towards Apple. (Like that whole nonsensical blow-up over \"DRM\" in the iPod shuffle's earphones that hasn't died-out yet.)

Reply
","","","","
\"user-pic\"
failurate
March 25, 2009 4:50 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

It always baffles me that people will put Ticketmaster and other entertainment companies ahead of companies that either: 1. kill people 2. destroy the economy 3. ruin people's lives.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
superberg
March 26, 2009 10:13 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I realize it's a little late, but why Apple and not Microsoft?

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
Anonymous
March 30, 2009 9:04 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@superberg: Because Apple likes to be sneaking about screwing you, Microsoft at least makes it obvious and is up front about it. Vista isn't as bad as people make it sound, but frankly Apple pulls some serious crap (DRM, new control chips, etc).

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Anonymous
March 27, 2009 10:56 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

Some of you people are whacked. No other company matches the shenanigans of Peanut Corp. of America. They knowingly shipped peanut butter w/ salmonella and caused illness and death. What is worse that that? Hey, that hidden bank charge might be a bitch but at least you and your kids get to live another day.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
RB_Bhoy
March 28, 2009 4:28 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

my elite 8: AIG, walmart, ticketmaster, citibank, comcast, chase, ebay/pp, and BoA (edging out CC in 3OT!!)

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
skywatchbob
March 28, 2009 1:29 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Too bad AIG and Peanut corp will square off so early. They are clearly the most evil companies in America. Ticket Master is the third most evil company because they are nothing but a parasite. They greatly inflate ticket prices to concerts and charge ridiculous fees on top of those prices but bring nothing of value to the consumer.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Anonymous
March 30, 2009 9:02 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I had a problem at Best Buy, e-mailed corporate and they not only apologized but they gave me a full refund (despite that being more than what I asked for). They were very nice about it.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
Nathan Beers
April 2, 2009 5:27 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Is it too late to add SlingMedia to this?

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Bernhard Fraling
April 5, 2009 6:12 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I am very interested in the high qulified information of consumerist.com. Best wishes from Germany

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
Anonymous
April 22, 2009 4:33 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

dudes - i can't believe you didn't include Sony in this. They would go much deeper than companies like American Express, Sears, Dell and Home Depot. Come on now...

Also - Ticketmaster vs. Time Warner in round 1 was brutal. Real shame to eliminate one of those powerhouses so early.

Reply
");