Comments for Consumerist Starts Taking It Seriously?

Consumerist Starts Taking It Seriously?

2009-05-08T20:36:37Z

Why so serious? Can all these companies really be taking all of these incidents as seriously as they say? Or is "taking it seriously" really just "disaster ketchup," an all-purpose phrase you can toss on any situation and mask the underlying bad taste it leaves in your mouth? We have no idea, we just know that as long as companies keep messing up, "taking it seriously" will still be with us. However, we have our own policy about "taking it seriously" on Consumerist, which you'll have to watch this video of me inside the Consumers Union anechoic testing chamber to find out. And if it's a policy you agree with, shove some bucks in our tipjar at donatetoconsumerist.com.

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Comment from Rectilinear Propagation on 2009-05-11

2009-05-11T20:36:33Z

@mac-phisto: I'll do it for them if there's a YouTube version of this.

Comment from MooseOfReason on 2009-05-10

2009-05-10T08:50:13Z

Like, zoinks, Ben!

Comment from skizsrodt on 2009-05-09

2009-05-09T11:55:27Z

@Con Seannery '09: Illegal in 1 Giz: It's in the mail.

Comment from Brian W. on 2009-05-09

2009-05-09T10:27:50Z

@B-Dubs:

Comment from Brian W. on 2009-05-09

2009-05-09T10:18:22Z

@alternatestory: With his picture above, Ben kinda looks like Jon Stewart:

Comment from catastrophegirl on 2009-05-09

2009-05-09T10:12:43Z

@Tim Henson Queers Me _GitEmSteveDave: also, i find cats with cake to be an acceptable second choice

Comment from Con Seannery '09: Illegal in 1 Giz on 2009-05-09

2009-05-09T08:33:19Z

@dave_coder: But do you already have a product from this post that you MUST come back in here for after a regrettable decision to shop in this post?

Comment from dave_coder on 2009-05-09

2009-05-09T06:42:03Z

@Con Seannery '09: Illegal in 1 Giz: You can but you can also walk past the Best Buy.

Comment from Knippschild on 2009-05-08

2009-05-09T04:52:25Z

@YouDidWhatNow?: mostly because I'm attracted to attractive females.

Ben rocks too.. just I don't swing that way.

Comment from changed my name on 2009-05-08

2009-05-09T03:21:13Z

Ben looks like he's about to bust out crying in that picture. It's o.k. Ben....please don't cry - we'll donate!

Comment from Con Seannery '09: Illegal in 1 Giz on 2009-05-08

2009-05-09T03:18:31Z

@skizsrodt: Tell you what. I'll take the check and see about forwarding to them. I hear their accountant goes by "Con Seannery."

Comment from Con Seannery '09: Illegal in 1 Giz on 2009-05-08

2009-05-09T03:16:16Z

@dave_coder: But can you simply scroll past the bad service when your product fails without any ill effects?

Comment from skizsrodt on 2009-05-08

2009-05-09T01:45:05Z

Can I just send in a check without filling paperwork? That means I have to hook up my printer and thats ALLLLLLL the way upstairs, and that just sounds like work. Do you accept blank checks? let me knwo so we can get this thing hashed out. I am totally dependant on this site for all my news, satire, information, and meeting hot woman wih a similar taste in consumer protection information. SO hot.

Comment from ajlei on 2009-05-08

2009-05-09T01:38:24Z

Okay, well I tried to donate, entered all my info and hit "Complete Donation" and a little pop up box said "don't click anything, wait 30 seconds, etc., hit ok" but there was no OK button! I left it for about five minutes. So.. I don't know. Has anyone else had Firefox issues? I want to donate!

Comment from What The Geek on 2009-05-08

2009-05-09T01:13:00Z

@dave_coder: I would also have to call the video itself an ad, seeing as the "please donate" screen was up longer then Ben himself.

Comment from Myownheroine on 2009-05-08

2009-05-09T01:11:36Z

You guys should have at least $3 as your default setting. If you want to keep it low, fine, but the more you ask for, the more you get.

But the 65.00 right next to the "other amount" is a smart move.

Psychology, people. Touchy-feely we're-do-gooders doesn't work nearly as well as manipulating people's emotions in drawing money out.

I konw where you're going with all these Donate-to-Consumerist videos though; it's been done before:

+ Watch video

Comment from ajlei on 2009-05-08

2009-05-09T01:06:47Z

Okay, this one made me laugh. And I just got paid, so I'm off to donate!

Comment from dave_coder on 2009-05-08

2009-05-09T01:02:30Z

@Con Seannery '09: Illegal in 1 Giz: Since the Consumerist is pretty much all about "bitching" rather then ignoring the bad service companies provide such comments are hypocrisy.

Comment from Con Seannery '09: Illegal in 1 Giz on 2009-05-08

2009-05-09T00:52:16Z

@Chantillian: Or, you know, they could just SCROLL PAST THE DAMN POST rather than clicking on it and taking the time to come in here and bitch.

Comment from mac-phisto on 2009-05-08

2009-05-09T00:21:36Z

@alternatestory: i always thought he looked like dave foley of kids in the hall/newsradio fame (before he doubled his weight, of course).

Comment from alternatestory on 2009-05-08

2009-05-09T00:04:39Z

I figured out who Ben reminds me of: [www.imdb.com] Anybody else see a resemblance?

Comment from alternatestory on 2009-05-08

2009-05-09T00:03:38Z

@Tim Henson Queers Me _GitEmSteveDave: Yes! Mor Captain Duvall Money Cat plz!

Comment from YouDidWhatNow? on 2009-05-08

2009-05-08T23:57:51Z

@Knippschild:

Yes. More Meg please. Not that Ben isn't great and all, but Meg > Ben.

Comment from Crabby Cakes on 2009-05-08

2009-05-08T23:48:14Z

@mac-phisto: Let's have it auto-respond to every "I hate these tipjar videos!" comments as well.

Comment from NORMLgirl on 2009-05-08

2009-05-08T23:12:24Z

I don't think they are overdoing it. It took me this long to donate... Some of us need reminders.

Couldn't watch the video but I can see Ben's close-up. How could I say no to that face?!

Comment from Chantillian on 2009-05-08

2009-05-08T22:59:12Z

Suggestion: subscribers to consumerreports.org ought to be able to avoid these pleas without resorting to, say, carefully constructed consumerist.com URLs.

Comment from TheDude06 on 2009-05-08

2009-05-08T22:49:09Z

I like the tipjar idea, i really do. But if every 3rd time i went to get coffee they waved the tipjar in my face, id start to resent it. just put the link over on the side, and hope for the best. Constantly begging for donations really classes this place down.

if finances are so dire, how about taking it at least like NPR does? beg for money like crazy for an entire week twice a year?

Comment from BeerManMike on 2009-05-08

2009-05-08T22:39:06Z

@GretaDandradeine: I think its called "Photoshop for men".

Comment from Knippschild on 2009-05-08

2009-05-08T22:31:44Z

I still think Meg is adorable.

Comment from mac-phisto on 2009-05-08

2009-05-08T22:17:53Z

lol. great video, ben. you should get a programmer to auto-respond this video to "what does this have to do with...?/slow news day/can't take you seriously when you post crap like this/don't you fact-check?" comments that weasel their way into the discussions.

Comment from SynMonger on 2009-05-08

2009-05-08T21:47:22Z

@Tim Henson Queers Me _GitEmSteveDave:

Tax Cat sez: This post is relevant to my interests.

Comment from Tim Henson Queers Me _GitEmSteveDave on 2009-05-08

2009-05-08T21:44:51Z

Ben, how about some Captain Duvall Money Cat? He works for oatmeal! If you put him in a video, and buy him some oatmeal, I will cover the cost of the oatmeal AND donate 5 extra dollars.

Comment from pecan 3.14159265 on 2009-05-08

2009-05-08T21:39:55Z

For some reason, the video won't play. It's just in pause. :(

Comment from GretaDandradeine on 2009-05-08

2009-05-08T21:31:52Z

roflmao!!!

Comment from Ben Popken on 2009-05-08

2009-05-08T21:29:08Z

@GretaDandradeine: Justice juice.

Comment from GretaDandradeine on 2009-05-08

2009-05-08T21:21:37Z

@idip:

I've never been to NY, so i'm not really sure what to expect..?! Tell me what i'm missing?! lol

Here i thought i was just buying the wrong products ..maybe it's time to Move!! :p

Comment from idip on 2009-05-08

2009-05-08T21:17:23Z

@GretaDandradeine: If i lived in NY, I would have flawless skin too!

Unfortunantly I don't. Here I can't go more then 2-3 weeks without a hair cut because my long man 'bangs' cause my forehead to get greasy and i break out. Sigh...

Comment from GretaDandradeine on 2009-05-08

2009-05-08T21:02:05Z

bloody eh Ben!! What kind of Skin Product are you using? i don't see ney 1 blemish, maybe a bit o' prep H under the eyes but smooth as baby's Bottom..nicely done.

Sorry ..i just couldn't help noticed seeing as it's ZOOMED :p

And i've already donated -

Have You Already DONATED TODAY??!

Comment from dave_coder on 2009-05-08

2009-05-08T20:52:35Z

You know...you can't say "ad-free" when you have consumers unions ads everywhere.

Love the videos however. :)

Comment from Tbdsamman on 2009-05-08

2009-05-08T20:42:53Z

Why so serious?