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Oh noes! Now they will sues the internet!
3 replies
Oh noes! Now they will sues the internet!
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This is so false and defamatory.
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@Smashville_makes his own comments at home: I would like to nominate Cash4Gold for next years golden turd award. I would like to, but they would probably only send back a cheque for two dollars.
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When will companies (particularly dirtbag companies) ever learn that suing people to shut them up almost always has the opposite effect of what they're intending?
Not only are they not getting what they're after, they now will have a bazillion people that had never *heard* of cash4gold finding out that they are complete asshats who not only take advantage of their customers, but will go to great lengths to be able to continue their scam.
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@calchip: is there a theory regarding this phenomenon? or a name for the phenomenon of \"telling a blogger to keep something quiet leads to them screaming it from the rooftops, then other bloggers start screaming too\"?
@calchip: >>When will companies (particularly dirtbag companies) ever learn that suing people to shut them up almost always has the opposite effect of what they're intending?<<
If CEO Arronson actually thought that far, he would've laid off the Big Macs and fried twinkies 200 lbs ago.
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Get ready for the DMCA requests.
Uh, they do know that Consumerist's parent company is now Consumer Reports, right? That it's not just some website?
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@Smashville_makes his own comments at home: I just hope Consumer Reports doesn't look at this as a black mark for picking up The Consumerist. But I would think they are used to shady businesses getting pissed at them for spotlighting the truth.
@Coyote: Speaking as the resident \"Consumer Reports guy\" here, I can tell you that in no way do we see this as a black mark. The link below goes to the press release we sent out yesterday. But you don't have to click through and read the whole thing to see what we think. Just read this:
\"We're proud of the work that Ben and Meg have done, and we only regret that
their report could not include a response from Cash4Gold CEO Jeff Aronson
beyond his earlier public comments,\" Perton said. \"We also hope today's post
will help lay to rest the idea that blogs don't do investigative reporting.\"
@Marc Perton: Great response. I think in celebration, we should all wear Blue CR Lab Coats? Am I right? Now where would we get those?
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@Marc Perton: Sweeeeet! Good to know CR is behing the consumerist.
Also, is Consumerist now \"The Daily Show\" equivalent of consumer issues?
@Coyote: Considering how many times Consumer Reports has been sued over bad reviews (Bose, Isuzu, Sharper Image, Korbel Champagne, Suzuki), I doubt it even phases them.
How about you guys give us a link to the PDF of the article and all the associated links, so in case they send a cease and desist, we can pull a Barbra Steisand/Super Tom Cruise, and repost it ourselves for the world to see?
@GitEmSteveDave_GlassMeatClocks: The pdfs are linked in the original article. I've heard you can do this thing called downloading, you can have your very own copy.
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Next on the lawsuit block, MONSTER cable!
Now they shall feel wrath of effing with Consumerist!
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Oh LORDY I love this. Love it love it love it. Let me know when you guys are ready to take on PayPal!!!
Oh yeah! Lets get us an old fashioned internet mob to take down these skeezy shifters.
I always knew that superbowl commercial would come back to bite them in the ass, I just assumed it would be people laughing at them... not them pulling a Streisand and trying to sue everybody.
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Stuff like this is similar to movies you're not allowed to see. Even if you don't want to see or care about it you have to because someone doesn't want you to.
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How ironic that a sleazebag company with a webby name like Cash4Gold didn't realize Teh Internets would rise up as one to crush their dreams of raping consumers unmolested.
I'm hoping the next one on their lawsuit list is Google, since a name search lists Cockeye's story as the #3 entry, and (ta-dah!) Consumerist's latest* exposé as #4!
* Even better, yesterday's search had the Consumerist story as a sub-link under Cockeye's, and now it's broken out as its own entry (with its own sub-link!). Yay, Google!
@Trai_Dep:
\"dreams of raping consumers unmolested.\"
There's an intriguing irony to that dream, as well.
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I'm suprised no one else has commented, the commercials (Chicago area) now talk about a huge push to busy 200 million dollars of gold by the end of the month and so they are paying 20% MORE (small print: than our standard rates).
You are now being screwed 20% less, hurry everyone, send in your gold!
Timing of new ads is just coincidence?
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\"20% more\" could be anything when you determine the standard rates, and they don't seem uniform.
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@Saboth: Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. It would be awesome if you had sent the 175.00 test chain in a month ago, and sent another one now to see if you really DID get 20% more. I'd be willing to bet not. (adjusting for any change in metal prices, of course)
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The only thought on Jeff Aronson's mind: \"Oh shit\"
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I just want to know how much money C4G has made from people \"testing\" to see how much money they will REALLY get for their gold...
Every article I have read talks about how they got $3 back from $100 worth of gold.
@lehrdude: All the more reason to deal with the corner sleazeball at the local pawnshop. He may be greasy, but he's got to be fair(ish) since you're standing in his face.
So, does that mean we can add Boingboing, TechDirt, CBS Money Watch, Adrants, Times Union, WalletPop, Citizen Media Law Project, Business Insider, John Tadesco, and sukimania.ddo.jp/blog to the lawsuit as well? ;)
@BrianDaBrain: Don't forget Cash4Gold.blogspot.com (because you know a site is legit when their blog is hosted by blogspot!)
BREAKING NEWS:
Cash4Gold adds \"THE INTERNET\" to the list of co-defendants. Film at 11.
Just donated (and also my first post) after reading this article. Long time reader, but I'm just now coming off the bench! Great work, Consumerist team.
The owner is so sexy, I just want to wrap him up in a red ribbon and take him home to show my parents what the biggest pig in the world might look like.
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Here's hoping they piss off 4chan next. That would rule.
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I'm stoned right now and this just makes it even better!
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Yeah!!!!!! Freeeaaakin awesome!!!
I'm sort of surprised I haven't seen anyone organizing a mass request of a bunch of their packets and sending them all back empty...considering they'd have to pay shipping both ways.
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@Smashville_makes his own comments at home: Or at the very least fake jewelry you get at those quarter machines in the entrances to businesses. That would be hilarious.
@Raekwon:
Why pay for fake jewelry to send them when we can send all the free rocks we can find that will fit into the mailer...?
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@Saboth: That stuff's getting hard to find. I keep it. I would just send them the painted rocks a la Bugs Bunny.
@Raekwon: My nephew has a ton of that junk. He begs me for quarters to buy it so he can break small parts off to stabilize one of his Lego/K'nex creations. I could send broken toy jewels to them! Life is sweet!
From the \"Canadian personality\" article:
\"The late, legendary Ed McMahon brought us his experience with Carnac the
Magnificent in opening envelopes, while MC Hammer taught our staff how to
dance,\" said Jeff Aronson, CEO of Cash4Gold.
BULL. SHIT.
Johnny Carson was Carnac. That is false. And defamatory.
@Smashville_makes his own comments at home:
That's not false.
It said experience WITH Carnac, not AS Carnac
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@Smashville_makes his own comments at home: AND it was Carnac who opened the envelopes! Behold teh false! And maybe somehow possibly defamatory!
Well I see C4G has hit the consumerist like a log hits a diamond-encrusted saw.
Not very bright C4G. Funny, but not very bright.
Great job Consumerist! Yet another company will learn the erroneous ways of gag orders, empty threats and hush attempts in order to save face.
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I just wanna tip my hat to you fine ladies and fellas at The Consumerist.
This is good, solid work. I'm proud to be a supporter of your efforts.
I think you guys just wanted an arch nemesis. I would have gone for Comcast personally. At least they will be around in 2 years.
Consumerist rules. Believe it. :)
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Internet justice. This is going to be awesome.
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I do like Gawker's headline.
+1 for the Aqua Teen reference. Now if you could only start using code monkeys references.
I suspect that on average it does work. For every story that blows up in the media there are probably hundreds more where people decide not to defend themselves. Of course, you'd expect even the sleaziest lawyers would realize that a website that does consumer advocacy might be 'The One' that blows up.
I always encourage my friends to file safety reports, harassment claims, etc. and not to back down. Even if you don't win, you shed light on the bad guys and the next person who has a problem will have an easier time proving the pattern. Standing up to bullies may hurt sometimes, but it is the only way to get change.
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Ahh, the good ol' Streisand effect. They brought it on themselves.
I just wanted to chime in. Mentioning a thank you to Consumerist.com, (to all the good people who make this site happen.) Also, not forgetting to give a thank you to the Consumer Union. For supporting not only their properties and good name, but for informing consumers like myself. About events and practices like this.
I hope the events that brought the chain of events to this site, are resolved and all the defending parties prevail.
Good luck to all the defendants involved.
What I don't get is the suit against the Consumerist. The suit against a broke and easily-intimidated ex-employeee, sure, but did they not get the memo that Consumerist is owned by Consumers Union? CU has plenty of lawyers and is proud of it. And when it comes to fighting legal requests to get a report retracted, their lawyers have a 100% success rate.
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I really don't get the point of Nick Palacios' link in this article
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You guys now need to hire some washed up rapper to be on your side....how abouts Cameo!! Nothing helps getting the Word Out like Word Up!!! Maybe he can write you a remix...
Great go for it! let us know when you go for the big G!:-)
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You do realize that your street cred has just gone up one thousand percent.
I'm sorry about the lawsuit (obvious bullshit) but congratulations for having giant brass balls. No one else on the intertubes currently seem to own a pair.
I love you guys.
Sincerely,
Erik
Great job! The publicity, for Consumerist, is Priceless!
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This is going to make for a really awesome entry on your Wikipedia page, Consumerist.
@pecan 3.14159265: Just make sure you source it.
Love,
Wikipedia Admin Smashville