A Lottle Bit Backwards
There are several ways that I could have titled this particular entry, such as, "Shooting yourself in the foot," "Sorry, we don't like your kind," "We're too lazy to care," "Hit the road, Jack," "Great Business Practices," etc. That's just FYI.
What exactly is the subject matter, you say? Well, let's say that you're a customer who is unsatisfied with your cell phone. You complain and hassle tech support. Then, you cancel your contract because the problem couldn't be fixed. That's the ways it's SUPPOSED to happen. Unless you deal with Sprint.
Lately Sprint-Nextel took a look at its annoying customers--the ones who complain too much or call tech support. It decided that rather than to fix the problem, it would eliminate the victims. It's easier that way. It reminds me of the "Out of Business" caricature in my Intro to Business text. "Our Customers are unhappy...so that leaves only one solution, find new customers that don't know anything about our product."
Thus, "a small portion" of its clients have gotten the axe and had their contracts cancelled. For a company losing subscribers it seems to be a pretty foolish thing to do. Well, I guess that's good news for Verizon and AT&T.
Plus, now all you Sprint-Nextel subscribers who want to get an iPhone without a termination fee can just bug the mess out of Sprint, and you'll have your "Get out of {Sprint} free card."
What strikes me about this is that if all services and business operated in this way, your electric company would just drop you oneday and say, "Good luck with that solar energy, Bob. Here's a guide on how to set it up. PS, if you show your face around our office again we'll have you arrested for trespassing."
Or, your cable would cut off in the middle of the climax or resolution to your favorite program. After all, if you ticked off your cable company, I'm sure they'd want the suspense to kill you.
Your neighborhood's friendly sanitation engineer would rip open your bags of trash and use the contents to leave a message: "You create too much garbage. Stop making such a mess!"
Your surgeon could stop in the middle of an operation if you annoyed him or if your system was not cooperating. "Why's that stupid Aorta still pumping blood. Somebody do something about it, or I'll quit!"
Preachers would kick you out of service if your children were too loud. As you left, they would clamp a hand on your shoulder in what seemed to be a Post-It note reading: "Kick Me, God said it's ok."
Or worse yet, if parents took the same attitude we would be abandoned if not by the first diaper, then definitely by the teenage years. After all, what's worse than a teenager (except 2+ teenagers)?