[Misc] Why Amazon, Netflix, Uber etc are all turning to sh*t

[Sea Cider]

Nice article, thanks for posting

 

[JetsetJimbo]

As this seems to have turned into a Cory Doctorow love-in (entirely warranted imo!), figured I'd tell everyone here to read his short story "Unauthorized Bread" if they haven't already done so.

 

[abc]

Another NSC thread about how we are all victims, how all businesses abuse us, how everything should be cheaper than it is and how we have been stripped of the ability to make our own choices and decisions!

 

[Sea Cider]

In essence, seems to me that the root of the problem is capitalism in its current form, where each of these companies is entirely beholden to "the shareholders" and exist only to make money at any cost and in ever increasing amounts. Coupled with people at the top who incredibly, mind-bogglingly think they need multiple, multiple BILLIONS of dollars in their personal wealth pots, I cannot see any light at the end of this tunnel. Wealth inequality will continue to grow, "normal" people will continue to generate wealth that goes 99% into the pockets of a few, and 1% into improving the overall lot of the human race.

 

[Gabbafella]

Me and the Mrs get a takeaway each pay day and seem to always use Deliveroo, I noticed the other day that they've bumped up their service charge so much that even when a restaurant offers a 20% discount once you buy a certain amount, the service charge offsets that and the bill comes out roughly the same.
Easy choice in this instance as you can cut out Deliveroo and go direct to the restaurant. I'm assuming it all goes hand in hand with their delivery drivers having a hissy fit a few weeks back when they went on strike demanding more pay.

 

[The Lemming Stomper]

Me and the Mrs get a takeaway each pay day and seem to always use Deliveroo, I noticed the other day that they've bumped up their service charge so much that even when a restaurant offers a 20% discount once you buy a certain amount, the service charge offsets that and the bill comes out roughly the same.
Easy choice in this instance as you can cut out Deliveroo and go direct to the restaurant. I'm assuming it all goes hand in hand with their delivery drivers having a hissy fit a few weeks back when they went on strike demanding more pay.

Having done some gig economy delivering, I can assure you the drivers wouldn't be having a 'hissy fit'

Getting well and truly fu(ked over more like it

 

[herecomesaregular]

Don't understand this obsession with having McDonald's (or other fast food which is shit in the first place) delivered cold to your door. The only takeaway food that works is pizza, imo, because that is just as nice... tepid.
Watched the beginning of the video and when I reached the part that he had to be told by his accountant that he was paying £5 a week for some app and he hadn't noticed, I turned off. A fool and his money are soon parted. If you're too lazy and just make choices on autopilot then you deserve to be ripped off.

 

[B-right-on]

In essence, seems to me that the root of the problem is capitalism in its current form, where each of these companies is entirely beholden to "the shareholders" and exist only to make money at any cost and in ever increasing amounts. Coupled with people at the top who incredibly, mind-bogglingly think they need multiple, multiple BILLIONS of dollars in their personal wealth pots, I cannot see any light at the end of this tunnel. Wealth inequality will continue to grow, "normal" people will continue to generate wealth that goes 99% into the pockets of a few, and 1% into improving the overall lot of the human race.

I 100% agree. This is from someone who has been and is spending almost their entire working life either running a SMB company (closed in 2008) or been self employed.

I saw this recently and it epitomises the problem. One rule for the rich, one rule for the rest of us.

 

[Bakero]

Me and the Mrs get a takeaway each pay day and seem to always use Deliveroo, I noticed the other day that they've bumped up their service charge so much that even when a restaurant offers a 20% discount once you buy a certain amount, the service charge offsets that and the bill comes out roughly the same.
Easy choice in this instance as you can cut out Deliveroo and go direct to the restaurant. I'm assuming it all goes hand in hand with their delivery drivers having a hissy fit a few weeks back when they went on strike demanding more pay.

Watch the Last Week Tonight episode on food delivery apps for an insight into how they operate.