topic Re: Interesting Reading in Q Talk

Interesting Reading

QVCJH — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 23:01:08 GMT

This post might not pass inspection but here goes. Read the Q's General Terms of Use. You don't sign anything or click "I agree". Just by using their services you agree to their policies and if you have a grievance, it is subject to arbitration, which means that disputes are resolved outside the court system.

Re: Interesting Reading

Kachina624 — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 23:21:07 GMT

So how is this different from the way every other retailer operates?

Re: Interesting Reading

Alison Wonderland — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 23:28:36 GMT

@QVCJH wrote:
This post might not pass inspection but here goes. Read the Q's General Terms of Use. You don't sign anything or click "I agree". Just by using their services you agree to their policies and if you have a grievance, it is subject to arbitration, which means that disputes are resolved outside the court system.

That's standard these days and has been for some time. It's also very common in worker contracts as a term of employment. It's bad for consumers and workers and only really seems to benefit the businesses.

It's been in the news a lot the last 2-3 or so years and Congress has tried several times to make changes in 2017, 2018, and 2019. The House passed a bill to end forced arbitration last year, but the Senate hasn't done anything with the bill introduced into the Senate last year. It's a good idea to reach out to your representatives to ask them to bring it to a vote.

Consumer Reports had an article about it today: https://www.consumerreports.org/mandatory-binding-arbitration/forced-arbitration-clause-for-concern/

You can do a search for Forced Arbitration to find many more news articles about the topic.

Re: Interesting Reading

blackhole99 — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 00:26:19 GMT

I have a feeling we are having the rug pulled out from under us, people indeed are as stupid as we think. We are letting are freedoms slip through our fingers.

Re: Interesting Reading

Kachina624 — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 00:43:03 GMT

@blackhole99 wrote:
I have a feeling we are having the rug pulled out from under us, people indeed are as stupid as we think. We are letting are freedoms slip through our fingers.

@blackhole99. Things have been like this for years. It's nothing new.

Re: Interesting Reading

blackhole99 — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 04:27:51 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@blackhole99 wrote:
I have a feeling we are having the rug pulled out from under us, people indeed are as stupid as we think. We are letting are freedoms slip through our fingers.
@blackhole99. Things have been like this for years. It's nothing new.

Well, if it isn't anything new, it's certainly more noticable.

Re: Interesting Reading

Anonymous032819 — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 04:37:39 GMT

@QVCJH wrote:
This post might not pass inspection but here goes. Read the Q's General Terms of Use. You don't sign anything or click "I agree". Just by using their services you agree to their policies and if you have a grievance, it is subject to arbitration, which means that disputes are resolved outside the court system.

So?

It's called "doing business".

Lots of businesses have this policy, and it isn't anything new.

Businesses have a right to protect themselves from those who would wish to take advantage.

Re: Interesting Reading

Alison Wonderland — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 18:01:34 GMT

@Anonymous032819 wrote:
@QVCJH wrote:
This post might not pass inspection but here goes. Read the Q's General Terms of Use. You don't sign anything or click "I agree". Just by using their services you agree to their policies and if you have a grievance, it is subject to arbitration, which means that disputes are resolved outside the court system.

So?

It's called "doing business".

Lots of businesses have this policy, and it isn't anything new.

Businesses have a right to protect themselves from those who would wish to take advantage.

No, it's not. If you believe that "doing business" means treating your customers poorly so you can get ahead as a company, then things have gone off the rails for "doing business" in America.

Just because a lot of businesses have a policy like this doesn't mean it's a good policy. And I think businesses can figure out how to protect themselves without raking everyone else over the coals by default.

I'd like to see more companies choose to be ethical instead of abusive.

Re: Interesting Reading

Anonymous032819 — Sat, 01 Feb 2020 00:47:50 GMT

How is a company with this policy being "abusive" to customers?

As a customer, one has the CHOICE to interact with a company that has a policy, or find one that doesn't have this policy.

As for arbitration, lots of things are settled this way.

By doing business with a company that has this policy, one agrees to their terms and conditions.

It's simple really.

As a guest, you abide by the hosts rules.

The guest doesn't make the rules, the host does.

There are some businesses that won't see one dollar from me because of their policies.

That's fine.

I may not like their policies, but that just means that another business will get my money.

See how it works?

It's all about CHOICE.

Aint America grand?

Re: Interesting Reading

sunshine45 — Sat, 01 Feb 2020 03:20:39 GMT

well it really is simple......if you DONT like the terms of use then there is really no reason to shop, browse, provide personal information, or even use the services of their forums if you think there could be a problem.

Re: Interesting Reading

Spurt — Sat, 01 Feb 2020 15:02:54 GMT

@blackhole99 wrote:
@Kachina624 wrote:
@blackhole99 wrote:
I have a feeling we are having the rug pulled out from under us, people indeed are as stupid as we think. We are letting are freedoms slip through our fingers.
@blackhole99. Things have been like this for years. It's nothing new.
Well, if it isn't anything new, it's certainly more noticable.

@blackhole99

Yes, because of frivioulous lawsuits, companies have made their terms of service more noticeable....

Re: Interesting Reading

Spurt — Sat, 01 Feb 2020 16:06:57 GMT

@blackhole99 @QVCJH

Don't think its all about greedy uncaring corporations. Greedy consumers certainly had a part in all this as well ..

Think about it...these days people look for any little thing to file a lawsuit for ....look at the woman that put the cup of HOT coffee between her legs then sued McDonalds because she got burned.....

Stella Liebeck, 79 years old, was sitting in the passenger seat of her grandson’s car having purchased a cup of McDonald’s coffee. After the car stopped, she tried to hold the cup securely between her knees while removing the lid. However, the cup tipped over, pouring hot coffee onto her.

Some people just dont accept responsibility for their actions and file frivilous lawsuits---

And there's all the silly warnings that companies have to post.....Warnings which are the result of lawsuits, and/or attorneys advising even though these are common sense....someone could sue:

Dont hold a hot coffee container over your head

Dont use a hairdryer while bathing in water

Do not drive with Sun Shield in place

Do not put any person in this washer....

Label: Do not hold the wrong end of a chainsaw. ...
Label: Never use a lit match or open flame to check fuel level. ...
Label: This Superman costume does not enable flight

Companies had to do something to stop a big portion of their money going to lawyers and courts to pay for frivioulous lawsuits, and this also increased prices for consumers as the company's expenses also increased. ...So the arbitration system is a compromise.....

So point the finger at some greedy consumers too...

Re: Interesting Reading

millieshops — Sat, 01 Feb 2020 15:16:10 GMT

@Kachina624The move to arbitration itself is not new, but consumer protections overall are eroding.