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jsr

(7,712 posts)
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 08:45 AM Sep 2012

The truth comes out: CEO says 'stupid' consumers deserve hefty fees

http://redtape.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/07/13710824-the-truth-comes-out-ceo-says-stupid-consumers-deserve-hefty-fees

The truth comes out: CEO says 'stupid' consumers deserve hefty fees
By Bob Sullivan

Finally, an honest CEO.

Ryanair head Michael O'Leary called his customers "idiots" this week. The chief of the deep-discount, “gotcha”-dependent airline might be the first to say it, but he's hardly the first to think it.

O'Leary was speaking specifically about fliers who fail to print their boarding passes before they arrive at the airport, and are forced to pay Ryanair's 60-euro fee. The issue came to a head after a mom paid about $380 so her family could get the paperwork to fly home from Spain to Britain. She aired her concerns on Facebook and got hundreds of thousands of "likes." O'Leary responded to the controversy as many CEOs would after being administered a truth serum.

"We think Mrs. McLeod should pay 60 euros for being so stupid," he reportedly told The Telegraph before piling on the sarcasm. "She wasn't able to print her boarding card because, as you know, there are no Internet cafes in Alicante, no hotels where they could print them out for you, and you couldn't get to a fax machine so some friend at home can print them and fax them to you."

13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Lucy Goosey

(2,940 posts)
1. And stupid CEOs deserve to have their business boycotted.
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 08:49 AM
Sep 2012

Jebus, what a douchebag. I suspect he isn't alone, though; I bet there are plenty of members of the 1% who agree with him completely.

surrealAmerican

(11,340 posts)
11. I don't think that even qualifies as a "boycot" ...
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 11:12 AM
Sep 2012

... it's simply not patronizing a business that treats you like dirt.

exboyfil

(17,857 posts)
2. Stay off Allegiant Air
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 08:53 AM
Sep 2012

My niece has a severe peanut allergy. Her parents were told to tell the gate prior to departure which they did. She was able to get on the plane on the outbound flight, but they were taken off the plane on the return flight. They probably spent $2-$3K for last minute tickets to get home (also an extra night stay, food, and missing school registration for my nephew). I do not know all the details, and my sister-in-law can be something excitable, but I am concerned enough and sympathetic enough to stay off Allegiant Air. My family can't fly together anyway because we cannot leave our dogs.

deutsey

(20,166 posts)
3. Going back to ancient times,
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 09:01 AM
Sep 2012

the elites have thought "commoners" are part of large herd of dirty, ignorant animals.

In America, that attitude had been more or less veiled since the '30s due in large part to several progressive movements that tilted the power structure in this country a little more toward the commoners than the elites.

Since about the time Reagan came to power, however, everything has slowly tilted back toward the elites. Little by little, the aristocratic attitude that the masses are boorish grunts has re-emerged to the point where the wealthy elites no longer feel the need to hide their contempt for us anymore.

This guy calls his customers stupid. That rich Australian woman wags her fat finger at poor people and tells them they need stop being so lazy, etc.

Kurovski

(34,655 posts)
4. Following instructions was a tenant of a certain movement in the 70s.
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 09:06 AM
Sep 2012

many of our problems in life are from not reading, comprehending and following basic instructions.

"Stupid" was too strong. Perhaps "lazy" would be kinder.

Live and Learn

(12,769 posts)
5. Hmmm, then I guess most of us are "stupid" or "lazy"
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 09:40 AM
Sep 2012

at times. Who hasn't forgotten something at a hectic time while trying to get some place on time? For God's sake, she is a mother who no doubt had a million little things to do to get ready for the flight with her kids.

But of course, we should punish her, for her simple mistake by charging hefty fees and calling her "stupid" or "lazy". Who cares if she and her kids have to forego a few meals for a few days? It was her own damn fault. (And yes, that was sarcasm.)

Kurovski

(34,655 posts)
7. A boarding pass is pretty basic.
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 09:45 AM
Sep 2012

it sounds pretty "ann Romney-ish" to assume otherwise.

There are plenty of real corporate abuses to rail on about.

A few meals? WTF? "I'm torn between traveling to europe and feeding my family. whatever shall i do?!"

sinkingfeeling

(51,280 posts)
9. So why can't we, little people, charge the airlines for their mistakes? Lost luggage?
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 10:37 AM
Sep 2012

Flight delays? Broken planes?

As the article states, 'gottcha' only works one-way.

Kurovski

(34,655 posts)
10. I don't travel by plane, but I think that's a fine idea. I think the article mentions
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 10:49 AM
Sep 2012

benefits gained by other flyers paid for by folks like the woman who failed to plan ahead.


I think when doctors make you wait for more than 30 minutes in the office (non-emergency) you should get a discount.

I think lots of BP CEOs belong in prison. I could go on.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
12. I sent my doc a bill for a 45 minute wait
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 11:47 AM
Sep 2012

after I walked out of the office.
I was working then, so I sent bill quoting my hourly rate of pay, for the time I wasted driving to and from the office as well as the wait.
Never heard back from them, never went back to the doc.
Got a new doc and called the old doc office requesting my records to be transferred at NO charge.

You can't be a doormat if you are not lying on the floor.

marmar

(76,991 posts)
6. And that's just how they see their customers -- useful idiots.
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 09:43 AM
Sep 2012

And until people vote with their feet and give them a collective "F... You", he's probably right.

sinkingfeeling

(51,280 posts)
8. I was more disgusted by some of the comments on that article. There are people out
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 10:34 AM
Sep 2012

there that agree with the 'Gotcha economy'.

As Mr. Sullivan points out, "I hope you can see where this ends badly. When all companies' profits come from fees, they only survive by getting very good at handing out such punishments. They are incented not to provide good products, services or even prices -- only to be better and better at sneaky fees. This is something I call the "Gotcha economy." It is very far from a free market economy, which requires price transparency and rewards innovation. The Gotcha Economy rewards cheating.

Recently, I was on a United Airlines flight when the pilot tried to forcefully close the cabin door, and the emergency water slide accidentally deployed. We were delayed for four hours. Think I was able to charge United a $150 change fee? What would have happened to me if I was four hours late to the airport? Stupidity taxes aren't fair because they are always one-sided. Only large corporations in dominant market positions can offer such take-it-or-leave-it terms and conditions. Even if you have no sympathy for a mom trying to get her kids to the airport, it's hard to deny that there's nothing free market about one-sided deals like that."

Locrian

(4,522 posts)
13. right
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 11:51 AM
Sep 2012

This is just lazy business practice: make money by inventing ways to trick someone instead of standing on your product's merits.

Of course they'll wail that they are doing all this for OUR benefit etc. But it's really because the incentive is that it's easier, cheaper, etc to do this instead of the hard work required to win customers. Doesn't help of course that everyone seems to be in a race to the bottom.

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