Consumerist: slurs,

EBoost Media Calls Rogier A "Faggot" And A "Queer"

Chris Walters — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:32:21 EDT

Note: There's been some confusion over company names, and Johnny Chan with eBoost Consulting wants you to know that his company is not involved in this story.

If a company promises to increase your Google PageRank, run! Rogier fell for eBoost Media's sweet words—they promised an increase in Google popularity "within about a week, at least for people entering specific search terms such as 'Maine photographer' and the like." But after three and a half weeks of no results, Rogier decided to cancel the service, which is when eBoost Media's dark side emerged.

I informed [my sales rep] Ashley that I wanted my money back and the agreement canceled. She put me in touch with a customer service rep named Denette.

When Denette finally got back to me, the news was not positive. She refused to say whether she would issue a refund. When I insisted (and sure, I wasn't particularly friendly, but I didn't use profanity or even raise my voice by more than a hair), she hung up on me.

I then canceled the credit card I'd given eBoost media and wrote Denette by e-mail that I'd file fraud complaints with the authorities if she did not let me know within 24 hours that eBoost Media consented to return the $99.

On Thursday of last week, she called again, trying to sweet-talk me into changing my mind. I said I wouldn't and that I had been given no reason to trust eBoost media — on the contrary. I reiterated that all I wanted was a refund. After about 20 minutes of exasperating back and forth, she hung up on me again.

On Friday, when I had left for the day, my voice mail received the psycho phone messages that I've attached.

Here's the first message, along with our concept art of Denette at the phone:

And here's the name-calling message, left only 5 minutes later, again along with our concept art:

Rogier played the messages back to eBoost and asked them for a comment:

When I called him yesterday, eBoost's acting CEO Michael Luvano agreed to listen to the recording. He then acknowledged that the second call had come from someone at eBoost Media, but curiously enough, he denied it was Denette. The mystery culprit, he said hours after hearing the messages, had already been "dealt with" — she'd been "severely reprimanded." When, puzzled, I suggested we ought to let other people listen to the messages on the Internet and solicit their opinions on whether or not it's the same voice, he got huffy and accused me of being out to badmouth his company.

Nonetheless, Luvano offered to have the CEO, Kevin Johnson (who he said was on vacation) write me a personal apology. He also said the company would finally refund the dough, which I appreciate.

As of yesterday, Rogier had received neither the apology nor the refund.

"Lend Me Your Ears, or, Who You Callin' a Faggot?" [Nobody's Business]
(Photos: Getty)

Bad Translation Software Called Couch "Nigger-Brown"

Ben Popken — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 11:40:39 EDT

A couch labeled as "nigger-brown" got its offensive name from a bad translation program, according to the furniture's supplier.

When users enter "dark brown" in Chinese in older versions of the Kingsoft program, its spits out the n-bomb. Newer versions don't, but if you type the slur in English, "dark brown" shows in Chinese.

The supplier, who hasn't updated the translation software in 10 years, blames the software. The couch store owner, who came to Canada in 1972 from India, says he's never heard the word before. The lady who bought the couch is considering suing. — BEN POPKEN

Racial slur blamed on Chinese company's faulty translation program [AP] (Thanks to Laura!)

PREVIOUSLY: Packaging Label Describes Sofa Color As "Nigger-brown"

Packaging Label Describes Sofa Color As "Nigger-brown"

Carey Alexander — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 10:58:58 EDT

Doris Moore's seven year-old daughter did not understand a racial slur affixed to the packaging label of a newly delivered sofa. The sofa was purchased as part of a set that included a loveseat and chair. All three items bore the offensive label. The Toronto Star recounts the heart-wrenching discovery:

"She's very curious and she started reading the labels," Moore explained. "She said, `Mommy, what is nig ... ger brown?' I went over and just couldn't believe my eyes."

After explaining the slur's meaning to her daughter, Doris tried to pry a well-deserved explanation from Vanaik Furniture and Mattress, the store that sold the seating set. Despite three messages, the store refused to return her calls.

The store's Assistant Manager apologized when found by the Canadian press and promised to check his remaining stock for similar offenses, but placed the blame squarely with his supplier. The supplier promised to contact his Chinese manufacturer and "demand they remove all similar labels."

The demand is appreciated, but we want to know if the unnamed Chinese manufacturer shipped merchandise bearing offensive labels to other stores, or if the incident is limited to one Canadian family and their seven year-old daughter. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER

Racial slur on sofa label stuns family [Toronto Star] (Thanks to J and Fred)