Although the days in which it was socially acceptable to SuperPoke someone via a social network have long since passed, Google is reportedly doing its part to make sure no one is ever again subjected to the annoyance. The company, which purchased SuperPoke developer Slide last year, is shutting down its social apps. [More]
annoyances
Chase Those Hiccups Away
By 7.10.11
Holding your breath, gulping water and getting scared are the traditional ways to eradicate the hiccup menace, but those tend to be hit and miss. Just when you think you’ve managed to stop hiccups, on comes the next round. [More]
After Holiday Break, Spammers Back In Action
By 1.12.11
Just about everyone phones it in during the holidays, even spammers. Whether due to tightened security or office parties, the amount of worldwide spam activity nosedived in late December. The bad news is that the spambots have reportedly woken up and are getting back to work. [More]
A Simple, Direct Way To Shoo Away Telemarketers
By 6.1.10
Personal finance blogger Fabulously Broke says she’s managed to get telemarketers to stop bugging her by finding the number to offenders’ offices and bringing the fight right to them. [More]
Target Ignores Its Own Ban, Lets Petitioners Annoy Shoppers
By 3.23.10
Target has a ban on any sort of petitioning or fund-raising activities in front of its stores, even in California, but G says that yesterday he went to the Target in Vallejo, CA and ran into a group of petitioners at the entrance (see photos). [More]
Are Postcard-Sized Rebate Checks A Conspiracy?
By 11.7.09
So you’ve fought the mighty rebaterus and won, prying your hard-won mail-in rebate money from its claws. If your rebate isn’t in the form of a prepaid debit card, it’s probably a postcard-sized check—cheap to mail, simple, easy. For the rebate fulfillment company. For the consumer depositing checks via ATM as banks cut back on their hours, it’s not so simple or easy.
Help Us! Tell Us What You Hate About The Holiday Shopping Season
By 10.5.09
Attention Shoppers: We’re interested in your opinions about the upcoming holiday shopping season. What drives you up the chimney? Is it the music? Black Friday? Rebates? Christmas Creep? Let us know!
Shut Out The Worst Ad Offenders With These Firefox Tricks
By 8.31.09
If advertisers and websites would play fair with their readers, we wouldn’t need to apply various filters and blocks to them. But when you’re trying to read an article and every sixth word is hotlinked with a pop-up ad, while the FavIcon in the browser window blinks at you like a traffic light, while loud video clips start auto-playing when the page loads—well, it’s time to shut it all down. Lifehacker has put together a great list of all the ways to reclaim your sanity when you’re online.
Man Receives 16 State Farm Junk Mailings In One Month
By 5.1.09
State Farm is powerless to stop its representatives from filling up your mailbox with unwanted solicitations! Terry has contacted one of the agents listed in the 16 mailings he’s received over the past month and was told, “Sorry, it’s from corporate.” He then lodged a complaint with the corporate office and received a response from their “Internet Support Representative” who basically told him he’s out of luck. We’re not sure what State Farm’s sales strategy is here; maybe they’re just betting on wearing him down through sheer volume?
"Sprint Won't Stop Calling Me To Make Sure I Am Happy With Them"
By 4.8.09
One of our readers can’t get Sprint to stop calling him. He’s happy with the service, and they just want to make sure he’s happy. Repeatedly. To the point that they’re starting to get on his nerves.
Dear New York Philharmonic: Please Don't Call Me In The Middle Of Performances To Ask For Money
By 6.21.08
As I enjoyed the New York Philharmonic’s production of Tosca this past Tuesday, I received a solicitation call. From the New York Philharmonic.
Conde Nast Will Never Stop Emailing You. Never. Stop Asking.
By 4.10.08
Condé Nast marketing department, are you on crack? Have you put some trinket from “The Hills” in charge of your mail server? Justin has emailed you repeatedly to tell you to stop spamming him. His marketing preferences on your site show a vast field of “No” for every single title on your list. And yet he’s received 16 emails since his last request—almost three a month. You should know better—or, as Justin puts it, “This isn’t some Nigerian guy trying to make my penis larger or send me money, this is a company here, in the United States, that I know should be held accountable.”
Big Ten Network Continues To Annoy Consumers
By 2.8.08
Stop us if you have heard this one before: Comcast and the BTN still don’t have a deal. Nothing has changed since the football season, when many fans were upset at not being able to see the Wisconsin-Ohio State game, which aired on the BTN.
Avoid the Biggest Web Shopping Annoyances
By 11.1.06
PCWorld today posted an article on circumnavigating hassles while shopping online.
