Here are 9 of the most common lines salespeople try to feed you in order to get you to buy an extended warranty, debunked by an insider. His job is training and development in this 3rd-party service plan industry, a job he’s leaving soon because he’s sick of the “half-truths and deceptions” it foists on consumers… which he will now reveal to you. [More]
insiders
10 Confessions Of An Insurance Telemarketer
By 2.10.11
One of our readers works sales in an insurance telemarketing operation. He’s stepped forward to give us the skinny on how he gets commission, the real reasons that drive some of their tactics, and what personal information you should never give over the phone to a telemarketer. [More]
AT&T To Change Text Message Packages And Chuck Some Upgrade Discounts
By 1.20.11
Is it cellphone plan adverse tweak season? Now AT&T is changing up its text message plans and doubling the per message rate for going over them, and getting rid of some upgrade discounts, reports Engadget, going off a leaked internal document. [More]
Sanitation Whistleblowers Say Department Intentionally Delayed NYC Snow Removal
By 12.30.10
Was the slow snow removal in New York City the result of a planned Sanitation Department protest to make the Mayor pay for reducing their staff? That’s what several whistleblowers are reportedly saying, according to the New York Post. [More]
23 Things An Extended Warranty Call Center Rep Wished You Knew
By 12.28.10
A shadowy figure steps out of the shadows, his fingers nicotine-stained and shaking. He glances around nervously before leaping forward and grabbing you by the lapels. “I’ve got 23 things to tell you about calling into an extended warranty call center,” he says, “and I don’t have much time.” [More]
The New GameStop Rewards Card Isn't Worth Your Time Or Privacy
By 10.27.10
Last week, we learned that at least one Gamestop employee won’t even sell to you unless you sign up for a rewards card. Why might that be? Reader Dragonfire81 has mysterious inside knowledge, and warns all good Consumerists to stay far, far away from the new rewards program that Gamestop is pushing. [More]
Branch Manager Quits Rather Than Trick Bank Customers Into Signing Up For Overdrafts
By 8.13.10
The bank branch manager who felt uncomfortable that his bank was making him choose between misleading customers into signing up for overdraft protection and keeping his job has decided to quit. [More]
Get Customers To Sign Up For Overdraft Fees Or Get Fired
By 8.3.10
One of our readers is a bank teller branch manager and he feels queasy. His bank is making him trick customers into signing back up for overdraft fees, and if he doesn’t, he’ll get fired. [More]
Chase Banker: I Hate That We're Required To Pull People Out Of Line To Offer Upsells
By 7.31.10
Chase now requires bankers to drag customers waiting for a teller out of line so they can upsell other bank products. One longtime banker wrote in to apologize for the practice, which “blatantly exploits a customer’s trust,” and to encourage customers to call Chase and tell them that they hate it, too. Read the banker’s full heartfelt note, after the jump. [More]
Subway Bastard Makes Sandwiches Bad On Purpose
By 7.6.10
There are those who hate their jobs and those who love to hate their jobs. Chris says he is a Subway sandwich maker who falls into the latter category, putting in extra work to make your sandwich suboptimal. He eats your pain with relish. Here’s what he does to your sandwich: [More]
Shady Car Dealers Price Loans More Than What Bank Will Take So You Love Them When It's Reduced
By 6.25.10
A former manager of a car dealership knows exactly how sneaky those sons of guns can be. One of their favorite tricks involved knowingly pricing out the monthly payments at $100 above what the bank computers would let buyer afford, and then acting like they’re your best friend for getting it lowered $100. [More]
Best Buy Might Give You A Free iPod If You Know To Ask
By 6.2.10
Apple is running their regular back-to-school promotion for students and teachers this summer. Buy a Mac, get a free iPod Touch. Neat deal. But let’s say that you’re another retail outlet that sells Apple computers, but doesn’t offer that deal. Say that you’re….Best Buy. How do you convince customers to buy a computer from you, when you can’t offer them a free iPod? Well…offer them 18-month financing. Then point out how many RewardZone points they’re going to earn. Finally, you could just give up and give them a free iPod…. but only if they ask.
According to an inside source, that’s exactly what Best Buy plans to do.
"This Is Not A Test" – Subway Says It Definitely Will Start Tessellating Cheese July 1
By 6.1.10
Subway has officially confirmed what we reported last week based on leaked internal documents: they’re gonna start tesselating their cheese on all their sandwiches starting July 1st. Hot damn, summer in the city. [More]
Subway To Start Tessellating Cheese July 1?
By 5.28.10
Three years after the protests began, it seems Subway has finally listened to its customers and will start tessellating cheese on its sandwiches, according to what appears to be an internal weekly newsletter. [More]
BoA Debt Collector Tells You How Not To Be A Deadbeat
By 5.3.10
A shadowy figure emerges from even darker shadows to reveal the umber-colored world that is the Bank of America Collection department. It is a place so fell that it cannot be even spoken of directly and is instead referred to as “Customer Assistance.” A cruel joke? Perhaps. “I never expected to be working for such an evil company. but they were the only ones hiring,” says our tipster who has some tough-love advice for all you deadbeats out there so he doesn’t have to call you up and demand your money. Because he will find you, and he will get you. [More]
Laser In On Your "Region President" To Get Verizon Wireless Executive Customer Service
By 4.15.10 — Updated: 1.9.14
A Verizon Wireless insider tells us that the best way to get white glove customer service treatment is to target the president for your Verizon region. Here’s how: [More]
Beat The "Four Square" Dealership Ripoff
By 3.12.10
Former used car salesman Alan Slone grew a little Jimminy Cricket in his ear and decided to spill his guts on a classic dealership technique used to addle your mind and empty your wallet. It’s called “The Four Square” and the object of the game is to make you lose. Here’s how it works, and how to beat it. [More]
Leaks: How Much It Sucks To Be A Comcast Customer Service Rep
By 3.12.10
Come, come hither. Step into the flesh of a Comcast customer service rep. Doesn’t it feel nice? Yes, yes. This is what it’s like to work for Awesome Cable Inc. Now you know what they go through, and tricks and tactics for dealing with them. Come my pretty, and let the Comcast mole teach you the ways… [More]
