[Misc] Companies you hate, and will avoid using/buying from if you possibly can

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mile oak

Well-known member
May 21, 2023
701
My top 10 (in no.particular order).
1. Apple
2. BT
3. Vodaphone
4. Microsoft
5. Tesco
6. 02
7. Made.com
8. BBC
9. Sky
10. BT Sport
11. Amazon

Ok thats 11 I hate them all CVNTS
 




The Clamp

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jan 11, 2016
24,738
West is BEST
The owner, Mike Ashley treats his staff like shit, has aggressively built a monopoly in the high street sports shop market - putting every independent in the country out of business - and has spent the last decade buying famous high street chains / brands out of administration, then asset stripping them and scrapping them.
Ah. Thank you. Didn’t know much about him.
I don’t use SD.
Not previously out of any knowledge of the business but the place gives me anxiety. Huge stores, filled literally to the rafters with cheap looking stock. And the only time I ventured into one with the intention of buying something, the staff were so disinterested I lost the will to buy anything and bailed. I was looking for trainers.
 


Petunia

Living the dream
NSC Patron
May 8, 2013
2,274
Downunder
Qantas. I’d rather walk back to the UK than fly with them*



*OK, that’s probably a slight exaggeration😆
 




Horses Arse

Well-known member
Jun 25, 2004
4,571
here and there
In a survey I was completing today there was a question asking me to list three companies that I hate and I'd avoid using/buying if at all possible.

I could only think of one: Ryanair. I've never actually used them, but the whole experience generally sounds so ghastly, I'd try my hardest to use anyone else possible.

What company(s) would make your list?
That sounds so incredibly posh. I've never used them but they seem so ghastly!

Hoping I've been whooshed
 






portlock seagull

Why? Why us?
Jul 28, 2003
17,377
Amazon. Sorry Bozza. I tell f&f not to buy stuff for me from them too, I’ll ask them to buy xyz from other retailers instead. It’s easy to do, just people have become so lazy, that 3 clicks instead of 1 via their Amazon all, is often too much hard work!

Also quite a number of food brands, because what I know about their business practices. Some proper sociopaths out their working for brands.

More recently, I put things made in China and Russia back on the shelf and seek alternatives. Sometimes I just do without because it seems impossible. China has taken over the world in many respects!
 








Bozza

You can change this
Helpful Moderator
Jul 4, 2003
55,923
Back in Sussex
Amazon. Sorry Bozza. I tell f&f not to buy stuff for me from them too, I’ll ask them to buy xyz from other retailers instead. It’s easy to do, just people have become so lazy, that 3 clicks instead of 1 via their Amazon all, is often too much hard work!

Also quite a number of food brands, because what I know about their business practices. Some proper sociopaths out their working for brands.

More recently, I put things made in China and Russia back on the shelf and seek alternatives. Sometimes I just do without because it seems impossible. China has taken over the world in many respects!
Why do you feel the need to apologise to me - I'd never try and persuade anyone to buy from Amazon.

All I've ever said is if you have already decided to buy something from Amazon please click through from NSC if possible, as it helps support the site and keep it going.
 






1066familyman

Radio User
Jan 15, 2008
15,185
There's many on ethical grounds, but so many in fact that I often slip up in that regard. Shell and Sports Direct I find easist of all to boycott in the main from that long list. Amazon less so unfortunately.

So my final list is of companies that I've never ever bought from, and never will, for a variety of reasons that aren't just about ethics alone:

1. Apple.
2. Sky.
3. Astell and Kern.
 


1066familyman

Radio User
Jan 15, 2008
15,185
Oh, I should also add Royal London. Had a terrible experience with them recently that means I'll never go near them with a barge pole.
 


spence

British and Proud
Oct 15, 2014
9,834
Crawley
Oh, I should also add Royal London. Had a terrible experience with them recently that means I'll never go near them with a barge pole.
Worrying this. My missus is dealing with them right now regarding a pension payout
 




Badger

NOT the Honey Badger
NSC Patron
May 8, 2007
12,841
Toronto
Apple - I can't help using them as I have a work MacBook and my team develops iOS and Android apps. I liked iPods back in the day but now I wouldn't buy any of their products as I just can't stand the company.
Tesla - Not that I'm planning to buy an electric car any time soon, but if I did I would be steering clear of Musk and I've heard bad things about the quality control.
Just Eat - If I ever listen to UK radio I have to turn off their adverts because they're so bad. To be honest, all these takeaway services are pretty bad.
 


virtual22

Well-known member
Nov 30, 2010
423
TUI - couple of years ago we booked a last minute, and I mean last minute deal with them as our first holiday after Covid. We wanted a fairly short flight as we were still nervous about flying at the time. Less than 24 hours before we were due to come home we got told our flight was going to gatwick via Birmingham! Turned what should have been a two and half hour’ish flight into over five hours. To avoid paying compensation they moved the flight departure forward.

We still believe they knew this would happen or at least be a possibility before we booked and didn’t tell us, as I said it was very last minute. When we complained they said it was for operational reasons whereas the pilot admitted on board it was because they had two half empty planes and was therefore for financial reasons.

Have never used them again and never will.
 
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bhafc99

Well-known member
Oct 14, 2003
7,162
Dubai




Happy Exile

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Apr 19, 2018
1,913
Sony - have had to use their customer service twice and it's by a big margin the most obstructive, Kafka-esque and illogical I've ever encountered. Seems almost designed to be difficult to get an outcome in the customer's favour and blunt to the point of rudeness.

Just Eat, We Buy Any Car, Cinch. All simply because the adverts are so annoying I turn the radio off / turn the sound off the TV when they come on.

Wetherspoons, Dyson, for reasons others have given.
 


Westdene Seagull

aka Cap'n Carl Firecrotch
NSC Patron
Oct 27, 2003
21,186
The arse end of Hangleton
As of last Saturday, I will never shop in Waitrose or John Lewis again.

They used to be expensive but offer superb customer service. More recently, they’ve dropped the excellent service, so now they’re just expensive.

There's a reason they're called Wankerose in the Westdene household.
 


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