posted on September 15, 2000 12:04:38 PM new
...to use paypal's public relations disaster as a case study for a Master's Thesis?
I've been reading the messages here for the past few days and all I can say is "what a mess!" PPDamon must be going crazy. How does he handle all of the abuse? My two cents on the issue:
1. This entire situation has not been handled well. Much more like the Ford/Firestone debacle than the Tylonol situation. If paypal is to survive, they better work fast to correct their handling of this matter.
2. Even if their TOS technically require "business users" (whatever that is) to upgrade, they led us all to believe that it would never be forced on us. Grandfathering us in under the "always free" mantra might not be a bad idea. I am waiting for the CEO of paypal to appear in a TV commercial and apologize (OK, maybe a post on this board would suffice) the way that the CEO of United Airlines recently did.
3. At 1.9%, I consider paypal a bargain. I guess it's a matter of perspective. In my pre-paypal days, I would use CCNOW at 9%, and I thought that was reasonable. It just depends on where you stand. Other payment options exist, and I am sure that new options will appear. As sellers, part of our job is to keep an eye out for these things and work new technologies into our business strategies.
4. Let us all not forget that paypal is in business to make money, and that means re-evaluating their business model from time to time. Notwithstanding their deplorable handling of this matter, I understand the need to seek alternate sources of revenue.
Comments?
P.S. For a starting salary of $125,000 I will take over the PR department at paypal and fix this mess in a matter of weeks.
posted on September 15, 2000 12:35:45 PM new
" For a starting salary of $125,000 I will take over the PR department at paypal and fix this mess in a matter of weeks."
Don't underprice yourself, richeddy. If you can fix this, you deserve much more than a $125,000 starting salary.
posted on September 15, 2000 03:39:31 PM new
"Don't underprice yourself, richeddy. If you can fix this, you deserve much more than a $125,000 starting salary."
posted on September 17, 2000 04:11:14 PM new
125,000 LOL all they have to do is listen to the great advice their customers are giving them for free.. of course it might be somewhat confusing with all the differing opinions and all. LOL
Its always amazed me that companies will spend money running surverys when they can run to web sites and find answers quicker and much much cheaper. FRYs electronics would be good example...(although i dont' think tey even try to survy to improve service... ) LOL
posted on September 18, 2000 04:54:17 PM new
Too Funny! I guess you go to the same Fry's that I go to. You know, I just love to wait in that big long line for one of the 5 checkout people (don't ask me why they installed 50 registers), just so that I can be harassed by security on the way out, only to be forced to return later to wait in yet another long line for refunds and exchanges!
posted on September 19, 2000 05:24:43 PM new
I suspect Fry's makes money off people who return items and mistakenly don't go to the register to get credited on their credit card.
I noticed that:
A. They take back anything no matter how obvious it is that you bought it, damaged it and now want your money back.
B. They put all damaged items back on the shelves rewrapped in plastic.
C. They go to clownlike lengths to discourage anyone from paying by check. (out of 20 times giving them a check, only once has my name ever showed up on their 'database' and then they want to make you stand there for 20 minutes while they 're-enter' your name into that same database)
D. Their return procedure makes you return the item in one place and then you are supposed to walk clear around to the other side of the store to the cash register to have them credit your account. This last step is not explained.
E. When you call and complain that they didn't credit your account, you are told you 'Must' come in to the store before they will put through the transaction, they can't do it on the phone. If you complain long enough on the phone about that, you will be told it takes several hours to do a credit transaction. If you complain a lot more you will finally get the one manager that amazingly can do your transaction in 2 seconds while you wait on the phone.
F. They universally blame the employees for all problems, even when it's Randy himself that helps you.
posted on September 19, 2000 08:09:09 PM new
This thread has gotten 'way off topic, but I had to comment. WOW! I haven't lived in Silicon Valley for a decade, and the Fry's Electronics you're all talking about sounds like a far cry from the one I lived and died by in the late 80's. My friends and I bought *everything* there, from full computer systems to Jolt cola. I still have a mouse pad somewhere...Sorry to hear the chain has gone so far downhill.
posted on September 19, 2000 10:34:59 PM new
WAY off topic, but what the heck...Yes, The Fry's chain isn't what it used to be, I'm afraid. The funny thing is, I still shop there. I think they put something in the water, 'cause I just keep going back.
posted on September 20, 2000 07:06:15 AM new
After I figured that in a two week period that if I had been paid per hour I would have spent approximately 100 dollars in time (10 bucks in just gas) going back and forth to the store.. I figure I have better things to do with my money =time. LOL LOL LOL
Paypal... you know there is whole website for bad biz companies... fry's is on there. Someone said that they wonder if the decisions being made today willbe someone's master thesis.. I'll bet so.
Guess I'll have to call the head haunchos to let them know what I think about how this was handled. I wonder if the CEO or the pres of the company is even aware of all of the controversy about the how this was done????
posted on September 20, 2000 07:36:03 AM new
>>125,000 LOL all they have to do is listen to the great advice their customers are giving them for free.<<
PP obviously believes that anything free can't be good. As for the $125,000, I think they would go for something like $5 for every seller you get to come back to PP.
posted on October 2, 2000 06:50:43 AM new
The corporate culture of PayPal is Generation X, and they couldn't care less about public relations or anyone else besides themselves.
