Exploitation?
A few weeks ago I purchased a Telecom mobile. I already had a Vodafone. Many of my friends did this long ago, I guess I was too lazy to get about getting one sooner. Telecom and Vodafone are the only two options for cell phone users in NZ, and compared to other countries around the world the costs of the phones, usage, and plans is unbelievably expensive!!
So now, like many, I use $10txt during the week, and Vodafone's free txting on the weekend, I join those others that are to a certain extent exploiting both companies for personal benefits. But hey, why not right? It works out a lot cheaper! 500txts vs. 50txts for the same amount of money, who wouldn't choose 500?
Us who have two phones are essentially exploiting both companies. Sure it’s legal, but it is a form of exploitations is it not? I have come to think that by and large our generation has become much more accepting, and willing to perform such acts of exploitation upon large companies. I was talking to my grandparents (in their 80's), and they showed alarm at what I was doing. I can see what I'm doing, but I in no way find that wrong, in fact I think not to take advantage of the situation is stupid, and thinking of all the money I've wasted with 20c-a-txt-Vodafone, I kick myself for not taking the leap sooner.
But this is not just limited to cell phones. Last year Harvey Norman had a promotion. You could get 10 free digital prints with slips of paper that they were handing out, or that you could get from the counter (as many as you wanted). The idea behind the promotion was that if you got, lets say 25 prints, you'd get 10 free. However it didn't state you had to get others. So time and time again I went back and got just 10 photos printed, for free. In total I think I got about 90 prints, all free. I did feel a bit embarrassed going into the shop knowing they all knew I was taking advantage, but hey, I’m just a poor student legitimately abiding by their promotional terms and conditions, and not doing anything wrong at all, right? That's not how my grandparents saw it. To them that is being dishonest.
I guess it's a generational thing. In an age where money-making is so much more focal, and companies bombard us with advertising, specials, and promotional deals, we have become more conscious of what we can do to get the most for our buck. My question is how much advertising has helped in this societal change? I would say quite a bit.
So now, like many, I use $10txt during the week, and Vodafone's free txting on the weekend, I join those others that are to a certain extent exploiting both companies for personal benefits. But hey, why not right? It works out a lot cheaper! 500txts vs. 50txts for the same amount of money, who wouldn't choose 500?
Us who have two phones are essentially exploiting both companies. Sure it’s legal, but it is a form of exploitations is it not? I have come to think that by and large our generation has become much more accepting, and willing to perform such acts of exploitation upon large companies. I was talking to my grandparents (in their 80's), and they showed alarm at what I was doing. I can see what I'm doing, but I in no way find that wrong, in fact I think not to take advantage of the situation is stupid, and thinking of all the money I've wasted with 20c-a-txt-Vodafone, I kick myself for not taking the leap sooner.
But this is not just limited to cell phones. Last year Harvey Norman had a promotion. You could get 10 free digital prints with slips of paper that they were handing out, or that you could get from the counter (as many as you wanted). The idea behind the promotion was that if you got, lets say 25 prints, you'd get 10 free. However it didn't state you had to get others. So time and time again I went back and got just 10 photos printed, for free. In total I think I got about 90 prints, all free. I did feel a bit embarrassed going into the shop knowing they all knew I was taking advantage, but hey, I’m just a poor student legitimately abiding by their promotional terms and conditions, and not doing anything wrong at all, right? That's not how my grandparents saw it. To them that is being dishonest.
I guess it's a generational thing. In an age where money-making is so much more focal, and companies bombard us with advertising, specials, and promotional deals, we have become more conscious of what we can do to get the most for our buck. My question is how much advertising has helped in this societal change? I would say quite a bit.
posted by Anonymous at 9:40 am
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