logo Sign In

AOL Email "Tax"

Author
Time
AOL has problems. A steeply declining customer base, and they need the cash badly. And they wonder why they aren't doing well.
Author
Time
Originally posted by: Number20
AOL has problems. A steeply declining customer base, and they need the cash badly. And they wonder why they aren't doing well.


I can't stand them. They were relevant for about 15 minutes back in 1994, but that's about it.
Nemo me impune lacessit

http://ttrim.blogspot.com
Author
Time
How many users AOL has now? Like, five?
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
Author
Time
Their niche audience has always been people who don't know any better. In the past, I had people tell me "Well, I have AOL and that's the internet, right?". If the modem makes the squelching noises and they get presented with a nice BBS look, they think they're on the web.
Nemo me impune lacessit

http://ttrim.blogspot.com
Author
Time
My parents are part of this group.

Worst part is that they have DSL and keep paying AOL as if they still use it to connect. WHAT?!

Blows my mind. I've tried to explain to them that they don't need it anymore, but they say my brother uses it for IMs and email. And I tried to explain to him that, hello, IM is FREE! Know what my brother has to say? "I'm not paying for it. I don't care."

Man, I almost knocked him out. What a punk.
Author
Time
I remeber when you couldn't use your phome and the internet at the same time.
Author
Time
My cousin used to work for AOL. She was SO happy the day she quit.

Princess Leia: I happen to like nice men.
Han Solo: I'm a nice man.

Author
Time
It took nearly an hour to cancel my AOL account. Just couldn't get through to the guy on the other end that I did not want to hear sales pitches. This was back in 1998.

Finally got my parents of AOL last year.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
-------------------------
Kevin A
Webmaster/Primary Cynic
kapgar.typepad.com
kapgar.com
Author
Time
NEVER give AOL a reason why you are cancelling an account. I used to work for a company that also did ISP services and they always said that any reason you can give them will trigger a sales script tailored to the reason your leaving. Its best to just insist on cancelling and refuse to give them a reason.
Even yet, I have a co-worker who was on AOL, and even after he cancelled they still billed him. He finally had to block them at the bank from doing automatic withdrawls.
Author
Time
Originally posted by: Number20
NEVER give AOL a reason why you are cancelling an account. I used to work for a company that also did ISP services and they always said that any reason you can give them will trigger a sales script tailored to the reason your leaving. Its best to just insist on cancelling and refuse to give them a reason.
Even yet, I have a co-worker who was on AOL, and even after he cancelled they still billed him. He finally had to block them at the bank from doing automatic withdrawls.


I had no choice in the matter. He wouldn't do anything without me giving him a reason. I said cancel. He said why. I said "because." And he went into his spiel anyway.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
-------------------------
Kevin A
Webmaster/Primary Cynic
kapgar.typepad.com
kapgar.com
Author
Time
Originally posted by: Bossk
Originally posted by: Number20
NEVER give AOL a reason why you are cancelling an account. I used to work for a company that also did ISP services and they always said that any reason you can give them will trigger a sales script tailored to the reason your leaving. Its best to just insist on cancelling and refuse to give them a reason.
Even yet, I have a co-worker who was on AOL, and even after he cancelled they still billed him. He finally had to block them at the bank from doing automatic withdrawls.


I had no choice in the matter. He wouldn't do anything without me giving him a reason. I said cancel. He said why. I said "because." And he went into his spiel anyway.


Then whatever he says, tell him thats the reason you're canceling.

or you could just tell them cause you dont like him. not the company but the person you are actually talking to.

there are plenty of ways you could f with him while canceling.

I say, if they are gonna be dicks about letting you cancel you should be a dick right back. I kinda want to make an AOL account just so I can cancel and have a good time with the person. I understand its their job and thats what they are told to do, but they should have a little common sense and know when it doesnt matter and to stop trying to push the issue.

-Darth Simon
Why Anakin really turned to the dark side:
"Anakin, You're father I am" - Yoda
"No. No. That's not true! That's impossible!" - Anakin

0100111001101001011011100110101001100001

*touchy people disclaimer*
some or all of the above comments are partially exaggerated to convey a point, none of the comments are meant as personal attacks on anyone mentioned or reference in the above post
Author
Time
Originally posted by: ricarleite
How many users AOL has now? Like, five?
You would be surprised at how many people still go into consumer electronics stores and ask for an AOL disc (I mean - it is not as if they have received thousands of those shiny discs in the mail already !!!!)

As maddog00 gave an example of his parents and their reasons for sticking with AOL, there are unfortunately plenty of people out there who do not know any better. For them, AOL IS THE INTERNET.

There is a very large Joe Public out there that does not have a clue about a lot of things techy or entertainment-wise. Those of us who do are actually the minority, not the other way round. It is very easy to assume everyone else knows or understands the things we talk about with friends or in forums etc, but the opposite is the case.

Errr.... sorry, got a little sidetracked there.

As for that tax thing. Um, AOL has been lauding up its Security Center thingy on its adverts recently - Spamware - blocked. Viruses - Whacked. Etc. And now they're saying. Spam mail - blocked if the sender hasn't paid us a fee ????? Um, WTF !!

I really wish AOL would just go away and leave everyone alone.
where have i been all this time ?
Author
Time
Originally posted by: zion
This looks like the first step toward an AOL-free internet. I hope it's a landslide rather than a steady decline.


YES!!! damn i hate their mailers, and tv ads!