Category Archives: Consumer activism

Lighthouse International: Yet another 2+ years of mailings after the first removal request

I just sent the following email message to Mark G. Ackermann, the President and CEO of Lighthouse International: Dear Mr. Ackermann, I am taking the unusual step of writing to you because my efforts to get this issue resolved “through channels” for over two years have failed. In a nutshell, I have asked Lighthouse International… Read More: Lighthouse International: Yet another 2+ years of mailings after the… »

The Vilna Shul: We just don’t feel like removing you from our mailing list

November 26, 2009 Jack Swartz, President The Vilna Shul 18 Phillips Street Boston, MA 02114 Dear Mr. Swartz, I am writing to you because my efforts over the past two years to resolve this matter through The Vilna Shul’s executive director, Steven Greenberg, have been unsuccessful. Over two years ago, I embarked upon an ambitious… Read More: The Vilna Shul: We just don’t feel like removing you… »

Is it just my imagination, or does the selection at the Allston Stop & Shop really suck compared to the nearby Shaw’s?

November 22, 2009 Store Manager Stop & Shop 60 Everett Street Allston, MA 02134 Dear Sir or Madam, I like your store for several reasons: it is the closest supermarket to my house; I like the “Scan It!” system; and you give five cents back for reused bags. Unfortunately, these positives only go so far,… Read More: Is it just my imagination, or does the selection at… »

Incessant spamming by Honda and Honda Village

[You can read the whole series of Honda Village postings here.] November 17, 2009 American Honda Motor Company, Incorporated Honda Automobile Customer Service Fax: (310) 783-3023 To whom it may concern: HONDA HAS BEEN SPAMMING US FOR TWO YEARS DESPITE OUR REPEATED REQUESTS FOR YOU TO STOP. This is completely unacceptable. You need to make… Read More: Incessant spamming by Honda and Honda Village »

How to lower your phone + internet cost from $80 per month to $50 per month: buy your own cable modem and kick Comcast to the curb

Comcast was charging me $95 per month for internet and phone service.  That was too much. I got them to lower it to $75 per month, but I had to pay extra for all non-local and long-distance calls.  That was still too much. They raised the equipment charge for my cable modem from $3 to… Read More: How to lower your phone + internet cost from $80… »

American Foundation for the Blind (AFB): Lying, unrepentant spammers

My wife and I have supported literally hundreds of charitable organizations over the years.  I donate on-line whenever possible, which means that many of these organizations have my email address.  The vast majority of them are smart and reputable enough not to send me bulk email I didn’t agree to receive, or at worst to… Read More: American Foundation for the Blind (AFB): Lying, unrepentant spammers »

CVS FAIL: Reusable bag promotion doesn’t work if clerks have no clue

As The Consumerist recently reported, CVS is now selling “Green Bag Tags” at the register.  Here’s how it’s supposed to work: You buy a tag for 99¢ and attach it to your reusable shopping bag. Every time you give that bag to the checkout clerk to use instead of a plastic bag, the clerk scans… Read More: CVS FAIL: Reusable bag promotion doesn’t work if clerks have… »