Why AOL is the enemy

likwid

likwid

likwid

Associate
Joined
26 Nov 2004
Posts
1,480
Location
Gran Canaria
Just got into a conversation about why AOL are so unpopular and though I'd gather everyones memories for those who weren't using the internet before early 00's.

willhub said:
Care to explain?
Click to expand...
Anyone who has been using a computer since the early 00's remember AOL's sins.

They were at one time the worlds biggest ISP and became and remain hugely unpopular.
- AOL cd's everywhere and i mean everywhere, most ended up in landfill sites
- forcing users to install terrible software on their computers which used the service you paid for to feed you spam through AOL browser (modified IE)
- famously terrible customer service
- dishonest charging of payg customers, something like adding 15 seconds then rounding up to the next minute.
- virtually impossible to uninstall there software (adware)
 
Red and White said:
- forcing users to install terrible software on their computers which used the service you paid for to feed you spam through AOL browser (modified IE)

you could connect without it and use IE


- dishonest charging of payg customers, something like adding 15 seconds then rounding up to the next minute.

O RLY?

- virtually impossible to uninstall there software (adware)

add/remove programs. in what way is it adware?
Click to expand...
was it after one of the many lawsuits filed against them they allowed use of another browser?
link
There are literally thousands of forum posts literring the internet of users having problems uninstalling aol software. If downloading pop up advertising in the background doesn't amount to adware then I don't know what adware is

1999; class action lawsuit filed against AOL citing violations of U.S. labor laws


2000; AOL served with an $8 billion lawsuit because its software prevented AOLers from using another ISP.

2000 and 2001; Reports hit the media that AOL shuts it’s doors to “non AOL” email when email servers are busy. AOLers don’t receive the email, and non AOL senders don’t get their email bounced. Non AOL mail is just quietly deleted to maintain “AOL server integrity.”

And did you see the Vincent Ferrari YouTube video? Hilarious. In 2006, he tried to cancel an AOL account that hadn’t been used for years. The conversation was so “good” it was aired on CNBC.

2006, AOL is named #1 in PC World’s list of the 25 worst tech products of all time

December 2006, in order to cut operating costs, AOL decided to cease using American call centers for customer service. Two weeks before Christmas, thousands of workers were told they were being eliminated

September 2007, AOL said they’re moving from Virginia to New York. Part of the “restructuring” included laying off 2,000 people. Employees were told they’d be let go on Dec. 14. Just before Christmas. Again.

October 2007, the last call center in Canada was also shut down. All AOL customer service calls are now handled by people in India, the Philippines, and Argentina.

AOL, once a behemoth boasting 30 million subscribers, has lost roughly 2/3 of their subscribers. As of November, 2007, their customer base had dropped to 10.1 million subscribers.

I’d like to think that AOL’s decline is an example of consumers standing up for what’s right.

I’d like to think that John and Jane Q. Public, incensed by AOL’s constant abuse of the American consumer, has opted not to put money in their pocket.

But it just ain’t so. All is well in AOL world.
Click to expand...
source

Just to be clear for those of you using AOL now. I have no idea, it might be a great service for all I know. That doesn't stop them having a notoriously poor reputation. As in the post above, PC World awarded them the title of 'worst tech product of all time'.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom