Vendetta?
Vendetta a la Miriam Webster online:
1 : BLOOD FEUD
2 : an often prolonged series of retaliatory, vengeful, or hostile acts or exchange of such acts <waged a personal vendetta against those who opposed his nomination>
I suppose, in terms of the second definition I do have a vendetta against centerpointe, yes. But I think the word carries connotations in the way that you are using it that I do not think are correct.
I do not have some personal grievance against Bill Harris. He didn't kill my parents when I was five. I haven't been in a cave, putting on tights and pretending I am a bat or some other scary animal, and I do not entertain revenge fantasies against him or his company ... aside from the one about the marketing that I posted earlier and was called "sick" for.
Really, does someone have to be warped in some way to feel very strongly about a company that is ripping people off?
The core of it is a mental image I have of Bill Harris and others in Centerpointe enjoying the money and secretly thinking that everyone of his customers is a sucker.
That is the crux of it.
Let us say that one of your friends makes a remarkable discovery about human kind and the human condition that could really help people alleviate much of the suffering of their lives and add immeasurable enjoyment. Lets say that the method required a little bit of money to do. Now lets say this friend starts giving it to people ... but only the ones that pay him $2000.00 for it.
What would you think of your friend?
Lets also say he comes up with MORE discoveries and starts learning about the discoveries others have made and starts repackaging those. Say he starts selling those for even more.
You might start to suspect that this friend is a selfish, money-grubbing pig and that when he ups the prices he's performing an experiment on just how much people are willing to pay.
Ok, Centerpointe cares? Lets see them lower their prices.
Let's assume that Holosync and the Centerpointe philosophy really is the schizniat when it comes to personal development.
There is poverty and crime in the world, isn't there? With all the money Centerpointe is making, heck, why not start programs for the poor, those in jail, those who REALLY need this kind of stuff. Are they doing that? Let me in on it, cause I don't think they are.
Truth is, they don't really care. Sure, some staff members probably do. But by and large they want your freaking money.
Bill Harris might be so friendly because it may help him sleep at night ... actually believe he is being helpful and not a greedy, money worshiping parasite. Also, it helps to tend the crops. They'll yield more.
A truly spiritual person and organization would act *very* differently than Centerpointe. When several businesses started sending me Centerpointe material I knew something fishy was up. It's amazing. I don't know how they do it or what they are doing. I wonder if they pay companies to let them send material "from" other companies?
I don't know.
But, really, I don't know anyone personally from Centerpointe. What you're seeing here is moral outrage at greed. Perhaps your unwillingness to see it as such reveals something about you rather than something about me, hmmm?
I go on about corporations like this, too. You should have seen me at my last job when they were laying off people left and right in inter-related companies for which I provided tech support. Greed greed greed.
Oh yeah, about money back guarantees:
Why do so many companies offer them? Because they know that it is human nature not to take advantage of it.
Centerpointe knows damn well that when someone makes an investment like that in time and money, they are NOT going to ask for a refund.
Why? Ego is one thing. No one likes to admit that he has been a fool. Another is perceived value. People will, in fact, perceive that they have gotten value out of most courses and products offered by most companies, and will feel some guilt when thinking about sending materials back for a full refund. Also, there is a feeling that "this object is mine" when you purchase something, hence there is a feeling of loss when you give it back for a refund. Also, there may be a feeling of personal failure.
Companies know full and well, like Casinos, that there are acceptable losses. Offering a full refund after a period of time is one of those. Don't think they are being fair and caring, they are not. GREED motivates money back refunds, both ways. It instills in the consumer the idea that they are getting something for nothing. It removes the inhibition against making a large purchase.
Man, if half of what I am hearing here is really how some of you think, you are seriously conditioned consumers. I admit that I am as susceptible as the rest of you, but I realize and admit it when I see that I've been a sucker. It helps me to wake up sometimes and say, “Uhhh, no thanks.”
Don't be a sucker. I mean, it's one thing to say, “Yeah, I've taken a punch ... but the end result is worth it to me, but, yeah, to an extent I've been a sucker.” It's another to buy into marketing crapola (even to the point where you defend it!) hook, line, and sinker. Being a sucker and not even being aware of it, lying to yourself about it, is seriously bad.
[This message has been edited by babayada (edited October 27, 2004).]
