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Results for posts tagged "ripoffs" on Gizmodo Australia.

Networks

Three iPhone Carriers That Make AT&T Look Like a Deal

Posted by John Mahoney at 4:10 AM on July 16, 2008

When Steve announced the iPhone 3G on stage at WWDC, one of the more interesting tidbits was the mention of a locked-in maximum price of US$199/US$299 in every launch country. But if you listened closely, you would have heard the key qualifier: "almost every country." Some deviation from the U.S. price is unavoidable, which is why Steve hedged his statement, but users in three countries in particular--Canada, Belgium, and Spain--are getting taken out back and walloped, each in their own special way.


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Networks

Apple Not Selling iPhones in Canadian Apple Stores on Launch Day

Posted by Jason Chen at 2:41 AM on July 9, 2008

Apple's apparently so fed up with the high pricing that Rogers is shoving into Canadian iPhone owners' faces that there will be no iPhone 3Gs sold at Apple Stores in Canada this Friday. This follows up Apple's previous action of diverting stock from Canada to Europe, and really sets the tone that they're unhappy with Rogers' $60 for 150 minutes, 75 SMS messages and 400MB data plan. So what's the deal? Canadians who still want one will have to line up early to get one of the 10-20 units per store that Rogers is getting. If we were you, we'd stay home and wait for Rogers to admit defeat, stop slapping its customers in the face and lower its prices. [Apple Insider]


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Online

ACCC Drafts Response To eBay's PayPal Only Scheme: No Way!

Australian Post Posted by Nick Broughall at 11:47 AM on June 13, 2008

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eBay's plans to bleed sellers dry make their service "more secure" by only allowing Paypal for online payments on Australian auctions has hit a small hurdle - the ACCC.

After asking for submissions in response to eBay's proposed move, and receiving them from the Reserve Bank, Google, and countless other institutions and ebay users, the ACCC yesterday released a draft response to ebay's request for exemption to anti-competitive laws. The response sounds like a polite version of the phrase, "F^&k off".

From ACCC Chairman Graeme Samuel:
"Given eBay's position as Australia's leading online marketplace, the notified conduct will substantially reduce competition to supply online payment services to users of online marketplaces more generally".
According to Australian IT, ebay are waiting to go through the ACCC's draft response before they comment, but hopefully it will be a meek walking away with tails tucked well and truly between their legs.

[Australian IT]

Online

Reserve Bank Pissed At eBay's PayPal-Only Payment Plans

Australian Post Posted by Nick Broughall at 9:30 AM on May 12, 2008

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It seems users aren't the only people pissed off with ebay's plans to financially rape you only support payments via Paypal. The Reserve Bank is also unimpressed with the proposal, submitting their thoughts to the ACCC.

Their arguments were simple: that Paypal only restricted consumer choice and actively promoted Paypal, limiting competition for other payment methods. They also felt that if eBay's whole "security" argument were true, people would opt to use it exclusively, rather than having it forced down their throats.

As well as the RBA, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and Australian Bankers' Association (ABA) have also lodged their thoughts with the ACCC, and neither of them were too happy with the auction site either.

Now, eBay has until May 23 to respond to the 350+ submissions to the ACCC. After that? Who knows, but hopefully it will end with eBay walking home with its tail between its legs...

[Australian IT]

Entertainment

Terminator Ad Looks Like a Rip-Off, Makes Sarah Connor Chronicles Even Worse (NSFW)

Posted by Jesus Diaz at 3:00 AM on May 4, 2008

We like Terminator as much as we hate companies who rip-off the work of artists without even crediting them. This is apparently what happened with the poster used to promote the bland Sarah Connor Cronicles TV series: some blogs are reporting that the Fox channel's poster was allegedly copied straight from a striking montage created by someone else before the series were even announced. Compare the full images after the jump (NSFW).


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Screens

The 10 Worst HDTV Ripoffs Explained

Posted by Sean Fallon at 6:05 AM on April 29, 2008

If you are planning on picking up an HDTV in the near future, HD Guru's list of the 10 worst HDTV ripoffs for 2008 is required reading—pure and simple. Chances are, many consumers have already heard about the issue with HDMI cables—which is probably one of the biggest scams of all time (right up there with Q-Ray ionised bracelets and the Ionic Breeze). Other scams, like the one involving contrast ratio specifications are also making their way into the public consciousness.


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Online

ACCC To Decide Whether eBay Are Being Greedy Dicks With PayPal Only Payments

Australian Post Posted by Nick Broughall at 9:54 AM on April 18, 2008

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There is still hope that eBay won't be able to restrict payments to PayPal only. The day after they made the announcement that they would only accept cash and Paypal for online transactions, lawyers representing eBay requested immunity from the Trade Practices Act from the ACCC.

According to Australian IT:
Section 47 of the Act prohibits exclusive dealing which broadly involves one trader imposing restrictions on another's freedom to choose with whom, in what or where it deals. In some cases, exclusive dealing is prohibited outright and, in other cases, only where it substantially lessens competition.
eBay doesn't feel that restricting it's customers to Paypal will substantially lessen competition. They stand by their claim that the move is done exclusively to protect customers.

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Online

eBay Rips Off Users Increases Security By Making You Use PayPal

Australian Post Posted by Nick Broughall at 2:17 PM on April 11, 2008

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Time to wake up Australia - big business is about to bend you over - again - and sodomise you with your own ignorance.

This time it's eBay Australia. They've decided that our country is even more risky than the rest of the world when it comes to online security, so they've decided to get rid of all payment options for online auctions except cash and PayPal. And cash is only available when the product is picked up from you, which means all online transactions have to be through Paypal.


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