Naughty and Nice Companies

Consumer Reports has looked at the shopping policies, fees charged, etc. for various companies and come out with a naughty and nice list. Here's who's naughty (mostly based on fees they try to tack on to the "regular" price or poor return policies):

• AirTran
• Southwest Airlines
• SiriusXM Radio
• Liberty Travel
• The Swiss Colony
• GameStop
• American Apparel
• RadioShack
• Verizon Wireless

Now for the nice list:

• REI
• Bi-Lo Supermarket
• Live Nation
• Costco
• Orvis
• American Express
• Microsoft
• Cablevision
• Amazon

The only one I deal with on the naughty list is Verizon and then only because that's where my company-paid phone is from. On the nice list I frequently do business with the following:

• Costco -- I am at Costco quite often. In addition to food we've purchased a cruise, TV, computer, tires (a few times), and glasses (a few times) at Costco. It's a great place to shop with great customer service!


• American Express -- I use two Amex credit cards: the American Express Blue Cash Preferred card and Costco TrueEarnings card. Both are on my list of the best cash back credit cards.


• Microsoft -- I use Microsoft products every day, but don't have much interaction with them as a company.


• Amazon -- My go-to place for web shopping. More and more of my Christmas shopping every year is done at Amazon.

How about you? Do you do business with any of these naughty or nice companies?

Comments

[Old Limey]

I have never used any of the "Naughty" companies.

As for the "Nice" list.
REI is at the top of my list. It's a Co-Op started many years ago by a group of mountaineers in Seattle that needed a store that sold mountaineering equipment. Now they sell every possible kind of outdoor sporting equipment. They have sales assistants that actually use most of the equipment they sell and are extremely knowledgeable. They have the best return service you will ever encounter anywhere and they give you a nice dividend every year.

COSTCO, AMEX, and AMAZON are also great companies to deal with.

Microsoft produces good products but I have never dealt with them directly.

I would also add Home Depot to the "Nice" list. Every dealing I have ever had with them has been good.

[texashaze]

It's odd to see Southwest on here... they've routinely been on the "Best" lists for years.

[Nashville]

I don't understand Southwest Airlines being 'naughty' at all. But then I cancelled my subscription to Consumer Reports 2 years ago after, over time, finding they were far from being impartial. One month, an item would be in top 10 and the next month the same item wouldn't be listed at all. Hard to document. More a gut feel on my part. Kinda same way I feel about AARP.

[jim]

I too am puzzled for Southwest being on the 'naughty' list. Southwest comes to mind as the airline with the fewest fees.

I'm perpetually puzzled how Radio Shack has managed to stay in business.

They ding Gamestop for making it difficult to return stuff. Gamestop sells video games and return policies on video games are usually tougher due to piracy of games.

[Josh D.]

Also disagree on Southwest. They don't tack on bag fees, internet booking fees, advance ticketing fees, etc. I recently took my first trip with them, and it was (dare I say it?)...delightful.

[Matt]

Frankly I am surprized about verizon. I have been with them for 20 years and have never had an issue including 3 crappy phone that crapped out on us which they assured us were a bad batch.They exchanged them without hassle.

Our current phones have been excellent.

While some people at work could not wait to dump ATT and go back to verizon. It was a work promotion deal.

Maybe it is a regional thing?

Another reason I don't trust CR as much as I use to.

[tom]

I echo the comments about Southwest. No ridiculous hidden fees. They have one convenience fee... if you want to board early you pay $10. If not, you do what everyone else does and check-in right on the 24 hour mark.

CR really blew it on this one.

[Blair]

No Kidding, how is Radio Shack still in business???

[08graduate]

Southwest naughty because of Earlybird? Get real. They let you redeposit tickets in any fare class for credit with no fee. They don't charge for checked luggage. Their employees are happy and friendly. Their fares are fair. Hands-down the most consumer-friendly US airline.

As for Earlybird, I'm happy to pay $10 to board early. Those who aren't can deal with reduced seating options. What's a better way to determine boarding order, anyway?

[08graduate]

Regarding RadioShack, I hardly ever shop there, and I'm pessimistic about their long-term prospects. The Internet is steadily eliminating that kind of retail.

In the short term, though, I think poor urban areas are keeping them afloat. For a lot of people, it's impossible to get to Best Buy or Walmart, but RadioShack is right around the corner, so that's where you go to find a new cell phone.

[Maggie@SquarePennies]

Amazon has always been a pleasure to deal with. We never see anyone in a Radio Shack & have wondered if they are a Mafia front?!

[jeffinwesternwa]

Southwest, baggage flies "freee", change a ticket and no "fee", boarding options 24 hours prior, or pay $10 (only) for upgrade, etc., they are SUPER, not to mention on time far more often than other airlines...

[jeffbone]

Southwest "naughty" and Microsoft "nice"? What the hell are they drinking over at CR headquarters?

[Steve]

Microsoft has absolutely horrific customer support. Not sure how they're nice just because they let you return software.

[Linda]

Why didn't Sears make the naughty list for their automatically added extended warranties they added to all online purhcases over the Black Friday weekend?

[Georgia]

I use Amazon only. I have had good luck with them over the last few years.

I also agree with others. Most of the time I've flown, it was on Southwest and they were great. The part I loved best was that, as a senior, I could book a different date w/o paying $100 per ticket to change - like other airlines charged. They said they realized that seniors often had to cancel flights for very good reasons.

[Nashville]

Don't get me started on Sears! I can tell you one horror story after another. Now, that's a company I can't understand still being in business.

[08graduate]

@Linda @Nashville

I don't have any opinion on Sears in general, but Craftsman tools are excellent. I hope they stay in business for that brand alone.

[Georgia]

Things must have changed a lot. I worked for Sears in customer service in 1988 and it was a great place to work. I loved customer service - I got paid to talk to people and if I didn't know how to answer their questions or problems, I knew where they could go and helped them solve their problems.

[BD]

Wow, this is one messed up list. Whoever put Southwest on the "naughty" list deserves a lump of coal in their stocking this year for lying.

Southwest is one of the best airlines out there. I use Southwest exclusively, if I can help it. They're the ONLY airline to NOT charge a checked luggage fee (two bags - FREE) and have no fees for certain seating, carry-on luggage, or anything else. Oh, and no fees for changing tickets.

The only "fee" they have is if you want Priority Boarding (Early Bird check-in) and that's hardly a fee. For $10, Southwest checks you in and prints you a boarding pass, so you don't have to hassle with it. I use Early Bird every time, since I usually lack internet when I'm traveling.

Also: Gamestop and Swiss Colony? I don't use them, but I have friends who do, and love them. Never heard anything bad about either of them before.

Shame on whoever came up with this list.