Comcast Takes 2014 Prize For Worst Company In America

halfEvilTech writes with news that Comcast has emerged victorious from Consumerist's annual Worst Company In America contest. Comcast narrowly edged out Monsanto in the finals with 51.5% of the vote. The reigning champion for the past two years, Electronic Arts, lost in the first round to Time Warner Cable. TWC made the quarterfinals, which is notable because Comcast has proposed a merger with TWC. In fact, Comcast submitted an FCC filing today explaining why they think the deal should be allowed. They say, 'the companies don’t overlap or compete against each other.' Other strong contenders for the Worst Company in America included Chase, SeaWorld, Wal-Mart, Bank of America, and Verizon.

Comments

What a joke

[Anonymous Coward]

A video game company that makes shitty games.
Giant banking and investment firms that literally rend the economy that results in massive layoffs.

These two shouldn't even be in the same running.

Re:What a joke

[roc97007]

It could more accurately be called "the companies that geeks hate the most".

Re:What a joke

[Anonymous Coward]

You define 'worst' in the wrong way for this 'contest'.

It's not what company does the most damage to the world. No. That list is far too tough for the consumerist to tackle.

It's what company runs their business the worst AND pisses off the most of their customers seemingly on purpose.
Who really fucks people over but doesn't really NEED to.
Who is the most clueless bunch of fucktards running a big business you are forced to deal with sometimes in your normal life.

Can you say that's not EA? Can you say that's not Comcast? Nope. Exactly.

In terms of absolute 'worst' for the planet or america or just humans in general.. Most of these companys would not be listed.
We won't even dare try to make that contest... It's too fucking scary.

Re:What a joke

[Yunzil]

Yeah, EA is a gaming company, that survives by taking money from people in exchange for shitty, overhyped products

As opposed to financial companies that survive by taking money from people in exchange for ruining the global economy.

Re:What a joke

[garcia]

Then why aren't you buying your own modem for less than $50 and saving yourself the money every month? I mean, I get it, I think Comcast is for the birds too but honestly bitching about something you can buy yourself and they'll absolutely allow you to take on all the risk for is not something to choose to complain about.

Re:What a joke

[AlphaWolf_HK]

I don't see why Monsanto is in this. GMO is a good thing; it currently plays a major role in the green revolution that is quite literally ending world hunger. There is no credible evidence of it being harmful. Monsanto isn't the only company behind it. The patent infringement lawsuit wasn't over what the majority seem to think it was over (the ONE farmer that was sued actually deliberately knew he was infringing, and they quite conclusively proved it; this wasn't a case of random cross-pollination.)

The biggest groups against Monsanto are mainly the organic farmers, and they actually have a set of much more nefarious motives:

- Organic farming makes much higher profit margins than GMO, so there IS money in it for them. Lots and lots of money. GMO is their biggest competitor, so it only makes sense for them to demonize it. Sadly, the hipsters have bought into it, and usually they are the least likely to buy into propaganda.
- Reverting to Organic farming will destroy the green revolution, and countries like India will once again see famine if that came to pass.
- Organic farming requires much more landmass than modern methods. If you're an environmentalist of any sort, you should very much be against organic farming as it necessitates e.g. deforestation.
- There aren't enough natural resources in the world to sustain the current human population with organic farming (hence point number 2.)

Being anti-GMO is every bit as destructive, stupid, and naive as being anti-vaccination, and it's about time that people realize this.

Can I vote for the Federal Government?

[Anonymous Coward]

I think that one would win hands down, were it an option.

Seems dubious to me.

[Anonymous Coward]

I have to question the methodology here, I doubt that one in three people have even heard of Monsanto and have any idea what they do.

Not defending Monsanto but this smells like a targeted "survey" from a group with an agenda.

Just my $0.02

Re:Seems dubious to me.

[amiga3D]

I'd bet less than one in a hundred people on the street could tell you who Monsanto is. Just because they're notorious here means nothing in the real world.

Re:Seems dubious to me.

[Matheus]

Ya... AC who thinks no one knows who Monsanto is sounds like a targeted "shill" trying to discredit the survey!

Honestly Monsanto is the food industry's Comcast. They are HUGE and virtually unavoidable in that space. They produce a bunch of probably fine products (I'm FAR from Anti-GMO in my personal sentiments and IF Comcast were my ISP I'd be getting better bandwidth than I am at the moment) BUT they perform their business in the most despicable ways (Which makes it really hard to defend GMO when they are the poster-child.)

Both organizations are severely guilty of criminally Anti-competitive activities yet the U.S. Gov't seems unwilling or able to prosecute. (Add to that list Ticketmaster/Live Nation... how the $%c& did they approve *that merger?!) so it's probably a forgone conclusion that Comcast+TWC will happen eventually if not now.

Re:Times have changed

[amiga3D]

If food quality was important McDonald's would not exist.

Back up your vote with your wallet

[EMG at MU]

I know its near impossible with a few of these companies since they are oligarchies but I feel that in order to vote for one of these companies you also should make a personal pledge to avoid doing business with the companies you vote for.

One big problem here is that on one hand people say EA is the worst company in America and then turn around and go out and buy the latest EA game. Companies will listen, but only if you affect them where it matters: the bottom line. No one at these companies gives a shit about this survey.

Re:Times have changed

[acariquara]

Depends on what you call "quality". I assume you are speaking from a first world point of view, regarding nutrition values, calories, fat, salt and whatnot. Sure, ol'McD [sorry] isn't as healthy as a whole-food salad and salmon plate. But compared to street food found in most 3rd world countries, a Big Mac is usually safer.

It's junk food, and will probably kill you, just not from dysenteria.

Re:first world problems...

[Anonymous Coward]

It's just as wrong to ignore them because someone else is doing something worse.

Exactly - that's precisely how our "first world" problems become nightmares. Papers and sexual molestation while boarding planes? No big deal - it's not like we're Iran. Widespread surveillance on everyone, in violation of the Constitution? Psshaw, at least we're not in Somalia.

Invading another country due to dubious circumstances? LOOK OVER THERE! NORTH KOREA! LOL!

The, "But, but, those other people are doing worse things!" crowd is perhaps the largest danger ever visited upon free and responsible government.

Re:Well Deserved

[Trimaxion]

Until I bought an antenna. Boy, they must hate that, eh?

^^ This a million times. If you don't like Comcast, TWC, etc., give them the middle finger and cancel your TV service. Put up a decent antenna, perhaps buy a TiVo if you want a turnkey DVR appliance with a good UI (and pay their outrageous one-time service fee), and enjoy your uncompressed HD content from all the major broadcast networks.

I'm *still* stuck paying into the local cable monopoly to get internet access, but I'm paying them a lot less than I was before. It didn't take me long to break even on my antenna/wiring/tivo/etc costs.