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They were getting x-sold back then too. Prechecks are nothing new. Hidden shit is nothing new either. As I've said before...there was a LOT of money made back then using very NASTY dialers that would install themselves in a hidden manner and change your dial up service and charge crazy prices like 5 to 10 bucks a MINUTE while you surfed. A x-sell? That ain't shit compared to the MILLIONS of dollars that people were ripped off for.
How do you think so many of those adult internet "pioneers" retired before 2000? I still remember the feeding frenzy around 2002 when the last countries left to pull the dialer off were the European countries. And as one by one they figured it out and made it illegal the shit got crazier and more aggressive.
But damn it was a lot of easy, easy money. x-sells? Again, they suck when people hide 'em and scam with them. But they are very small potatoes compared to the real scamming that took place a few years ago.
When a surfer ended up with a $10,000 phone bill and never even bought a membership to any paysite...but merely surfed a free site without even clicking on shit...well, THAT should have stopped everybody from buying porn according to all the theorists that I hear now.
But it didn't. And it won't. Just putting some perspective on it.
$10,000 phone bills and never intending to buy anything VS Actually buying something and getting hit with a dollar trial x-sell in the hopes it will convert into a $30 membership without you noticing it are not even in the same league.
But you sure would think it was to hear a lot of the newer or less informed people on GFY who are so shocked over x-sells.
Speaking of getting scammed...I bought my Prowler back in 2002. It was the final year they made 'em. And like an idiot I let the dealership take me to the cleaners. I bought "Product" Which is extra warranties. Which is how they make their money.
I bought all my tune ups and oil changes and ANYTHING that needed to be serviced on that Prowler! And the deal was 60,000 miles. But the fine print said "5 years"
Didn't notice that. They didn't stop me and say:"Listen to uphold my sense of ethics I want to point this out to you, even though you probably won't spend any money then and I won't make as much to take care of my family"
No they didn't do that.
So now I have a "warranty" that cost several thousand dollars. And I have 22,000 miles on my now 6 year old car. I got 7 oil changes for a few grand. lol
I'm never gonna buy another car again! Oh wait a minute...I bought 4 more cars since then...never mind.
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