Archive for July 23rd, 2008

Credit card activation: security or reverse marketing?

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

So I received two new Discover cards, with supposed enhanced security features. I didn’t ask for them, they just sent them to me. I got a new account number which is a pain because various merchants directly bill my credit card and they will have to be updated, by me.

You know the little stickers on the credit cards, call xxx-xxx-xxxx to activate your credit card? Do they actually do anything or add to security? Would the card not work if I didn’t call the number?

Well the nice lady who got on the line to activate my card promptly switched scripts and (after thanking me for being a customer for sooo long) promptly started selling me something.

How annoying. Tricked me into calling them to get their sales pitch.

Popularity: 13% [?]

Posted in Life | 1 Comment »

The 7 deadly sins and 10 lessons of a failed startup

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

Check this post The 7 deadly sins and 10 lessons of a failed startup from Don Dodge on The Next Big Thing:

"Building a startup is the most difficult, and most rewarding, thing anyone can do. Sometimes you can even make some money at the end of it all. There are so many things that can go wrong it is a miracle when a startup actually makes it. It is important to celebrate our successes, learn from our failures, and value them equally. Failure is important…because success is a terrible teacher."

Popularity: 12% [?]

Posted in Life, Technology | No Comments »