---
title: "we aren't dumb."
id: "367"
type: "post"
slug: "we-arent-dumb"
published_at: "2009-01-23T14:46:49+00:00"
modified_at: "2009-01-23T14:46:49+00:00"
url: "https://factor1studios.com/we-arent-dumb/"
markdown_url: "https://factor1studios.com/we-arent-dumb.md"
excerpt: "I often see communication from companies that think we (consumers) are dumb. Examples. • Circuit City is filing for bankruptcy due to the economic colapse. – The reality is that CC has been failing for the past 5 years. The..."
taxonomy_category:
  - "business"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "asu|bankruptcy|blame|budgets|circuit city|consumers|economy|matt adams|microsoft|sprint|verizon"
---

# we aren't dumb.

#### By Matt Adams January 23, 2009

I often see communication from companies that think we (consumers) are dumb.  
 Examples.   
 • [Circuit City is filing for bankruptcy](http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/local/Circuit_City_closing_US_stores.html)
 due to the economic colapse.  
 – The reality is that CC has been failing for the past 5 years. The last 6 months were merly the nail in the coffin.  
 • [Microsoft is cutting 5000 jobs](http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/22/technology/microsoft_jobs/index.htm?postversion=2009012209)
 because the slow economy.  
 – Again, same story, Stocks and sales have been down for 2 years, yet [apple reports](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7682962.stm)
 one of the biggest profits (26% growth) ever for 4th quarter 08. Maybe the issue is bigger than the current economy.  
 • I recently switched cell phone carriers. [My former carrier](http://www.verizonwireless.com/)
 wants me back, and is offering me “special deals to come back”  
 – The problem is that these so called special deals, are not special. In fact, they are worse than the deals a new subscriber would get walking off the street.   
 • Locally, [ASU is announcing huge budget cuts](http://asu.edu/budgetcuts/)
 because the state is cutting some educational funding. They are dropping programs, loosing teachers, and making class sizes huge.   
 – The problem here is that ASU has raised tuition 233% in the last six years, and the [ASU president makes $750k](http://www.asuwebdevil.com/node/2904)
 a year, plus $750K in bonuses. The average state school president makes $420k. Seems to me they are whining and cutting the wrong things. ASU is a business after all. Maybe they should run it like one.   
   
 Consumers are not a dumb as big companies think.

#### By Matt Adams January 23, 2009