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Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(137,995 posts)
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 07:55 PM 14 hrs ago

Why are US consumers so angry? It's not just high prices [View all]

American consumers are angry. Nearly 80% of Americans had a service or product problem in 2025, and about two-thirds of those felt "rage" about it, according to the "National Consumer Rage" survey.

Many consumers feel they are constantly fighting against an onslaught of overcharges, customer service hassles, shoddy products and billing mistakes that always seem to go in the company's favor. All of this comes against a background of soaring prices and rising inflation.

There's a stew of factors at work behind the rise in consumer rage: company consolidation, regulatory rollbacks, years of court decisions that limit consumer power, tech-enabled cost cuts, private equity takeovers, Covid-era business model changes, a moribund media and the rise of AI customer service, to name a few. But there is hope, too.

-snip-

The annoyance economy

Lisa, a 60-year-old marketing executive who lives in Washington DC, recently battled three big corporations over just two days. She didn't want to give her last name for fear of retaliation from the companies involved.

-more-

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/why-us-consumers-angry-not-110005497.html

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Flagrant price gouging is a big one. People are starting to understand what its like when so few own so much Cheezoholic 14 hrs ago #1
I regularly fantasize about the methods of the French Revolution being applied here in America today-- Jack Valentino 12 hrs ago #19
Lol, yes I use the metaphor loosely. The French Revolution didn't exactly end well for the French people ;) n/t Cheezoholic 3 hrs ago #25
Actually it eventually did end well for the French people. Ritabert 52 min ago #30
Recently bought a new t-shirt that has a cartoon Hey Joe 4 min ago #31
Yeah, that's called capitalism. BlueTsunami2018 14 hrs ago #2
No to mention the incorporation of A.I. into customer service. Crowman2009 14 hrs ago #3
When you call customer service.... SergeStorms 13 hrs ago #4
I'd rather talk to Bangalore than to an AI bot DBoon 13 hrs ago #5
and that's not saying much DinahMoeHum 13 hrs ago #8
Not to mention, both are hard to understand! slightlv 12 hrs ago #12
You mean "Jessica"? Yeah, I've talked to her too Takket 2 hrs ago #27
Nothing works the way it is supposed to anymore. Nothing. Midnight Writer 13 hrs ago #6
I could not have written this better myself! slightlv 12 hrs ago #13
Because people keep voting for fascist conservatives who don't give a shit about us? Initech 13 hrs ago #7
Online shopping has to be a contributor. LisaM 13 hrs ago #9
It's dealing with insurance that drives me nuts BeneteauBum 12 hrs ago #10
Didn't see a lot of hope in the article. Raven123 12 hrs ago #11
Anger over blatant company greed over developing or maintaining a reputation for service is on the rise. Aussie105 12 hrs ago #14
Seriously? America is a GIANT ripoff now. johnnyfins 12 hrs ago #15
I purchased a Hart product mgardener 12 hrs ago #16
I'm sick and tired of getting nickel and dimed JoseBalow 12 hrs ago #17
Prices keep climbing and products samplegirl 12 hrs ago #18
And these foreign corporations buying out our local businesses Farmer-Rick 12 hrs ago #20
The United States of RIPOFFFFFFFFFFFF johnnyfins 12 hrs ago #21
Is QA still a thing? moondust 12 hrs ago #22
Former QA Officer F-18_AMO 11 hrs ago #24
EV Purchase (short version of a long story) F-18_AMO 12 hrs ago #23
Easy times make soft men. OC375 2 hrs ago #26
Shrinkflation and enshittification Freddie 2 hrs ago #28
When I call customer service and get the run around, I ask to speak to the supervisor. When, on occasion, that Raftergirl 59 min ago #29
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