a ®️eMark from eMark ™️

As I watched how businesses have morphed in the last 20 years, I noticed something that doesn't seem fixable in my estimation.

I know it's hard to believe but I once picked up a phone and dialed the Dell computer company. A bright young female answered the phone, ‘Dell computer Corporation, may I help you’, or something like that. I said, ‘I'd like to speak with a vice president please.’ She replied, ‘One moment sir..’ and literally 25 seconds later I was speaking to a vice president of Dell!

My story goes on that I had been wronged by Dell support and cheated of a replacement DVD drive for my laptop. The person I spoke to identified himself as ‘Michael’.

When I told of my plight the gentleman apologized, said the problem will be fixed immediately and do not worry, he was glad I called and he said this support lapse will never happen again.

I didn't think at the time but the owner/CEO of Dell at the time was Michael Dell, and I am pretty sure that was Michael Dell that helped me. I was nobody special, and he treated me as if I was royalty or his boss!

Since then, Michael Dell, although still owning, gave up the reins and the quality of product plummeted. Also, lawsuits and fraud cases occurred. It hasn't been pretty for that company.

Another business of the past more vividly shows the issue of which I am so worried. The company that invented the DVR, I am sad to say WAS, (as they really no longer exist) 'ReplayTV'.

Why did Anthony Wood, the inventor of the DVR’s startup evaporate, and companies like TiVo flourish? I happen to know more than you can easily Google about it because I was a huge fanboy for ReplayTV!

They took the 'Good Steve path'. Okay, earth to Mark, you are sounding like Joe Biden here..

Yeah, now I must tell you the 'Tale of two Steves' fable..

Once upon a time, there were two Steve's. One Steve with a kind, giving, and caring individual who would do anything to make people happy, even lose profits!

The other Steve was very different. He was focused, a perfectionist, a big picture observer, and ruthless. It was all about the bottom dollar with this Steve!

Of course, the first Steve was the Woz, Steve Wozniak and the latter was Steve Jobs. The Woz wanted to build a computer that people could adapt using many different ways, have full control of, and grow with, almost never needing another machine..

Big picture Steve, on the other hand, wanted a machine that you could do almost nothing on unless he allowed you! This Steve foresaw that he could control how often you needed a new one, what you could use it for, and you couldn't really use it without staying with his company, Apple.

Do you see what happened there? The good guy with the kind heart has faded into the pages of history and the ruthless, heroic, multi-billionaire has been enshrined on those pages in bold print.

Well back to the inventor of the DVR. When Anthony Wood came on the scene with a fantastic invention, he too wanted the people to have full control, abilities to adjust parameters, and no-strings after purchase! He did not want to record any of your data, just sell a lot of perfect DVRs..

Yep, I had it first-hand that ReplayTV did not want my data! I actually got a notification from them where they apologized for taking my data explaining that a competing DVR company called TiVo had gone to court and demanded that data be accrued from DVRs!

Yes, TiVo broke the privacy policy back in the 90s? Even though Replay TV reported data by law, they basically did not use it to their advantage and TiVo did!

ReplayTV’s business model only made money when you purchased one! While TiVo continued to make money selling subscriptions, and your personal data, your viewing habits, to anyone who wanted to buy them, mostly advertisers.

Do you see the pattern here? It seems the bad guys always win! The kind-hearted people willing to give an invention away so people can have maximum enjoyment with no strings attached go out of business. And the people who slice and dice you and charge you ongoing fees, spying on you, learning all your habits, and selling those off to anyone who wants them, not only survive, but thrive!

This is the dirty underbelly of capitalism in my opinion. That's why we have a handful of companies owned by and controlled by the most ruthless people, holding America by the proverbial throat! Heck, to be more accurate, they are holding the world by their proverbial throats!

If you agree with me and see this as a serious flaw, I would sure like to hear what the fix may be, because I think capitalism is broken.. and the ruthless did it.

‘nuff said by me.
Respectful comments, criticisms, and snide remarks are always welcome.