The Extra Reading Company

BEWARE THE EXTRA READING COMPANY!

This company offers reading resources.  A teacher friend of mine saw a couple of free demos that she  thought her students would be interested in reading, so she checked out the website.  It turns out they advertise three different types of reading resources.  The website doesn't give a subscription price.  Their pricing is a "name your own price" kind of thing, but they do say that extremely lowball offers will be rejected.  They give no idea at all about what would be considered "acceptable" as an offer.  Since my friend only planned to use it as a secondary (occasional) resource for her students, she offered $25 for the year.  She says she wouldn't pay any where close to that for any other occasional resource, therefore she thought it was fair, considering the financial restrictions her school district (along with other struggling districts) has put on teacher expenditures this year.  The Extra Reading Company disagreed and that is where this email chain begins….
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Teacher: I can't afford the price you set. Thanks anyway.

ERC: If that’s the case, you must be living paycheck to paycheck. In this situation, I would advise you to only be purchasing goods and services you “need,” rather than “want.” This is an important distinction that will help you get your financial situation into better shape. Thanks for your interest.

Teacher: Wow - what condescension.
I am a schoolteacher with very limited school funds and the reason I can't afford this subscription has to do with making a line between professional money and personal. It has absolutely nothing to do with living paycheck to paycheck.
I am very glad to have not gotten involved with your company if this is how you treat people.

ERC: I think you GREATLY misunderstood the intent of my response. It was to be helpful, not “condescending.” So, this has been an incorrect inference on your part altogether. You were treated wonderfully—receiving a response to your concern that was straightforward, prompt, and compassionate toward what you indicated was a dire financial situation.
That said, now that you have presented me with this new information, I think what you originally meant to relate was that you didn’t “want” to pay the price you offered, rather than “I can’t afford it.” Because, it seems as though you certainly can afford it, you just don’t want to. This knee-jerk reaction happens on rare occasions when the prospective customer lacks perspective about the price of an annual service. For example, your cell phone bill probably costs AT LEAST $50 per month, or $600.00 per year. You’re billed monthly for that. By contrast, we’re offering you a service for the dirt cheap price of just $40 for an ENTIRE YEAR. This is why I say you lack perspective.
Thus, I will restate my advice. Moving forward, I would suggest that you are more careful/selective with your words, so as to be able to communicate effectively. If you choose not to purchase a product or service at a fair price, simply say “I don’t want to pay that much,” rather than, “I can’t afford it.” The latter statement, in this case, seems to have been a lie, and it’s always best to be truthful.
Nevertheless, as a customer service representative, I’m afraid I don’t have the time for further back-and-forth. You’re either willing to pay a fair price for a YEAR’S service, or you’re not. We do get prospective subscribers who offer nonsensically low amounts from time-to-time. I’m afraid you just happened to be one of them. In response, we offered you a 60% discount, the absolute lowest price available. This incredible gift should have been appreciated, not disdained.
Again, thanks for your interest.

Teacher:  What is your name and who is your supervisor?

ERC:  Sounds as though you have reacted emotionally to the points I have made, rather than actually consider them. That’s a mistake, Bridget. Don’t confuse argumentativeness with rudeness. The ideas I expressed are logical, and correct. Either address their merits, or don’t. But, if you choose not to, no need to respond. If you disagree, debate is encouraged. However, misplaced outrage is disdained.

Teacher:  My name is Mrs. _________. Please give me your name and your supervisor’s contact information.

ERC: Bridget, you need to lighten-up. We’ve told you that you were wrong about a few things. It’s that simple.
Learn to appreciate when you’re educated, will you?

Teacher: Please send me your name and your supervisor’s name and contact information. And again, if you are showing respect, my name is Mrs. ________.

ERC: It’s disrespectful to refer to you by your first name?
You’re mad as a hatter.
This conversation, is over.

Teacher: I asked you in the email before to call me Mrs. ________, and again, you used my first name. Yes, that is disrespectful.
Again, give me your name unless you’re afraid to give it to me because of your behavior in this email thread and also, send your supervisor’s contact information.
Do not email me again unless it’s to give me that information.
Mrs. __________

ERC: The definition of INSANITY is doing the same thing over-and-over again, expecting a different outcome than before.
You asked me for that information MULTIPLE TIMES. Each time, I did not give it to you.
So, my question to you would be, are you INSANE?
If not, why do you keep doing the same thing REPEATEDLY and hoping for a different outcome?

And then one minute later (with no response from Teacher in between)

ERC: And, Bridget, didn’t I tell you this conversation was over?
I think I did, Bridget.
Yes, Bridget, I’m certain I did.

Teacher:  Do not send me another email unless it is to give me the information I asked for. You are at the point of harassment now.

ERC: Don’t be retarded.
If you don’t want to be contacted anymore, STOP REPLYING.
It’s that simple, Bridget.
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This story hit the internet pretty quickly, with anti-Extra Reading Company pages being created on Facebook, articles being posted and re-posted, amusing memes being created, you get the idea.  Some savvy internet folks even discovered that The Extra Reading Company had been "borrowing" artwork for their stories from unsuspecting artists at DeviantArt.com.  The theft was reported on a couple of different occasions to that site as well as to the artists of the works.  Currently the free stories at Extra Reading Company's website have no illustrations (but I'm sure it's only a matter of time before they "borrow" more artwork and attempt to profit from it).  Back to the story at hand, once word of this teacher's ordeal began to spread, the owner (and presumably the ONLY employee) of this company, Joshua S. Mason, went into full tantrum mode.  Mr. Mason even went so far as to contact officials of the school district where the teacher worked!  He harassed and threatened (with full shame and embarrassment to their families) both this teacher and a friend of hers who had shared her story in a Reddit post that has since been removed.  Said post was removed after Mr. Mason sent a threatening text to the teacher's friend on his cell phone, followed by emailing dozens of co-workers of the same friend.  Those emails were potentially damaging to the careers of both my teacher friend and the friend who posted her story, warning others about The Extra Reading Company.  I feel certain there is a case to be made against Mr. Joshua S. Mason for harassment in both instances.  Of course, I would bet the only justice these individuals are seeking is for the word to continue spreading regarding Joshua S. Mason and his terrible customer service.

Both friends decided, though they felt there was nothing Mr. Mason could actually do to them or their careers since they did nothing wrong, that it was best to just cut their ties with him and with Extra Reading Company.  However, I have nothing to lose.  And Mr. Mason deserves to have his story told.  Here's to you, Joshua S. Mason, and getting what you deserve.  Cheers!

Belladonna  :)