Hate Facebook, Apple, Amazon & Google?

Suck it up. It’s only going to get worse.

By Richard M. Sherwin

Facebook, Apple, Amazon, and Google are constantly in the headlights of anti-trust legislatures all over the world. Apple allegedly favors its own apps in the $30 billion App Store. Amazon favors its own brands over other manufacturers, so when you search for a BlueTooth speaker, a bed/mattress or even food, its built-in search winds up recommending Amazon’s own (paid for) products first. Facebook has used its considerable wealth to purchase many of its competitors, similar to what Standard Oil did many years ago, The social media king now has no direct competitors in the social media market, and has even strengthened its position.

Google, which has 90% of the Internet search engine business, favors its own choices (with built-in kickbacks) over many choices that a strictly independent search engine would find.

All of these companies have already paid fines overseas and, despite threats of “forced breakups” and stronger anti-trust oversight, there’s nothing the government can do about the power that these companies have over our daily lives.

These behemoths of industry are easily first, second, third and fourth place on the “I hate” list of American consumers, with service providers and mobile giants like Verizon, Altice, Comcast, AT&T, Sprint /T-Mobile, and Spectrum rounding out the top 10 of the “must use but hate” technology conglomerates.

I am sure I am missing a few others that make it the Top 15 of most disliked corporations in the technology field.

I culled the likes of Consumer’s Union (owner of Consumer Reports), Consumer World (weekly online consumer advice newsletter covering corporate frauds and more) and my own and my teams’ emails of constant unpleasantness by these companies.

Here’s what you can do to combat the seemingly unstoppable behemoths since the federal government, the FCC, FTC, and Congress won’t do anything:

General online and brick and mortar shopping

If you want to work around Amazon and are in the market for a TV, computer, mobile phone or fashion clothing at low prices, try Walmart.com and Walmart. I found that they consistently beat the Amazon consumer electronics prices for mainstream brands. The venerable shopping store is now also carrying the top tier brands, too.

Costco.com offers something that no one else has: a 90-day return policy and added two-year warranty on all of its TVs, PCs and related CE products. BJ’s is now matching prices during big holiday sales days on these same products, but often doesn’t carry a large stock – so get to the BJ’s sales early.

Target is offering a larger selection of more upscale and trendy clothing and small appliances and will match Amazon’s prices and also give you a 5% discount on all orders of anything in the store or online if you use the Target credit card. Even Marshalls has joined the fray against Amazon by offering its discounted home goods and clothing at its website, Marshalls.com. It remains to be seen whether the TJ Max parent company will also offer its online customers senior discounts as it does once a week. Check your local Marshalls or T.J.Maxx-Home Goods for dates and availability in your area.

And while many malls are losing retail stores, some mall clothing stores are lowering prices during closeouts or Chapter 11 filings.

TV Service and Mobile Providers

It seems like everyone is cutting cords. Opting to pay only for Internet and getting their TV from streaming services and set top boxes or smart TVs.

But many consumers are finding that there are very little savings when dropping cable. Why? Because most service providers – especially the biggest Verizon, Comcast, Altice-Optimum, Spectrum have raised their Internet-only service fees very high so if you negotiate, you can probably get your basic cable back for the about the same price as bundled Internet, Phone and Cable price.

And others, who have unlimited data plans with their cellular companies are using that connection and a set-top streaming box to watch selected cable stations, but most of these boxes do not carry your local stations.

But please remember the dreaded Google and Amazon also occupy this space offering fee-based services. So far, the best streaming service apps are Sling TV, PlayStation Vue and DirecTV Now, Google’s YouTube TV and Hulu with Live TV.

They cost $29 to $79 a month, depending on whether you add premium channels like HBO, Showtime. Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu and CBS All Access have fees as well. Be reminded that AT&T, Comcast and Apple are all entering this arena with pay-for channels.

YouTube TV is winning the streaming package race with more sports channels, better local station availability and better pricing. And of course, you’ll need streaming hardware to run those apps.

Roku, the industry leader by a mile, still also has the easiest streaming box to use. Roku has three models from its superpowered 4K Ultra around $99

to the very portable HD Stick model for around $59. The dreaded Amazon sometimes literally gives away its Firestick HD for less than $20 during holiday and buying specials. But remember – Amazon models come with built-in advertising and an annoying version of Alexa on some models. Either way, Roku is much easier to use, upgrade and add channels.

The Apple TV streaming device (once called a toy by Steve Job) is still way behind Roku and Amazon Fire Stick in features and pricing.

The Fire Stick

Can you hear me?

Mobile giants struggle against budget carriers

Mobile giant Verizon laid off 50,000 people from its mobile and online divisions – and it shows. The former market leader’s tech support is not nearly as good as it was a few years ago, and its mobile pricing seems to change every week to combat Sprint-T-Mobile (soon to be one merged company) and AT&T.

Budget AARP- backed Consumer Cellular wins lots of awards, but doesn’t seem to have very good service in Florida and parts of New England. Its tech support is terrific. Other budget carriers like Boost, Telo and Cricket also don’t support all hardware manufacturers, but for some families without heavy mobile requirements, these companies can be useful.

The newest carriers for mobile service are those dreaded cable companies.

Comcast, Spectrum and even Altice Cablevision offer their TV customers deals with their branded mobile service usually using AT&T and Verizon service. Comcast, for instance, offers some deals with great prices for those not requiring data plans. And if you combine your TV and Internet with mobile phone service, you can really save on your monthly bill. But of course, that means your anger at your cable provider and your mobile service is now controlled by one of the behemoths.

Facebook under fire for capturing what you don’t want

So your kids and grandkids live on Facebook and your high school sweetheart asked you to friend them. Then you find out that Facebook has captured your eating, sleeping, driving and shopping habits and might be selling them to the highest bidder. And now hundreds of your enemies from college are tracking you down because you accidentally friended them.

Instead of worrying that your entire life is coming back to haunt you online, consider talking privately to just the people you want to talk with using Microsoft’s Skype and Google Hangouts and Facebook’s Facetime. Yes, you will be using the behemoths, but these services are free so maybe you can get the last laugh by communicating with friends and family without worrying about advertising and stolen identities.