Three Strikes and Still at the Plate? 

At one time, a batter in baseball had four strikes before being called out.  That rule was changed.  There is a different situation in which the rule must be changed. 

It was reported on “World News Tonight” on September 17, 2007, that the airline companies recently had made the most profit since September 11, 2001, but in the face of delays and passenger frustrations. 

On Sunday, September 16, I went shopping at the Montebello Costco.  When I brought my basket to the front, I saw that the line extended into two long aisles running toward the back of the store.  I left my basket and exited, noticing that several of the cash registers were not being used. 

Our business in Montebello has low to moderate telephone traffic, most of which is local.  Yet somehow AT&T manages to stick us for $200 to $300 in monthly billing.  The customer service has been generally poor, as when the business owner has waited over an hour to speak with a customer-service representative. 

Is the problem that we the public are a captive market?  While none of the above is a monopoly, each operates like a monopoly.  We have neither choices nor voices.  It is as if these corporate giants were the batters and Major League Baseball went back to the four-strike rule. 

If you answer the multiple-choice questions below and e-mail to lessonanswers@mymontebello.com with “Lesson answers” in the subject field, you will be credited toward a “certificate of recognition in community affairs” to be awarded in 2007 by a local nonprofit organization. 

1.  What is the problem being described?

(a)  Baseball rules favor the batter over the pitcher.

(b)  Large companies can make much money and provide poor service without the public being able to quickly correct the situation. 

2.  What can be done?

(a)  Implement the “open suggestion box”, mentioned in a previous online lesson. 

(b)  Nothing.  We are smaller than David and they are bigger than Goliath.

October 4, 2007