Bit of a public interest story here, but one that connects with a lot of topics we've been discussing all semester. I'm curious how you all react to General Mills' new policy which limits consumer rights to take action against the company if the consumer has so much as "liked" it on Facebook or downloaded a coupon from its website. According to the NYT:
"Anyone who has received anything that could be construed as a benefit and who then has a dispute with the company over its products will have to use informal negotiation via email or go through arbitration to seek relief, according to the new terms posted on its site. In language added on Tuesday after The New York Times contacted it about the changes, General Mills seemed to go even further, suggesting that buying its products would bind consumers to those terms."
This policy is obviously appalling and seems closer to something out of a movie script that than real life. The article goes on to question whether the policy would actually hold up in court. I would also add that consumers aren't powerless, as there is almost zero reason why anyone ever needs to buy a General Mills product. I certainly won't be buying any of their foodstuffs ever again (though I'll miss the Bugles!).
