[Rob Lister]

I've become loyal to very few brand names, and even that loyalty is subject to instant reconsideration on the first hint of displeasure. OTOH, there are quite a few brands I avoid if at all possible. I boycott. Usually for reasons most would find trivial. Sony is one I avoid. Years ago, I called their customer service because I needed a new controller connector for my original playstation; my son had a friend over that plugged in a generic controller and thus broke the pins. They would not sell it to me. Insisted I must send in the whole unit and pay 3/4 of what a new one costs for them to repair it. Then tacked on shipping and handling.

That was stupid of them on several levels. Needless to say, the ultimate repair cost me nothing, they didn't get the marked up piece part cost let alone the repair cost, and they lost a customer for all future products. I ended up with a brand new playstation in an old case and they eventually got, in return, an old broken playstation in a new case. I left a nice love note inside. I doubt it was ever read. They probably just toss the returns.