THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 11, 1997 TAG: 9702110004
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 34 lines
After reading Ann Sjoerdsma's Feb. 3 column regarding the need for customers to rise up and sue America On Line, I am compelled to respond. It is litigious people who are wasting my tax dollars with unnecessary lawsuits.
I am reminded of when Disneyland and other amusement parks used to charge for each ride, with the best ``E-ticket'' rides costing the most. The result was short, manageable lines. Eventually, Disney and other parks went to an all-inclusive, all-day ticket. Now there are one- to two-hour waits for Space Mountain. Does anyone sue Disney because they have to wait a couple of hours for a five-minute ride? No. Park visitors come recognizing that waits are inevitable and that they may only get to go on four or five of the major rides. Smart visitors visit the parks during off-season, in the evenings, etc.
Likewise, smart AOL/Internet users know that usage will be highest after school, after dinner and after bedtime. Getting online at 10 a.m. is not a problem - after 3 p.m., it does get difficult but not impossible.
What is to be gained by commencing legal action against AOL other than generating legal fees for lawyers? If AOL cannot accommodate its customers, it will lose them. If ``punishment'' is necessary for AOL's ``crime'' of misjudging just how popular its new pricing plan would be, isn't loss of good will and customers' punishment enough? Why should tax dollars be spent investigating, let alone prosecuting, AOL?
The consuming public should not let a bunch of lawyers put a damper on what is a fabulous deal. AOL is an ``E-ticket'' ride - you just have to wait your turn.
JOSEPHINE URSINI KRANTZ
Virginia Beach, Feb. 4, 1997