CafePress: How Do You Make Coffee into Ersatz?
July 4, 2022
Years ago I was invited to a meeting. At the meeting was a big wheel from an outfit called CafePress. I knew the group sold T shirts with semi memorable and/or clever slogans. At one point in the discussions the big wheel pointed out that I was too harsh asking about specific points of a proposed contract. Like asking questions was bad, dude. As I listened to this senior officer’s comments about slippery contract provisions, I formed a probably unfair impression of the company. Would I rather spend my time lecturing law enforcement professionals or hanging out with the CafePress management team?
Answer: Give me the enforcers of laws, not sellers of Get Lucky in Kentucky coasters. Just my opinion, gentle reader.
When I read, “FTC Takes Action Against CafePress for Data Breach Cover Up,” I was not particularly surprised. Slippery contract language, self-important huffing and puffing, and the T shirt thing provided a fairly solid foundation for my opinion about some of the outfit’s business ideas.
The write up states:
The Federal Trade Commission today took action against online customized merchandise platform CafePress over allegations that it failed to secure consumers’ sensitive personal data and covered up a major breach.
Was I surprised?
Answer: No.
My view is that most New Age online outfits share a similar DNA. Specifically, there are fragments of protein that are responsive to opportunities to take advantage, demonstrate mendacious behavior, and take a dim view of people who ask pointed questions.
Will there be consequences?
Answer: Insufficient ones.
Stephen E Arnold, July 4, 2022
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