MSE News: Wonga branded 'morally offensive' for targeting students

anon_ymous

EdgEy wrote: »

"Loss leaders" are items sold below cost in order to get you into the store.

I see nothing wrong with that, from mine or the supermarkets view. From my view, I've seen an offer that I want and then Im off, or if I shop there regularly (Asda), I may as well do my shopping for the week

The supermarket realises that most people will probably also buy other profitable items from the supermarket as well, and will be in profit. These are the people subsidising the loss leaders.

Apart from those kinds of people, then I see nothing wrong with a person going in to a supermarket and buying an item that is making the supermarket a loss and either doing the rest of their shopping as they normally do, or walk out

Derivative

VfM4meplse wrote: »

There is a huge difference in aptitude between students at Cambridge and the London Southbank University.

Yes, and as earlier stated,

EdgEy wrote:

I tend to think someone who struggles with understanding that Wonga is a call of last resort should not be at University.

Student loans are taxpayer subsidised, there should be limits as to who can get them.

anon_ymous

VfM4meplse wrote: »

What really bugs me is their advertising campaigns that portray innocuous old grannies as the decision-makers and lenders. Surely sharks would be more representative imagery?

A huge assumption. People go onto FE for all kinds of reasons. Since the conversion of polytechnics, the term "university" now applies to all kinds of substandard educational institutes, that accept A level grades Ds and Es, whilst there are plenty of people with exemplary A-levels that progress their careers without further study. There is a huge difference in aptitude between students at Cambridge and the London Southbank University.

Firstly, don't generalise. Secondly I do go to an ex-poly but for the subject Im doing, it's one of the best universities in Europe for that particular subject and according to Cisco, THE best in the UK.

I didn't need A levels at grade D and E(I needed higher than that). I didn't go to sixth form, because I thought that college would better prepare me but it was not a case that I wasn't allowed in to my sixth form. Without being arrogant, I would have been accepted with ease.

I love the field of my study and this is what Cisco has to say about the course

Staffs wrote:

Cisco Systems have given Staffordshire University an Educational Achievement award, one of only six in Europe and the only one in the UK.

http://www.staffs.ac.uk/courses_and_study/undergraduate_courses/subjects/computer_networks/index.jsp

But yeah, I agree with you for the most part but some things ARE done better at ex poly's than Russel Groups/Red Bricks (My course for example)

Derivative

waqasahmed wrote: »

Apart from those kinds of people, then I see nothing wrong with a person going in to a supermarket and buying an item that is making the supermarket a loss and either doing the rest of their shopping as they normally do, or walk out

I see nothing 'wrong' with it either. I run about buying Tesco Value this and that, and I'm fairly sure a lot of it was below price (Tuna seems like a good example, up until recently the value tins were about 30p each).

But you are indirectly benefiting from the lack of self control others have, in that the supermarkets run the offers with the purpose of enticing people to buy other items.

If noone bought the costly items, supermarkets would not run loss leading promotions, and the savvy buyers would lose out.

So we rely on those less sensible with their budgeting decisions. I probably spend a third of what some of my friends do on food. Should I feel guilty for taking advantage of them?

If not, then why should Wonga feel guilty for 'taking advantage' of students? Because it's a bit more direct?

anon_ymous

EdgEy wrote: »

I see nothing 'wrong' with it either. I run about buying Tesco Value this and that, and I'm fairly sure a lot of it was below price (Tuna seems like a good example, up until recently the value tins were about 30p each).

But you are indirectly benefiting from the lack of self control others have, in that the supermarkets run the offers with the purpose of enticing people to buy other items.

If noone bought the costly items, supermarkets would not run loss leading promotions, and the savvy buyers would lose out.

Yes and No. I buy some supermarket basic/value food products, but only when the product in question is healthier/as healthy as the leading alternative ie: the Asda good for you range

Ill buy smart price products however ie: Asda washing up liquid. So in that sense I am paying more for a better health. For me health comes before money saved, but at the same time Ill be wanting to get the absolute cheapest product there is

Derivative

waqasahmed wrote: »

For me health comes before money saved, but at the same time Ill be wanting to get the absolute cheapest product there is

This is getting a bit off-topic now, but I do the same.
Staples like peas, sugar, peanuts, etc - stuff that quite literally can't really be of inferior quality I get Value.

Other stuff gets the label scrutinized - I want sugar in my jam, not HFCS.

VfM4meplse

waqasahmed wrote: »

Firstly, don't generalise. Secondly I do go to an ex-poly but for the subject Im doing, it's one of the best universities in Europe for that particular subject and according to Cisco, THE best in the UK.

I didn't need A levels at grade D and E(I needed higher than that). I didn't go to sixth form, because I thought that college would better prepare me but it was not a case that I wasn't allowed in to my sixth form. Without being arrogant, I would have been accepted with ease.

I love the field of my study and this is what Cisco has to say about the course



http://www.staffs.ac.uk/courses_and_study/undergraduate_courses/subjects/computer_networks/index.jsp

But yeah, I agree with you for the most part but some things ARE done better at ex poly's than Russel Groups/Red Bricks (My course for example)

I am well within my rights to generalise young pup, I've had years of experience within the workforce and recruit from the cream. I have no interest in anything but the brightest and the best, as this has a direct impact on life and death outcomes. I'm glad you're happy with what your doing, getting defensive about how brilliant you think you are is not the way to get a job at the end of your course!

anon_ymous

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I am well within my rights to generalise young pup, I've had years of experience within the workforce and recruit from the cream. I have no interest in anything but the brightest and the best, as this has a direct impact on life and death outcomes. I'm glad you're happy with what your doing, getting defensive about how brilliant you think you are is not the way to get a job at the end of your course!

I am well within my rights to get defensive when you call the institution "substandard"

I don't think Im brilliant at all. I got defensive because you called it "substandard" There's a difference in me defending it when you're calling it substandard and saying that Im the best of the best.

How would you like it if someone said to you that your work was substandard when you did a lot to get there, and then consider that say you are working for say the best accounting firm in the country and someone calls that substandard.

Would you not then defend yourself AND that company, because someone else has generalised? It's not about how "brilliant" I think I am (because Im not) but its about you calling the university "substandard"

Ill bet within your own company there'll be a need for a network and the people in charge will employ people who have done networking certs either by self study or through paying.

Im not saying our university is the best of the best but for certain courses it can be. ie: like Oxbridge are probably the best of the best for subjects like law or medicine etc..

DCFC79

Grouchy wrote: »

No civilized society tolerates usury. Which is what PDL companies practice. Should all be closed down.

Why, nothing wrong with PDL.

digitaltoast

waqasahmed wrote: »

I am well within my rights to get defensive when you call the institution "substandard"

He didn't.

waqasahmed wrote: »

I got defensive because you called it "substandard"

He didn't.

waqasahmed wrote: »

How would you like it if someone said to you that your work was substandard

He didn't.

waqasahmed wrote: »

its about you calling the university "substandard"

He didn't.

Take a deep breath, and have another read of what he actually said:

VfM4meplse wrote: »

A huge assumption. People go onto FE for all kinds of reasons. Since the conversion of polytechnics, the term "university" now applies to all kinds of substandard educational institutes, that accept A level grades Ds and Es, whilst there are plenty of people with exemplary A-levels that progress their careers without further study. There is a huge difference in aptitude between students at Cambridge and the London Southbank University.

Just because YOUR former poly runs a course on behalf of a client who will no doubt have set very strict guidelines, doesn't mean there aren't thousands attending appallingly substandard bums-on-seats box-ticking disillusionment factories. And I should know - I went to TVU.

But don't take my word for it...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/aug/01/vocational-skills-vs-university

Charlie Mullins, MD of Pimlico Plumbers

For years we have been sold the complete load of bōllōcks and told that if you want to get on in life and be successful then you have to go to university, and manual work is only for those who aren't clever enough to make it to university. And where did that get us? Thousands of useless courses and hundreds of thousands of students with huge debts and no jobs, that's where. After ranting about this for years, it seems I'm not alone here any more.

In her report on vocational education, Professor Alison Wolf concluded that jobs like plumbing, carpentry, electrics – you know, the useful ones in society – have been downgraded in social status over the years, a situation she said must be amended if we are going to solve the huge youth unemployment problem.

One step forward might be to stop using terms like vocational. We should be talking about "getting a trade", something many parents used to aspire to for their kids as recently as the 1970s. The fact that, just to get the subject out there for public discussion, you have to come up with a word that plumbers like me don't even use says it all really.