Michael Finney has grown on me.The KGO-TV Consumer Reporter and "7 On Your Side" host has been a Bay Area TV staple for years with a distinctive voice and presence. Some people had issues with "the voice", others not so much but as I've watched and listened, (Finney has a show on KGO Radio from 1-4 PM weekends), Finney, A. knows his stuff, B. has helped a whole bunch of people who've been screwed by companies, scams and made for suckers, and C. seems like a nice person according to several Channel 7 staffers.
Finney is genuine and sincere unlike some his counterparts. Just the other evening he was holding court with anchor, Dan Ashley, It was a segment on "free things" and the backdrop was a puppy-dog doll with a bow tie. Cute. Funny too although I've seen my share of puppy dolls. (I get nostalgic this time of the year); in any event the bit worked well and showcased why Finney has developed a following in over a decade's work here in the Bay Area.
I think most people trust him and appreciate his sincere attempts at righting a wrong or making sure the older folks don't get scammed by some intuitive con artists. Finney, I've been told, is quite an adept worker at 900 Front. He's also got a decent staff to handle the hundreds of complaints he gets every week by consumers who have been screwed one way or another.
We look forward to seeing and listening to Finney in the coming days.
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I've learned so many good things about survival from Michael Finney!
ReplyDeleteRight on Michael! Consumer protection is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy Michael Finney and he is one of the few things that bring me to KGO these days.
ReplyDeleteI've grown tired of the whole "consumer advocate" bits. A nice change would some reports on what DIDN'T make the air...consumers trying to con Finney into doing their dirty work and get over on companies. They'd probably sue 7 for defamation of character ( for an accurate portrayal).
ReplyDeleteIt's a two way street and with the modern consumer's mindset, they claim victim status if they can't it for free, with a tax subsidy, or remarkably cheap.
Why have you "grown tired" of it? For one thing, most stations no longer do it, because it's expensive, and they'd rather give the meteorologist-babe another two minute shot. KRON's excellent Joe Ducey left and went to another station (in Arizona I think) because KRON was no longer willing to spend money on consumer reporting. The fact that a vet like him had to go all the way to Arizona tells you this kind of reporting is low priority among TV stations today. But secondly, this is exactly what stations are supposed to do; they're supposed to be a public trust and once upon a time they took that role very seriously. It's sort of like saying you're growing tired of cops catching criminals, why can't they do something different for a change? What a stupid statement in an attempt to be worldly and glib.
DeleteP.S.: They do report it when consumers try to extort businesses. Or don't you watch the news?
I knew Finney when I worked at KGO and I always thought he was a great guy, not at all egotistical and always helpful. I also worked with his wife, who was once the noon producer at KRON back in the glory NBC-affil days, and she was one of the best producers I've ever worked with as well. We need more people like both of them.
DeleteHow dare those dastardly consumers exercise their rights! In fact, they should have no rights at all. Give those lowly consumers some rights, and they surely will claim victim status, seek freebies, tax breaks, and commit fraud.
DeleteConsumers are cons, and they use that Michael Finney character as their henchman. If you own a company, or are about to own a company, beware of the evil modern consumer mindset. The nerve of these consumer people actually wanting their undeserved rights protected!
Consumers need to shut-up, hand over their hard earned money, and take what is sold to them (regardless of fair value, quality and/or safety issues).
DeleteI knew you yelpers would get your panties bunched up and have a compelling need to give me a piece of your mind. Just so you know, as a business owner, If I catch wind of a customer being a yelper, I charge you 15% more!
DeleteWhat a hopeless bunch.
Why do you charge ME more if you catch wind of a customer being a Yelper?
DeleteAnd I doubt you catch much wind, though you probably break a lot of it.
That's the shyster spirit! Bait and switch those pesky yelpers. Screw those sucker customers.
DeleteI never look to Yelp...the millennial hipsters that frequent the site are a bunch of idiots.
Delete-Read the small print
ReplyDelete-if it seems too good to be true it usually is
There, that encapsulates every show of his
And extended warranties---they are a rip off.
Delete///pretty much covers it.
Not exactly true. There are some companies that NEED to be outed by the media so they actually adhere to the codicils that THEY wrote in the fine print mumbo jumbo. Finney does a GREAT job of holding their feet to the fire.
DeleteI'm surprised you didn't mention the fact that Finney is also an attorney (added bonus and credibility). It was awkward that you wrote this piece today when Finney wasn't on air. Instead we have Spencer "Pepe" Hughes in his stead. But wait! For those of you who can't stand only THREE hours of Hughes, KGO hired him to fill in for Karel too! THUS TODAY WE HAD SIX HOURS OF SPENCER HUGHES ON KGO PLUS THREE HOURS OF THAT CHEF SCOTT RYAN. Shameful.
ReplyDeleteAre you f-ING kidding me?
Finny seems a real nice guy but his high tenor voice is penetrating and annoying after about eight minutes. Copelands nasal voice is also trying at times. I recall one afternoon these two spoke together, chirping and shrilling like two excited Blue Jays. I couldn't take it after a few minutes and quickly changed stations
ReplyDeleteYou may want to try the closed captioning option.
DeleteYesterday both Finney and Karel weren't on in their normal Saturday time slots. Guess who filled in for both of them? That horrible right winger Spencer Christian, who is unlistenable. 6 hours of that guy would drive anyone to drink. Probably picked up some of the loons who tune into KSFO's tripe. Obama bashing 24/7 is not good radio IMO.
ReplyDeleteSpencer Christian enjoyed grand Cru burgundies which is well reported led to his making bad financial decisions. He is not who filled in yesterday. That would be the HORRIBLE Spencer HUGHES. Seriously, who is at the helm of KGO? I've also heard this idiot Hughes pull double duty on KSFO in the past. Filling in for the filthy Rabbi Daniel Lapin and then Barbara Simpson on the same day. The guy must be desperate for gigs. I bet if he was offered the job of cleaning the toilets at KGO he'd take it.
DeleteThank you for the correction. Spencer Hughes, not Spencer Christian. My bad.
DeleteThe most important product consumed by the public is the news, a product delivered by the biggest abuser of the public's trust, the mainstream media. A program making an objective attempt to expose shoddy or fraudulent news would be a smash with viewers, listeners, readers, but for some reason this most promising format exists only on the web, where the mainstream media can safely mock its content and slander its personalities, all the while continuing to deliver the approved deception.
ReplyDeleteThe only reason Spencer gets on is when other people say no. Don't read too much into who the replacement hosts are on an already bad show.
ReplyDelete