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I will say; > will it cost me more to comply, or more to ignore? Is an (unfortunately) American view of things. The vast majority of European businesses I’ve

by maccard 10d ago

I will say; > will it cost me more to comply, or more to ignore? Is an (unfortunately) American view of things. The vast majority of European businesses I’ve worked with attempt to comply with the _spirit_ of the laws, while my experience with most American companies is they try to skirt the letter of the law to do whatever the hell they want. I’m not saying one is better, or that all companies in both places are like that. But it rings true in my experience.

ragall 9d ago
I'm saying the European way is better.
- maccard 9d ago
  I mean, I agree. But it also has some drawbacks. Uber is a perfect example of this - they completed ignored the existing taxi and private hire laws, ate the penalties left right and centre and while they still suck they dragged taxis kicking and screaming into the 21st century in the UK. The days of being overcharged by a driver who takes a notion and a new route, or finding out the card machine isn’t working at your destination are gone, and that’s because Uber forced them to stop acting like an actual Cartel.
  - ragall 8d ago
    I would have preferred the old ways if that means upholding the rule of law. American MBAs are pure evil and toxic for a society's social fabric, and they should be kept away as much as possible, even if that means putting up with some guild-like behaviour.
mitxela 9d ago
Also Americans try to comply with the _letter_ of European laws which leads to some absurdities like the recent HN threads of people claiming it's impossible to sell goods to Europe because you have to register your packaging in every European country.
- herbst 8d ago
  To be fair, that's actually basically true. Saying this as a swiss who stopped selling to Europe. You need to register in several countries for packaging, there is no central thing and it's kinda obscure (in Germany there are several different companies you can do that with, from my understanding). There is a new law since August who tries to centralise and make it easier for sellers. But right now it isn't, there are several country specific small hoops and Ive experienced returned items with complain letters and threaten fees as well.

by maccard 10d ago

ragall 9d ago

I'm saying the European way is better.

maccard 9d ago
I mean, I agree. But it also has some drawbacks. Uber is a perfect example of this - they completed ignored the existing taxi and private hire laws, ate the penalties left right and centre and while they still suck they dragged taxis kicking and screaming into the 21st century in the UK. The days of being overcharged by a driver who takes a notion and a new route, or finding out the card machine isn’t working at your destination are gone, and that’s because Uber forced them to stop acting like an actual Cartel.
- ragall 8d ago
  I would have preferred the old ways if that means upholding the rule of law. American MBAs are pure evil and toxic for a society's social fabric, and they should be kept away as much as possible, even if that means putting up with some guild-like behaviour.

mitxela 9d ago

Also Americans try to comply with the _letter_ of European laws which leads to some absurdities like the recent HN threads of people claiming it's impossible to sell goods to Europe because you have to register your packaging in every European country.

herbst 8d ago
To be fair, that's actually basically true. Saying this as a swiss who stopped selling to Europe. You need to register in several countries for packaging, there is no central thing and it's kinda obscure (in Germany there are several different companies you can do that with, from my understanding). There is a new law since August who tries to centralise and make it easier for sellers. But right now it isn't, there are several country specific small hoops and Ive experienced returned items with complain letters and threaten fees as well.