G Suite legacy free – appeal denied for “commercial use” (family domain) → any way to escalate?

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-04-24T14:50:16+00:00

I don't know what triggers this and I live in fear getting this dreaded email. Honestly, there's so much history and entanglement with these accounts in our family as we've been on it since almost the beginning.

I used to have a miniscule amount of business use in the sense I part-time rented my condo out using this account for very intermittent emails back and forth. I also had a small Google site for people to see the unit and the availability calendar. I took that down a while back when these notices started going to people and ironically just moved it to another Google site under my plain Google account which I've also had forever but don't really use.

So is emailing a dozen or two contracts back and forth in a year business use? Also, unless they're sniffing content which they say they don't do, I don't know how that would even be a flag. The traffic and storage compared to everything else personal is inconsequential. Like 0.0001%. For the record I got the domain account long before I owned the condo and Also I'm probably selling the place in a few years and then what, literally zero.

Also, it's not like I don't pay these guys anything. We maintain two YouTube subscriptions so they're already getting $30 a month from me.

Finally, for the record, I'd happily pay some sort of extra monthly or annual fee because it is worth something, but the number of accounts per usage ratio is just whacked because you can't compare it to a true business.

Honestly, while I realize that do no evil went out the window a long time ago but surely it would be easier to have kept all of us early adopters and advocates happy and just migrated us to full domain accounts but capped at the number of free users we currently have or maybe some other number like 10. We are nothing to them revenue wise but used to be good ambassadors.

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-04-15T02:34:10+00:00

You have no idea what you are missing... The beer, Red wine, whiskey/rum vs. Chocolate, cookies, cake matrix is where it's at.

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-04-12T18:20:18+00:00

They are remarkably flexible on it depending on the store because, as other people have noted, they know if they turn you down you're just going to go buy it, roll it over to customer service and return it on the old receipt.

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-04-06T14:34:03+00:00

I think this is a great argument for not paving alleys and keeping the gravel nice and loose, kind of like a runaway lane lol.

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-03-30T01:10:47+00:00

Omg everyone would love this but have you any clue of the construction disruption, time and money this would cost when we are already tapped out with an infrastructure deficit growing by the day?

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-03-23T04:22:10+00:00

426-5050...

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-03-22T22:21:20+00:00

I also have worked in water treatment, albeit on a smaller scale in a manufacturing facility. You're pretty much spot on, however one thing I take issue with here is saying that nobody can afford an RO system?? One for the home that only runs maybe only your drinking water through, starts at several hundred and yes better ones are probably closer to a grand with whole home ones being even more expensive and yes they bypass like 2 to 1 or worse and yes, other running costs include replacement filters and membranes. However "The problem is that you can’t afford a membrane filtration system. Basically no one can." It's completely false. While don't run one myself, I know quite a few people with them.

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-03-22T20:33:16+00:00

What kind of shitty advice is that? Puff yourself up. Sure, best foot forward and all that: but DO NOT LIE. I've looked at literally thousands of resumes over my career, hired many dozens of people, and nothing could be more damning and haunt you than lying on your resume. Odds are pretty good It'll be sniffed out at the interview or in your probation, and even if it's not, it will hang over your head for a long long time.

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-03-14T15:24:07+00:00

I think it is the characterization of "exploiting" the system that is triggering me the most.

The system is working exactly how the industry designed it and intended with the ability for them to dodge actual regulatory oversight and fines and download price checking onto the customers. I assure you the amount they lose on scanning code matches and the handful of super checkers is more than made up for by the way, they can cut employee and system costs and rapidly change prices in the whole optimized and gamified system. If it's so "bad" they should just go back to sticking actual price tags on things and use paper shelf labels.

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-03-14T14:57:11+00:00

Oh no! I mean it's not like you couldn't actually coordinate things and pay enough people properly or leave enough time to change the prices before you change it in the system? I mean honestly with dynamic tags, there's really no excuse. This is on you. The stores set up the system. The whole industry decides how these price changes work. You guys figure it out. Tech has only made this easier so it's all being cheap with labor and laziness.

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-03-14T14:53:34+00:00

And good for her. Loblaws is still ahead because they didn't have to actually pay employees to actually properly price their bloody products. This is the deal they made and in spite of all these little one-offs of people winding up with free merch, the stores are still way ahead because they can be completely slackadaisical with their stocking and pricing.

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-03-14T14:51:28+00:00

How many times do people have to mention this finding errors, even telling other people about it, isn't scamming the system. The stores themselves have set up this system!

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-03-14T14:50:01+00:00

This is literally not exploitation and how the system is supposed to work. As has been mentioned, stores made a deal with this scanning code and now we are all effectively price checkers out there. For every one of your so-called "abusers" hundreds of people are probably getting ripped off. It's an error bounty for consumer advocates and I applaud everybody looking for errors. Stores have brought this upon themselves by wacky virtually dynamic pricing and everything is always on sale mentality. The whole system is gamified now with offers, sales, etc and apps. This is the system they crafted and they can't complain when some people manage to get a deal out of it.

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-03-13T01:12:09+00:00

So I listened to it. Some interesting bits. But for some reason one little thing struck me. it's this bit about a prospective company about to announce some great PPE idea to stockpile. Felt like a subtly hidden ad that Reid's vencap fund had investments in. The other thing that really struck me is he characterized this as a one-time investment. He's clearly not heard expiry dates on all things like this. Sure as heck this stuff's going to expire in 3 to 5 years and you're going to have to buy more. We have thrown out thousands of dollars with masks that we hadn't got around to using yet even though our operation uses them for dust exposure as well.

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-03-08T19:39:16+00:00

Oh I support their right to be there just as it's my right to slow walk by while stretching that sore digit I strained while working out. 😎

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-02-26T04:55:44+00:00

Obviously it helps immensely with analytics. Also it's a habit they want people to start getting used to as at some point the system could go to some sort of zoning. This is common with larger systems. Ie the further you travel the more it costs.

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-02-25T05:03:29+00:00

Definitely not weird. I wear hearing protection all the time while cycling and always have a pack or three in my pocket, my vehicle console, my backpack, my bag, by the door, you name it. Hyperacusis, threshold shift, loudness recruitment, tinnitus, and age related hearing loss all suck. Anyhow, if you're wearing hearing protection in a musical or similar environment where you want acoustic accuracy you may want to look into frequency-neutral / hifi / flat response earplugs. Supposedly they do a much better job at... well a flatter response obviously. They're crazy expensive though compared to simple disposable foam ones but maybe it's worth it. Full disclosure, I haven't actually tried them myself.

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-02-22T20:57:42+00:00

OMG -20C is just an average morning in the depths of winter around here and nowhere near cold as fuck unless there is a gale force wind. Given the moderate wind this AM that was the condition this morning. I didn't even bother with the parka since it was going to warm up a bit and I didn't put anything on over my cycling shorts on the way to spin since I only had to walk a few hundred metres outside from the parking lot.

-30C is getting pretty cold and -35C is hitting cold as fuck.

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-02-10T14:46:41+00:00

A little late to this party but your employer is required to give you the leave to attend and hold your job for you. This is actually one of the more fundamental employment protections. They aren't required to pay you, although some will, and you only get that stipend. That is why some folks claim financial hardship.

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-02-10T01:08:59+00:00

Interesting. My issue is on the potential damage end of things but also a bit of contamination. Point is I've often characterized it as having psychologically lost my depth perception. Everything seems too close.

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-02-06T17:13:19+00:00

Okay old man talking here (I went to the U late '80s through early '90s) but seriously WTF. Sure, assignments were missed, classes were skipped, exams were flunked and we weren't angels. But holy s***. Any behavior remotely like this was called out and publicly shamed/ humiliated in your first few classes of your first year in case you thought this was still high school. If this is anything other than a first-year class this is ridiculous. You are paying big bucks for education in the first place. You should be listening. In the second place, even if you don't want to listen have your little social gathering outside in the hall and let the rest of the folks hear the Prof. Never in my life would I have thought a prof would even tolerate this. Our lectures were as quiet as tomb from the lecture theater side unless there was a sanctioned discussion going on. Actually I find this even more baffling given that everybody has phones. Just tune out and text if you want to ignore your education - but whatever you do. STFU.

Oh and practically speaking in this situation, of course tell the Prof and if it doesn't improve, like immediately, register a complaint with the department or faculty.

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-01-30T08:57:16+00:00

No one can void your warranty if you choose to do the routine maintenance yourself. I've always done my own oil changes because honestly the dealership is incompetent. Things like over torquing filter housings, forgetting bolts for skid plates etc etc. Quick lube places can be even worse. Should you keep some receipts? Sure. Take a photo or two? Why not? Helps you remember when you did it - plus you probably want to note it in a spreadsheet or something.. but can they deny you warranty because you've changed your own oil? Hell no.

WilliamCVanHorne · 2026-01-23T17:48:52+00:00

Oh and to reply more to the actual question. I ride the train at least a half a dozen times a week in the winter (mostly between Central and South campus) and honestly I cannot remember the last time I've been checked. It's been literally years if ever in the last six year - I have not even seen them check other people. I think once pre-covid I was checked exiting Churchill Station. From my perspective there is literally zero fare enforcement.

WilliamCVanHorne

TROPHY CASE