It was suggested to me on another forum that when referring to a certain bad element within the reporting industry that referring to them as 1-800 firms was a misnomer since there are some very good large firms out there. How about we refer to the bad element among us as a new acronym, Large Interstate Affiliation of Reporters, or LIAR.
Even somebody my size has a toll-free number. I even offer nationwide scheduling to my existing client base. I am not a LIAR.
Local firms are able to save on economies of scale. Several people pitching in and sharing the costs of expenses--nothing wrong with that. It's good for the owners of the firm, good for independent reporters who would otherwise not be able to pay for expensive overhead alone, and good for the consumer when it translates into lower costs.
But when LIAR steps in and is willing to spend $500 a day on pay-per-click advertising in every venue across the nation only to dole the work out to local reporters, it's an unneeded layer of expense.
When LIAR offers gifts that ultimately doubles the costs of litigation, it's an unneeded layer of expense, unfair, and dishonest.
When LIAR offers a low rate for the scheduling attorney and absorbs the cost of local labor in only the copy attorneys' bills, it's unfair, and dishonest.
When LIAR is only able to obtain the least-in-demand reporters, the consumer is paying more for a less-skilled reporter.
LIAR adds nothing to the equation, and I don't like a LIAR.
I got a couple private emails regarding other suggestions for an appropriate acronym, so I thought I would open it up for public participation--just for fun. Give it a shot!