It seems like public shaming is the only way to get auto-reply customer service companies to talk to you. See the Paypal/Regretsy fiasco. I never feel good about them because you just know for every Regretsy/HN vet who can get some swirl going, there are a thousand helpless users who can't, and thus get the full length of shaft.

Yeah, customer service is expensive, but automating it all and essentially saying "fuck 'em" unless the victim can get outrage built is incredibly shitty.