British Rail

Before it was privatized, British Rail was four efficient companies, each with different regions. Then, it was nationalized into one company. That arrangement also worked well. The current privatized arrangement is a total mess. There are companies that own the tracks, stations, etc. It is private ownership that only could have been designed by a government. Nobody is really responsible for anything, and things are much worse. You have to wonder how anyone could think of such a stupid way of doing it.

Rolex

Rolex used to mean understated simplicity and elegance. Many old Rolexes look great.

Like Rolls-Royce, Rolex managed to fall without moving their production facilities.

Newer ones are about bling. Want to avoid looking like a (Insert unfavorable nouveau riche stereotype here)?

Don't wear a Rolex.

The San Diego Union-Tribune

This paper used to win Pulitzers. Now, I call it the little paper. It's little, and it's printed on paper. They are poster children for bad outsourcing decisions. (Yes, there could be a large catalog of such posters.) This paper not only used to be big, it used to be two different papers.

On the front page, they emphasize local news. It doesn't cover up their bad judgement.

Back in March, there were a number of stories about travel to the Caribbean. The articles they bought were not modified at all. They were well written, but useless for their audience in San Diego. The Caribbean looked and sounded great. The articles gave all the information you needed about how to get there from New York and Chicago.

AAA

The Auto Club used to be the gold standard for claims. Not any more.

A couple of years ago, they nearly totalled my car after an accident. They didn't want to wait for the police report. They were very aggressive.

Of course it wasn't my fault. My car was parked and empty when it happened.

Eventually, they decided to fix my car, but it was a big headache.

I don't know if the other companies, which weren't as good, have gotten worse.