Monopolistic price gouging & a case for regulation-
Since I moved into our current neighborhood I have had basically two choices, Comcast or nothing. I do not include Dish because like many households, we bundle phone, internet & cable TV. Granted, this practice may not be typical of younger generations who seem much more adaptive to streaming & other products like Skype & HuLu, but I still feel us ‘old-timers’ account for a significant portion of communication & entertainment services. My current plan consisted of a long distanced digital ‘land-line’, internet with an ‘advertised’ download speed of 25 meg (more on this latter), & HD TV with a $10/ month sports package that gives me the speed channel, NFL network, NFL Redzone & few more college football games than normal (this does not include any extra hockey, baseball or any other access I am aware of). In addition, I also have 1 DVR/cable converter for the main LR system, an HD converter for the kitchen unit & an analog converter for the old CRT we use in the bedroom. No ShowTime, Cinemax or any other ‘premium’ access. Total cost $190/ month.
And probably like the rest of you, over the years I have had to interact with my service provider for things like upgrading to HD, service issues, etc. And each time I made an effort to have my service contract reviewed for any available reductions. In all the ages of dealing with any service provider not once have I received a reduction without asking for one, though according to the ‘agent’, these ‘special rates’ are available only to select customers. WACOS (What a Crock of Schiit).
Well don’t you know, Verizon fios decides to ‘come to town’ & over the past few months I have been watching as the new lines are run up & down our neighborhood street (most likely working in close consort with the community-based neighborhood beautification initiative). Then, as if by magic & out of the blue, via snail-mail (how ironic, BTW) comes a ‘special One Time Only offer’ for a ‘Service Review’ with a ‘priority customer’ special account manager. SCOSEBTTF (Second Crock of Schiit Even Bigger than the First)!
So after my phone call with Comcast, it seems I now qualify for all the premium movie channels including what they called the Comcast version of ‘Netflix’ WTHTI (Whatever the Hell that is?), access to all HD & premium channels from any converter box with no charge for the upgraded hardware, no charge for my DVR, no charge for the sports package & finally my internet DL speed will go from 25 to 50 meg. And all of a sudden my bill for this goes from $190/ month down to $150/ month. Of course, this requires a two year contract commitment. BCOSE (Biggest Crock of Schiit Ever). Is it not a wonderful thing how all my loyal years of check-writing have been so graciously rewarded? Yep, I took the deal. Why? Cuz I can back out anytime in the first thirty days.
Check back soon for a report on my upcoming call to Verizon fios …….
Since I moved into our current neighborhood I have had basically two choices, Comcast or nothing. I do not include Dish because like many households, we bundle phone, internet & cable TV. Granted, this practice may not be typical of younger generations who seem much more adaptive to streaming & other products like Skype & HuLu, but I still feel us ‘old-timers’ account for a significant portion of communication & entertainment services. My current plan consisted of a long distanced digital ‘land-line’, internet with an ‘advertised’ download speed of 25 meg (more on this latter), & HD TV with a $10/ month sports package that gives me the speed channel, NFL network, NFL Redzone & few more college football games than normal (this does not include any extra hockey, baseball or any other access I am aware of). In addition, I also have 1 DVR/cable converter for the main LR system, an HD converter for the kitchen unit & an analog converter for the old CRT we use in the bedroom. No ShowTime, Cinemax or any other ‘premium’ access. Total cost $190/ month.
And probably like the rest of you, over the years I have had to interact with my service provider for things like upgrading to HD, service issues, etc. And each time I made an effort to have my service contract reviewed for any available reductions. In all the ages of dealing with any service provider not once have I received a reduction without asking for one, though according to the ‘agent’, these ‘special rates’ are available only to select customers. WACOS (What a Crock of Schiit).
Well don’t you know, Verizon fios decides to ‘come to town’ & over the past few months I have been watching as the new lines are run up & down our neighborhood street (most likely working in close consort with the community-based neighborhood beautification initiative). Then, as if by magic & out of the blue, via snail-mail (how ironic, BTW) comes a ‘special One Time Only offer’ for a ‘Service Review’ with a ‘priority customer’ special account manager. SCOSEBTTF (Second Crock of Schiit Even Bigger than the First)!
So after my phone call with Comcast, it seems I now qualify for all the premium movie channels including what they called the Comcast version of ‘Netflix’ WTHTI (Whatever the Hell that is?), access to all HD & premium channels from any converter box with no charge for the upgraded hardware, no charge for my DVR, no charge for the sports package & finally my internet DL speed will go from 25 to 50 meg. And all of a sudden my bill for this goes from $190/ month down to $150/ month. Of course, this requires a two year contract commitment. BCOSE (Biggest Crock of Schiit Ever). Is it not a wonderful thing how all my loyal years of check-writing have been so graciously rewarded? Yep, I took the deal. Why? Cuz I can back out anytime in the first thirty days.
Check back soon for a report on my upcoming call to Verizon fios …….
I have to say Comcast was better than Time Warner on pricing though, we've ditched cable completely and gone the Hulu, Netflix route and use Ooma for our phone so the only thing we pay for now is Internet. I just can't justify that much money every month for TV/Phone service when we don't really use it that much. My kids seem to watch Youtube more than anything now days. We have a Google Chromecast which is pretty easy to use with a smart phone or tablet. But even so your package price seems pretty decent, Is it the same over the full 2 years? Time Warners are always for the first year and then the get jacked up all crazy. Unfortunately they are the only option around here.
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