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 …….
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