Re: feeling the pressure? in http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r18639675 en Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:41:31 EDT Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:41:31 EDT Re: feeling the pressure? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18645855 Karl Bode : Yeah I found that interesting too recently. Verizon, Qwest, & Earthlink all require contracts for DSL discounts though, so it looks like it's industry wide as they focus more on retaining instead of nabbing grandmas...]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18645855 Tue, 10 Jul 2007 13:59:42 EDT Re: feeling the pressure? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18645797 RadioDoc : Funny thing that. AT&T (for example) no longer requires contracts to get the best pricing, while cable seems to be starting to require term agreements. Curiouser and curiouser.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18645797 Tue, 10 Jul 2007 13:50:49 EDT Re: feeling the pressure? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18640195 en102 : Right... you typically have to either threaten to leave, or have competition come by (Uverse?) before they'll react.

DirecTv offered my $10/month disount for 6 months if I kept a 1 year contract (no rate increases). Works for me...
I already have the service, and this brings the cost of my 3 sets on DTV to $50/month.
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Canada = Hollywood North]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18640195 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 15:28:16 EDT Re: feeling the pressure? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18639675 raptor1418 : Why would they do anything for us loyal customers. They already have us and don't worry about us until we want to cancel service.

I have experienced this personally with both my ISP and Sat provider. Both times (have done this twice with ISP and twice with Sat provider) I called and wanted to cancel and they dropped my rate or gave me a few months free to stay on.

So in the end I actually got what a new customer got and the best part of it all is I told my sat provider up front that I wanted to pay the ETF over the phone right than and there to cancel my service. That got the ball rolling with out me even having to say I would stay if they gave me a better deal. Too bad I am still going to probably cancel in a few months anyway.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18639675 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 14:04:50 EDT Re: feeling the pressure? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18639580 en102 : Yup... funny thing is that at&t supposedly doesn't have any required contracts with Uverse either.

The way I see it...

Contacts:
Free (or cheap) installation, and low(er) prices. ETF fees if you cancel. Sometimes this can result in lower quality service, as you're 'stuck' for a term of eat the ETF

No-Contracts:
Installation fees (typically), low service to start up, prices will typically increase after a couple of months (3-6 months).
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Canada = Hollywood North]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18639580 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:50:44 EDT Re: feeling the pressure? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18639248 djrobx :
quote:
I think the scramble for the low hanging fruit has ended
Don't know about that. I see contracts as a way for them to continue scrambling for that low hanging fruit without bleeding too badly when that fruit turns out to be rotten (unloyal, costly).
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Laser eye surgery rocks! I love frickin' laser beams.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18639248 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 12:56:14 EDT Re: feeling the pressure? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18639190 djrobx :
quote:
For me, this is a big change in their business practices.
I saw a Time Warner commercial on TV just thismorning, touting "NO long term contracts!" with a nice graphic of a contract going through a shredder.

Right now businesses seem to have the mentality that new customers are worth more than the loyal ones who are sticking with them. I don't think this is right. Rather than try and lock customers into contracts, how about rewarding existing customers for their loyalty?

As it stands customers who really want to keep their bills low have to do a "new customer promo" bunny hop from provider to provider. Providers then have to look to contracts to slow this sort of churn down. I don't find it too surprising that cable is looking into this because they're about the only ones NOT doing this.

All that said, I definitely like the option of committing to a contract in exchange for lower bills. Particularly if the contract gives a truly good value (as opposed to extortionate non-contract prices), and the ETF isn't too horrific.
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Laser eye surgery rocks! I love frickin' laser beams.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18639190 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 12:45:24 EDT Re: feeling the pressure? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18638704 Karl Bode : I think the scramble for the low hanging fruit has ended and they're just now interested in retaining the customers they already have....]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18638704 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 11:28:37 EDT feeling the pressure? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18638700 chemaupr : For me, this is a big change in their business practices. I guess they are finally "admitting" the FIOS threat.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18638700 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 11:27:48 EDT