DirecTV To Raise Rates > Less than my cable tv rate hike!

reply to UofMiamiGrad

Re: Less than my cable tv rate hike!

These poor people don't do anything else other than watch tv. So it's a big deal to them. Besides, people are tired of being nickeled and dimed to death from every direction. I don't see to many people cheering about that "huge" raise they just got. Price go up, but income doesn't always go up to match. Hence the complaining...

Agreed! But, in moderation. I also agree that those with less money can find a good value in things like cable TV - etc. But, it's not just cable tv that is going to be nickeling them to death - life just does in general.

I seriously would love to ask that very target group worried about the $5 difference between the two services..

"How many of you have cell phones"...?

(If you answer yes, then I think priorities are not in order)

Cell phones, today, STILL remain FAR more of a luxury than does cable or satellite television. Cell phones are THE most expensive way to make phone calls.

reply to fiberguy

I'm not taking this as you are bashing Sat Tv... or anything.. however, in a sad and hard core way, yea.. you answered your own question.

Prices go up. Do you sit idly by and clap? If you chose to.. sure. OR, you make "decisions".. you may have to cut back, for one, which is always an option.

Most people get a raise every year.. The common mistake that people make is that the raise they get will put them ahead. It's often called "a cost of living increase".. should I explain that one?

Are you getting "raped?"... knock it off already with that. Prices go up. Stop for a moment.. look at the money you make today. Now, step back 10 years from now taking today's pay based on cost of living 10 years ago.. with that in mind, you'd be in a pretty well off position, huh? Ok.. Now, step back 10 years ago with both the pay you had back then and the bills... much change?

The "THEORY" is that you should have, in 10 years, bettered yourself and raised your pay by means of advancement or job changes.. If you're not doing that, it's your own fault.

What the real truth is, which is often ignored, is that people have to live with in their means. If cable or sat is going to raise it's fee, they KNOW that some people are going to cut back on their services. However, you see it as a price hike which is also valid and true. So.. either absorb it with your annual raise, OR, call them and cut back on the level of service.

Everything is going up.. it has been since we started a barter system on this planet. You're not getting raped.. you're living life. Should you sit back? HELL NO! Make some informed and personal decisions to balance yourself out. If television is THAT important to you, and you have to have it, try eating out one less time a month and brown bag it. Why not car pool where possible and save on gas or take a bus to work. Why not cut back on some phone features.. maybe take the texting plan off your cell phone. At the store, buy less name brand items, use store brand and start clipping coupons. To be honest, if you can't clip a coupon or two because it's too much work, then I REALLY don't feel for you. The average customer in a month CAN and DOES save up to $70 a month by using coupons at the store alone! (Maybe some people don't know about this because they are too busy being "offended" by all the junk mail they receive in a weeks time and spend MORE time trying to get rid of it than they would actually looking at it and realizing they could save money with it - irony, huh!)

There are PLENTY of ways to take personal responsibility in your own budget - the fact remains that people are either too lazy, unwilling, or feel they shouldn't have to. (or something else) But, the point is that life changes.. and you have to adjust with it.

What you don't realize is that not everyone in this country is in a recession, or the SAME recession.. A recession is not necessarily universally felt.

California, for example, and I am sure the east as well, is in a much harder economical phase than we are in the upper midwest where things are still doing fairly well.

Again, you keep on moaning about CEO salaries.. your daggers are aimed in the wrong direction. CEO's could stop taking a salary AND bonus and it wouldn't change a damn thing to the consumer in the end. However, I know how fun it is to bitch and moan about a CEO's pay.. Everyone in this country has the same opportunity to get CEO pay.. go for it. Bashing CEO's at every turn is the same thing as "Mommmmmm.... He got more pudding than I diddddd!!!!" It's not attractive.

Do you have a right to piss and moan and complain? ABSOLUTELY... no one says you can't.. but, at least attack the right things and look smart about it instead of just pissing to the wind. AND.. at the same time, make sure you have your own house in order at the same time when doing so. In hard times, some people have to make cut backs.. What I/We hear from you is "prices are going up, I want to have the same and not pay any more".. and it's not going to happen. There are PLENTY of ways to still EASILY afford your bills.. you just need to make an effort, which I doubt you have.

In your reply my post, you spend all your energy on the CEO and not a lick of attention to ways to maximize your dollar or adjust your own budget.. you just chose to complain how a CEO is making a good salary and your rates are going up.

Things will never get better for you it seems.. good luck.

Ahh yes.. the "contract"... so if your economic situation worsens at some point and you need to cut back, you can't with out being rewarded with a hefty penalty for tightening your ropes. For Verizon, they are the winners here.