said by jc100 :

I think you are wrong. Americans do want bargains but they also want the service that comes with it. How would you like to go to a fast food restaurant (even though the item costs a dollar on the value menu) and be told to make your own meal? Odds are, you'd walk out and go elsewhere. By all means, you buying a single dollar item actually costs more to make than the business actually earns. However, said business is still willing to serve you the item the same as the next guy who comes in and spends 20 dollars on that same menu. It's a balancing act. Don't fool yourself to think that Americans don't want service. We just want the service done right. Just as you'd be irked if that dollar hamburger came out cold, so is the person who pays for their triple play and only has 2/3 items working and spends on month on the phone to get the other one fixed. In summation, the delivery and approach count as they all affect the service of the product one receives. Business is all about perception as they say. One unhappy customer, whether big or small, has many friends to tell.

said by GOLFnSUN :

More/better customer service COSTS a lot more money(warm bodies being the most expensive corporate cost). And, so far at least, US customers are NOT willing to pay more for better service. When given the choice, a large majority of customers will invariably choose the cheapest service and NOT the best service.

That old saying that you can have 2 of the 3 following items is still pretty accurate:
1 cheap
2 good
3 fast

said by GOLFnSUN :

When given the choice, a large majority of customers will invariably choose the cheapest service and NOT the best service.

said by Nightfall :

Please read his post, he was talking about customer service, not the technical service you subscribe to.

said by GOLFnSUN :

It is easy to throw around accusations when you have no proof whatsoever.

said by GOLFnSUN :

More/better customer service COSTS a lot more money(warm bodies being the most expensive corporate cost). And, so far at least, US customers are NOT willing to pay more for better service. ...

said by GOLFnSUN :

More/better customer service COSTS a lot more money(warm bodies being the most expensive corporate cost). And, so far at least, US customers are NOT willing to pay more for better service. When given the choice, a large majority of customers will invariably choose the cheapest service and NOT the best service.

That old saying that you can have 2 of the 3 following items is still pretty accurate:
1 cheap
2 good
3 fast

said by moonpuppy :

Let's see. I had digital/HD/DVR/HSI with Comcast. It wasn't cheap, it wasn't good and it wasn't fast. Where is my 2 out of 3?

A month ago, I have severe pixilization problems on channels 30 - 70. I tried calling and all I got was a disconnect message because of high call volumes. When I finally got through, they said there were no other complaints and rolled a truck. Even the truck tech said she knew about the problem and that Comcast needed to replace a piece of equipment. My friend down the street had the exact same problem and he was using boxes (I was straight into the TV with no box.)

Now, why did Comcast roll a truck (which costs money) and waste a tech's time (again, costing money and taking them away from much more legitamate calls) when they could have just dealt with the faulty equipment? If they want to pay for customer service, maybe they need to do a better job of diagnosing problems and saving themselves a few dollars.

said by Matt :

And if you think it's not, you do need to stop drinking the corporate Kool-Aid.

said by GOLFnSUN :

If you have any proof that anti-trust collusion is going on, please send that info to your local US Attorney so that the Justice Dept can prosecute them.

said by Matt :

And those companies pretend they hate each other as they pass in the hall but secretly kiss every day after school under the bleachers.

said by GOLFnSUN :

More/better customer service COSTS a lot more money(warm bodies being the most expensive corporate cost). And, so far at least, US customers are NOT willing to pay more for better service. When given the choice, a large majority of customers will invariably choose the cheapest service and NOT the best service.

That old saying that you can have 2 of the 3 following items is still pretty accurate:
1 cheap
2 good
3 fast

said by GOLFnSUN :

That old saying that you can have 2 of the 3 following items is still pretty accurate:
1 cheap
2 good
3 fast