Out of Comcast's control in http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20569367 en Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:53:46 EDT Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:53:46 EDT Re: Out of Comcast's control http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20579339 Dogfather : Again, you have no idea what the frequency of these acts are.

Postal employees are well compensated, but some occasionally "go postal" and kill a few people. You hear of police officers going batty and killing people or being on the take. You hear of firefighters being arsonists. Hell, we had a astronaut, the top tier and one of the most vetted type of employees anywhere in the world throw on a diaper and drive a few days straight to go try and kidnap and/or kill someone. Spending more money doesn't get you anything but higher rates for subscribers.

The reason Comcast makes news is because this is a nerd site and, like plane crashes, these instances are extra-ordinarily rare.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20579339 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:40:32 EDT Re: Out of Comcast's control http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20579166 sullim4 : I beg to differ that "I haven't a clue." I have followed this for years now.

Let's compare Comcast to DirecTV. In general, DirecTV contracts out their install and repair work to two companies, Halstead and Ironwood.

Ironwood and Halstead pay their people next to nothing. Techs are responsible for renting their vehicle and filling it with gas. On a typical four hour install, techs will actually pocket less than $20 once you take into account everything they have to pay for.

As a result, the caliber of employee that these two companies can recruit is extremely low. You're asking people to climb a roof in freezing or sweltering temperatures, deal with customers who complain when their "free" install doesn't include a wall fish, and are willing to get paid a pittance for it. You don't take this job unless it's your last resort.

I can assure you that it isn't any different with Comcast's contractors. The only reason they'd contract this work out is if it were cheaper to do so. The reason it's cheaper is because the techs get paid next to nothing and get little in the way of any 'benefits.'

To actually be proactive and deal with these issues, DirecTV purchased Ironwood a couple months ago. I don't see Comcast taking any sort of action, other than to pay lip service to their customers.

Comcast's prices might be high, but it certainly isn't due to techs being showered with money. When you skimp on labor costs, you can only expect to get kitten kickers in return.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20579166 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:06:28 EDT Re: Out of Comcast's control http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20577008 Dogfather : Yeah, if someone is so sick as to torture animals or breed animals without a license and then go disrupt a grocer's business harassing people to take the unwanted animals, yeah, send them to prision.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20577008 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:46:05 EDT Re: Out of Comcast's control http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20573639 hskrfan23 : I agree, anyone who has ever pulled the legs off of a spider, or held a lighter up to a preying mantis, or anyone who gives away kittens in front of a grocery store, without background checks, should be convicted of felonies.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20573639 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 17:05:10 EDT Re: Out of Comcast's control http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20573058 Dogfather : Utah isn't a violent state by any stretch of the imagination.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20573058 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 14:10:03 EDT Re: Out of Comcast's control http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20572800 bent : It's Utah, the most violent, aggressive, repressed state in the union. I got in more fights in 6 months of living in and around SLC than I did in 6 years of living in Vegas. They can keep their kitten beating ways. I won't even fly over that shithole if I can avoid it, just on the chance that the plane might crash and leave me stuck there having to fight my way out.

edit for typo
--
»www.lp.org/issues/family-budget.shtml

"That government is best which governs least" - Thoreau]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20572800 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 13:04:53 EDT Re: Out of Comcast's control http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20571603 Dogfather : Unless the kitten guy has a criminal background, a stricter background check wouldn't matter.

Meanwhile, Comcast's prices are high enough. Paying the techs even more money would just run up prices that much more.

You haven't a clue what the frequency is with Comcast or how it compares to other service companies of their size.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20571603 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 02:52:29 EDT Re: Out of Comcast's control http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20569833 sullim4 : I disagree that it's completely out of Comcast's control. If they really wanted to, they could force contractors to submit their employees to stricter background checks and additional training around customer service. I'd also bet that if contractors increased the wages they offered techs, that they would be able to recruit a higher-caliber type of employee.

These are people that Comcast are hiring to represent their company inside the homes of their customers. If Comcast feels that employees who don't even work for them can serve as the face of their company to ordinary customers, that's their choice. But at the same time, they have to live with the consequences of that decision.

Granted, this kind of stuff eventually happens to all large companies. However, the frequency with which it somehow involves Comcast precludes it from being a mere coincidence.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20569833 Sat, 31 May 2008 17:01:00 EDT Re: Out of Comcast's control http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20569489 pnh102 :
said by Dogfather See Profile :

Meanwhile it's lame that the punishment is a maximum of $300 and 6 months. I saw a sign today in Garden Grove, CA that illegal fireworks was a $1,000 fine. Carpool lane tickets start at around $400.
This sort of animal cruelty should be a felony crime in every state, with a minimum prison sentence. It is well documented that many killers start with animals, so at the very least a stiff sentence (which hopefully includes violence at the hands of other inmates) will result in a safer society.
--
This isn't fair! I was only supposed to hate just ONE presidential candidate!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20569489 Sat, 31 May 2008 15:32:43 EDT Out of Comcast's control http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20569367 Dogfather : Can't blame Comcast for the lunacy of a 3rd party contractor. Most criminals are employed by someone.

Meanwhile it's lame that the punishment is a maximum of $300 and 6 months. I saw a sign today in Garden Grove, CA that illegal fireworks was a $1,000 fine. Carpool lane tickets start at around $400.

A kitten for Christ's sake...these asswipes need to die.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20569367 Sat, 31 May 2008 15:01:10 EDT