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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
 ·Comcast
| Disagree A lot of people (myself included) have been able to wring discounts out of broadband providers by either threatening to cancel or threatening to switch to other providers. Does this not count as a "hidden broadband price war?"
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"At the moment of conception." | |
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Raptor
Not a Dumptruck
join:2001-10-21
London, ON
·Rogers Hi-Speed
 ·Bell Sympatico
| Re: Disagree No, as I think a price war would give credit to the ISP for competing. You had to hold the "lose a customer gun" to their head to get anything out of them. It's tough to credit industry competition, hidden or not, when it likely takes an atypical instance like yours to get even the slightest actual discount. | |
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major marco
Res Firma Mitescere Nescit
Premium
join:2003-02-13
Stepford, CA
clubs:
| said by pnh102  :A lot of people (myself included) have been able to wring discounts out of broadband providers by either threatening to cancel or threatening to switch to other providers. Does this not count as a "hidden broadband price war?" Sorry, the old, a lot of people including myself story just is not credible. I want to see actual proof that your alleged "threats" to cut off services with your BB provider resulted in something tangible/credible and not a round of laughter from your ISP.
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The Toll
Tracking Lord Stanley
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| Re: Disagree said by major marco :Sorry, the old, a lot of people including myself story just is not credible. I want to see actual proof that your alleged "threats" to cut off services with your BB provider resulted in something tangible/credible and not a round of laughter from your ISP. Would before-and-after bills do it?
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"At the moment of conception." | |
| | | SilverSurfer
join:2007-08-19
| Re: Disagree said by pnh102 :said by major marco :Sorry, the old, a lot of people including myself story just is not credible. I want to see actual proof that your alleged "threats" to cut off services with your BB provider resulted in something tangible/credible and not a round of laughter from your ISP. Would before-and-after bills do it? Yes. I'd like to see scanned before & after threats to disconnect invoicing with personal information of course redacted. Somehow I don't buy your story either that making threats to disconnect somehow induces an ISP to discount services.
I'm inclined to agree with marco that making such threats elicits a round of laughter or five since there really isn't any "competition" to speak of. What're you going to do if you disagree with your ISP...threaten to go to DSL instead? That presupposes that you live close enough to the switch get service. Fine if you do, but if you don't, then you really have no leverage whatsoever since your only other choice is dial up. Service providers already know this since they bought off donated campaign cash to the necessary politicos to ensure that there isn't any meaningful competition among providers in any given market. | |
| | AEKDB
join:2004-03-07
Towson, MD
 ·Vonage
| said by major marco :said by pnh102 :A lot of people (myself included) have been able to wring discounts out of broadband providers by either threatening to cancel or threatening to switch to other providers. Does this not count as a "hidden broadband price war?" Sorry, the old, a lot of people including myself story just is not credible. I want to see actual proof that your alleged "threats" to cut off services with your BB provider resulted in something tangible/credible and not a round of laughter from your ISP. I couldn't be bothered to copy my bill for you, but I called Comcast a few months back, threatened to switch to Verizon Fios and they reduced my internet bill to 19.99/nth for 12 months. | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| Re: Disagree said by AEKDB :I couldn't be bothered to copy my bill for you, but I called Comcast a few months back, threatened to switch to Verizon Fios and they reduced my internet bill to 19.99/nth for 12 months. Nice. I think I will try that next time!
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"At the moment of conception." | |
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Cheese
Premium
join:2003-10-26
Naples, FL
clubs:
1 edit | said by AEKDB :said by major marco :said by pnh102 :A lot of people (myself included) have been able to wring discounts out of broadband providers by either threatening to cancel or threatening to switch to other providers. Does this not count as a "hidden broadband price war?" Sorry, the old, a lot of people including myself story just is not credible. I want to see actual proof that your alleged "threats" to cut off services with your BB provider resulted in something tangible/credible and not a round of laughter from your ISP. I couldn't be bothered to copy my bill for you, but I called Comcast a few months back, threatened to switch to Verizon Fios and they reduced my internet bill to 19.99/nth for 12 months. Gee, I wonder why, think they would have done that if FIOS was not in the area? Hell no.... | |
| | bzmeteorite
join:2006-02-15
Nipomo, CA
| said by major marco :said by pnh102 :A lot of people (myself included) have been able to wring discounts out of broadband providers by either threatening to cancel or threatening to switch to other providers. Does this not count as a "hidden broadband price war?" Sorry, the old, a lot of people including myself story just is not credible. I want to see actual proof that your alleged "threats" to cut off services with your BB provider resulted in something tangible/credible and not a round of laughter from your ISP. Not sure why you are so distrusting.
There has been a few times that our AT&T DSL prices increased due to the promotional period ending (back when they had contracts). Each time that happened, we simply called them up and told them that if we couldn't get back on a contract and get the promotional pricing again, we would switch to Charter. They did this each time, one time even a bit lower than the promotional price; mind you, on the first rep or when we asked for a manager. No laughing.
Maybe they aren't fairing well against Charter in the area? Maybe we were lucky? Either way, don't discredit that no one can do this, because, obviously, it does happen (for whatever reason). Perhaps you have an uncaring ISP, one that is doing quite well in your area, or they have really low profit margins and would rather lose you.
Now you'll probably ask for me to scan in bills, for one, I won't, and two, I'm telling the truth (is there any particular reason why I wouldn't?). 
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What happens when you combine common sense and an outspoken personality? | |
| nasadude
join:2001-10-05
Rockville, MD
·Comcast
| said by pnh102 :A lot of people (myself included) have been able to wring discounts out of broadband providers by either threatening to cancel or threatening to switch to other providers. Does this not count as a "hidden broadband price war?" three strikes and you're out! No, "wringing discounts" by threatening to cancel/switch is not a hidden broadband price war.
You either have to have a choice to switch to or you have to not care whether you have broadband or not. The number of people in either of these groups is probably pretty small.
a price war that only effects a small group of people is not much of a price war. | |
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KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | Not really. That's more like a "Customer retention" thing.
Some Broadband wants to lock you into terms to so you can't switch. | |
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