a333A hot cup of integrals please join:2007-06-12 Rego Park, NY 1 edit |
a333
Member
2009-Jun-26 4:40 pm
Hardly surprising....... considering that probably 65% or more of the general populace has no CLUE as to what the heck a GB is, how do you expect them to understand that using their 3G aircards outside the US costs extra? I personally know several people who were surprised to learn that voice roaming costs extra when you go international... That, coupled with a complete lack of technical interest or even desire to learn, is what has these people rushing to the nearest media outlet faster than you can say "roaming"..... I mean, yes, it would TEND to help if wireless companies were a tad more helpful when it came to notifications, i.e. the walled garden system, but as they say... you can't fix stupid.
Peace, a333 |
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banditws6Shrinking Time and Distance Premium Member join:2001-08-18 Frisco, TX |
No, you can't fix stupid, and boy have we got a lot of stupid.
At the same time, 3G aircards and other means of getting onto wireless data networks are becoming more and more mainstream, especially with the subsidized netbooks being bundled with them as the article mentions. We're going to be seeing more and more non-tech savvy people getting on board with these devices and not understanding all of the minutiae.
It is therefore my belief that the wireless companies need to do a better job of warning users when bandwidth consumption strays into the "ludicrously expensive" category. And I mean really warning people, like by calling the number associated with the account holder, not just sending a fire-and-forget SMS that isn't guaranteed to be received by the device in question and saying "Due diligence done!" Or, provide the customer with an option to have their service suspended when a particular amount of bandwidth has been consumed, just in case.
But then the wireless companies couldn't profit from your stupidity, ignorance, or honest mistakes...could they. |
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CorydonCultivant son jardin Premium Member join:2008-02-18 Denver, CO |
to a333
Part of the problem may be a lack of understanding when it comes to what kind of roaming we're talking about.
Lots (all?) of mobile phone companies make a big deal of offering free roaming (for voice within the US). How many sales pitches come with those caveats?
The customer hears free roaming and figures he doesn't have to worry about traveling. |
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KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little Guy Premium Member join:2000-01-17 Tulsa, OK Netgear WNDR3700v2 Zoom 5341J
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KrK to a333
Premium Member
2009-Jun-26 11:21 pm
to a333
Let's not mention that the advertising ACTS like you get default service while overseas and mentions nothing about extra service plans or paying extra.
Look at AT&T's whole "Slad and Veeder" campaign. TV and radio blanketed with these ads about AT&T network worldwide.
I'm betting a lot of people think that means they can use their phones on that network on their existing plans. Bzzzzzzt. Wrong guess. Oh they can.... they'll just get the mega-bill later. |
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BarneyBadAssBadasses Fight For Freedom Premium Member join:2004-05-07 00001 |
to a333
GB isn't that Great Britain |
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Michail Premium Member join:2000-08-02 Boynton Beach, FL |
to a333
I'd like to know how 9 Gigs of data transfer is worth that much money? Even if we're talking Antarctica or the moon.
Does the CEO of AT&T personally have to calculate the bill by hand to justify that kind of cost?
Did they have to chase after Adam on his trip, erecting temporary antennas?
We're talking 3 orders of magnitude from a normal bill. |
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to BarneyBadAss
I think that is what the user thought. I think they should start making these idiots pay the bill. To the early post and Ron White "You can fix beauty but you can't fix stupid". |
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3 recommendations |
to banditws6
I know Obama was shocked his Blackberry didn't work in Saudi Arabia.
Yes, consumers are stupid. If they were smart, no one would pay $15,000 for a handbag or $80,000 for a GM car.
If voters were smart, they wouldn't have elected Stuart Smally either. Or Obama. |
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or Bush? Twice? |
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Let's pray Obama has 1 term. |
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cerone join:2001-10-28 Hollywood, FL |
to cameronsfx
I concure |
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