[Ooma] ooma increasing taxes and fees 354%! - VOIP Tech Chat

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ymhee_bcex Premium join:2006-04-21 Tarzana, CA Reviews: ·callwithus ·PHONE POWER ·VOIPo ·VoicePulse	reply to PX Eliezer Re: [Ooma] ooma increasing taxes and fees 354%! So, why not add "Income tax compliance fee", "Payroll tax compliance fee"; heck - "Business license registration fee". It's not just OOMA - all phone companies (landline, cell, and many VoIP) do that. But it doesn't make any less sleazy. Imagine you come to the grocery store, and bread costs $3.99 + $1.30 in taxes and fees (EPA fee, sustainable agriculture fee, etc.)
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-07 15:59:29 ·
christcorp Premium join:2001-05-21 Cheyenne, WY kudos:1	That's why a lot of providers tried offering a "Flat Rate". They still had to/are paying the local Caesar their taxes. Just that most consumers aren't too savvy about real costs. Again; there are some that are so hung up on saving the extra dollar or two that they are willing to change providers. Even if they are happy with the quality and service. Then they get mad when the next company isn't as good. (They also have the perception that all voip providers are the same). Most people have no idea how voip actually works. Most on a forum understand, but not all. Plus, most have absolutely no idea of economics or what it costs a company to do/stay in business. People complained enough to SunRocket for "Better Deals". Well, they tried, and they went out of business overnight and left a lot of customers high and dry. Guess some people just aren't satisfied with saving 70%+ from a Ma'Bell line. But as some others have mentioned, a lot of it is perception. They signed up with one price, and never though that prices might have to go up. They don't complain as much when gas prices go up; property taxes go up; soda in a machine goes up; etc... But if they have to pay $4 a month for phone service, they feel they are being screwed.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-07 16:08:44 ·
nitzan Premium,VIP join:2008-02-27 kudos:2	reply to ymhee_bcex said by ymhee_bcex: It's not just OOMA - all phone companies (landline, cell, and many VoIP) do that. But it doesn't make any less sleazy. No ALL companies. At least in VOIP there are a few that don't. We've never charged any fees other than E911 - and that is a direct cost we incur (no profit). I do agree most phone companies do it though, and yes it's sleazy - but profitable.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-07 17:29:58 ·
ymhee_bcex Premium join:2006-04-21 Tarzana, CA	Sorry, nitzan - I actually meant other phone companies. And that's why I noted many VoIP - I know VoicePulse and CallCentric don't do that, either. My typo
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-07 17:39:22 ·

nickdigger join:2009-06-13	reply to christcorp I think perception is definitely the key. When I joined the air force in 1978, I was told that I would have have free medical for me and family for life. By the time I had 15 years in, I was paying co-pays and premiums for my family. Now that I'm retired, co-pays are higher, deductible is higher, and premiums are going up. Am I complaining COMPARED to what many others have to pay? No. But it sure wasn't what I was promised when I first went into the military. At least you didn't get skewered on the swords of Patton and MacArthur, like our WWI veterans. Yeah, Uncle Sam has never been a big promise keeper.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-07 19:21:59 ·
daveinpoway Premium join:2006-07-03 Poway, CA kudos:2	reply to ymhee_bcex I'm sure a lot of the EPA, etc. fees which you cite are included in the price of bread. The difference is that instead of pricing it at $3.99 + $1.30 taxes/fees, they price it at $5.29, so the extra costs are not displayed for the customer.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-08 09:58:42 ·
pandora Premium join:2001-06-01 Outland kudos:1 Reviews: ·ooma ·Google Voice ·Future Nine Corp.. ·Comcast 1 edit	reply to ymhee_bcex People don't make rational decisions said by ymhee_bcex: S It's not just OOMA - all phone companies (landline, cell, and many VoIP) do that. But it doesn't make any less sleazy. Imagine you come to the grocery store, and bread costs $3.99 + $1.30 in taxes and fees (EPA fee, sustainable agriculture fee, etc.) Pricing by many companies is weird. I believe there is a reliance on mathematical illiteracy (innumeracy?) of the public. People in aggregate can't determine rationally their best interests, and are highly susceptible to marketing. Ooma was about the best deal at one time. Things have changed, and a new customer should be able to evaluate the change and make a rational decision about what to do. -- "People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use."
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-09 00:29:37 ·
mazilo From Mazilo Premium join:2002-05-30 Lilburn, GA kudos:1	said by pandora: Pricing by many companies is weird. I believe there is a reliance on mathematical illiteracy (innumeracy?) of the public. People in aggregate can't determine rationally their best interests, and are highly susceptible to marketing. You just crafted a nice paragraph that really explained part of yourself. LOL Ooma was about the best deal at one time. May be and may be not. I believe FREE calls service provided by GV with BYOD was and still is the best deal. At the time, one didn't have to spend US$200+, or US$150+, and/or even US$100+ to get a SIP compliant ATA device (that cost about US$60) to use with the FREE calls service provided by GV. Most Oomanians here knew that, yet they still went ahead to waste more or less $200 to invest on an Ooma HUB to get free calls. So, to put that in your own words, they probably belonged to your reliance on mathematical illiteracy (innumeracy?) of the public group and I believe you are not alone in this matter. LOL Things have changed, and a new customer should be able to evaluate the change and make a rational decision about what to do. That's correct and even Ooma has changed to abandon its original business plan that isn't sustainable. OTOH, GV (formerly GrandCentral) FREE calls service is still looking and going strong since 2005 and I have yet to spend 1¢ or more to use the FREE service to place/receive FREE calls since 2005. I reckon anyone who belongs to your reliance on mathematical illiteracy (innumeracy?) of the public group doesn't know this: WHY PAY IF THE SAME AND/OR BETTER SERVICES CAN BE HAD FOR FREE. -- don't and stop are the ONLY two 4-letter words considered offensive to men, but not when used together.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-09 08:02:08 ·
pandora Premium join:2001-06-01 Outland kudos:1 Reviews: ·ooma ·Google Voice ·Future Nine Corp.. ·Comcast	said by mazilo: I believe FREE calls service provided by GV with BYOD was and still is the best deal. GV with a BYOD is likely the best deal today. It didn't exist when I purchased Ooma. Waiting for GV and BYOD would have cost much more than buying into the old Ooma plan. Today GV is still a bit risky with BYOD, and lacks 911 support. If Google is required to implement 911 support on GV, it wouldn't surprise me to see a fee for that service. -- "People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use."
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-09 09:13:29 ·
Arne Bolen Happy Anveo customer Premium join:2009-06-21 Planet Earth kudos:1 Reviews: ·Anveo ·Callcentric ·voip.ms	reply to mazilo said by mazilo: OTOH, GV (formerly GrandCentral) FREE calls service is still looking and going strong since 2005 and I have yet to spend 1¢ or more to use the FREE service to place/receive FREE calls since 2005. Lucky you. I have spent the astronomical amount of $0.42 on my GV/GrandCentral account since 2005. -- Main provider: Anveo - Secondary providers: VoIP.ms, Callcentric, Localphone and Rebtel Hosted PBX: PBXes.org - Phone: Gigaset S685IP
	to forum · permalink · 2012-02-09 10:12:47 ·

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Re: [Ooma] ooma increasing taxes and fees 354%!

People don't make rational decisions