SRFireside
join:2001-01-19
Houston, TX
| And?
This is a non-issue. Many service providers offer products related to their service at a price higher than the norm. When you buy a router from Vonage doesn't it cost a little more than if you got it a Fry's? When you buy that car stereo from the dealer can't you get something similar for less at a retail store? Heck, how much does your beer and hot dogs costs when you go to a ball game as opposed to your local convenience store?
Unless Comcast requires you get your HD TV from them in order to get their HD programming I don't see a story here. Just get your plasma TV elsewhere. |
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Rob
In Deo speramus, God Bless the USA
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
 ·Comcast
| The issue is that they are making it sound like a "special", and here's the kicker:
quote:
In commercials airing in the Baltimore, Washington, Delaware and Richmond areas, Comcast says that if subscribers upgrade -- and buy the Panasonic set at the "special" price -- they will receive $100 off their cable bill. (The "special deal" is only available to subscribers in those areas.)
So pay $100 dollars (or more) for the "special" deal @ Comcast and get $100 off your cable bill. Where's the "special" in this?
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FicmanS
Premium
join:2005-01-11
Brownsburg, IN
clubs: | reply to SRFireside
I just wish they would get HD available in my area... |
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Enlightener
join:2006-01-28
Cedar Park, TX | reply to Rob
Yeah, and cell phone reps get deals with corporations to market to their employees `special` pricing.
Have we not ever heard of `caveat emptor`?
Yawn.... whiners. |
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SRFireside
join:2001-01-19
Houston, TX | reply to Rob
Meh... all that tells me is Comcast is using creative advertising. This isn't new either. How many times have you seen somebody offer a "special price" that really isn't? Sure it's misleading, but that's advertsing for ya. |
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Titus Pullo
I came, I saw, I slept
join:2004-06-26
 ·Embarq
| said by SRFireside  :Meh... all that tells me is Comcast is using creative advertising. This isn't new either. How many times have you seen somebody offer a "special price" that really isn't? Sure it's misleading, but that's advertsing for ya. "Creative advertising" -- that might just make my day, thanks!
Most of us know fully well what creative advertising is: Bullshit.
And most of us know why companies use bullshit to sell something: to dupe an uninformed consumer. Trouble is, that consumer is a fellow human being that's perhaps too busy to shop for the best deal because he/she works hard for a living and/or impulse buys the damn TV for more money from Comcast because they think they're trustworthy w/their advertising. They're not; this proves it (again).
If anyone thinks Comcast isn't fully aware that they're trading ethics for dollars when they advertise this way is no more savvy than the 'dupe' that buys the set for more money from Comcast.
You wouldn't trust service from a company that does business this way (misleading advertising), and I wouldn't either. But yet people defend this practice as business as usual, and that's JUST the problem that created the problem of business as usual in the first place.
People need to ask themselves why it is that just because they feel they 'know the score', and therefore assume they won't be caught by such advertising, that those who don't somehow deserve what they get. Either we're our brother's keeper or we're narcissistic assholes that either enjoy watching people get taken or simply don't care. Wanna really enjoy watching someone get taken? Watch where this attitude of "it's business as usual if you're too stupid to realize a scam you deserve it" eventually gets us all.
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"I am not young enough to know everything."
Oscar Wilde |
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SRFireside
join:2001-01-19
Houston, TX
| My original post was regarding the newsworthiness of this article to BBR. I'm essentially saying this isn't news because this sort of thing happens all the time. This is in no way condoning the practice, and this sort of thing should be taken up with the proper consumer groups. Not just Comcast, but the entire practice of deceptive advertising using the words "special price" to denote bargains when they are in fact not.
Right now the only way to truly fight this practice is to get the word out. The next time a friend or family member mentions this kind of advertising tell them straight what's going on. Teach them to shop around and be wary of those catch-phrases. Tell them to pass on the knowledge. The more the word is spread the less these kinds of advertising tactics will show success. There is only so much that can be legislated and regulated. The rest is up to us. |
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bigjimc
join:2003-04-21
Middleboro, MA | reply to Enlightener
"caveat emptor"
Wasn't that a line from the Brady Bunch? LMAO |
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Titus Pullo
I came, I saw, I slept
join:2004-06-26
·Embarq
| reply to SRFireside
said by SRFireside :(snipped) There is only so much that can be legislated and regulated. The rest is up to us. Well put and very true 
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"I am not young enough to know everything."
Oscar Wilde |
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actor90
Never a dull moment
Premium
join:2003-07-21
L.E.H.T., NJ
·Comcast
| reply to Rob
said by Rob :The issue is that they are making it sound like a "special", and here's the kicker: quote:
In commercials airing in the Baltimore, Washington, Delaware and Richmond areas, Comcast says that if subscribers upgrade -- and buy the Panasonic set at the "special" price -- they will receive $100 off their cable bill. (The "special deal" is only available to subscribers in those areas.)
So pay $100 dollars (or more) for the "special" deal @ Comcast and get $100 off your cable bill. Where's the "special" in this? When I found the story I couldn't decide if it was a case of Comcast stupidity, or Comcast ingenuity getting gullible customers to over pay for the HDTV. In either case, Comcast looks bad.
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My Blog on blogspot.com |
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wifi4milez
Big Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·RoadRunner Cable
 ·BroadVoice
| reply to SRFireside
said by SRFireside :This is a non-issue. Many service providers offer products related to their service at a price higher than the norm. When you buy a router from Vonage doesn't it cost a little more than if you got it a Fry's? When you buy that car stereo from the dealer can't you get something similar for less at a retail store? Heck, how much does your beer and hot dogs costs when you go to a ball game as opposed to your local convenience store? Unless Comcast requires you get your HD TV from them in order to get their HD programming I don't see a story here. Just get your plasma TV elsewhere. Hold on a second. That sounds like a rational argument. Dont you realize that this is DSLR and we will not tolerate such behavior?? Spouting such well thought out comments that actually, make sense, leaves less room on the thread for the bitchers and whiners to complain about how Comcast is evil and is eating their children. Come on now, get with the program!! 
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я люблю медведей! |
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RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
·AT&T Midwest
| reply to actor90
Since they can get their gullible customers to wildly overpay for the service, why should they not expect the same lemmings to overpay for the TV?
They are sharks. Doing the "right thing" is never on their agenda unless it just happens to be what they want in the first place.
Most of what passes for "HD" on Comcast systems is horrible, overcompressed crap anyway.
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Toolmaster of La Grange.
The Buck Starts Here. |
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Warez_Zealot
Rural land of the rising sun
join:2006-04-19
japan
| reply to Rob
said by Rob :The issue is that they are making it sound like a "special", and here's the kicker: quote:
In commercials airing in the Baltimore, Washington, Delaware and Richmond areas, Comcast says that if subscribers upgrade -- and buy the Panasonic set at the "special" price -- they will receive $100 off their cable bill. (The "special deal" is only available to subscribers in those areas.)
So pay $100 dollars (or more) for the "special" deal @ Comcast and get $100 off your cable bill. Where's the "special" in this? The "Special" are the people that buy it; as in you are "Special" *i.e Developmentally Challenged* for being taking advantage of their "special" for "special" people only.
Yeah...
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I'm a disgrace to my race. |
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Rob
In Deo speramus, God Bless the USA
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
·Comcast
| said by Warez_Zealot :said by Rob :The issue is that they are making it sound like a "special", and here's the kicker: quote:
In commercials airing in the Baltimore, Washington, Delaware and Richmond areas, Comcast says that if subscribers upgrade -- and buy the Panasonic set at the "special" price -- they will receive $100 off their cable bill. (The "special deal" is only available to subscribers in those areas.)
So pay $100 dollars (or more) for the "special" deal @ Comcast and get $100 off your cable bill. Where's the "special" in this? The "Special" are the people that buy it; as in you are "Special" *i.e Developmentally Challenged* for being taking advantage of their "special" for "special" people only. Yeah... ahaha. true.
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YourIP.US - Quickly Locate Your IP! |
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