xsiddalx
join:2005-03-11
Chicago, IL
 ·AT&T Yahoo
·AT&T DSL Service
| reply to fiberguy
Re: Nasty
said by fiberguy  :Ok... You're talking about a retail environment and we're talking about a service industry (communications) which is totally different. The two don't argue the same way. Are you suggesting that we individuals are wholesale customers and can opt into individual contracts?
Communications is a retail business, predominantly.
Telephony, Cable, Satellite, Cellular, ISP....they are all retail.
They all have wholesale arms are well.
It is simple.
Examples:
Telephone companies sell wholesale to LD and CLECs.
Cable sells wholesale to religious channels and shopping.
Sat....follows cable
Cellular sells wholesale to SMS providers (american idol?)
ISP (often all of the above now) have similar deals.
said by fiberguy :Also.. I'm curious where all these cable TV contracts are coming from? Cable is well known for now requiring contracts. I don't understand. Your question answers itself.
If your asking about cable companies, they were started on the same monopolistic guarantees as telephone companies. They are still requesting deregulated pricing offered under the telecom act of 96 for basic service. Cable franchises and prices were originally offered at at a given rate of return for a set of basic services. The TA96 gave them freedom of return based pricing for basic services once competition hit a certain level.
Just in case I misinterpreted, cable contracts are certainly a minimum of 6 months of more depending on the market and digital upgrades are required with a modem rental, which amount to the equivalent of renting a telephone. Any box would be cheaper sold at walmart if it met cable specs. Any phone would be cheaper if sold at walmart if it met cell company specs.
For the record, I have only shopped at walmart mart 6 or 7 times in my life.
I don't think I understand your differentiation. Service are sold by barbers, goods are sold by grocers. Neither of the two require contracts as the norm, nor do the contracts necessarily equate per customer. |
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RadioDoc
Sortofadog
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
Chicago, IL
·AT&T Midwest
| I love reading what you write. It's probably the clearest analysis/argument posted in this thread.
Just a little data point for your cable contracts: Offering a rebate at the third and sixth months is the equivalent of requiring a three or six month contract to get a discounted rate. While they claim "no contracts" the reality is you pay rack rate without pretending you are in one.
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Toolmaster of La Grange. |
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xsiddalx
join:2005-03-11
Chicago, IL
·AT&T Yahoo
·AT&T DSL Service
| said by RadioDoc :Just a little data point for your cable contracts: Offering a rebate at the third and sixth months is the equivalent of requiring a three or six month contract to get a discounted rate. While they claim "no contracts" the reality is you pay rack rate without pretending you are in one. Good point. I just go off what my 80+ grandmother's sister tells me about her comcast phone service, and lack of ability to change, and what I read on the billboards & tv adverts.
Semantics suck....
Contracts are contracts.
Rebates are rebates.
Coupons are coupons.
Mixing the three makes for interesting discussion.
Never thought I'd see the day that my grandparents would no PIC their LD (and get charged to do so at the benefit of the telco).
I'm satellite, telco, cellco. Separate and cheaper. |
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RadioDoc
Sortofadog
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
Chicago, IL
·AT&T Midwest
edit:
January 26th, @02:03AM
| said by xsiddalx :I'm satellite, telco, cellco. Separate and cheaper. Indeed, me too. If bundling didn't make the providers more money they would not offer it.
--
Toolmaster of La Grange. |
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
moderated:
January 28th, @12:34AM
| reply to xsiddalx
Typo.. cable is well known for NOT requiring contracts..
Additionally, the difference between a retail and a service industry is pretty clear. WalMart is retail, and Applebees is a service industry.
In order for Cable or phone to sell you something, there is a great cost involved in putting it out to you.. there is the provisioning, installation, and the entire process involved in getting that to you. They do charge either no or a little installation charge to get you going and it takes time to earn that back. Wal-Mart has a product.. a fixed price 'grab and buy it and leave with it' scheme.. They are two different things in this case.
You can argue it out and make the two look the same, however, they aren't.
Having to stay to earn your bonus over time is NOT a contract. A contract, in context of the conversation, is saying you must continue to purchase - period. Penalties for breaking out.
The "get 12 monthly credits" type of thing is a loyalty program and you can break it at anytime. |
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| reply to RadioDoc
said by RadioDoc :Just a little data point for your cable contracts: Offering a rebate at the third and sixth months is the equivalent of requiring a three or six month contract to get a discounted rate. While they claim "no contracts" the reality is you pay rack rate without pretending you are in one. You REALLY love stretching things and spinning, don't you? |
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RadioDoc
Sortofadog
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
Chicago, IL | Evidently not as much as you love mindless arguing.
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Toolmaster of La Grange. |
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