 
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
| Re: And? 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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YourIP.US - Quickly Locate Your IP! | |
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| | Enlightener
join:2006-01-28
Cedar Park, TX | Re: And? 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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| | | bigjimc
join:2003-04-21
Middleboro, MA | Re: And? "caveat emptor"
Wasn't that a line from the Brady Bunch? LMAO | |
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SRFireside
join:2001-01-19
Houston, TX | 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
| Re: And? 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
| Re: And? 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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Titus Pullo
I came, I saw, I slept
join:2004-06-26
·Embarq
| Re: And? 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
Phillies 2008 World Champions
Premium
join:2003-07-21
L.E.H.T., NJ
·Comcast
| 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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| | | RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
·AT&T Midwest
| Re: And? 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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Posted at 1526 CST
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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
| 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
| Re: And? 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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FicmanS
Premium
join:2005-01-11
Brownsburg, IN
clubs: | I just wish they would get HD available in my area... | |
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moonpuppy
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD | Only for the uneducated....... Impulse buyers and those who have too much money will buy this.
Comcast may take a bath on these if they can't sell enough to cover their promo costs. | |
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| ossito16
join:2004-07-31
Whiting, IN
·RCN CABLE
| Re: Only for the uneducated....... So true, so true.
said by moonpuppy :Impulse buyers and those who have too much money will buy this. Comcast may take a bath on these if they can't sell enough to cover their promo costs. | |
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| chemaupr
join:2005-06-06
Alexandria, VA | Re: Good for Comcast Now we are talking, I will go for a $50 lease of a nice plasma HDTV. Granted they will want to lock you in for a yr or two but $600 or $1200 and then move to a new one is not a bad deal at all... | |
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cableties
Premium
join:2005-01-27
 ·Verizon FIOS
| No brainer.. I'd rather install the TV than have some Comcast Tech sleep on my couch after setting it up (and I am sure they won't get it right)!!! 
Lost your new HDTV remote? Call Comspastic! Our clepto-narcoleptic techs are snoozing by! | |
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texans20
Weapons of Masturbation
Premium
join:2002-09-28
Texas!
clubs:
| Oh No!! A company selling a product at a price they determined. Oh, the Comcast people are devils! Next thing we might hear of a car mechanic charging more than the one down the road! One day, we might see gas selling at one station for more than the other station right next door!
So what if Comcast calls it a bargain? There's nothing wrong with it. The consumer should do some research before making a big purchase. If they do not, then they might over pay.
I swear I think some of the admins of this site would love to see America in some sort of socialist/communist setup. You know, where the government would regulate the price of such things as a Plasma TV so poor little dipshit consumer does not get ripped off. | |
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actor90
Phillies 2008 World Champions
Premium
join:2003-07-21
L.E.H.T., NJ
·Comcast
| Re: Oh No!! said by texans20 :A company selling a product at a price they determined. Oh, the Comcast people are devils! Next thing we might hear of a car mechanic charging more than the one down the road! One day, we might see gas selling at one station for more than the other station right next door! So what if Comcast calls it a bargain? There's nothing wrong with it. The consumer should do some research before making a big purchase. If they do not, then they might over pay. I swear I think some of the admins of this site would love to see America in some sort of socialist/communist setup. You know, where the government would regulate the price of such things as a Plasma TV so poor little dipshit consumer does not get ripped off. I submitted the story, because I found it interesting. Comcast offers a TV at a "bargain" that isn't even close to being a bargain, quite the contrary in fact. As far as being a "socialist" I'm a registered Republican and probably have a greater knowledge of politics and history then 90% of the population, but thats besides the point. The point is, that either Comcast is stupid or devious, in either case, it's not good. So is Comcast dumb, or do they think their customers are dumb? That is the question.
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Jehu
Premium
join:2002-09-13
MA | Re: Oh No!! do you have a link or more details about the offer? | |
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Jehu
Premium
join:2002-09-13
MA | Re: Oh No!! thanks. what a deal! | |
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texans20
Weapons of Masturbation
Premium
join:2002-09-28
Texas!
clubs:
| said by actor90 :said by texans20 :A company selling a product at a price they determined. Oh, the Comcast people are devils! Next thing we might hear of a car mechanic charging more than the one down the road! One day, we might see gas selling at one station for more than the other station right next door! So what if Comcast calls it a bargain? There's nothing wrong with it. The consumer should do some research before making a big purchase. If they do not, then they might over pay. I swear I think some of the admins of this site would love to see America in some sort of socialist/communist setup. You know, where the government would regulate the price of such things as a Plasma TV so poor little dipshit consumer does not get ripped off. I submitted the story, because I found it interesting. Comcast offers a TV at a "bargain" that isn't even close to being a bargain, quite the contrary in fact. As far as being a "socialist" I'm a registered Republican and probably have a greater knowledge of politics and history then 90% of the population, but thats besides the point. The point is, that either Comcast is stupid or devious, in either case, it's not good. So is Comcast dumb, or do they think their customers are dumb? That is the question. How is Comcast being devious? They're not going to say "Come buy our HDTV, but if you look around you can find the exact same thing cheaper." They are a business and their business is to make a profit. It should be and is a caveat emptor country we live in. Companies are under no obligation to provide anything at the cheapest cost possible, the free market will decide sales.
They call it a special price because the MSRP of the unit is $1799 and Comcast is selling it at $1599. Also, according to the article you submitted, most retailers are selling this TV for exactly the same thing Comcast is selling it for. Yes, you can find it cheaper if you shop around, but with the fact that this TV is $200 cheaper than the MSRP and you get $100 off your cable bill, Comcast has every right to call it a good deal and I agree with them.
So, one can buy it for $1599 and get $100 off your cable bill, or buy it for $1499 from Amazon. This isn't exactly the rip off of the century. | |
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actor90
Phillies 2008 World Champions
Premium
join:2003-07-21
L.E.H.T., NJ
·Comcast
| Re: Oh No!! Does it take much "shopping arround" to go to Walmart? They have the TV listed for under $1300 dollars. Comcast is either devious or stupid, or perhaps both.
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My Blog on blogspot.com | |
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Combat Chuck
Too Many Cannibals
Premium
join:2001-11-29
Erie, PA
| Re: Oh No!! said by actor90 :Does it take much "shopping arround" to go to Walmart? They have the TV listed for under $1300 dollars. Comcast is either devious or stupid, or perhaps both. They're devious.
Most companies are similarly devious and frequently use their information advantage to get you to pay more for something you could find elsewhere. If this surprises you or seems like something you haven't seen before chances are that you are taken advantage of daily by companies leveraging their information advantage over you and you don't even know it.
They're advertising an ok but not great price on a product knowing that some people will buy it on the spur of the moment without looking elsewhere, your local grocery store does this exact same thing to thousands of people with hundreds of products daily.
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Early to rise, early to bed;
Makes a man healthy but socially dead. | |
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texans20
Weapons of Masturbation
Premium
join:2002-09-28
Texas!
clubs:
| Re: Oh No!! said by Combat Chuck :said by actor90 :Does it take much "shopping arround" to go to Walmart? They have the TV listed for under $1300 dollars. Comcast is either devious or stupid, or perhaps both. They're devious. Most companies are similarly devious and frequently use their information advantage to get you to pay more for something you could find elsewhere. If this surprises you or seems like something you haven't seen before chances are that you are taken advantage of daily by companies leveraging their information advantage over you and you don't even know it. They're advertising an ok but not great price on a product knowing that some people will buy it on the spur of the moment without looking elsewhere, your local grocery store does this exact same thing to thousands of people with hundreds of products daily. That does not make them devious, it makes them smart business people. If my competition can sell 100 widgets at $100 a pop, and I can sell 50 at $200 a pop, I'm better off. Why? Well, chances are I'll need less shelf space and warehouse room to store the widgets. Since I've pulled in the same revenues with only half the customers, I'll have to pay less employees to deal with those customers. The disadvantage is I pulled in less customers to view other items in my store, however my customers might enjoy it. I frequently shop at Target even though they are more expensive than Wal-Mart. I do so because it's less crowded and I actually get service at Target where as Wal-Mart hires dipshits in my area who do not know their head from their ass. | |
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jjoshua
Premium
join:2001-06-01
Scotch Plains, NJ | The hitch It only works with Comcast.
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Rick
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-06
Waterbury, CT
clubs: | I guess it's a slow news day here at BBR. | |
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GOLFnSUN
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
| Where are the details of this "offer" The story is very skimpy here on details - just a claim that Comcast is the one selling the TV. Much more likely that this is a co-promotion deal with retailer chains. They sell a TV endorsed by Comcast and the customer gets a discount voucher off their bill and the chain sells the TV at a discount. And Comcast gets another customer upgrading to HDTV every month.
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My BLOG
My Web Page | |
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tango65536
join:2001-12-26
Catonsville, MD
clubs:
1 edit | comcast techs! I just wish the Comcast techs in my area knew how to setup the HD boxes correctly! Most of them can't figure out how to get to the setup screen of the Motorola and set it to output the proper resolution to the television!
One of my friends boxes died on him, and he called me while the tech was at his house to tell the dude how to get the box set correctly! Go Comcast Go!! | |
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J
California Dreamin'
join:2002-02-08
California | Deal??????? I bought the exact TV from Best Buy for $999 on "Black Friday". That's a deal! | |
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Commcraptic
@comcast.net | x at least Comcast has some taste -
Panasonic plasmas are among the best HDTVs.
They could've offered a POS BOSE audio system or
some crappy Chinese-brand hdtv. | |
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odreian615
join:2006-01-18
Chicago, IL | How about more HD channels thats all I want | |
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floydb_1982
join:2004-08-25
Kent, WA | So? I have a tube TV with the Comcast $15.00 monthly cable TV service and I'm pretty happy with that. No need for me to go out and spend that kind of money when my TV works just fine for me in my bedroom. | |
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GhostDoggy
join:2005-05-11
Duluth, GA
| Former Adelphia subs paying for these promos I guess some good is going to come to someone for my 34% rate increase that came to me two weeks after Comcast took over my local Adelphia franchise.
At least they were considerate to telemarket me last night to rub that into my wound--Adelphia never telemarketed me. | |
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Comcast's HDTV 'Deal'
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