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Best Buy Tells Time Warner Customers to Ditch VoIP
In Order to Avoid New Modem Fee

Time Warner Cable took heavy criticism earlier this month when they announced users would have to pay a new $4 monthly modem rental fee. Time Warner Cable struggled to adequately support users looking to buy their own modems, and then stumbled when asked to justify the price hike on the company's already pricey service. As noted previously Time Warner Cable doesn't allow users to buy their own modem if they use a modem for digital voice services, and doesn't charge a fee to those users -- resulting in some users needing two modems if they want to avoid the fee.

Interestingly, Best Buy is telling customers to ditch phone service from Time Warner Cable:
quote:
Best Buy employees in upstate New York are advising Time Warner Cable customers to dump Time Warner phone service and buy their own cable modem to completely avoid any additional monthly fees. "We don’t have modems that will support Time Warner’s voice services, so basically any customer that has that bundle either has to make the decision to get rid of that service or deal with paying for that service every month," said Syracuse Best Buy employee Drew Cacciola.
It should be interesting to see if this has any substantive impact on Time Warner Cable's Internet phone service totals. Standard and Poor's earlier this year predicted that cable companies may soon start seeing customers cutting their cable phone services as they look for ways to reduce soaring cable bills. Time Warner Cable certainly may not be helping themselves on this front.
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dnoyeB
Ferrous Phallus
join:2000-10-09
Southfield, MI

dnoyeB

Member

Bundling

Bundling is an insult to me. All it amounts to is one less bill. They are not offering any discounts. Why would I bundle? That just makes it more difficult to make changes. Also makes it more difficult to understand all the fees.

Comcast is always offering to bundle some phone service but is not offering any competitive rates. Not sure what they are thinking. At least I don't have to pay for my modem. Although every now and then a modem fee will appear on my bill and I will have to call to get it removed...
Skippy25
join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO

1 recommendation

Skippy25

Member

Re: Bundling

Bundling is not meant to save you money. It is a marketing ploy to confuse you and make you think you are while making it very hard to actually compare apples to apples with another competitor.

jfleni
@bhn.net

jfleni

Anon

Re: Bundling

Bundling is crazy since a good IP (Internet) connection allows using any of of hundreds of phone services, usually at very attractive prices.

For retail customers, cable phone requires a separate modem and often some kind of connection to internal phone wiring, complicated and difficult to do. No business would go through this charade, their phones are always IP direct.

IP telephone sets (plugged in to a wireless or wired router or switch) are available, for just a little more than a good analog phone, but cable companies act like that is exotic tech for huge companies.

If possible (and your Internet is solid -- which it may not be with TW), dump your old phones, and use IP phones instead. Unbundle!

NOCMan
MadMacHatter
Premium Member
join:2004-09-30
Colorado Springs, CO

NOCMan to dnoyeB

Premium Member

to dnoyeB

We ALL Bundle, We ALL Bundle!

Sorry could not help myself.

These people should just get Vonage or any of the other VOIP services that are readily available.

Competition is healthy, without it as we see in many cases, prices climb. Though seems that cable is just as compliant as the Air Lines in raising prices constantly.

swintec
Premium Member
join:2003-12-19
Alfred, ME

swintec

Premium Member

Best Buy is so crappy...

Boy these idiots will do anything to make a sale / seem relevant in todays tech world wont they?

Camelot One
MVM
join:2001-11-21
Bloomington, IN

Camelot One

MVM

Re: Best Buy is so crappy...

I find irony in Best Buy suggesting people dump Time Warner's VoIP. I have always viewed it as the more expensive, lower featured, over hyped product.
Much like Best Buy.

Smith6612
MVM
join:2008-02-01
North Tonawanda, NY
·Charter
Ubee EU2251
Ubiquiti UAP-IW-HD
Ubiquiti UniFi AP-AC-HD

Smith6612

MVM

Re: Best Buy is so crappy...

Maybe there is some merit to it, though. Yeah, I don't shop at Best Buy (why would I when NewEgg and Monoprice are awesome?) but I presume you know what happens to the signal levels when folks start running more than one modem on a single drop, right? I still feel this is a ploy to push something though, as typical with Best Buy.

I have to side with this one since I'm in agreement that the rental fee is silly, especially if you have a phone modem that could give Internet. No sense making the phone modem free if it is not used for Internet. Still costs money and they are after all, DOCSIS 2.0 units without a router in this area still so they won't go for much either way. The Ubees are another question however, as I think Time Warner has some DOCSIS 3.0(?) Phone modems going around that also have built-in routers too. In essence, cancelling the phone is along the line of saying "We don't need this free phone modem that could give us Free Internet" while taking away the extra money Time Warner would get for having Phone + Internet on an account.
Crookshanks
join:2008-02-04
Binghamton, NY

Crookshanks

Member

Re: Best Buy is so crappy...

It's easy enough to understand why they are doing this. Phone service is still a growth market, with tens of thousands of potential new customers even in small markets. Internet service is not, it's as mature as a market can be. You can bet this fee will be coming to the VoIP customers in the future, as that market matures.

I'm not familiar enough with their VoIP technology to know if it uses an industry standard or something propitiatory? Do modems even exist on the open market that would be capable of connecting to their VoIP system? If the answer is no, then it would seem they have their customers between a rock and a hard place.

Frankly, I'm not sure why people even subscribe to their VoIP product. It's no more reliable than any other VoIP solution, yet costs a great deal more. If you care about reliability you'd go with POTS. If you care about cost why not go with one of the cheaper VoIP providers, or just go wireless-only?
Happydude32
Premium Member
join:2005-07-16

Happydude32

Premium Member

Re: Best Buy is so crappy...

quote:
Frankly, I'm not sure why people even subscribe to their VoIP product. It's no more reliable than any other VoIP solution, yet costs a great deal more. If you care about reliability you'd go with POTS. If you care about cost why not go with one of the cheaper VoIP providers, or just go wireless-only?
1) I don’t want to do business with Verizon.

2) I don’t want to do business with some rinky dink small VoIP start up operation, that has no history and could go out of business at the drop of a hat. Think about it, how long can these companies provide service at dirt cheap rates. I know for a fact when I wake up tomorrow, I’ll have a dial tone with Time Warner Digital Phone. I can’t say the same for Ohma or whoever they are. Vonage the only big name, and they're living on borrowed time. And if an issue arises, Time Warner will blame the rinky dink VoIP company and the rink dink VoIP company will blame TW. No thanks, I’ll put my eggs all in one basket and not support some crappy little operation.

3) Caller ID on TV is awesome

4) Due to everything that I have, digital cable, HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz, Movie Pass, Sports Pass, HD Pass two whole house DVRs and 50Mb/5Mb Broadband, it’s actually cheaper to be in Time Warner’s high end Signature Home package and have all three services than to just have internet and TV services at those levels. And as a Sig Home customer, I am exempt from the new $4 modem lease fee making it even better

5) I live in a rural area, cellular reception is pretty much nonexistent in the house, when I use my cell phone at home, I usually have to go outside.
TBBroadband
join:2012-10-26
Fremont, OH

TBBroadband

Member

Re: Best Buy is so crappy...

People have been claiming Vonage would be out of business by now and are not going anywhere any time soon. The same with Clear they have customers and are still making $$$. Vonage has cut down a ton of money being wasted, like those nice post cards they'd send out, and all of the TV ads. You may see an ad here and there but for the most part they don't really advertise anymore besides word of mouth. and TWC DP is actually powered by Sprint Wholesale in most of their areas.

Ooma has a great product, its cheap because well, they have people behind them with $$$$ the same as Magic Jack and they've been around for a few years as well and don't look like their going anywhere.

The only thing that may go anywhere is the standard landline and DP companies from the MSOs if they don't learn to compete on price. They're starting to price their product right up their with a regular land line so why would I want to buy from TWC when I can go to AT&T and be priced the same, and actually CHEAPER if I bundle something else with it?? TWC DP- $55 after taxes generally in Ohio. AT&T One Rate Unlimited - $50 after taxes in most of Ohio. Why wouldn't you take AT&T?
Happydude32
Premium Member
join:2005-07-16

Happydude32

Premium Member

Re: Best Buy is so crappy...

quote:
People have been claiming Vonage would be out of business by now and are not going anywhere any time soon. The same with Clear they have customers and are still making $$$. Vonage has cut down a ton of money being wasted, like those nice post cards they'd send out, and all of the TV ads. You may see an ad here and there but for the most part they don't really advertise anymore besides word of mouth. and TWC DP is actually powered by Sprint Wholesale in most of their areas.
Vonage will eventually be a goner, if you believe anything else you're a fool.
quote:
Ooma has a great product, its cheap because well, they have people behind them with $$$$ the same as Magic Jack and they've been around for a few years as well and don't look like their going anywhere.

I don't care how great it is. If it wasn't for this site, I would have never heard of it. I do not do business with small comapanies that I know won't exist in a few years. Magic Jack reminds me of some fly by night company. I will laugh and say 'I told you so' when one day on the front page on this site there is a story about Magic Jack ceasing operations.
quote:
The only thing that may go anywhere is the standard landline and DP companies from the MSOs if they don't learn to compete on price. They're starting to price their product right up their with a regular land line so why would I want to buy from TWC when I can go to AT&T and be priced the same, and actually CHEAPER if I bundle something else with it?? TWC DP- $55 after taxes generally in Ohio. AT&T One Rate Unlimited - $50 after taxes in most of Ohio. Why wouldn't you take AT&T?
Actually Comcast and Time Warner cable are two of the top five phone companies in the nation, behind AT&T, Verizon and Century Link. So no, traditional landline and cable telephony aren’t going to be over taken by any rinky dinky lame small VoIP startups anytime soon. And didn’t I already cover bundling with other services? In most cases bundling cable internet with cable telephony is cheaper than bundling a regular land line with shitty slowass DSL.

And please post proof of the $55 charge for Time Warner’s phone service standalone. Last I knew, Time Warner charged $42.95 plus tax for phone, and that price was pretty much standard nationwide. Now way is there $12 in taxes being charged on phone.

XANAVirus
Premium Member
join:2012-03-03
Lavalette, WV

XANAVirus

Premium Member

Re: Best Buy is so crappy...

Perhaps you've not heard of Callcentric.
Definitely not some fly-by-night operation.

If they were they wouldn't be at the top (as high as that can be, since this is only one site) of the VoIP GBU chart here.

I don't like how you're saying basically any VoIP company is a shady fly-by-night won't-exist-a-few-days-from-now company.

Not all VoIP is the same, mind you.
The whole point's to get the best value for you - you might find one provider works better than all others, and cheaper.

Are you saying that just because a company is 'big' that it'll be able to provide 'better' service?
I say not.
ke4pym
Premium Member
join:2004-07-24
Charlotte, NC

ke4pym to Happydude32

Premium Member

to Happydude32
said by Happydude32:


4) Due to everything that I have, digital cable, HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz, Movie Pass, Sports Pass, HD Pass two whole house DVRs and 50Mb/5Mb Broadband, it’s actually cheaper to be in Time Warner’s high end Signature Home package and have all three services than to just have internet and TV services at those levels. And as a Sig Home customer, I am exempt from the new $4 modem lease fee making it even better

5) I live in a rural area, cellular reception is pretty much nonexistent in the house, when I use my cell phone at home, I usually have to go outside.

How are those craptacular POS DVR's working out these days?

Consider pestering your cell provider for a microcell. Pester them enough, and they'll send you one for free.
Happydude32
Premium Member
join:2005-07-16

Happydude32

Premium Member

Re: Best Buy is so crappy...

The DVRs are great and always have been great. They do their job and record the programming I tell it to. That’s their job. My DirecTV DVRs have more bloat and junk on them than you can imagine. Seriously, who the hell wants to watch over compressed YouTube crap on their big screen? Cable is a million times better than satellite!

And yes, I do have a femtocell. Problem is the GPS antenna has to have constant communication with the GPS satellites or the femtocell loses signal eventually. Due to the way my stuff is set up, it’s almost impossible to have the antenna mounted outside where it can get a reliable signal. The thing is basically useless unless I drag it across the room, put it by a window, reboot it, let in acquire the GSP signal. Then it’s good for a day or two.

djrobx
Premium Member
join:2000-05-31
Reno, NV

djrobx

Premium Member

Re: Best Buy is so crappy...

said by Happydude32:

The DVRs are great and always have been great. They do their job and record the programming I tell it to. That’s their job. My DirecTV DVRs have more bloat and junk on them than you can imagine. Seriously, who the hell wants to watch over compressed YouTube crap on their big screen? Cable is a million times better than satellite!

Cable DVRs are usually horrible. The one TWC offers us is a complete joke. It has 160-250GB of hard drive space for MPEG-2 video, and a 2002-era UI that's crude and unreliable. Want to find out why your show didn't record? Too bad.

The DirecTV DVRs are a dream by comparison. 500GB+ of MPEG-4 video is plenty of space, and I can even attach a bigger HDD if I really want to go crazy. It has a history feature that will tell you what happened if something wasn't recorded. I can also network them together to watch shows in different rooms.

I'm not sure why you concern yourself with features you don't want to use. I, for one, like being able to pull up YouTube videos on the big screen if I have friends over and and want to pull up something that my guests start talking about. I've been with DirecTV long enough to have seen the DVR before the youtube feature was added, and its inclusion has not altered the performance of the unit one bit.
Happydude32
Premium Member
join:2005-07-16

Happydude32

Premium Member

Re: Best Buy is so crappy...

I have both Time Warner Cable and DirecTV. I’ve Time Warner Cable back since 2006, had DirecTV from 2004-2006 and canceled their shitty service the day the contract was up. Got it back this February when TW temporarily pulled MSG and retained service in order to try out NFL Sunday Ticket.
quote:
The one TWC offers us is a complete joke. It has 160-250GB of hard drive space for MPEG-2 video
My Cisco Explorer 8642HDCs each have 500 GB hard drives.
quote:
and a 2002-era UI that's crude and unreliable
DirecTV may have the fancy new HD guide, but it really doesn’t display any more info then you can get on Time Warner. Plus the ads in the EPG make it annoying as all hell.
quote:
Want to find out why your show didn't record? Too bad.
Can’t say I’ve ever had a DVR miss a recording, so that’s not a concern of mine.
quote:
The DirecTV DVRs are a dream by comparison. 500GB+ of MPEG-4 video is plenty of space, and I can even attach a bigger HDD if I really want to go crazy. It has a history feature that will tell you what happened if something wasn't recorded. I can also network them together to watch shows in different rooms.
I’ve had whole home DVR service with Time Warner for upwards of two years now. I have an HR34 and HR24 on DirecTV and like I said two Cisco Explorer 8642HDCs on Time Warner. I much prefer Time Warner’s set top box operation over DirecTVs.
quote:
I'm not sure why you concern yourself with features you don't want to use. I, for one, like being able to pull up YouTube videos on the big screen if I have friends over and and want to pull up something that my guests start talking about. I've been with DirecTV long enough to have seen the DVR before the youtube feature was added, and its inclusion has not altered the performance of the unit one bit.
DirecTV is too focused on adding useless shit features. Besides my TV, Blu Ray Player and A/V Receiver all haves these stupid apps.

djrobx
Premium Member
join:2000-05-31
Reno, NV

djrobx to Camelot One

Premium Member

to Camelot One
said by Camelot One:

I find irony in Best Buy suggesting people dump Time Warner's VoIP. I have always viewed it as the more expensive, lower featured, over hyped product.
Much like Best Buy.

Lower features, yes, but it's a step up in terms of reliability. When I had TW VOIP, it was rock solid, never having garbled audio. I could establish 53.3k dialup connections and send faxes through it easily. I never had any weird issues with phones not ringing, disconnecting calls, one-way audio, calls that can't be completed, gaps of silence, or calls that go straight to voicemail as soon as I pick up the phone. I've had all of these problems between CallVantage, PhonePower, and VOIPo.

TWC has an advantage in that it can apply quality of service prioritization all the way from the customer premises equipment to where it meets the public telephone network.

Third party VOIP services are subject to problems caused by poor quality/congested internet routes, bugs in routers (VOIPo Tim is famous for telling people "most problems are traced back to customer equipment fault" when people complain about problems), and contention with your own internet traffic. Tim's conclusion may well be true, but its something you don't have to be concerned with if you go with TWC's solution.

I use VOIPo because it's cheap and works "just well enough" for my purposes. I have a cell phone if the voip is not working. I would never, EVER recommend this service to non-technical people though. It's cheap, yes, and full of nice extra features, but you definitely get what you pay for.

IowaCowboy
Lost in the Supermarket
Premium Member
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA

IowaCowboy to swintec

Premium Member

to swintec
I love shopping at Best Buy. 95 percent of my gadgets come from Best Buy with a few exceptions like my iPad (since Verizon Wireless set up a payment plan so I could buy my most recent iPad in two payments by paying part of the cost up front and paying the rest on my bill) and cell phones (prefer to buy directly from a carrier owned store). Bought grandma a TV and a computer at the Biddeford Best Buy (too bad they closed and I have to go to Maine Mall to buy grandmas gadgets).

I'd be devastated if Best Buy failed.

I personally don't like shopping online because they hit you with shipping and you have to be home to sign for the package. I like going to the mall as you get instant gratification from your purchase, just go to the mall and pick up what you want and go home and unbox it. No sorry we missed you slips on my door from UPS or damaged shipments.

hottboiinnc1
@buckeyecom.net

hottboiinnc1

Anon

Re: Best Buy is so crappy...

If you haven't heard, BB isn't doing too hott in terms of money. Amazon and Wal-Mart both are out selling them with no problems. Especially when Best Buy operates over 3 different pricing systems to rape their customers. People also avoid shopping in places that use high-pressured sales reps.== Best Buy.
Happydude32
Premium Member
join:2005-07-16

1 recommendation

Happydude32 to IowaCowboy

Premium Member

to IowaCowboy
Best Buy is great for showrooming, and while I have spent a fair amount of time and cash there, most of the time I buy online. In the past two years I’ve saved probably $2,500, with a combo of eBay, Amazon and Tiger versus Best Buy. Best Buy sold my TV for $2900. I got it on Tiger for $1800, no tax, free shipping. Not only did I save $1100 straight up, but that’s almost $255 in tax money I cheated out of the county and state. Just this month I bought a new tablet ($500). Got it from Amazon. I saved almost $45 in tax. Last week I ordered the Jawbone Big Jambox on eBay. $270, which is $30 below what BB has it for and a $25 tax savings. I saved over $200 on my APC Home Theater Power Center. Saved a decent amount on my 3D Starter Kit and a couple extra pair of 3D glasses as well. Among a bunch of other stuff, but those are the purchases that come to mind. Most of the stuff I buy is higher end gear and is only sold at Best Buys that have Magnolia centers of which only 1 out of the 4 stores in the area is Mag.

And no, if a signature is required for delivery of a package, you can always leave a note for UPS or Fed Ex and tape it to the door saying you can’t be home for the delivery and that it’s okay to leave the package. I’ve done this plenty of times. Instant gratification is a bullshit response when you can save some serious $$$ by buying online. And the only thing I can remember paying shipping for in recent times for anything I ordered on line was a case and screen protectors for my Walkman, and those had to be imported from Japan.
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

rradina

Member

Re: Best Buy is so crappy...

This is a bit off topic but why do you think you "cheated" the county and state out of tax money? Things are changing but at the moment, you aren't required to pay taxes on Internet purchases. Here in Missouri we are supposed to voluntarily report sales activities in excess of $2,000 per calendar year and pay a sales/use tax but I haven't known anyone to track their out-of-state purchases much less file them and pay the tax.

Perhaps I'm being sensitive because of all the political campaigning regarding "paying for a tax cut" which is a little like your statement about cheating. However, it's just an odd spin on allowing us to keep what we already have. Maybe it sounds good to the audience they target but it really grinds my gears.

We pay plenty of taxes and there's no reason to feel we are cheating or getting some kind of government handout when we get to keep what we already have.
Happydude32
Premium Member
join:2005-07-16

Happydude32

Premium Member

Re: Best Buy is so crappy...

Dude relax. It was a sarcastic snipe. I’m sure this money grubbing state of NY could tax the air we breath if they could and I’m sure the asshats in Albany feel cheated that millions and millions of dollars in tax revenue are being lost by people who buy items online as opposed to brick and mortar stores. No, I don’t feel like I’m actually cheating this thieving state, and even if I did I could careless. Fuck them!

OSUGoose
join:2007-12-27
Columbus, OH

OSUGoose

Member

Re: Best Buy is so crappy...

Just remember that when the state has to cut services you need due to LACK OF MONEY.
Happydude32
Premium Member
join:2005-07-16

Happydude32

Premium Member

Re: Best Buy is so crappy...

I don't use any service from this stupid state. Besides we already pay some of the highest taxes in the country. If the asshats in charge really care about NY State, let them take a pay cut from their over inflated salaries. And living in Upstate NY, it’s not like tax money that comes from this area even stays here. It all gets funneled down to that rat hole called New York City. Personally, I get a lot of joy when I buy items online knowing I’m not helping to fund this state and the leaches that run it. Again, fuck them, fuck them to hell!

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

pnh102

Premium Member

Re: Best Buy is so crappy...

You sir are a patriot.

Perhaps states which gripe about losing sales tax revenue to online purchases should rethink their tax structure so that offline taxable purchases are once again a competitive option.

IowaCowboy
Lost in the Supermarket
Premium Member
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA

1 recommendation

IowaCowboy to Happydude32

Premium Member

to Happydude32
I live in Massachusetts and they are the most corrupt state in the union. They got money for all of the waste in beacon hill (overpriced and under qualified consultants, throwing money at failing schools, and various other forms of waste) but there is no money left to fix the roads (our roads are worse than those in a third world country).

My most recent MacBook Pro was bought tax-free at a Best Buy in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

spewak
R.I.P Dadkins
Premium Member
join:2001-08-07
Elk Grove, CA
·Consolidated Com..

spewak to Happydude32

Premium Member

to Happydude32
said by Happydude32:

Dude relax. It was a sarcastic snipe. I’m sure this money grubbing state of NY could tax the air we breath if they could and I’m sure the asshats in Albany feel cheated that millions and millions of dollars in tax revenue are being lost by people who buy items online as opposed to brick and mortar stores. No, I don’t feel like I’m actually cheating this thieving state, and even if I did I could careless. Fuck them!

My sentiments exactly, except you have to change the money grubbing state from NY to California. (Amazon now collects state tax) I have to look for a site that does not charge tax. Any ideas?
Happydude32
Premium Member
join:2005-07-16

Happydude32

Premium Member

Re: Best Buy is so crappy...

NY Residents are now charged and have been charged sales tax on Amazon since June of 2008 or 09. Here’s the key if you want to avoid sales tax on there. Don’t buy items from Amazon directly, but rather the third party retailers that use the Amazon Marketplace Network, or whatever they call it. For example, last month when I ordered my Sony Xperia tablet, I bought it and the accessories I wanted from a third party retailer on Amazon called ‘Video & Audio Center’. They are based out of California, so CA residents would get charged sales tax, but everyone else doesn’t. Just like eBay, makes sure you look at the seller ratings, and read a few comments from other buyers to make sure your buying from a reputable seller.

Before I order anything on Amazon, I always look at the prices of the item I’m interested in from all the sellers on their network and look at the final price including shipping, if there is any, and then see if the reseller charges tax in NY. I forgot what I bought last year, Amazon themselves was changing $5 below MSRP, a third party was charging $5 above MSRP, but there was no tax on the third party so I paid the extra $10 for the item but saved I think $40 or $50 in tax.

And yes, NY and CA are probably the worst two states in the union as far as this stuff goes. Just look at gas prices, California is always the highest, but NY isn't far behind.
TBBroadband
join:2012-10-26
Fremont, OH

TBBroadband

Member

Re: Best Buy is so crappy...

The problem with eBay is now its hit and miss to leave neg feedback on sellers and buyers.
TBBroadband

TBBroadband to rradina

Member

to rradina
Because if he were to purchase those items at Best Buy he'd have to pay sales tax. by buying them online and at vendors that have no real stores, he does not have to pay taxes. Thus he "cheated" the county/state out of sales taxes. Although many states now show that you claim those on your personal taxes just don't get caught.
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

rradina

Member

Re: Best Buy is so crappy...

But it's NOT CHEATING unless the state of residence requires reporting these purchases and paying regular sales tax. As I said, Missouri doesn't require any action on under $2,000 in annual purchases.

If you don't have to LEGALLY pay taxes, it's simply a purchase decision. It's no different than filling up your automobile's gas tank at a filling station that offers the best price.

GVOHuser
@173.227.18.x

GVOHuser

Anon

Google Voice + Obihai = free VoIP (essentially)

Why bother with TWC phone service...essentially free is the combo of GV + Obihai's adapters = free VoIP service. They all run on the same pipes.
brianiscool
join:2000-08-16
Tampa, FL

brianiscool

Member

Bundling.

I agree, I have a VOIP line for a year I never used.

•••••

roc5955
Premium Member
join:2005-11-26
Rosendale, NY

roc5955

Premium Member

They're probably trying to push

Magic Jack on them. Anything for a sale.
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY

tmc8080

Member

dont' buy MJ

buy Ooma instead..
I'm sure I'll get hammered for posting a referral code here, but go to the ooma forums and use one of those to get $40 off an Ooma... $139.999 and free shipping (maybe by dumb luck, you'll use mine) »www.ooma.com/forums/
then do a search for referral code

Tell TWC to suck an egg.. they could have softened the blow of the $4 fee by boosting the download by 20 megabits and the upload by 10... instead it's good old stick it to the consumer and charge more/get less.

Packeteers
Premium Member
join:2005-06-18
Forest Hills, NY
Asus RT-AC3100
(Software) Asuswrt-Merlin

Packeteers

Premium Member

MagicJack Rocks

paid $100 for the MJ and 5 year plan back in 2010 and i have not paid a dime for phone service or stupid taxes since.

WINNING

voip bundles from any isp is pure profit for them, that's why they bend over backwards to give you a free modem.

skeechan
Ai Otsukaholic
Premium Member
join:2012-01-26
AA169|170

skeechan

Premium Member

VoIPo, less than $8/mo including junk fees

It's currently on special (ends today) for 2 years unlimited calling for $149 (plus $36 junk fee, includes adapter lease). Usually they have sales on Black Friday but since the current promo is the same as the last Black Friday promo I dunno what they'll do. Maybe $129.

I've had it for a few years for international calling and it works great, never down, good call quality, etc.
bgraham2
join:2001-03-15
Smithtown, NY

bgraham2

Member

Re: VoIPo, less than $8/mo including junk fees

Yes, I have VOIPo too with the prepaid plan. $185 /24 = $7.70 a month. Mine expires May 2013 and I will sign up again if they make the offer next year sometime.

I would even be willing to loose a couple of months if they made the offer again in Jan or Feb 2013.

skeechan
Ai Otsukaholic
Premium Member
join:2012-01-26
AA169|170

skeechan

Premium Member

Re: VoIPo, less than $8/mo including junk fees

I ended up just renewing early to extend it.

meeeeeeeeee
join:2003-07-13
Newburgh, NY

1 edit

meeeeeeeeee

Member

It never ceases to amaze me...

How short sighted Amerikan companies have become. They hire bright, young MBA's to try to squeeze every dollar from their customer's pocket. "Oh, the sheeple will just go along with it" they say. Well so very bright boys and girls, between you and every government entity, the sheeple have just been bled dry. They won't just go along with it because they simply can't.... they haven't the money. Gain $4 a month renting modems, loose ~ $30 for VOIP, there are other alternatives. You've all killed the cash cow, the goose that lays the golden eggs. Now what are you gonna do?

Best Buy is just taking advantage of other's stupidity... Good for them!

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

pnh102

Premium Member

Re: It never ceases to amaze me...

said by meeeeeeeeee:

Well so very bright boys and girls, between you and every government entity, the sheeple have just been bled dry. They won't just go along with it because they simply can't.... they haven't the money

The only "good" thing I see coming out of this continuing economic depression is that more people (not all sadly, but more) are being forced to look at their own finances and finally say "gee, is this really expensive monthly service worth the cost?" and finally say "No, it is not."

Who knew that frugality would ever be in style again?

IowaCowboy
Lost in the Supermarket
Premium Member
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA

IowaCowboy

Premium Member

Bundling is cheaper.

With Verizon charging $65 for home phone (and does not include voice mail as the CO is not equipped), its cheaper to bundle the home phone with Comcast than it is to buy the services separately.

I need to maintain a home phone for safety reasons as the 911 call centers cannot locate a cell phone. You have to verbally tell 911 the location of the emergency (try doing that while having a severe asthma attack or in the middle of a home invasion). Cell phones may be able to transmit location to 911 but not verbally telling the dispatcher the location will delay response during a potentially life threatening situation. 911 calls from a cell phone don't even go to the responding jurisdiction, they go to state police dispatch and they transfer the call to the responding jurisdiction where a landline goes straight to the responding jurisdiction complete with exact location info.

My modem has a battery and I got it plugged into a UPS. Time Warner does not provide batteries for their modems.

•••••••••••••••

skuv
@rr.com

skuv

Anon

Too bad...

Best Buy is full of crap. If you have only TWC VoIP, you are not charged a modem fee.

If you have Roadrunner and VoIP, then you are charged a modem fee.

If you get your own modem for Roadrunner, you are not charged the fee, and you still keep the old modem for VoIP only.

antdude
Matrix Ant
Premium Member
join:2001-03-25
US

antdude

Premium Member

Re: Too bad...

said by skuv :

Best Buy is full of crap. If you have only TWC VoIP, you are not charged a modem fee.

If you have Roadrunner and VoIP, then you are charged a modem fee.

If you get your own modem for Roadrunner, you are not charged the fee, and you still keep the old modem for VoIP only.

Yeah, but it still lame to have two different modems to avoid the fees for Internet and digital phone services.
Expand your moderator at work
rody_44
Premium Member
join:2004-02-20
Quakertown, PA

2 edits

rody_44

Premium Member

Really

How bad is internet reporting really getting. I mean take this story. One person that works at best buy as a salesman really warrants a headline of BEST BUY as a corporation. Its no wonder reporting is going the route of the dinasour. At least the original story has it as a best buy employee and not as best buy. I mean really karl, Its one freakin person as a salesman in new york. a person trying to make a sale of a modem no less. Not that i like best buy bescause i dont BUT really this shit is pitifull.

•••
Marcotor
join:2000-12-09
Redlands, CA

Marcotor

Member

Why the surprise

Best Buy is one of the greatest peddlers of bait-and-switch sales tactics in the retail industry.

TimeWarner is perhaps the worst provider of services ever.

Seems like a match made in churn heaven to me. BB sells a modem, TWC conveniently "forgets" to remove the rental fee month after month, and makes lots of money on users who never inspect the bill.

cork1958
Cork
Premium Member
join:2000-02-26

cork1958

Premium Member

Best Buy & bundling

Never have liked Best Buy, but since Circuit City went out of business, locally, I use it for the simple fact that when I want something, I want it now, not next week. I have no problem with ordering on line, if it's not something I need ASAP though.

As far as that bundling (bungling, is more like it) I never do that. Being on Charter cable and the way they find to nickel and dime you to death along with the fact that they are ran by total morons, I'm giving them as little of my money as possible!

I also seriously doubt if Vonage is fading into the sunset any time soon and I have not had a single issue in 2+ years of using them. I can also handle a $18 a month phone bill for unlimited for life phone service.

exsOexs
@telus.net

exsOexs

Anon

Seems unfair if you ask me

Unfortunately this is happening more and more where users cant use "modems" of there choice. Seems a little like a monopoly in some way. There is no really reason why a 3rp party hardware cant accept and run any necessary "proprietary" software if even needed.

And now this "situation" affects the tv side as well. Not only is "proprietary" software needed now we are forced to use "proprietary" hardware.

Seems unfair if you ask me.
robertg1234
join:2004-04-19
Palo Alto, CA

robertg1234

Member

Do you have your VoIP in this storm?

I only have a simple question for those of you in the East Coast storm path (which most are TWC). For those of you in the worst areas, do you have your VoIP service working? Now, for those of you who have landline service, do you have dialtone?

I myself have Sonic.net (San Francisco) for my DSL + Phone, since they provide "free" phone service (basically rolled into the DSL price), so I definitely have an advantage over any CableCo.

Even then, my company has Ringcentral VoIP over a backup Sonic DSL line (main internet is Comcast). But Comcast did give us a decent quote for a PRI line. We couldn't take it since we found out how little electrical power we had in the "server room", and had to ditch the phone server itself.