Cable TV is undeniably expensive. With the average bundle sitting around $105, it costs substantially more than a cell plan and some people’s electricity. But it hasn’t always been this way: According to a new report from Kagan, prices have increased by 74 percent since 2000, even when accounting for inflation.
Over the same period of time, average wages have remained stagnant, meaning that cable companies are asking people to pay nearly double what they were 20 years ago for TV that seems to have twice as many reboots. No wonder everyone’s cutting the cable.
A multichannel TV package cost $60 per month in 2000 (adjusted to 2017 dollars), but the same package has risen to nearly $100 right now. Meanwhile, median wages have remained flat over that time period. It’s easy to see where the money goes: gross revenue for cable and other pay TV companies has risen by a steady 5.5 percent per year over that time period.
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20 years ago, tuna came in seven-ounce cans, then 6 ½ ounces, then 6 1/8, and now a flat five. Yet the price didn't go down; instead, it went up, and up.
ReplyDeleteWell, unlike cable TV, which continually adds crappy programming that is popular with maybe eleven people, with the tuna can you don't pay for anything you don't want (except the mercury.)
I cut the cord ten years ago and never looked back. When I visit people with cable it validates I made the right decision.
ReplyDeletecut the CATV cord!
ReplyDeleteTell me ANY consumer food OR sevice that HAS NOT increase in last 20 years ...anyone ?? Please ?? Lol
ReplyDeleteWhen will we realize that the consumer has the power, not the cable companies. I canceled my cable tv service and phone service... and strictly buy internet... which can still be negotiated.
ReplyDeleteDo not let them tell you otherwise. I've payed roughly $40 per month for Comcast's "Blast speed internet" for years. You have to know how to negotiate with them, and never except their excuses.
Service to your house is someone turning on a switch. Don't let them say they are raising rates to pay for service in your area.. cause they'd do that anyway. They are sending a signal.. it's not a tangible product or an inventory they have to manage. A computer keystroke and you are on, and they are making extra money. If service goes down, odds are a bunch of peoples will so they have to fix it any way.
Promotions are smoke and mirrors, don't accept you are bound to them. It's a computer program. They change things every month. Tell them to transfer you to the folks who set them up. (This is not going to happen, but it calls them on their nonsense.) Tell them you don't care about new customer/old customer promotion nonsense and you don't have time for their marketing games. If they want you as a customer, and can't give you the rate you want, then issue a credit, either a one time lump sum or a monthly re-occurring credit (which they absolutely CAN do and customer service does all the time.)
Don't be rude but to the point, and stay on message. In fact being a little silly or helping to get the rep to laugh or even agree with you is key. Get them to acknowledge that they know you are right about all of this... because they know it. They know Comcast (or whomever) plays stupid games. When they say they can't do something, tell them "I believe you when you say you can't do this, so lets save you and I time, and escalate me to the next level to someone who can get me on the right track".... because they KNOW it can be done.. even if they don't have the authority to do it.
Never let them tell you it can't be escalated further. Ask them if they are the CEO of the company. If not, then it most certainly can be escalated further. Understand that some of the very high up supervisors may not be available.. and you may have to get a call back. Ask if you could hold for them. This could mean you wait for up to an hour.. but hey... I save $800 or more a year on my cable so waiting a little bit is worth it. If you HAVE to get a call back, get the supervisors name, where they work, and a number. Make sure you have some accountability. When the DON'T call back (and in my experience only 10% of them call back when they say they will), now they owe you. Call back and ask for that persons supervisor. Don't be rude, but ask why they didn't do what they said they would do?
Also, make sure you pay your bills on time.
"Promotions" are nonsensical irrelevance. So are new vs old customers. Ask them how much it costs to get new customers. You are only asking to stay as a customer at a fair price, and it's a good business decision for the Cable company to keep you. When it comes down to it, all they are doing is turning on a switch so you can get the signal, and you'd be happy to give that money to a competitor. They could not only loose your revenue, but then have to spend all that money getting you back. It is in their interests to keep you at the rate you deem fair.
Remember, always get the persons name and employee number (if possible), always ask if they have your phone number to call you back if you are disconnected, and ask for confirmation emails of everything in writing. Document and date. So when they screw it up (and they probably will) they then owe you again, this makes it easier when you get to the right person to get the deal you wanted done.
That's just too confrontational for most people. Maybe there's room in business a negotiator that, for a flat fee, can do the legwork for the timid.
Delete11:36 I’ve never read so much bs in what 8 paragraphs! I can guarantee you don’t pay 40 a month for Comcast’s(blast feed internet,”as you call it”) What you are trying to make people believe is making me laugh. Ok so what you have is our performance internet and 10 tier channel service good for 1 yr for 39.99 plus applicable taxes and fees. I know your such a good negotiator and save all this money(800 as you say) but the truth is I will not be allowed(or my supervisor) to set you up in the same package you had once your year or 2 year contract is up. The only way will be to cancel your service and remain dormant(under your name) for 3 months or put it in someone else’s name i.e your wife..ect. Stop feeding bs on the internet. Thanks Customer service rep
DeleteComcast is fast becoming a monopoly. Are there any other cable companies in the Salisbury area? If you don't like the price then cut the cord.
ReplyDeleteBecoming a monopoly?
DeleteHow was that nap Rip? 🤣🤣
The average bundle is around $105? I would love to have a Comcast bill of only $105!!!
ReplyDeleteMy bill has risen 4 times in the last 6 months and they tell me I am still getting a bargain price.
Not for long, not for much longer.
Why are we forced to pay different (higher) prices for the same service other customers get.
Different prices for the same service other people get.
ReplyDeleteWould my gas station charge me twice the price for a gallon of gas because I have been a 'long time' customer as opposed a first time customer?
@12:50 pm
ReplyDeleteTrue.. the area someone is in may only have one WIRED option, like Verizon DSL or Fios, or Comcast... but there is ALWAYS the option of using your wireless carrier for internet, getting a wireless hotpots, or getting satellite internet.
They might not be as desirable as a wired connection, but don't let the cable companies tell you that you are stuck... because you are not. Comcast has been my only wired choice for years, but I've been negotiating a fair rate with them for years.
Comcast is a monopoly in this area because they own the infrastructure and they know that no one else is going to come in and compete because they can't afford it.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteTell me ANY consumer food OR sevice that HAS NOT increase in last 20 years ...anyone ?? Please ?? Lol
May 1, 2018 at 11:16 AM
The story said nothing about increasing in the last 20 years, it said the price has been TOO HIGH the last 20 years.
"Cable prices have been too damn high for nearly 20 years"
Now who is laughing??
I wish they would offer a package were I can pick the channels I WANT...I believe it's called "ala carte".
ReplyDeleteIf you get a complete breakdown of your cable bill, you will see that you are also paying for free cable to be givin to the poor!
ReplyDeleteMore reparations they don't want to acknowledge their getting.
and with Sprint and T-Mobile merging you are going to have the big three of cellular service fighting to create their 5G networks and prices are going to go up like that of Canada. I will not pay 100 dollars a month for phone nor cable or internet. I am not that important and really don't care about being connected to the nonsense.
ReplyDeleteFreedom pop offers their top tier service (4gigs a month) for 39.99 - I cut the cable cord, bought an antenna, and am just fine. Now, if you are streaming movies then that won’t work, but for day to day surfing and email, it’s fine
ReplyDelete@4:16 PM Customer Service Rep
ReplyDeleteActually, I have NO television or phone service.... strictly internet... and it is BLAST SPEED. The "blast" brand has gone up in speed actually, over the last few years. "Performance" has been offered to me, and I have declined. I have payed 39.95 for The last 5 years or so, and this year agreed to pay $5 more per month as there had been no rate increase for a few years. Qid pro quo and all.
YOU may not be able to do it, and your supervisor may not be able to do it, but it can be done, people just have to stick to their guns. The ironic thing, is you know I'm right about everything I posted, so does everyone else reading here. We all just need to wake up and remember it's the consumer that has the power, and not the other way around.
Sure, it takes a little longer, but I'm saving $800 a year... over 6 years is $4800. I think the time spent negotiating is well spent... .may be an hour of unpleasantness per year.. seems like a pretty nice return on investment.
It can be done people, don't let them tell you it can't.