openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
 ·AT&T Southeast
| Contracts
If the service doesn't require installation or expensive equipment or include a SLA, contracts usually don't benefit the customer. Of course Qwest/Comcast are going to lock in consumers if they can...so would just about every other service-based business in existence. |
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MrMoody
Carbon Based Lifeform
join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC | Obsolescence
The rate you get now might be a real steal in 10 years - unless all your neighbors have 20x your bandwidth and you're still stuck in the Bronze Age unable to use any of the new services. |
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ColorBASIC
8-bit Fun
Premium
join:2006-12-29
Corona, CA | How about BETTER SERVICE/VALUE
To reduce customer churn.
You see long term contracts where the service sucks so bad you have to enslave subs to keep them (eg cellular). |
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Mactron
el camino Real
Premium
join:2001-12-16
CM94sv
| Reduce Churn...
Want to reduce Churn ?
Provide as advertised On Time, Functional product(s)/service(s). 
Of course that would put the burden on the CableCo, TelCo instead of the customer. Hmmmm... 
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If only the Verizon CSRs worked this well. |
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TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
 ·Comcast
1 edit |  I wouldn't sign one; but have no problem with the offer
No one is forced in to signing a deal like this. I myself wouldn't sign a deal that locks me in to a service, but I see no reason why they should be prohibited from being offered. "Buyer beware" is something that those who love nanny government should learn to embrace, instead of ever more calls for legislation to cure every ill.
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Internet News
My BLOG
My Web Page |
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idjk
@sprintlink.net
 from:
TKJunkMail 
| said by TKJunkMail :No one is forced in to signing a deal like this. I myself wouldn't sign a deal that locks me in to a service, but I see no reason why they should be prohibited from being offered. "Buyer beware" is something that those who love nanny government should learn to embrace, instead of ever more calls for legislation to cure every ill. Ditto! |
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wstwrdho
join:2007-03-15
Riverton, UT
| Contract commitment?
Maybe I'm wrong but I thought the contract locks Qwest into a cost and if the customer wants to change service levels it just negates the contract and a new rate is applied (maybe another price for life commitment). The customer commitment would be to remain a Qwest customer for the determined time frame.
But, someone who has done the price for life contract would know better. |
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Maxxxt
Peculiar Mental Twist
Premium
join:2001-06-12
Denver, CO
clubs: 
| It seems it might be worth it
I took the bait and signed up last year for the price for life 1.5/896. It was a two year contract for me, and lifetime for Qwest.
So if prices are higher for everyone else in 3 years it was a good deal, if they are higher in 5 years..10 years..it was a good deal.
If prices drop and service increases dramatically in 2 years..I can drop Qwest and go wherever I want.
Odds are in 3 years, service will be about the same price but much faster. So I'm willing to wait and find out.
Of course things like the company not even being here in 5 years that worry me..lol |
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needforspeed59
Cruise Ship Just Passing Through
join:2001-05-02
Glendale, AZ
| Read the Fine Print
I looked into this deal. On surface, it seems great. But a $200 penalty? C'mon! They do not state it in the fine print. Qwest says "early termination fees apply." You have to call and pry it out of a sales rep. How many customers are getting locked into this deal without knowing the penalties. Buyer beware? How is that in the "spirit of service"? Also, if the customer changes something on their account like trying to drop their phone service for a competitor, guess what? Price for life disappears! Qwest is betting the customer will break a loop-hole rule during the 2 years and then Qwest can "Jack the Price" like they claim cable companies do.
Technology changes fast. WiMax, satellite, cable, etc. Customers should not be locking into something for 2 years.
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Of all the people I know... you're one of them. |
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ispjournalist
@vzavenue.net
| deflation
Pricing per Mbps goes _down_ over time in this industry, which is why the telcos keep begging the govt to impose "mandatory price freezes" that allow the ILEC to avoid _dropping_ prices.
This is a similar strategy. Customers will be left in the dust -- if there's competition where they live. |
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en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | reply to MrMoody
Re: Obsolescence
I agree... this will make things similar to people using dial-up or analog cell phones... eventually the company won't want to support it, and will shove people off. |
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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
| Anyone else catch what they said??
said by Consumers Union :
The Consumer's Union isn't impressed by these new contracts. "Cancellation penalties are anti-competitive and deprive consumers of the benefits of competition
Ummm lets see, that why they are called CONTRACTS! If there is no enforceable clause in the language then its not by definition a contract. A contract is a document that legally binds two parties. Without some language to that effect its just an agreement. I have said it before and I will most likely say it (many, many, many times) again; "consumer advocate" groups are almost always a bunch of muck racking idiots who exists solely to stir up trouble and get press for themselves. The Qwest customers described in this article do not have to sign this contract, nor do they have to chose the "for life" plan. How the hell is that anti-competitive??? Wow, those "groups" are sure good for a mid day laugh if nothing else.
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я люблю Денди! |
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dynodb
Premium,VIP
join:2004-04-21
Minneapolis, MN
| reply to MrMoody
Re: Obsolescence
said by MrMoody :The rate you get now might be a real steal in 10 years - unless all your neighbors have 20x your bandwidth and you're still stuck in the Bronze Age unable to use any of the new services. I don't think anyone really expects that they'll be using the same 1.5M service in 10 years. The point is that the promo rate doesn't go up at the end of the contract as is usual with competetors- particularly cable companies.
There are a LOT of people out there who just want to be able to surf the web and e-mail while not tying up a phone line. Getting a good price without having to worry about what it'll be at the end of the promo period or contract is pretty attractive to a lot of people- who wants to switch services every year or two after their contract expires? |
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dynodb
Premium,VIP
join:2004-04-21
Minneapolis, MN
| reply to needforspeed59
Re: Read the Fine Print
said by needforspeed59 :Qwest is betting the customer will break a loop-hole rule during the 2 years and then Qwest can "Jack the Price" like they claim cable companies do. Does your tinfoil hat chafe much?
Most people don't move or change service providers every year. |
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dynodb
Premium,VIP
join:2004-04-21
Minneapolis, MN
| reply to openbox9
Re: Contracts
The benefit for the consumer is that they get 1.5M for $27/month or the "up to" 7M for $37/month with no price increase after the end of the contract.
The benefit for Qwest is that they're likely to keep that customer (and their POTS service) for 2 years.
It boils down to this- if you think you might want to switch providers in under 2 years, don't take the deal. |
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Jonbo298
join:2004-01-12
Council Bluffs, IA
| reply to needforspeed59
Re: Read the Fine Print
said by needforspeed59 :I looked into this deal. On surface, it seems great. But a $200 penalty? C'mon! They do not state it in the fine print. Qwest says "early termination fees apply." You have to call and pry it out of a sales rep. How many customers are getting locked into this deal without knowing the penalties. Buyer beware? How is that in the "spirit of service"? Also, if the customer changes something on their account like trying to drop their phone service for a competitor, guess what? Price for life disappears! Qwest is betting the customer will break a loop-hole rule during the 2 years and then Qwest can "Jack the Price" like they claim cable companies do. Technology changes fast. WiMax, satellite, cable, etc. Customers should not be locking into something for 2 years. Please...as said above remove your tinfoil hat. I work in Sales/Billing and its required we tell people the ETF price. Granted, some may not. But if they are monitored and are caught not saying it, they fail their QA score.
Anyone that wants the offer or requests it, I explain the basics to them. The ETF. Length of agreement. The valid and non-valid reasons for breaking the contract.
Valid reasons are if you move and DSL is not available in your area, if your name is on the bill and you happen to die during the agreement.
Non-Valid is if you just want ot cancel without a "Valid" reason for doing so, change responsibility on bill and its not death related, or if DSL is completely disconnected due to non-payment.
Sounds reasonable doesn't it? |
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| Great! "Consumer Unions" as usual, missed the mark...
"The Consumer's Union isn't impressed by these new contracts. "Cancellation penalties are anti-competitive and deprive consumers of the benefits of competition in the markets where there is more than one broadband provider,"
Being that Qwest has, for the longest time, NOT held people into a contract, unlike American Thieves & Thugs and Hurl-izon DSL has, I'd say that the consumer union should spend more time doing their work vs. finding ways to stuff their pockets with money.
Qwest is allowing an option to guarantee a price for life if you are willing to guarantee them 2 years of business. It's a choice, but not required. In Qwest land, you can get DSL, keep it for a few months and drop it. The price is reasonable and requires no term. Further, you get the discount for having a "Qualifying" phone package, or as they call it here in BBR-Land, you're paying a penalty up front for not bundling.
Either way - what makes this a "deal" is that they won't touch your price.. and since Qwest is known for the least amount of broadband at the highest cost, I'd say it's a situation for some people that are going to keep the service anyway and don't want to see their bill change.
Even while being in a term, you can still negotiate a better price should one come available. Qwest also gives ALL customers, as part of the "Spirit of Service guarantee" the right to have the best price available to all customers.
As much as I am not a fan of Qwest and some of their tactics, this is nothing more than an optional term which gives you the best price available that will not RAISE... but can go down.
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"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-reitchous and lazy..." |
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| reply to ispjournalist
Re: deflation
While that may be true that prices tend to go down, I'm guessing you haven't lived in Qwest terriroty or have had their services before.
Qwest may have dropped the proice SLIGHTLY, it hasn't gone down hardly as much as other telco providers.
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"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-reitchous and lazy..." |
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| reply to Jonbo298
Re: Read the Fine Print
... all of what you say is all good and dandy, but there is one thing that most people forget these days, or are simply just ignorant.
Terms don't kick in, typically, for 30 days of having the service in order to try it and cancel the service if it doesn't meet the needs.
During that time, people receive the terms and conditions in writing to the offer.. usually in writing and or in electronic form. People tend to think that advertising IS the contract which is far from the truth. So either people in this generation and day are just stupid idiots and were left behind in the education system, or just too lazy to care and want something bigger to take care of them, like the GIVERment..
So, barring the fact that people are supposed to tell the customer of the terms, which I agree you all should, it still remains that you, the consumer, MUST read the terms AND face the penalties and fee and all else that can come with it if they are not kept up.
I'm tired of hearing people say that they were "screwed" or "I didn't know, they never told me"... stuff like that is all pure bull waste. "Burried in paperwork"? Too bad... no one has any excuse for not reading what they are agreeing too.. and if they do, they deserve everything that happens when or if they do break the terms.
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"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-reitchous and lazy..." |
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dynodb
Premium,VIP
join:2004-04-21
Minneapolis, MN
| reply to fiberguy
Re: deflation
said by fiberguy :While that may be true that prices tend to go down, I'm guessing you haven't lived in Qwest terriroty or have had their services before. Qwest may have dropped the proice SLIGHTLY, it hasn't gone down hardly as much as other telco providers. You call a price that goes from $40/mo to $27/mo dropping the price "slightly"? I realize you're just trolling (again), but you might want to try and at least pretend to be reasonable. |
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