elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA | Ridiculous Reporting While Karl gleefully parrots the language, the article doesn't even cite what it considers "painful" cancellation fees.
Don't be upset when the cost of phones and contracts goes up to offset the loss of ETF revenues. Don't be surprised when you incur an activation and/or upgrade fee.
No one forces you to sign a contract or buy a "smart" phone. |
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| said by elray:While Karl gleefully parrots the language, the article doesn't even cite what it considers "painful" cancellation fees.
Don't be upset when the cost of phones and contracts goes up to offset the loss of ETF revenues. Don't be surprised when you incur an activation and/or upgrade fee.
No one forces you to sign a contract or buy a "smart" phone.
Don't be upset when the cost of phones and contracts goes up to offset the loss of ETF revenues. Don't be surprised when you incur an activation and/or upgrade fee.
No one forces you to sign a contract or buy a "smart" phone.
which of the big three do you work for ?
"legalized" piracy has to be put down , just like any other kind... |
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openbox9Premium
join:2004-01-26
japan
kudos:2 | said by GeoStar: which of the big three do you work for ? Why is that always the response when someone provides a splash of reality? If you don't like the terms of a contract, don't sign it. It really is that simple. Furthermore, why is it such a stretch to believe the costs are going to increase for subs when ETFs are squeezed? The carriers aren't going to eat the hardware costs and potential loss of revenue. |
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 El QuintronResident Mouth BreatherPremium
join:2008-04-28
Etobicoke, ON
kudos:2
 ·TekSavvy DSL
 ·WIND Mobile
| reply to elray
said by elray:Don't be upset when the cost of phones and contracts goes up to offset the loss of ETF revenues.
And you sir, are gleefully parroting Telco FUD. The cost of a contract can't really go up in this case because a cap is being put on ETF fees, and realistically paying for the phone up front is going to save you money on both plan fees and contract fees.
It's a clear win for consumers... if you really want the latest iPhone when not save up for a couple of paycheques and get it?
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I'm watching District 9 again, and I've come to realize something: Wikus's got it all wrong. If I were morphing into a 9 foot tall hyper-dextrous alien that can shoot lightning bolts and get high off cat food why would I ever want to become human again? |
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 jmn1207Premium
join:2000-07-19
Ashburn, VA
kudos:1 | reply to openbox9
I think the issue is that the ETF's are not fair and that they are way too high to justify the amount being used simply to recover costs.
The problem is that the consumer has no choice but to either accept the contract, or completely go without any acceptable service at all. When 99% of the customers either don't understand or are too apathetic to care about the contract details, the only real option for those of us that do care is to have some entity with some legitimate power step in and assist.
This is the rational response to not signing the contract. The consumers are responding in the best way that they can. If you think it is an easier task to remove ignorance and apathy from millions of people, you might be able to justify your solution of simply not signing the contract.
Those people that don't agree to the contracts, but see no viable alternative service, are trying to get help. If the ETF's are legitimate and necessary, then the carriers should be able to prove this, and the consumers will have to continue to agree to the current terms or do without the service completely. Having a smattering of savvy shoppers not sign a contract and go without service is not going to do a damn thing to correct the situation. |
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kevinds
join:2003-05-01
Calgary, AB
kudos:1
2 edits | reply to elray
quote:
Don't be surprised when you incur an activation and/or upgrade fee.
Already there when I changed phones last year, both of them at the same time. A fee to upgrade, and then a fee to activate the new phone, considering activating the new phone was moving a SIM card from one to another, I was not impressed.
Also, some plans, require a 3 year contract, just for the plan, doesn't matter if you recieved hardware from the provider or not.
The first plan I was on, had a 3 year contact, when I didn't get hardware, with $535 ETF or Early Hardware Upgrade fee of $200
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Yes, I am not employed and looking for IT work. Have passport, will travel. |
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 elwoodbluesElwood BluesPremium
join:2006-08-30
HarperLand
·Cybersurf Intern..
| reply to openbox9
said by openbox9:said by GeoStar: which of the big three do you work for ? Why is that always the response when someone provides a splash of reality? If you don't like the terms of a contract, don't sign it. It really is that simple. Furthermore, why is it such a stretch to believe the costs are going to increase for subs when ETFs are squeezed? The carriers aren't going to eat the hardware costs and potential loss of revenue. The problem lies in the hardware costs. Is the cost of the hardware being properly valued? With an Iphone I can check the "retail price" against the wireless carrier, but not so much for other phones.
So what stops a carrier from saying that the Motorola XYZ Super Duper Smart phone is worth $3000 but we're going to sell it to you for $200 with a 3yr contract?
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No, I didn't. Honest... I ran out of gas. I... I had a flat tire. I didn't have enough money for cab fare. My tux didn't come back from the cleaners. An old friend came in from out of town. Someone stole my car. There was an earthquake....... |
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openbox9Premium
join:2004-01-26
japan
kudos:2 | reply to jmn1207
said by jmn1207:I think the issue is that the ETF's are not fair and that they are way too high to justify the amount being used simply to recover costs. Is that true in Canada? It's not true with VZW (not sure about other US carriers). VZW charges a $350 fee for "advanced devices", prorated by $10/mth of contract fulfilled. Buy an iPhone for $199 on a 2-yr contract, then turn around and break the contract on day 15. Your total cost for a 16 GB iPhone 4S that retails at $649 is ~$539, excluding a month of service ($199 contract price + $350 ETF - $10 prorate). You're $110 ahead of buying the iPhone at retail. Buy the same iPhone and honor 23 months of a 24 month contract, and the iPhone 4S will cost you $319, excluding monthly service charges. Turn around and sell if for a couple hundred bucks and you aren't taking that much of a hit.
said by VZW Customer Agreement : If you cancel a line of Service, or if we cancel it for good cause, during its contract term, you'll have to pay an Early Termination Fee. If your contract term results from your purchase of an Advanced Device after November 14, 2009, your Early Termination Fee will be $350 minus $10 for each full month of your contract term that you complete. |
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openbox9Premium
join:2004-01-26
japan
kudos:2 | reply to elwoodblues
said by elwoodblues:The problem lies in the hardware costs. Is the cost of the hardware being properly valued? With an Iphone I can check the "retail price" against the wireless carrier, but not so much for other phones.
So what stops a carrier from saying that the Motorola XYZ Super Duper Smart phone is worth $3000 but we're going to sell it to you for $200 with a 3yr contract? A good place to begin I guess would be the MSRP. If the disparity between the carriers/retailers prices and the manufacturers' suggestions are large enough, then that should raise eyebrows. |
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 pnjunctionTeksavvy ExtremePremium
join:2008-01-24
Toronto, ON
kudos:1 | reply to elray
How's this for painful:
$400 subsidy on a device. ETF at 18 months, halfway through a 36 month contract: $435.
They all had similar terms when I signed up, as in the 3 carriers that actually have service nationwide. They follow each others policies and prices very closely and keep all of their profits high. Actually they have been easing up lately due to bad press anyways, but I don't mind seeing some change in the law to back it up. |
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