I support contracts and ETF's, here's why....
i worked for at&t for a year and a half in customer service. One thing I realized while working with them is that many consumers are too impatient. If it weren't for contracts and termination fees no carriers customers numbers would be close to accurate. Too many people would leave at&t due to a dropped call. Leave Verizon because they can get cheaper rates with tmo or sprint. Leave those carriers because they don't get the service they want and come back to at&t.
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I support it for the sole reasen that when you sign a contract you have to stick with it. Plain and simple.
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Tell that to the appealate courts in California. Apparently when you willingly sign a contract it doesn't mean anything.
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So another words, you don't believe in competition? You'd rather a customer be unhappy for however long is remaining in their contract?
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Options are give BEFORE you sign any contract. All Customer are welcome to check service in their area(s) that the need their service, given the option to return devices within the 1st 30 days if they aren't satisfied, and informed of all fees to get out of contract at the time of sale.
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I'm just saying that a lot of consumers are too quick to want to pack up and leave over the littlest things. In the end I'm sure that a majority of consumers would end up going back to the same carrier, but not before touring all available.
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Well I guess I must be a simple/easy customer cause I've only been with 1 carrier that past 8+ yrs.
And that 1 carrier has been
Cingular/ATT.
And that 1 carrier has been
Cingular/ATT.
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You're a rational person that understands calls will drop, your bill won't always be exactly the same, and you're phone will have problems I'm sure. There's a lot of people out there that don't realize that, or if it does happen they think it's the end of the world and start looking for another carrier.
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Really the only time it really, really bothers me if my call is dropped is if I've been on hold for more than 5 minutes, and then I have to start the phone call all over again. But if it's a personal call, then I just immediatly call the person back, that's all. It's not like it happens 3 times in one minute.
That's would be some serious sh*t if somebody had 3 dropped calls in a very short period of time.
That's would be some serious sh*t if somebody had 3 dropped calls in a very short period of time.
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Another reason I support them is because they're not forced. If you don't want to be in a contract, pay full price for the phone.
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I bought a Sonim XP3 rugged phone for 400 bucks and took it to AT&T Cellular and they set me up as a month to month.
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toaster oven said:
Another reason I support them is because they're not forced. If you don't want to be in a contract, pay full price for the phone.
Thank you, good point.
Thats what I do, buy my own unlocked GSM phone and use it on the network of my choice.
Four the last 4+ years it has been AT&T.
Decent service at a fair price. I have no problem with AT&T.
I can't even tell you what their customer service number is.... can't remember the last time I called them.
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1: All handsets can be purchased in a legal, unlocked state at MARKET DRIVEN price points
2: Carriers are prohibited from denying service on any device which meets the established minimum technical specifications to function on the network
When those two things happen, ETFs will become a thing of the past.
2: Carriers are prohibited from denying service on any device which meets the established minimum technical specifications to function on the network
When those two things happen, ETFs will become a thing of the past.
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The problem is that "full price" for the phone is an inflated retail amount. In the case of Verizon, it's impossible to find that phone because it's only made for Verizon.
With AT&T, it's a bit less of a problem. But in this day and age of being able to buy a GoPhone for $20, there is no reason a mid-level flip phone should be sold for $200.
If there was retail price competition without carrier involvement, you'd be able to buy decent phones for $70 for all carriers, not just unlocked Euro GSM imports.
With AT&T, it's a bit less of a problem. But in this day and age of being able to buy a GoPhone for $20, there is no reason a mid-level flip phone should be sold for $200.
If there was retail price competition without carrier involvement, you'd be able to buy decent phones for $70 for all carriers, not just unlocked Euro GSM imports.
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Jay,
How is asking for a 2 year commitment in order to finance the low handset and rate price anti competitive?
People can leave anytime they want by paying a pittance disconnect fee ($175-$200) which is way less than the handset subsidy in most cases.
If there were no contracts or disconnect fees the handset prices would go way up. The contract is how we can make the pricing competitive.
True consumers can't leave just because they got a dropped call or because they see another offer. The industry would slow its growth and new innovative services would be slow in coming.
How is asking for a 2 year commitment in order to finance the low handset and rate price anti competitive?
People can leave anytime they want by paying a pittance disconnect fee ($175-$200) which is way less than the handset subsidy in most cases.
If there were no contracts or disconnect fees the handset prices would go way up. The contract is how we can make the pricing competitive.
True consumers can't leave just because they got a dropped call or because they see another offer. The industry would slow its growth and new innovative services would be slow in coming.
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I just think that when a customer is binded by contract, that a company is less motivated to keep the customer happy. Same thing with a lease with an apartment complex, if there is some punk next door playing their music way, way loud, and the leasing office doesn't do anything about it, I'm S.O.L., because I'm under lease and can't get up and get so easily.
I believe in a customer being earned, not binded.
I believe in a customer being earned, not binded.
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Fine, then you pay the $500 + to get service with a decent phone. Oh wait, I can hear it now "there's no way a phone costs that much to make" and you're absolutely right. Phones 2- infinity don't cost that much. However, Phone number one likely costs millions in R&D and other expenses. Flat out the American public WOULD NOT pay that kind of money for a phone, as a result we have contracts making sure that comines can still earn money on this service.
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Give me an example of a consumer electronics product that has gone up in price over the last 10 years. There are none. As the product matures and is able to take advantage of new advances in electronics, the price falls.
Carrier contracts do *not* keep the price of the handset artificially low. Without carrier subsidies, handset manufacturers would have to figure out how to bring the price down to their market.
All contracts do is confuse the true price of the handset and the service.
If contracts were so great for the consumer, why can't I get discount on service when I bring my own device?
Carrier contracts do *not* keep the price of the handset artificially low. Without carrier subsidies, handset manufacturers would have to figure out how to bring the price down to their market.
All contracts do is confuse the true price of the handset and the service.
If contracts were so great for the consumer, why can't I get discount on service when I bring my own device?
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zentec said:
If contracts were so great for the consumer, why can't I get discount on service when I bring my own device?
Go with T-mobile and you can. I can see this model flowing over into the other carriers, but it won't be happening any time soon.
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I hope you're right. It is unfortunate that (in my area) you have to select the third-place carrier in order to get a fair deal.
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Competition requires that the consumer be aware of the options available to them.
If Verizon (or ATT) ended Contracts TODAY and said "you have to buy your phones directly from the manufacturer and deal with them for warranty issues." the company that Kept contracts would add customers at an insane rate.
Why? Because the typical customer only cares about what they have to pay out now, they don't look long term.
That is why going to no contracts now would be a bad idea. not because choice is bad, but because it wouldn't solve the problem of choice (customers need to wake up first)
If Verizon (or ATT) ended Contracts TODAY and said "you have to buy your phones directly from the manufacturer and deal with them for warranty issues." the company that Kept contracts would add customers at an insane rate.
Why? Because the typical customer only cares about what they have to pay out now, they don't look long term.
That is why going to no contracts now would be a bad idea. not because choice is bad, but because it wouldn't solve the problem of choice (customers need to wake up first)
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Funny how cell phone seem to be the only thing people are ok with a contract on. What if you had to sign on to get home phone service, or your trash picked up, or get the power turned on.
I dont think all of you would like that so much, but to get a cell phone then thats not only ok, but its needed. I think you need to wake up.
I dont think all of you would like that so much, but to get a cell phone then thats not only ok, but its needed. I think you need to wake up.
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There's no contract required for home phone service because you pay for your own home phone. If the phone company gave you a $400 phone for $100 they would probably require some form of contract to ensure they make their money back. Again, contracts are optional with cell phone service.
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Most television providers require at least a one year contract. Partially due to their equipment costs of the dish and recievers.
As far as trash pick up and power companies, usually the city provides the trash pick up (i guess you could move to another city...? ) and there are very few power companies to choose from in a given area. Your comparison is nonsensical. By the way... no one really NEEDS a cell phone in the first place.
You can't have your cake and eat it too. Either pay a discounted price on a phone and sign the contract, or buy at a higher price and don't sign the contract. Play by the rules or don't play at all.
As far as trash pick up and power companies, usually the city provides the trash pick up (i guess you could move to another city...? ) and there are very few power companies to choose from in a given area. Your comparison is nonsensical. By the way... no one really NEEDS a cell phone in the first place.
You can't have your cake and eat it too. Either pay a discounted price on a phone and sign the contract, or buy at a higher price and don't sign the contract. Play by the rules or don't play at all.
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