ATTENTION ALL CUSTOMERS OF EVERY WIRELESS CARRIER
HEAR ME NOW AND BELIEVE ME LATER...
FREE PHONES ARE GONE AND THEY ARE NEVER COMING BACK...ALMOST EVERY PHONE NOW HAS A COLOR SCREEN AND THEY COST THE CARRIERS TO MUCH MONEY TO GIVE AWAY. IF YOU GET A PHONE FOR LESS THAN $100 YOU ARE VERY LUCKY MINE COST $400. AND CONTRARY TO POPULAR OPINION IT DONT MATTER IF YOU HAVE BEEN A CUSTOMER FOR 10 YRS OR 1 YR OR IF YOU SPEND $20 A MONTH OR $300. I HAVE HAD PLATINUM CABLE FOR OVER 5 YEARS AND PAY $100 A MONTH AND THEY HAVE NEVER GIVEN ME A FREE TV...REMEMBER THIS WHEN YOU CALL US...
THANK YOU,
YOUR FRIENDLY CARE REP
FREE PHONES ARE GONE AND THEY ARE NEVER COMING BACK...ALMOST EVERY PHONE NOW HAS A COLOR SCREEN AND THEY COST THE CARRIERS TO MUCH MONEY TO GIVE AWAY. IF YOU GET A PHONE FOR LESS THAN $100 YOU ARE VERY LUCKY MINE COST $400. AND CONTRARY TO POPULAR OPINION IT DONT MATTER IF YOU HAVE BEEN A CUSTOMER FOR 10 YRS OR 1 YR OR IF YOU SPEND $20 A MONTH OR $300. I HAVE HAD PLATINUM CABLE FOR OVER 5 YEARS AND PAY $100 A MONTH AND THEY HAVE NEVER GIVEN ME A FREE TV...REMEMBER THIS WHEN YOU CALL US...
THANK YOU,
YOUR FRIENDLY CARE REP
...
I just can't resist being a smart@ss even though I agree 100$ with the meaning of your message.... US Cellular does, in fact, offer free color screen phones with a 2 year contract. 😈
...
They don't suck in Chicago anyway. They rated number one there in a test of all carriers.
...
actually i believe it was channel 3 out of chicago who said that USCC was the best in chicago!!!
...
WHO is big daddy....What makes him so big anyway.... Sounds like he needs to relax...I bet he would not be so big in real life...away from his computer...USCC is the best in my area as well .....Southeast N.C. . I just wish I could get an lg 6100....
...
Your prediction is YEARS AWAY, if it ever happens.
What is driving up the cost of phones is wireless companies trying to incorporate into phones every gadget imaginable, and users buying them. Thankfully, you can still buy a phone that is just that -- a phone.
OK, maybe text messaging is useful on occasion. But, a camera? PDA functions? Gimme a break!
Man, I never imagined when I watched "Star Trek - The Next Generation" that WE would become "the Borg" -- an organization of individuals with an incredible need to stay in touch with each other constantly. It really is getting scary.
-way
What is driving up the cost of phones is wireless companies trying to incorporate into phones every gadget imaginable, and users buying them. Thankfully, you can still buy a phone that is just that -- a phone.
OK, maybe text messaging is useful on occasion. But, a camera? PDA functions? Gimme a break!
Man, I never imagined when I watched "Star Trek - The Next Generation" that WE would become "the Borg" -- an organization of individuals with an incredible need to stay in touch with each other constantly. It really is getting scary.
-way
...
Agreed. There are several nice choices for phones and they all have color screens. The V262 is only $20 with contract. The people demanding phones with cameras and PDA's or MP3 players like IPODS are reponsible for the expensive phones and then they whine that they have to pay too much.
(continues)
waywith said:...
Your prediction is YEARS AWAY, if it ever happens.
What is driving up the cost of phones is wireless companies trying to incorporate into phones every gadget imaginable, and users buying them. Thankfully, you can still buy a phone that is just that -- a phone.
OK, maybe text messaging is useful on occasion. But, a camera? PDA functions? Gimme a break!
Man, I never imagined when I watched "Star Trek - The
(continues)
...
Waywith, I agree. I hope that if they ever change the process, they will still keep basic phones on the market for free (with contracts, of course). I bought a Kyocera Soho in the middle of my contract for $180; but I see it is free with a new contract. I didn't mind paying for the phone because I love it--no camera or picture messaging capability to jack up the price. But it is nice to know it is free for the new folks or renewing folks.
My stepdaughter wanted the bells and whistles when we renewed hew contract a month ago. She got an Audiovox flip phone with a camera. We did pay about 40.00 extra there. For her, that is fine. For me and my hubby, we like the basics ONLY--phone calls and text messages... And I think those who st...
(continues)
My stepdaughter wanted the bells and whistles when we renewed hew contract a month ago. She got an Audiovox flip phone with a camera. We did pay about 40.00 extra there. For her, that is fine. For me and my hubby, we like the basics ONLY--phone calls and text messages... And I think those who st...
(continues)
...
What I have found most customers to just not understand is a company cannot keep adding gizmos into cell phones and then be expected to give it away free. A montly service bill pays for the SERVICE not the phone. Just take a look at Europe & Japan. They have the most incredible phones and electronics yet activating a new line overseas rarely comes with a discounted phone. For some reason Americans believe they are entitled to everything for nothing. If Americans were willing to pay top dollar for the best then we would have the best. As it is the providers have to use an un-godly number of promotions and discounts to get customers.
Blame the Cheap Skate American for the lack of technology and not the providers because they're doing the b...
(continues)
Blame the Cheap Skate American for the lack of technology and not the providers because they're doing the b...
(continues)
...
RingTone said:...
What I have found most customers to just not understand is a company cannot keep adding gizmos into cell phones and then be expected to give it away free. A montly service bill pays for the SERVICE not the phone. Just take a look at Europe & Japan. They have the most incredible phones and electronics yet activating a new line overseas rarely comes with a discounted phone. For some reason Americans believe they are entitled to everything for nothing. If Americans were willing to pay top dollar for the best then we would have the best. As it is the providers have to use an un-godly number of promotions and discounts to get customers.
Blame the Cheap Skate American for the lack of technology and not the pr
(continues)
...
A comparison between the wireless products available in Europe and Nrth America is not as simple as you make it to be. Most European carriers did not offer or promote annual or biennial contracts until the last two years. Further, most wireless phones sold in Europe are unlocked so you can take them from carrier to carrier by changing SIM cards. By contrast, in the US, virtually all phones currently offered by carriers (with contract) are locked to that carrier. Therefore the carrier maintains a proprietary (ownership) interest in the phone.
Therefore previously, there was no way the European carrier could not subsidize the promotions on the phone pricing as is done in the US.
However, now that 1 year usage contracts are available in...
(continues)
Therefore previously, there was no way the European carrier could not subsidize the promotions on the phone pricing as is done in the US.
However, now that 1 year usage contracts are available in...
(continues)
...
That's really great info. I had no idea. And you are right American consumer's now-a-day's do have more obligations financially.
There is one thing i would like to add. Selling wireless service for as long as I have, the general consumer is unaware that the cost of the phone they get when they sign a contract is not "free." That is the wireless industry's fault in my eyes. We as an industry have not explain, informed, educated, (what ever the terminology you prefer) our customer's the "retail cost" of cellular phones. So their perception is they should always get a "free" phone.
My opinion is that in the future we will see less and less "free" phones. Or is if they are free, they may not be a very relaible phone. So, the Am...
(continues)
There is one thing i would like to add. Selling wireless service for as long as I have, the general consumer is unaware that the cost of the phone they get when they sign a contract is not "free." That is the wireless industry's fault in my eyes. We as an industry have not explain, informed, educated, (what ever the terminology you prefer) our customer's the "retail cost" of cellular phones. So their perception is they should always get a "free" phone.
My opinion is that in the future we will see less and less "free" phones. Or is if they are free, they may not be a very relaible phone. So, the Am...
(continues)
...
In my opinion, I do not see wireless increasing the price of its services or products in the near future with land-line and upcoming Voice Over Internet Protocol competing for the same market share.
In an industry such as telecom, where operational costs are more constant and controllable, and where choices for the consumer are continually increasing, it is more difficult to justify an increase in prices paid by the consumer. The exception to this trend would occur where a radically new technology without competition is offered.
I think that the more savvy consumers realize that, indeed, they are not obtaining any wireless product for FREE. How else could USCC or Motorola employees draw paychecks. However three factors will continue t...
(continues)
In an industry such as telecom, where operational costs are more constant and controllable, and where choices for the consumer are continually increasing, it is more difficult to justify an increase in prices paid by the consumer. The exception to this trend would occur where a radically new technology without competition is offered.
I think that the more savvy consumers realize that, indeed, they are not obtaining any wireless product for FREE. How else could USCC or Motorola employees draw paychecks. However three factors will continue t...
(continues)
...
You are very right. What I am seeing is the average consumer is paying more for the "better" phone. More features, more durability, stuff like that.
But you are right!
But you are right!
...
umm well considering most of uscc phones are free after rebate they cant all suck so you are saying also that the audiovox 8900 camera phone suxs
...
Yes, I will say that the Audiovox 8900 sucks. Unfortunatley it is our most popular model. I cringe at the thought that they will all be back in within a year having problems that we will need to later deal with.
...
8900 doesnt suck compared to some of the other models.....the slider sucks, the 8900 is really not all that bad.
...
That would be fine with me, I will buy my own damn phone and forget about the contract. There would be no reason to sign a contract, you provide your own equipment, that is what they say we have to sign a contract for now, to hold us a customer to make sure they make money on us, as a us cellular rep told me, it takes 10 to 12 months to make the money back on the phones. So, customer supplies the phone, and carrier supplies the service, no contract needed. But, I am sure that the carriers will find a reason for a contract, they dont want to rely on their service keeping the customer aboard.
...
Listen, this country is run by the almighty dollar. Big business cannot rely on just service alone to get customers because everybody offers the same service. Yeah I know some services work better than others in different areas, blah, blah, blah, but the point is they just want to 'lock up' customers!(just like they use to lock up slaves in the old days). Even if you don't sign a contract and you pay full retail for the phone you can't take that phone and use it with any other service provider anyway. So you really don't have any reasonable options. I'd be more than happy to buy my own phone and take it with me to any service provider I want. But they have too many roadblocks built in (activation fees, unlock codes, etc.)
As far as takin...
(continues)
As far as takin...
(continues)
...
that is a bit of an exaggeration- like SLAVES? Jeezus. Quit being so melodramatic. Corporate America is pretty shady, but come on! There are quite a few more costs that just postage. That phone that you got for free probably cost your carrier $200,they subsidize the cost to the consumer and then they have to make up that $200 through monthly plans.
And the infrastructure 'already in place?' Most of them aren't on carrier-owned land, buddy. They have to LEASE that land to the tune of hundreds of dollars a month, per tower. And when service is poor in a certain area, guess what? Another tower gets put up, and those things are expensive- $100,000+, and I think I'm being conservative. and you do have to pay to use those towers- other...
(continues)
And the infrastructure 'already in place?' Most of them aren't on carrier-owned land, buddy. They have to LEASE that land to the tune of hundreds of dollars a month, per tower. And when service is poor in a certain area, guess what? Another tower gets put up, and those things are expensive- $100,000+, and I think I'm being conservative. and you do have to pay to use those towers- other...
(continues)
...
The point I tried to make was that whoever you choose as your carrier, you become a slave to the type of service they give, the selection of phones they have, the coverage their system has, and they want you give up your right to switch due to your contract if your not happy with the service, etc.
Anyway, most of the stuff in your last paragraph are the infrastructure I'm talking about. The more customers they get the lower this overhead cost is per customer.
As far as openning up more stores, this means they are making more money and thus expanding. This is NOT an expense. Opening up more stores increases their revenues. If their business drops then they go the other way and close stores.
As far as putting up more towers, we cust...
(continues)
Anyway, most of the stuff in your last paragraph are the infrastructure I'm talking about. The more customers they get the lower this overhead cost is per customer.
As far as openning up more stores, this means they are making more money and thus expanding. This is NOT an expense. Opening up more stores increases their revenues. If their business drops then they go the other way and close stores.
As far as putting up more towers, we cust...
(continues)
...
If you do not work for the wireless industry then you have no where to talk. You dont see the figures that all wireless indusrties have. Like bad debt!!!! You know, those customers that don't pay thier bill. Also, I don't know a single person who is in it to lose money! If you do, please let me know and I would love to talk to them.
If you don't like the coverage from any company, don't have a cell phone. No one can control topography, or the maintence needed on a tower. You can't put a tower up with out having revenue to build it. To rent the space, pay the people to maintain it, upgrade the system for better coverage. It takes money. No company just starts out with millions-billions of dollars to do that. Unless you are Don...
(continues)
If you don't like the coverage from any company, don't have a cell phone. No one can control topography, or the maintence needed on a tower. You can't put a tower up with out having revenue to build it. To rent the space, pay the people to maintain it, upgrade the system for better coverage. It takes money. No company just starts out with millions-billions of dollars to do that. Unless you are Don...
(continues)
...
Of course it is a chicken and egg thing. Which do you do first, build towers with the hope of getting customers or get the customers using your existing network and build from there?
Each tower is a major investment. You get FCC and FAA approval, state approval and local government approval. This can sometimes take years. Then the cost to build it is typically from $500,000 in a rural area to 4 million dollars in a metro area. This is not pocket change to any wireless carrier regardless of size. More size equals more towers needed so isn't it better to have customers generating revenue even if the product is not perfect?
Your demand for a "finished" product is totally against the grain of thechnology products. Every software company relea...
(continues)
Each tower is a major investment. You get FCC and FAA approval, state approval and local government approval. This can sometimes take years. Then the cost to build it is typically from $500,000 in a rural area to 4 million dollars in a metro area. This is not pocket change to any wireless carrier regardless of size. More size equals more towers needed so isn't it better to have customers generating revenue even if the product is not perfect?
Your demand for a "finished" product is totally against the grain of thechnology products. Every software company relea...
(continues)
...
I understand what you are saying and I agree to a point. But my intitial point was that if everyone was on the same network like they are in Europe, we consumers would be a lot better off. The fact that cell phone companies are not regulated enough means that consumers suffer and are left way behind in comparison to Europe. Over there they always get the newest phones first and they have a wider selection of phones to choose from in general. This is simply because they have one network. Phone makers prefer to make phones for Europe because the don't have to make 5 differnet variations of the same phone to work with 5 different carriers.
We are limited in our choices. We are limited to selectiing carriers that cover the area we live in. T...
(continues)
We are limited in our choices. We are limited to selectiing carriers that cover the area we live in. T...
(continues)
...
The govt has not stepped out of the way of cell phone carriers regulations. The reason why all cell phone carriers do not work off the same technology is becuase that would create a monopoly. That is the one thing our govt will NOT allow to happen. One major carrier will buy out all the smaller carriers, and then the consumer will not have a choice with what carrier they can go with. There will be no compition, we will just be stuck with what is out there.
I personally do not want to live in that kind of a world. I want there to be compition so I can choose the best company for me, that can provide the best customer service to me, and is willing to work with my needs. Not just be stuck with one choice. Thats what is great about t...
(continues)
I personally do not want to live in that kind of a world. I want there to be compition so I can choose the best company for me, that can provide the best customer service to me, and is willing to work with my needs. Not just be stuck with one choice. Thats what is great about t...
(continues)
...
Yes, We would not want Mr. Gates to get in on this.......UH..well..we dont want him to own ALL of the tecnology....aww hell he probably does own all the towers, if not the land they are on....in the western U.S. ...........ahhhh $#!* he probably already owns everything ...... I heard he has the copyrights to the sounds the numbers make when you dial;;;;;;; 😲
...
Big Daddy said:
HEAR ME NOW AND BELIEVE ME LATER...
FREE PHONES ARE GONE AND THEY ARE NEVER COMING BACK...ALMOST EVERY PHONE NOW HAS A COLOR SCREEN AND THEY COST THE CARRIERS TO MUCH MONEY TO GIVE AWAY. IF YOU GET A PHONE FOR LESS THAN $100 YOU ARE VERY LUCKY MINE COST $400. AND CONTRARY TO POPULAR OPINION IT DONT MATTER IF YOU HAVE BEEN A CUSTOMER FOR 10 YRS OR 1 YR OR IF YOU SPEND $20 A MONTH OR $300. I HAVE HAD PLATINUM CABLE FOR OVER 5 YEARS AND PAY $100 A MONTH AND THEY HAVE NEVER GIVEN ME A FREE TV...REMEMBER THIS WHEN YOU CALL US...
THANK YOU,
YOUR FRIENDLY CARE REP
verizon still offers free color screen phones. new or an upgrade.
...
