Dear Comcast: The Idea When You Bundle Is That People Are Supposed To Get A Discount
from the just-saying... dept
When companies offer "bundles" of the various services they offer, part of the point is that if you're buying multiple packages together, you get some sort of "discount." It doesn't make much sense to go in the other direction, but apparently Comcast thinks it does. Reader Lucas points out that the company is currently offering the following "Digital Double Play" bundle, which consists of both the "Comcast High Speed Internet, with Powerboost" and the "Comcast Digital Starter Package" for the temporarily discounted bundle price of $69.99/month for six months (after which, the price jumps to $109.90/month).
Ok. But let's look up the components separately. It appears that the basic high speed internet with Powerboost is available separately as a promotion at $19.99/month for six months, after which it becomes $42.95/month.
And then there's the Comcast Digital Starter Package. That appears to be offered as a promotion for $29.99/month for six months (after which it jumps to $59.95):
So... at a first pass, it looks like you could order each package separately and pay $49.99/month for six months and $102.90... or you can buy the "bundle" and pay $69.99/month for six months and then $109.90/month afterwards. What a non-bargain! Of course, if you start to look closer, it's a little bit different. The digital TV package, even though it's
described as the "Digital Starter Package" also includes the on-demand library. So if we dig deeper into Comcast's options, we find that the equivalent tier isn't actually the "Digital Starter Package" but the "Digital Preferred" package. Kind of odd that you'd sell the digital "preferred" package while claiming it's the starter package -- but that appears to be what Comcast is doing. So, with this package, the six month promotion is $44.99/month and then it jumps to $76.90/month:
So, now, the "unbundled" combined offering is actually $64.99... Still $5/month
cheaper than the "bundle" -- and without the bundle at least you get the satisfaction of knowing you have the "preferred" package, rather than the "starter" package (oh yeah, and of paying $5 less than the suckers who bought the bundle.). But then,
finally, after six months, your price will jump to $119.85 -- or $10 more expensive than the bundle. So perhaps there is some method to the madness, but Comcast sure doesn't make that very clear.
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Hate to actually stick up for comcast but digital starter package only contains channels 2-99 and limited access to On-Demand. Where as Digital Preferred actually has channels above 99 in the digital spectrum.
Granted the fact that you are not actually saving money by bundling the packages together is the whole point of the article and I did not miss it. Just wanted to clarify the difference in the packages.
They are relying on the fact when the say "double play" and "triple play" or "bundled savings" blah blah blah....people will just accept the fact it has to be cheaper instead of paying for them individually.
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Re:
...but digital starter package only contains channels 2-99 and limited access to On-Demand.
I pay for their internet ($45/m) and the extended basic analog Cable ($15/m) for a total of $60/m. I get channels 2-99 plus a whole bunch over 100 once I got an LCD that has a digital tuner, all my locals in hi-def etc. Only thing I don't get is "on-demand", big deal. Costs me 60/m without a promotion.
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Re: Re:
"I pay for their internet ($45/m) and the extended basic analog Cable ($15/m) for a total of $60/m. I get channels 2-99 plus a whole bunch over 100 once I got an LCD that has a digital tuner, all my locals in hi-def etc. Only thing I don't get is "on-demand", big deal. Costs me 60/m without a promotion."
Where and with who in the world is this package available? Is it a starter deal which ups later? Where in the country?
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thats not actually their best deal
As with all services, if you hassle with customer service for long enough you can get better deals.
Ive been going without cable for the past three months (I would rather read books). But every two weeks comcast sends me a better deal. Its rather comical actually, so far the progression has gone from an offer for triple play($100), then a discounted triple play($90), then an offer for double play($70), then a discounted double play offer($60) which was then followed by a discounted double play offer($60) that lasts 12 months instead of 6.
Gotta love how they treat their potential customers.
Also, I was led to believe by somebody else that prices vary by region, so its possible that promotional materials also vary. Another thing I heard, from somebody who spent nearly two hours dealing with customer service, is that you can generally get the deals extended to up to two years if you hassle them long enough, and, if you call to cancel your service when your deal has worn off you can usually sign up for the same deal again.
In case of service failures (depending on type of failure) you can usually receive a credit on your account. In the case of repeated missed appointments at the fault of comcast repair crews you can usually get them to give you whatever free movie channel deal they are tacking on to the preferred package at that moment.
Sorry for the long post, just thought Id share, given that comcast has a monopoly might as well try and squeeze them for any dime they are willing to part with.
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thats not actually their best deal
As with all services, if you hassle with customer service for long enough you can get better deals.
Ive been going without cable for the past three months (I would rather read books). But every two weeks comcast sends me a better deal. Its rather comical actually, so far the progression has gone from an offer for triple play($100), then a discounted triple play($90), then an offer for double play($70), then a discounted double play offer($60) which was then followed by a discounted double play offer($60) that lasts 12 months instead of 6.
Gotta love how they treat their potential customers.
Also, I was led to believe by somebody else that prices vary by region, so its possible that promotional materials also vary. Another thing I heard, from somebody who spent nearly two hours dealing with customer service, is that you can generally get the deals extended to up to two years if you hassle them long enough, and, if you call to cancel your service when your deal has worn off you can usually sign up for the same deal again.
In case of service failures (depending on type of failure) you can usually receive a credit on your account. In the case of repeated missed appointments at the fault of comcast repair crews you can usually get them to give you whatever free movie channel deal they are tacking on to the preferred package at that moment.
Sorry for the long post, just thought Id share, given that comcast has a monopoly might as well try and squeeze them for any dime they are willing to part with.
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Comcast will never, ever save YOU (the customer) money
No matter what their offer, they consistently rely upon the "fine print" to nickle and dime you to death so you end up paying more. Never trust a Comcast offer.
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If you think Comcast is bad, check out BrightHouse!
My cable bill: $186.20/mo.
Online offering, which offers the same package plus two movie services: $109.99/mo.
I called to ask how my service, without the movie channels, was dang near $80 more expensive. The young lady went through my "charges" which equates to $27 difference (DVR rental, voice mail, the small crap).
Told her, "Great! You've $50 to go!" She couldn't do it.
So, Comcast, sign me up for your deal. It beats BrightHouse even with the higher bundled price.
Oh, wait... monopolization of service areas. My mistake.
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My cable bill: $35/mo. I still watch all my favorite shows on demand on my tv, and yet I haven't seen a commercial in years.
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Im on day 2 with no cable and not missing it so far. I went from a comcast employee with every channel they could offer with 2 HD DVR's and one HD box to a "regular" customer that went from basic cable to using them for internet only in a matter of months.
It is absurd how much they charge for their services (and the people there know it is stoopid expensive). And all the additional charges you cant get around most of the time. Modem rentals, Box rentals, EMTA rentals (for cdv customers), Wireless router rental for people that dont have their own wireless. Not to mention the fact the customer service people cant explain all the charges either.
I was already paying for internet from them so why pay to watch CBS shows as well when they are on the internet I already pay for? Cable can suck it. I got my apple tv, western digital with 500 gig worth of movies and tv shows and a computer hooked up to the tv too. You dont need cable. Its a dying service.
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I hate comcast. I have too many trees around my house (9) can't see any of the sky, I can't even threaten them with satellite. I hate the utility monopolies.
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Seems the only people who dont hate the utility monopolies are the politicians that utilities pay so they may stay a monopoly.
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Have you even tried satellite because where I used to live. We were completely surrounded by trees (100+). It was literally in the middle of a forest. I received DirecTV with absolutely no issues, dropouts only when a storm came by. Hell I've even seen satellite setups to where the dish is pointed directly at the house next door & they still get a signal. If you haven't you should call them and see if they could send someone out to see cause the techs can tell before they even setup the dish.
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I don't understand why someone requires the knowledge equivalent to a PH.D just to understand what a single company is offering.
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So you guys mean that as consumers we still have to shop around and read what we sign? You mean Verizon, Microsoft, Comcast etc are trying to make all the money they can? They aren't out there trying to show me the freebies?
What exactly do you expect people?
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Can you shop around for cable tv? You cannot compare a cable company to cellular or software.
There is such a thing as common courtesy, something big entrenched corporations like Comcast (or AT&T Phone, Electric utilities, etc.) has forgotten. They've become the punchline to Lily Tomlin's Ernestine, "We don't care, we don't have to, we're the [insert corporation name] company."
And yes, as consumers we have the right to b*tch about it, so suck it up.
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"What exactly do you expect people?"
Here is a list of things I expect:
1. I expect the companies that operate within my community to be PART of the community. In my community, we don't actively try to decieve one another. If you can't be a good corporate citizen (see Home Depot circa 1990's for an example), then expect the community to actively try to disrupt you (stealing cable, torrent shows, etc.)
2. I expect the elected officials that my community elected to act in the best interests of that community. You are the people we elected to maintain the rule of law. If a dollar is worth more than a vote, that rule of law no longer has any meaning, so please don't expect the community to follow it.
3. I expect the companies in my community to abide by the same laws and rules that the community is told to abide by. No special exceptions or privelages just because you're a company that's bigger than the community. Here in our community, you're only as big as your presence IN the community, and I can assure you that the community will ALWAYS be bigger than your presence within it. So...no sweetheart real estate deals for you, Comcast. Also, no more monopolies thanks to deregulation. Play by the rules, or don't play at all. If you choose not to play by those rules, expect to be subverted wherever possible.
4. I expect the companies within my community to understand that the idea SHOULD NOT be to make the most amount of money, regardless the means. There is such a thing as having enough, and everyone would do well to learn to be satisfied with having enough, rather than the need to want MORE.
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Wow that is expecting a lot from a ethically challenged music pirate.
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Sorry, not a music pirate, just an active participant in being a citizen. Since my taste in music doesn't extend past anything released in 1995, and since I inherited a wonderful CD collection from siblings and parents, coupled with the fact that I had a brother that worked for a used record store, I have no need to pirate music via torrent.
I just understand the mentality of those that do.
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That was... that.. was.. well, it was just beautiful!
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Agree
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Its comCRAPtastic!
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Its not that they're a monopoly...
It's that they're a government supported monopoly.
The utility infrastructure that supports cable belongs to all of us. They use tax payer dollars to create a govermentally subsidized means of distribultion which they alone control, and exploit.
These companies did not create virtual monopolies through ethically developed competitive advantage. They bought a choke point, and set up a toll.
Fuck Comcast.
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Re: Its not that they're a monopoly...
Bob, the words you type apply to telcos (ATT, Verizon). Cable, however, was built with private money. And therefore not "governmentally subsidized".
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Re: Its not that they're a monopoly...
Again Bob,
Comcast actually has to rent each and every pole it has fiber on from the local utility company within the areas it operates in. There is NO "governmentally subsidized" program going on with them.
If you will do your homework you will see that yes there ARE currently tax payer dollars being spent on building telecommunications infrastructure....by your LOCAL POWER COMPANY!
Yes they are spending YOUR money to run fiber to all areas, whether you want it or not, to provide video, internet & phone, BUT....(and yes there is a BUT) the services they provide only APPEAR to be a better value.
Thier Triple Play Bundle compared to Comcast is slightly cheaper, but does not include long distance or added features, has an internet speed close to DSL, more limited channel lineup and NO HD or Movie Channels. They get you by charging you for EVERYTHING...i.e. caller I.D., voicemail, upgraded internet speed, additional channels, etc. & NO on-demand whatsoever.
OH and since they are bundled guess what happens if you dont pay your 'cable' bill.....electric gets shut off also.
So.....I BELIEVE THIS IS A BETTER EXAMPLE OF A MONOPOLY!!!!
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Re: Re: Its not that they're a monopoly...
Comcast actually has to rent each and every pole it has fiber on from the local utility company within the areas it operates in. There is NO "governmentally subsidized" program going on with them.
First off, cable doesn't have to be installed on poles. Cablecos typically do that where poles are available simply because it is cheaper than trenching (even with pole fees, which by the way are regulated and thus not very high). What they don't pay is a fee to the landowners for the ROWs (right of ways) that the gov't forces landowners to cede to them.
Now Bob didn't claim that the cablecos were "governmentally subsidized", that's just you trying to put words in his mouth (typical for industry shills). He said they were a "government supported monopoly", and most cases they are. I think that free ROW and protection from competition is the gov't "support" Bob was referring to.
As to power companies, there are over different 20 companies with over 60 different plans that I can choose from for electricity in my area and they all share the same lines. Cable? One company, no line sharing.
OH and since they are bundled guess what happens if you dont pay your 'cable' bill.....electric gets shut off also.
No, in most places they are not legally allowed to do that (thanks to big bad "regulations"). Nor are they allowed to bundle electric service with the others. In other words, they can't force you to buy their other services in order to get electric service (more big bad "regulations").
Now cableco ISPs are a different story. In my area, you can get internet service from the cableco without television, but it costs more for plain internet service than it does for a whole "bundle" of the same service combined with television service!
So.....I BELIEVE THIS IS A BETTER EXAMPLE OF A MONOPOLY!!!!
Yeah, you would.
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That's what I like about...
...companies like Grande Communications. Their double/triple play options are very clear: two services bundled gets 10% off your monthly bill, three bundled gets you a total of 20$ off. Not the rocket science that Comcast is trying to hawk. Heck, even TWC tells you exactly how much you save by doing a bundle, at least in my area.
Oh and by the way, I have never had pay TV. Too 'spensive. My parents somehow are eligible for LifeLine so our landline bill is less than $5 per month (it'd be less than $5 anyway if we had decent HSI...I'd just put MagicJack credentials into an ATA and have done with it).
But at any rate I think that companies like Grande, who can quickly and easily describe their product lines, pricing and discounts, will get people's business if there's a competitive market available. Grande competes with Time Warner Cable in most places, and TWC has 15/2 in all those areas.
Competition is good...too bad most places don't have it. Which means you end up with crap like Comcast is pulling with their more-expensive-than-single-play triple-play bundles.
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Digital Preferred price sucks any ways direct tv with HD AND DVR costs less and you get alot of sports pack channels and you can take $21 off that price for 1 year on direct tv.
On comcast you have to add $15 / $20 /m per HD dvr. $6 - $8 per HD BOX.
Direct $5 /m per month for any box.
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Suckers
Anyone paying ANY base rate for bundled Comcast service is a complete sucker. I haven't paid base rates for Comcast services EVER; and we've be customers for 5 years. Why? Because they're services are overpriced and they know it. Sure, they'll give you a 'deal' that will then increase after 6 months or a year... if you let it.
Right now we pay $102/month for:
- 2 HD Receivers
- Digital Preferred
- Free Starz (all channels)
- 50/Mb Internet
How? Comcast will keep me paying them $100/mo. rather than lose $100/mo AND give that money to competitor services. We're getting 50% off premium services and will always get 50% off - as long as we're willing to play a little hard ball once a year and actually start going through the disconnection process.
But, this will only work for those actually willing to follow through - we'll dump Comcast in a heartbeat to go to a competitor if it means saving $100/mo. for similar service.
Comcast reps are well versed in what the competition is offering. If you do your homework and are willing to walk, trust me, they'll give you a better deal to keep you - if they don't then why stay with them anyway? You could always come back again in the future.
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Bundles
Have you ever tried to get an idea as to what services you get with Comcast's Phone and the Channels you recieve for each level of service. I have called and e-mailed to get something - yet nothing is provided.
Yet @ the Dish site, you can print out a list for their various levels of channel offerings and compare with Comcast. And then make your decision.
It is almost like buying an Auto Insurance Policy. You are unable to review your coverage and all the attachments affecting the primary policy, until you spend your money. And each policy with each company is a little different.
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Re: Bundles
channel lineup for comcast is avail online
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OMG
and here I thought 11 bucks a month was expensive for fibre. It's only because it's supposedly some what expensive where I live. The telly crap I have for free.
But you guys ar'getting screwed up the bumhole.
And go figure there's actually people around who spit on net neutrality, and a neutral infrastructure for communications.
No wonder there's so many pirates in US, folks don't have any money left after paying their cable bills. And you can only TiVO so many shows. :/
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Even at the supermarket
I was buying laundry detergent at the supermarket the other day and did some calculations to see how much buying the large size container would save me. It turns it cost more per ounce for the large size than the next size down! So why would they charge more per ounce for the large size? I can only guess that they think there are a fair number of idiots who just assume that the large size will be the better value without actually checking. And considering that they were almost out of the large size, it looked like they were right too. So maybe Comcast is just trolling for those same idiots buying cable service.
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Charter is not any better
Got a call yesterday from a sales person tring to save me money by changing from a $79 packaget to a 104. Also at charter you have to kill some one to get what the post intoductory offer price is.
Charter also requires yougo to the office and threaten to cancel every 12 months to get signed into a package. The people on the phone will only sign you up if you sign up for a higer service.
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Thats great! For almost no one...
"How? Comcast will keep me paying them $100/mo. rather than lose $100/mo AND give that money to competitor services. We're getting 50% off premium services and will always get 50% off - as long as we're willing to play a little hard ball once a year and actually start going through the disconnection process. "
WHAT COMPETITORS??? This only works in the 1% or so of the entire COUNTRY where comcast has any local competition. Its nice that you are able to swing a deal by threatening to walk, but for 99% of comcast's customer base, they arent able to, thanks to monopolies.
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Cox is the same way. They long ago gave up dicounts for getting multiple services. The bundles are just come ons - temporary teases for switching services.
I remember the good old days when they actually gave you $10.00 of your Internet service if you had Cable TV. This deal lasted for many years, unitl it just kind of faded away amidst the price increases and differert plans offered.
Last summer I cancelled cable TV when I saw what I could get over the air for free with my old roof top antenna. I get their latest come on in the mail every week. And they even called once offering to match whatever I was getting from my "other" service". She didn't know quite what to say when I said, "Really, you can match free?"
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Deals depend on the areas, in my area the double play is a 12month deal. Also most CSR's are told by Comcast to only allow 1 promotion per account. Although this policy is rarely followed since other departments are allowed to do basically what they want. It is always all about selling CDV and keeping ARPU (average revenue per household) as high as possible.
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Unbundled doesn't work either
Comcast will not let you get a promotional rate on your internet and a promotional rate on your cable at the same time unless you buy one of their bundles. We moved recently and I went round and round and round with their customer service trying to get just the things I wanted instead of the bundle they were offering. Nope. You can either have internet for $43 and Cable for $40, or Cable for $70 and Internet for $20. I ended up with the bundle for $70.
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To Amanda:
I am so sick and tired of Comcast. I live with my daughter and her family and she does a lot of renting of movies, MLB, an extra box (I, myself, don't have a box), the preferred package, etc. Every month, I'm seeing bills for $300.00, nothing ever adds up, and Customer Service sucks.
I note what you wrote above about promotional rates, etc. I will (hopefully) be moving in a few months, so I won't be a "promotional" anything, just a transfer of service for a customer who's been with them since 2002.
When I move, can I clarify with them before I move that I DON'T want the "HSI Bundled Service," currently costing $42.95 a month. (I already plan on buying my own modem.)
If I order "ala carte," saying, I'll take the internet and this TV with the preferred package, then there won't be the need for the $42.95 bundle charge added to my $55.99 for standard cable and $16.95? Sheesh! If I could get your deal -- anything under $100.00 a month, I'd grab it!
I'm disabled and trying very hard to make ends meet. Do you think I'd have better luck if I did it "ala carte"?
Thanks for your input.
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CABLE/ C-BAND RULES
THE only way to get around cable is to get the big C-band dish! the amount you spend in cable,just 6 months of your payments you could get a big dish installed. If you move alot this would not be good idea. If you are in a home you plan to stay in then make the investment if you can.
Lets see i wanted to watch Tru- Blood on HBO so i signed up for 3 months of HBO-that cost me 28.99 no tax. When the 3 months is over it will shut off or i can call back and order if i want.My husband likes the western channel so he always buys that one. Their are lots of companies to choose from that will COMPETE to sell you channel packages or just the channel you want like the NFL channel.
I have my dish on a pole on the side of my roof top.You can sometimes find people giving them away or selling them real cheap!
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ATTENTION
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ATTENTION!
You all want lifetime promotions aren't you! what business is for then? Then look for a company that offers FREE service FOR LIFE!.... I don't think there is one....
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"Save"
I think in corporate America, we are constantly being trained to think that spending money causes us to "save". So a typical ad would be "Switch to company XXX and SAVE YYY per month/year/etc). They key word here is "Save". The only way to save is for that money to stay put in your bank account or wallet and not leave it! So Comcast, or any other company claiming to "save" me money by buying their services is by definition a big lie!
That being said, Can someone PLEASE explain to me how Comcast can get away with claiming their "Triple play" package at $100 bucks a month "saves" you anything? You can probably get basic cable and Internet for $65, and no decent VOIP service out there (like say Vonage) costs $35 a month! Let alone MagicJack-type services.
So what they're saying is "Pay us MORE than our competition $33 versus $25 and SAVE".
What a scam! No wonder people want to rip off comcast and negotiate prices every chance they get!
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Re: "Save"
Also forgot to mention: NO COMPANY (repeat NO COMPANY) is going to sell you a service at "promotional" prices and lose money. What this means is that say your comcast internet normally costs $55 a month and you're on a promotion at $33 bux a month. Guess what? Comcast is making a PROFIT at $33, and making an even LARGER profit at $55. What this means is that Comcast is making a good buck off of you with or without promotions. Again, they are "saving" you money. They are SAVING you from HAVING that money in your pocket ;-)
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