Monday, September 19, 2005
The End of an Era
11:20 AM
OK OK so that title is way too dramatic for the topic at hand. I called the cable company today and we are back on the $13 plan that includes just the networks. I know. I know. There are bigger tragedies out there and I give you permission to laugh at the title now.
Last year when we bought our house I called Comcast and explained to the rep that I had bought a house, I was moving, and I wanted to cancel service at my apartment and transfer it to my house. Maybe it was the use of the "C" word that flagged him. Maybe he was new. Maybe there was an unknown deal that I had stumbled onto. Whatever the case may be he pleaded with me "Please do not cancel your service." Before I could remind him that I wasn't actually canceling but rather transferring my service he offered me the digital cable package for only $19.99. The catch is that it would only be good for one year and at the end of that year I would have to remember to call and change it or automatically be billed the regular price of $39.99. I signed up at once.
One year later I am calling to see what my options are. I told the rep that I would like to return to the $13 network only plan. I waited. No plead, no offer, no attempt whatsoever to drain more money from me. What I was really hoping for was an offer to extend my current promo at which point I would agree and then inquire about the new DVR box.(Digital Video Recorder) For only $10 more per month I can get a box that will record anything on TV. This would be great. I watch no television. I watch a lot of movies and even TV series but only on DVD. I work until midnight. I will probably try and watch 1 or maybe 2 series this year but I have to rely on the VCR. She didn't go for it. I asked how much it would be. Just to get the DVR the lowest monthly price would be over $60 including taxes and fees. NO WAY. I would sooner buy a TIVO.
Truth is, I am probably better off. I will save over $550 per year on the cheaper plan and when you look at what television really is and how important it is(or should be) to your life it is just mindless entertainment. Sure there are some good or informational shows such as Alton but they are too rare to pay the $60 to be able to see them. Until they start offering actual Bachelor degree programs via cable I will stick with the cheap seats.
Is it the end of an era? In a way, yes. Will I miss it? Probably not when you consider I haven't watched a single episode of any show in my house for the entire summer. Am I better off? Well I did get into the gym today and if I had the DVR I would probably be spending my mornings catching up on shows from the previous evening. Just my thoughts but cutting TV is probably the easiest way that Americans could give more time to family, a constructive hobby, or even shed a few pounds.
Well, I gotta go. I just borrowed a game from my buddy Tim and the story is really starting to pick up :) Have a good day.
Last year when we bought our house I called Comcast and explained to the rep that I had bought a house, I was moving, and I wanted to cancel service at my apartment and transfer it to my house. Maybe it was the use of the "C" word that flagged him. Maybe he was new. Maybe there was an unknown deal that I had stumbled onto. Whatever the case may be he pleaded with me "Please do not cancel your service." Before I could remind him that I wasn't actually canceling but rather transferring my service he offered me the digital cable package for only $19.99. The catch is that it would only be good for one year and at the end of that year I would have to remember to call and change it or automatically be billed the regular price of $39.99. I signed up at once.
One year later I am calling to see what my options are. I told the rep that I would like to return to the $13 network only plan. I waited. No plead, no offer, no attempt whatsoever to drain more money from me. What I was really hoping for was an offer to extend my current promo at which point I would agree and then inquire about the new DVR box.(Digital Video Recorder) For only $10 more per month I can get a box that will record anything on TV. This would be great. I watch no television. I watch a lot of movies and even TV series but only on DVD. I work until midnight. I will probably try and watch 1 or maybe 2 series this year but I have to rely on the VCR. She didn't go for it. I asked how much it would be. Just to get the DVR the lowest monthly price would be over $60 including taxes and fees. NO WAY. I would sooner buy a TIVO.
Truth is, I am probably better off. I will save over $550 per year on the cheaper plan and when you look at what television really is and how important it is(or should be) to your life it is just mindless entertainment. Sure there are some good or informational shows such as Alton but they are too rare to pay the $60 to be able to see them. Until they start offering actual Bachelor degree programs via cable I will stick with the cheap seats.
Is it the end of an era? In a way, yes. Will I miss it? Probably not when you consider I haven't watched a single episode of any show in my house for the entire summer. Am I better off? Well I did get into the gym today and if I had the DVR I would probably be spending my mornings catching up on shows from the previous evening. Just my thoughts but cutting TV is probably the easiest way that Americans could give more time to family, a constructive hobby, or even shed a few pounds.
Well, I gotta go. I just borrowed a game from my buddy Tim and the story is really starting to pick up :) Have a good day.
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2 comments:
no more cable but still plenty of video games, that's the real way to do it.
dude, speaking of good secret deals, some time go to mcdonalds and ask for the 60 cent pop. they give you the huge size for c60!
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