We recently received a call from my sister and brother-in-law from New York. They were excited about Time Warner Cable being acquired by Comcast, thinking that their monthly rates from Time Warner would drop. I almost fell off the chair laughing. I informed them that if they should expect anything, get ready for a rate increase.
With the impending combination of Time Warner and Comcast, I expressed concern they would become a monopoly. It reminded me of the break-up of AT&T years ago, because they were considered a monopoly. Well, here we go again.
On the same topic, one of our neighbors gave me a copy of an article from the Wall Street Journal, reprinted in the Daily Herald a few days ago. The article was entitled: “Get more from your cable company for less.” The article took a different slant on the situation, suggesting that the cable companies were becoming more receptive to making deals with customers for fear of losing not only the cable business but also the telephone and Internet business that most customers purchase today in bundles.
What the article said is true about bundled services. At least it is true of my sister’s situation and ours. However, I haven’t yet experienced the receptiveness to making a deal. The article did indicate that you would have to take the initiative and contact the cable company’s customer service periodically to request the deal. That’s so true. We are under a six month “deal” right now, but it took a lengthy conversation to save about $20 a month for six months.
As a matter of fact, if you don’t make the call to the cable company, you can count on rate increases about every six months, or at the end of the latest “deal” you cut with them. I found one of the article’s suggestions very creative: if you talked with a cable company representative who was not interested in offering a rate reduction deal, don’t give up. Wait a couple of days and call again. You might get a more receptive representative and get your deal.
The world has certainly changed, my friends. When you think about how we “buy” today, compared to yesteryears, we buy more and more in “bundles” or “bulk quantities.” Whether it be at cable companies, Costco, Sam’s Club, or through a “Prime” account shopping online with Amazon, we are buying in greater volumes or bundles to obtain volume and shipping discounts. Merchandisers are willing to trade off price cuts for increased volume or quantity in sales. What’s your best bundle deal?
•Send in your questions and ideas to: Sun Day, Frugal Forum Column, P.O. Box 761, Huntley, IL 60142, or, by email to: thefrugalforum@gmail.com.
