So I use Comcast Xfinity, just for internet. My one goal is, pay the least amount possible. Had a $35/month introductory rate they were giving me for a year, but a few months that went to a $55/m plan, all just for the lowest level of internet they're willing to publicly advertise. Does anyone have advice on the best way to haggle them down?
Back when we lived in NYC, I had managed to get myself a 4mb down / 1 up plan for $15 / month from Time Warner Cable (sorry, "Spectrum"), and that was plenty enough to stream medium-def Netflix, Youtube, etc, whatever I needed. They sent me all sorts of offers and letters to upsell, and I ignored them and paid a pittance and it was great. But to get that, at some point I had to call and ask for a special service type, one they don't publish, that's just for cheapos like me. And I have no idea if the equivalent exists for Comcast. I know there's a low-income program for like people who are on food stamps, but that's not me.
Ordinarily I'd just call them up and say I'm canceling to see what offers they give me to stay, except nobody fucking cancels internet today, especially not in 2020, so I assume I'm not going to get the best deal. I just don't have a credible threat. What am i going to say, that I'm just going to tether on my phone? FIOS doesn't run out here, nor AT&T, there are no other ISPs worth the name, they're the only game in town and they know it. So what do I go with? "I lost my job and have to cut expenses"? And I don't even know what's in the realm of the possible with the retention department, like if they have a lower-cost package they don't publish, just for my type of asshole.
All advice appreciated.
also:
- Yes, there are articles out there, I've read them. They all have competitive services to counter with, and usually are haggling over particular channel lineups and packages. That's not me.
- I place very little value on getting bandwidth north of about 10mbps. I'd place a small value on additional upstream, because I sometimes move big datafiles for work, but that value would be small.
Back when we lived in NYC, I had managed to get myself a 4mb down / 1 up plan for $15 / month from Time Warner Cable (sorry, "Spectrum"), and that was plenty enough to stream medium-def Netflix, Youtube, etc, whatever I needed. They sent me all sorts of offers and letters to upsell, and I ignored them and paid a pittance and it was great. But to get that, at some point I had to call and ask for a special service type, one they don't publish, that's just for cheapos like me. And I have no idea if the equivalent exists for Comcast. I know there's a low-income program for like people who are on food stamps, but that's not me.
Ordinarily I'd just call them up and say I'm canceling to see what offers they give me to stay, except nobody fucking cancels internet today, especially not in 2020, so I assume I'm not going to get the best deal. I just don't have a credible threat. What am i going to say, that I'm just going to tether on my phone? FIOS doesn't run out here, nor AT&T, there are no other ISPs worth the name, they're the only game in town and they know it. So what do I go with? "I lost my job and have to cut expenses"? And I don't even know what's in the realm of the possible with the retention department, like if they have a lower-cost package they don't publish, just for my type of asshole.
All advice appreciated.
also:
- Yes, there are articles out there, I've read them. They all have competitive services to counter with, and usually are haggling over particular channel lineups and packages. That's not me.
- I place very little value on getting bandwidth north of about 10mbps. I'd place a small value on additional upstream, because I sometimes move big datafiles for work, but that value would be small.