This won’t take long today.
As usual I have a little something to get off my chest. While I do a lot of
creative things that act as my bread and butter, I also work a part-time job
that supplements my income. Now exactly where I work is of no concern, you'll
all probably figure it out in just a moment. But the things I've heard and the
problems I've come across while doing this job are absolutely dumbfounding to
me. If you are buying or signing up for anything such as satellite TV, mobile
phone or home phone service, or internet service, why would you sign on the
dotted line without reading the contract first? What makes people believe that
the offer they saw on TV is the best offer they could ever get? Need an
example, ok.
*Sign up now for our phone
service and get this (insert favorite phone brand here) for free and pay only
$45 a month.
*Get (insert favorite TV
service here) and pay 35% less than (other TV service).
AFTER you get it you
realize that said mobile phone service requires a certain two year plan with
ridiculous termination fees, only certain phones are available with this offer,
plus you have to sign up for this, that, and the other as well. NOT ONLY THAT,
but you find out that the competitors TV service is normally $115 a month. 35%
off that means a bill of somewhere around $71-$75; without taxes. And then
people like me get the fun job of having to hear people like that call in and
complain. "I was never told blah blah blah', 'Why is my bill so high', I
should be let out of my contract because I was misinformed', and the annoying
and most pathetic one, ' I feel unhappy so what are you going to do for me as a
customer, what will you give me"? Now you want something because you feel
you deserve it for not doing your job. All because no one took time to read the
fine print, ask in depth questions to more than just one person, and most
importantly, LOOK FOR THE BEST OFFER.
People if you want to stay
out of debt, afford the things you want and skip the headaches, you've got to get past the introductory
prices and new customer offers and look at what it’s going to cost you down the
road. And never look at just one company or speak to just one person at that
company. For instance, when I was looking for a mobile phone the first thing I
did was look at coverage. Where I live, most carriers were eliminated. Of the
ones that were left, I spent almost a month comparing. That included me calling
the store and asking them about the plans and prices. I made sure to ask them
what this will cost me after the one year. Then I called that company's sales
department and asked them the same things. THEN I called their regular customer
service and asked them. A lot of times I got three different answers, so
naturally they were eliminated. I went with prepaid in the end because I could
up or downgrade at any time I felt like, I paid one flat fee with no surprises
on a bill every month, and everything is unlimited (with great coverage). Do I
have the hottest phone, No. Do you, Probably. Does you bill go up and down
monthly and are there sometimes hidden charges, More than likely. Do I have
that issue, NOT! When it comes to my satellite, was I told one thing during
sign up and then shocked by my bill later (even 12 months later after I was no
longer a new customer), again NOT!! I went beyond the introductory low price
and calculated all my bills using the regular price, plus tax, plus overages,
plus ppv, and equipment. Needless to say I always paid less than what I
budgeted for. When you have to start calling these places and complaining and
arguing about something you could have fixed; a look at your bill, research
online and from existing customers, asking the hard questions; you just give
away your power and you're left at the mercy of someone who can only do so much
within company policy and that includes managers. And threating to cancel;
WHATEVER; you don't want to pay the termination fee so stop lying. Not to
mention you'd have to go through this all over again at your new company because
it's a sure thing you didn't learn the first time.
Let's face it, these
companies advertise new phones like they advertise cars, a new one every
second. And the mobile carries and satellite companies and so on, they love
that consumer need; that need to have "it" now, and have
"it" be better than someone else's. And some of you out there will
always fall into that trap if you can’t do your homework. It's worth it in the
end to do what is necessary to get the best for your wallet and your family; not
what's best for your image. As always shoppers, stay in Faith, stay Blessed,
and stay Happified.
ta ta for now
S
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