Shortly after Ben was born, we decided it was worth it to splurge for basic cable service. We'd been getting channels 2-13 for literally years, to the tune of about eight bucks per month... a service that isn't even available anymore. So, with a newborn in the house, and an obvious reduction in our freedom to run out and see a movie, we figured it'd be nice to have access to more movies on TV and possibly even a ball game or two. We tied our cable service to our internet service, and although our monthly bill is significantly higher than eight dollars, it has always seemed worth it.Last night, Josh and I were watching the good old tube after Ben went to bed, and saw a commercial for a Time Warner Cable package that seemed like it was offering more than we were currently getting, for roughly the same price. Josh looked up our current service on the web, and noted that for what we've been paying we get roughly 70 channels, a dwindling number of them in HD. The commercial we'd seen advertised over 200 channels. Kind of a big difference, although who really needs even 70 channels is way beyond me. (I watch about three different channels, really and truly.) So he called up the good folks at Time Warner today and found out that the package we'd seen advertised on TV, which Josh thought must be what we were getting due to the similarity in price, is not at all what we've signed up for. The difference, between our 70 channels, about two in HD, and 200 channels, many in HD? Thirty-eight cents. Unreal. I just don't get how whoever signed us up about a year ago neglected to mention that the service we requested was 38 cents shy of being significantly better. It doesn't make sense.
Customer service is pretty much a thing of the past, eh?
4 comments:
That sounds about right. Sadly, if the rep at the time had recommended said highly awesome package, you (any customer) might be singing their praises instead. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me! Except that, they pretty much have a monopoly on these services, so I guess they're not particularly motivated to make sure their customers are happy.
Ha, true enough. And let's be honest, who needs 200 channels anyway?!
Interestingly enough, this whole thing began because we wanted to see Jack Bauer in HD again! :)
i had a RIDICULOUS "customer service" experience today, too. something about automated systems that isn't very friendly. no wonder customer service reps are always bitter ... people are pissed by the time they get to the real person!
Ugh, you know it. And after my whole post last night, Josh had gone down to pick up the new 'box' we'd need to get all these extra channels, and NOTHING was coming in in HD. So he calls TW, and the guy is like, "That's because you don't have an HD box. You have to be specific about what you want."
HUH?
Josh asked him, "Is there an additional charge for the HD box?" and the guy said no.... so we are thinking, THEN WHY DOESN'T EVERYONE GET AN HD BOX? WHO doesn't WANT AN HD BOX? AND DIDN'T WE CALL WANTING MORE *HD* CHANNELS?! Geez, Louise. Ah well.
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