Rate Plans
Has anyone noticed how in the past 3 years alone how much rate plans have gone up? I sure many have. I am curious to the customers what do you think of this? I remember when you could get a post paid plan for 19.99. now post paid plans start at 39.99 in many cases. I guess this is from all them free phones people scream for every year. Free phones all the time will only drive wireless rates up more and more year. Has anyone wondered what other countries charge for thier wireless service? For example British telecom they do not get n&w with thier plans. Has anyone compared plans with other nations and see how the US compares on what you get?
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My point is you think we have it bad here look at the UK British Telecom one example. for 200 minutes you pay 9.99ponds that is 21.18 for the first 3 months no n&w and then 30 pounds per month after that which is 63.60 CAD dollars or in us dollars 17.38 and 52.20. This is just the minutes they get they have no n&w minutes. I get with rogers 125 minutes and unlimited n&w starting at 6pm till 8am billed per second after the first minute. thats pretty good especially considering the size of our country. we cannot expect rogers or any company to compare to any company in the us that has more customers then there is in our country. come one now.
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Gone UP? I remember when a post-paid plan gave you 30 mins for 75.00 dollars a month and that did not even include longdistance...this was not so long ago....
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wireless4me said:
Gone UP? I remember when a post-paid plan gave you 30 mins for 75.00 dollars a month and that did not even include longdistance...this was not so long ago....
Yeah back in the analog days yeah they were nasty plans. but then people were able to get post paid plans for 15 dollars 10 dollars 20 dollars. not a lot included always but you were able to get post paid service on that now. Most cases it is 39.99 and up.
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I'm going to have to agree with meegs00 and go with supply and demand (I'm amazed someone mentioned it, many don't understand it). Market pressures define what the price for service will be, not free phones being given out. If that were the case, and prices were set to reflect the cost of the goods and services, prices would be so high in some instances that people would refuse to buy them. Cingular may "lose" money on free phones, but in the long run, it help to reduce risk, which in a business like Cingular's, means a lot. The risk I'm talking about is a mass exodus. Can you imagine how many people would up and leave the first time they have crappy customer service or reception? Selling a discounted phone keeps this risk really low. ...
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Actually if you look you would find you can get service for no monthly fee, just pay per use (if you only need that few of minutes).
It is called Go Phone.
It may not be nicely wrapped in a $19.99 rate but it works out just the same. And the $19.99 plans typically had 50 or so minutes in a home only area whereas Go Phone would give you 80 minutes (or more) for the same $20 with nationwide coverage and the option of unlimited MTM. If you REALLY never use it you could buy a $25 Go Phone card and it will last 90 days (that is about $8 per month!)
You avoid the $36 activation fee and can buy a phone for the same amount on ebay if you like, plus have no contract.
Now what was that about there being no more cheap monthly plans?
It is called Go Phone.
It may not be nicely wrapped in a $19.99 rate but it works out just the same. And the $19.99 plans typically had 50 or so minutes in a home only area whereas Go Phone would give you 80 minutes (or more) for the same $20 with nationwide coverage and the option of unlimited MTM. If you REALLY never use it you could buy a $25 Go Phone card and it will last 90 days (that is about $8 per month!)
You avoid the $36 activation fee and can buy a phone for the same amount on ebay if you like, plus have no contract.
Now what was that about there being no more cheap monthly plans?
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texaswireless said:...
Actually if you look you would find you can get service for no monthly fee, just pay per use (if you only need that few of minutes).
It is called Go Phone.
It may not be nicely wrapped in a $19.99 rate but it works out just the same. And the $19.99 plans typically had 50 or so minutes in a home only area whereas Go Phone would give you 80 minutes (or more) for the same $20 with nationwide coverage and the option of unlimited MTM. If you REALLY never use it you could buy a $25 Go Phone card and it will last 90 days (that is about $8 per month!)
You avoid the $36 activation fee and can buy a phone for the same amount on ebay if you like, plus have no contract.
Now what was that about there
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