Price Increase or a come on sales pitch?

I have looked at Verizon and Cingular.. Believe I am going with
Cingular. My old cell company contract expires 9/5/05. My daughter has
beena cingular customer for a while now and she recently was told at
the Cingular store that I shoud switch before 9/1/05 as the various
contracts are going up by $10.00 a month. Is there anyway to confirm
this? I really can not switch prior to the end of contract with the
current folks but got to thining and wonder if this was just a
saleman's way to bait me or what??
thanks

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› See More: Price Increase or a come on sales pitch?

Dan wrote:

> I have looked at Verizon and Cingular.. Believe I am going with
> Cingular. My old cell company contract expires 9/5/05. My daughter has
> beena cingular customer for a while now and she recently was told at
> the Cingular store that I shoud switch before 9/1/05 as the various
> contracts are going up by $10.00 a month. Is there anyway to confirm
> this? I really can not switch prior to the end of contract with the
> current folks but got to thining and wonder if this was just a
> saleman's way to bait me or what??
> thanks

It might be a come on. I'd suggest going to a Cingular corporate store,
explain your timing & desire to become a Cingular customer. But don't
mention having heard about a possible rate increase. Let them mention it,
or not. If they do mention a rate increase, then explore signing
before9/1, but activating after the other contract runs out. That's
assuming you want to port your number. If you don't care about keeping the
same phone number, just overlap the two for six days. If there is a rate
increase, you might also want to check with a Cingular authorized agent.
Sometimes they can bend the rules better than the corporate stores can.
Also try the tollfree number for Cingular sales, possibly more than once
(if you don't get the right help the first time). If you get to the right
people, they have more flexibility than the stores do.

Bill K

It's no come on. Family Talk prices are going up 9/1/05. It may not be all
bad though because they are giving you more minutes for the more money and
adding extra lines will be $9.99 each instead of the current $14.99. I you
want to see the exact pricing go to Verizon's web site. The new pricing
will be exactly the same as theirs.

Fred

"Bill Kraski" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:OqbPe.20290$M3.5980@trnddc05...
> Dan wrote:
>
>> I have looked at Verizon and Cingular.. Believe I am going with
>> Cingular. My old cell company contract expires 9/5/05. My daughter has
>> beena cingular customer for a while now and she recently was told at
>> the Cingular store that I shoud switch before 9/1/05 as the various
>> contracts are going up by $10.00 a month. Is there anyway to confirm
>> this? I really can not switch prior to the end of contract with the
>> current folks but got to thining and wonder if this was just a
>> saleman's way to bait me or what??
>> thanks
>
> It might be a come on. I'd suggest going to a Cingular corporate store,
> explain your timing & desire to become a Cingular customer. But don't
> mention having heard about a possible rate increase. Let them mention it,
> or not. If they do mention a rate increase, then explore signing
> before9/1, but activating after the other contract runs out. That's
> assuming you want to port your number. If you don't care about keeping
> the
> same phone number, just overlap the two for six days. If there is a rate
> increase, you might also want to check with a Cingular authorized agent.
> Sometimes they can bend the rules better than the corporate stores can.
> Also try the tollfree number for Cingular sales, possibly more than once
> (if you don't get the right help the first time). If you get to the right
> people, they have more flexibility than the stores do.
>
> Bill K

Fred wrote:
> It's no come on. Family Talk prices are going up 9/1/05. It may not be all
> bad though because they are giving you more minutes for the more money and
> adding extra lines will be $9.99 each instead of the current $14.99. I you
> want to see the exact pricing go to Verizon's web site. The new pricing
> will be exactly the same as theirs.

Before July 16, '05, Verizon's Family Share was $59.99 for two lines,
500 peak minutes, $9.99 each additional line, free m-m (Verizon
wireless), free n&w. Max of 5 lines per account. Cingular Family Talk
was (is) $59.99 for two lines, 500 peak, $14.99 each additional line,
free m-m (Cingular), free n&w. Max of 4 lines per account.

After July 16, Verizon went to $69.99 for two lines, 700 peak minutes,
all else the same. It is likely that Cingular will match the new
pricing of Verizon. I wonder if they will allow up to five lines per
account rather than four.

It has been my experience that 500 peak minutes is adequate for four
adults who don't use the phones for idle chatter. I wish the
"competition" between Verizon and Cingular would force them to lower
the prices rather than raise the minutes.

Lena

Dan wrote:
> I have looked at Verizon and Cingular.. Believe I am going with
> Cingular. My old cell company contract expires 9/5/05. My daughter has
> beena cingular customer for a while now

The two biggest factors, IMHO, since the pricing is about the same, is
coverage and frequent contacts. Compare the coverage maps of the two
carriers in your area, and determine what service the folks you call
most often are on, to take advantage of the free mobile to mobile
minutes.

Lena

"Lena" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> pricing of Verizon. I wonder if they will allow up to five lines per
> account rather than four.
>
Cingular already allows up 5 total lines on FT. Been that way for about 3
months or so.(Primary and up to 4 additional)

Mark

Lena wrote:
> Fred wrote:
>> It's no come on. Family Talk prices are going up 9/1/05. It may not be all
>> bad though because they are giving you more minutes for the more money and
>> adding extra lines will be $9.99 each instead of the current $14.99. I you
>> want to see the exact pricing go to Verizon's web site. The new pricing
>> will be exactly the same as theirs.
>
> It has been my experience that 500 peak minutes is adequate for four
> adults who don't use the phones for idle chatter. I wish the
> "competition" between Verizon and Cingular would force them to lower
> the prices rather than raise the minutes.

Actually, it's the consumers that drive the prices. Since consumers of
cell phones seem to be happy adding extra services (including minutes),
there's no incentive to drop prices. It's also the reason that text
messaging pricing plans aren't very good. I'm on a family share plan and
have agreed to use very little of the peak minutes. Instead, I'm using
text messaging during the day. Cingular's text messaging plans are
ridiculous ($4.99 for 200, $9.99 for 500).

Ed Buffey wrote:
>
> Lena wrote:
> > It has been my experience that 500 peak minutes is adequate for four
> > adults who don't use the phones for idle chatter. I wish the
> > "competition" between Verizon and Cingular would force them to lower
> > the prices rather than raise the minutes.
>
> Actually, it's the consumers that drive the prices. Since consumers of
> cell phones seem to be happy adding extra services (including minutes),
> there's no incentive to drop prices. It's also the reason that text
> messaging pricing plans aren't very good. I'm on a family share plan and
> have agreed to use very little of the peak minutes. Instead, I'm using
> text messaging during the day. Cingular's text messaging plans are
> ridiculous ($4.99 for 200, $9.99 for 500).

That's like saying consumers are happy with the higher gas
prices because they are paying them. I just signed up for a
Verizon family plan. I most definitely did NOT want 700 minutes,
but what choice did I have? Verizon has the best service at my
house and where my daughter will be going to school, so I had to
use them. If the providers really wanted to give the consumers
what they wanted, they wouldn't keep dropping the lowest price
plans, and let the consumers pick the higher ones only IF they
wanted them, not because there was no other option.

And to be honest, I'd be more inclined to add other options if I
wasn't being forced to spend $70 + fees just on the basic
service.

Bill

Bill wrote:

> That's like saying consumers are happy with the higher gas
> prices because they are paying them. I just signed up for a
> Verizon family plan. I most definitely did NOT want 700 minutes,
> but what choice did I have? Verizon has the best service at my
> house and where my daughter will be going to school, so I had to
> use them. If the providers really wanted to give the consumers
> what they wanted, they wouldn't keep dropping the lowest price
> plans, and let the consumers pick the higher ones only IF they
> wanted them, not because there was no other option.
>
> And to be honest, I'd be more inclined to add other options if I
> wasn't being forced to spend $70 + fees just on the basic
> service.

The do have a lot of people convinced that they cannot do without
a cell phone. I know how you feel as I have one from ATTWS that
has been transferred to Cingular, I rarely use it and only kept it
for emergencies I am lucky if I average 1 minute per month. But
I am not sure what I will do when they force me to change. $25
seems high just for convenience. Hey my land line is that much
and I can spend all day on the phone and don't have to worry about
roaming and all that stuff. Of course I am one of those old fogeys
but as long as people are willing to pay they will keep raising
prices. Hey we had free TV, now cable and Satellite. Like that
movie said "Build it and they will come" Well if it is a new toy
people will pay whate ever to get it. I guess if you consider it
a necessity then you will have to foot the bill, if it is not then
drop it, enough people did it prices would drop but like with the
gas don't expect people to give up what they think is now a necessity.

Lee

"Lee" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:k%[email protected]...
> Bill wrote:
>
>> That's like saying consumers are happy with the higher gas
>> prices because they are paying them. I just signed up for a
>> Verizon family plan. I most definitely did NOT want 700 minutes,
>> but what choice did I have? Verizon has the best service at my
>> house and where my daughter will be going to school, so I had to
>> use them. If the providers really wanted to give the consumers
>> what they wanted, they wouldn't keep dropping the lowest price
>> plans, and let the consumers pick the higher ones only IF they
>> wanted them, not because there was no other option.
>>
>> And to be honest, I'd be more inclined to add other options if I
>> wasn't being forced to spend $70 + fees just on the basic
>> service.
>
> The do have a lot of people convinced that they cannot do without
> a cell phone. I know how you feel as I have one from ATTWS that
> has been transferred to Cingular, I rarely use it and only kept it
> for emergencies I am lucky if I average 1 minute per month. But
> I am not sure what I will do when they force me to change. $25
> seems high just for convenience. Hey my land line is that much
> and I can spend all day on the phone and don't have to worry about
> roaming and all that stuff. Of course I am one of those old fogeys
> but as long as people are willing to pay they will keep raising
> prices. Hey we had free TV, now cable and Satellite. Like that
> movie said "Build it and they will come" Well if it is a new toy
> people will pay whate ever to get it. I guess if you consider it
> a necessity then you will have to foot the bill, if it is not then
> drop it, enough people did it prices would drop but like with the
> gas don't expect people to give up what they think is now a necessity.
>
> Lee

One can always shop and use wisely to lower ones costs. We have 4
cell-phones, which cost us less than ten bucks a month (total for all four).

Russell

Russell wrote:

> One can always shop and use wisely to lower ones costs. We have 4
> cell-phones, which cost us less than ten bucks a month (total for all four).


Hi Russell

And the secret is? (grin) I travel and that is why I have the
cell phone that I have if not for that I would not have one. If I can
get one for a better price let me at it!

Lee

"Lee" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Russell wrote:
>
>> One can always shop and use wisely to lower ones costs. We have 4
>> cell-phones, which cost us less than ten bucks a month (total for all
>> four).
>
>
> Hi Russell
>
> And the secret is? (grin) I travel and that is why I have the
> cell phone that I have if not for that I would not have one. If I can
> get one for a better price let me at it!
>
> Lee

Lee,

My provider is http://www.gobeyondwireless.com/. Old technology (TDMA). In
fact my state is not even listed on their maps - but I still get "on
network" rates. No connection with them, except being a very happy customer.
Love the incoming free text messages.

Russell

Russell wrote:
>
> "Lee" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Russell wrote:
> >
> >> One can always shop and use wisely to lower ones costs. We have 4
> >> cell-phones, which cost us less than ten bucks a month (total for all
> >> four).
> >
> > Hi Russell
> >
> > And the secret is? (grin) I travel and that is why I have the
> > cell phone that I have if not for that I would not have one. If I can
> > get one for a better price let me at it!
> >
> > Lee
>
> Lee,
>
> My provider is http://www.gobeyondwireless.com/. Old technology (TDMA). In
> fact my state is not even listed on their maps - but I still get "on
> network" rates. No connection with them, except being a very happy customer.
> Love the incoming free text messages.
>
> Russell

That's great, and I have had my daughter on a pre-paid plan for
the past few years while she was in high school (my son will now
use that phone), but not that she is going away to college, that
is no longer an option. She has to call her old friends from
school, and us, and with the family plan and free in-network
calling on Verizon, that is the best option.

I am about to give up an old $14.99 business plan from AT&T (I
am sure they will be sad to see me go). I got 60 minutes a
month, 250 night/weekend and free long distance, plus 23% off
the base charge. But now that I have a family plan, it's worth
it to just pay $9.99 plus fees and add another line to the
account.

Bill

Bill Kraski wrote:

> If they do mention a rate increase, then explore signing
> before9/1, but activating after the other contract runs out. That's
> assuming you want to port your number. If you don't care about keeping the
> same phone number, just overlap the two for six days.

Actually, you can still port a number even after you've activated the
phone. Cingular's porting department can handle the switchover.
They'll just drop the number that was originally assigned to his
Cingular phone(s), and then run the porting process on his old numbers.




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Bill wrote:

> That's like saying consumers are happy with the higher gas
> prices because they are paying them.

It's not ABOUT what the customers are *happy* with, it's about what they
will pay, happy or not. The carriers are using a strategy in which they
are not undercutting each other, but instead pricing their plans as high
as the market will bear.

The problem with this strategy, at least on Cingular's end of things, is
that Verizon prices higher and STILL gains more customers because there
is a mythos (whether true or not isn't the point, just that it exists)
that Verizon Wireless is more reliable and provides a higher degree of
quality in their service, and thus the premium pricing is warranted.
Cingular has NOT managed to shake off if its image of having some
issues, especially as it tries to shake off TDMA customers. So I'm not
sure they succeed in this pricing strategy.


> I just signed up for a
> Verizon family plan. I most definitely did NOT want 700 minutes,
> but what choice did I have? Verizon has the best service at my
> house and where my daughter will be going to school, so I had to
> use them.

See? And I too went with Verizon because they cover my home and work
betteer than Cingular. Though I am happy in my switch because Verizon
offers a discount for employees of the company I work for, softening the
sting.



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