Comments on: Have You Checked Your Cable Bill Lately?

By: Larry

Larry — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:42:27 +0000

Hi Martha! Good to hear from you.

Yeah, so many scams, so little time to watch out for them…

One problem with TP is that there are so many different measurements to consider… how many “ply” it is, how big each square is, how many square feet there are (is that per roll? per package?), what 1 roll = 2 regular rolls actually means (depends on what the ‘regular rolls’ refers to), the amount of recycled content, not to mention how it will feel on various orifices… At least Tuna comes down to weight… but then, even there there is ratio of fish to water, which the can does not reveal… Finally, there’s the cost/benefit analysis of the time you’re putting in to make the decision, which will almost always come out as: not worth it.

By: Martha

Martha — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:09:21 +0000

Hi Larry!
A couple of years ago I received a rebate check from a company I’d done business with, took it to the bank and deposited it. When I was checking my VISA bill the next month there was a charge of 19.99 that I didn’t recognize. Turns out that yes, I had done business with that company, but that wasn’t a rebate check. They had sold my name to a different company which had then sent me a check with teeny tiny print on it that meant “Cashing this check will set you up to be billed for a service you neither need nor want forever and ever until you find out”. I called them and cancelled the service right away but not without an annoying sales pitch. I posted this story to our Pun list-serve and another teacher wrote and said he looked at his bill and he’d been charged by this company for TWO YEARS.
I also lowered our electricity bill by $40./month by switching to a flat screen iMac and turning off the other computers that have CRTs.
And I stand in front of the TP and tuna too!!! What really gets me are the signs at Safeway that say how much/lb the regular price is, but the sale price is 10 lb/$8.00 but they don’t break that down into the price/lb. When I’m shopping I just don’t want to have to do math. It doesn’t raise the trust level any either.

By: Larry

Larry — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:18:58 +0000

You’re a better consumer than I am, John. I do, however, stand in front of supermarket displays for several minutes, trying to figure out just which package of toilet paper or can of tuna fish is most economical – and ethical – to buy. The variables are absolutely mind-boggling.

By: John Whitney

John Whitney — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:35:50 +0000

It’s not just cable TV, that is the new approach for raising prices in a deflationary environment across the board. Banks and their hidden fees, health clubs that charge an extra 13th month for “equipment upgrades”, and let’s face it, the university system has always had hidden fees in the form of lab fees, admission fees, extra online course fees (for what, 1 meg of space on an existing server versus a classroom??).

I just ordered contact lenses from an online vendor which I’ve used for years. Suddenly at checkout there was a an extra fee with no explanation. I barely noticed it, but I called to check it out. Yes, I had free shipping, but that was the “handling” charge. She said not to worry, my invoice that came with the shipment would explain it all. And let’s not forget cell phone bills. Nobody can tell you what your service really costs once you start using text messages and all the other options.

Cable bills are completely negotiable. I’ve made a habit of stopping and paying my bill in person each month and striking up a conversation with the clerk to find out what deals are being offered. There are always packages that aren’t really mentioned to current subscribers. If you call and talk to “customer retention” you can work all kinds of deals if you’re up for it. The key is to mention a competitor and the price will drop. They have at least figured out it costs more to recruit new business than keep existing customers, but you have to stay on top of it.

I’ve gotten in the habit of scrutinizing every bill, which maybe isn’t really worth the time, but it’s become a hobby of mine I guess. Call me a cheapskate, but I find it kind of insulting and manipulative. For me I guess it’s almost an ego thing now. It’s not really about the money I’m saving. And all of this is likely to change yet again if and when inflation returns to the economy.