This is scary!

This is scary!
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jeffscott @ 6th Nov 10:02AM:
This is scary!

Perfect reflection of my recent experience with Comcast...

»www.techdirt.com/articles/200910···47.shtml
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Rob @ 6th Nov 11:37AM:
Re: This is scary!

Well, he got some of it right. The entitlement mentality in this country is alarming.
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number2 @ 6th Nov 01:02PM:
Re: This is scary!

Classic. Reminds me of the Directv commercials that was airing earlier this year.
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The Q @ 6th Nov 01:21PM:
Re: This is scary!

Here is the link to a trade article where the statements were pulled from and not just a few quotes.

»www.broadcastingcable.com/articl···ting.php

and HULU won't be "free" forever either

»www.broadcastingcable.com/articl···Free.php
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DaveNJ @ 6th Nov 01:38PM:
Re: This is scary!

said by Rob :

Well, he got some of it right. The entitlement mentality in this country is alarming.

Comcast itself, feeds that behavior. because of how its treats its customers. Seriously its not all " the customers fault" .

ie
1. We will have tru2way by July.
2. DTA's should have been handled better.
3. The constant blaring commercials when you call comcast.
4. Usage meter ? where is that ?
etc
--
They Live... We Sleep...

“Spreading the wealth around” never results in a better outcome for people. It always results in destruction.

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jeffscott @ 6th Nov 04:38PM:
Re: This is scary!

This was the response I received upon inquiring about their HD expansion..which seems to surround Atlanta but not in the city itself...the outlying areas currently are receiving 3 TIMES as many HD as I currently receive...

Thank you for taking the time to write to the Comcast Office of Rick
Germano, Senior Vice President of Customer Operations. My name is Robert
and I thank you for this opportunity to assist you regarding your HD
channel programming complaint.

We understand how frustrating circumstance such as this can be. We need to hear about any unsatisfactory situations in order
to correct them and to enhance our level of customer service. I have
forwarded your comments to the appropriate members of our development
and management teams for further review. We appreciate the fact that you
took the time to let us know what is important to you.

Comcast is committed to deploying HDTV service. We are working to
provide as many high definition channel broadcasters as possible. Here
are some of the factors involved with expanding our high definition
lineup:

- the negotiation and contract process required to obtain the rights to
carry a specific high definition broadcast, such as TNT-HD and HD-Net.

- the increased bandwidth resources which are required

- the relatively low number of subscribers (currently only a small
minority of customers have high definition compatible television sets)

We will continue to explore additional HD programming opportunities as
more content providers make plans to offer their programming in HD
format.

We hope to expand our high definition channel lineup as fast as we can.
Unfortunately we are unable to provide specific details regarding the
launch of new channels at this time, please keep an eye on your monthly
billing statement as the announcement of any channel additions will
appear on those statements.

Comcast is committed to provide the best customer experience possible.
Your opinion matters to us so we look forward to your feedback...
. We appreciate that you chose Comcast for your communications
and entertainment products. Please contact us if you have any questions
or require additional information.

Thank you for choosing Comcast.

Sincerely,
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The Q @ 6th Nov 04:47PM:
Re: This is scary!

So really not so much a "perfect reflection" of your "recent experience with Comcast" but rather your observations and comments on Comcast COO's recent comments.... Got it.
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jeffscott @ 6th Nov 05:08PM:
Re: This is scary!

just to clarify...it explains my frustration with their current HD lineup..and seemingly little interest in expanding in this area...THAT is why I've decided to dump them...
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cypherstream @ 6th Nov 05:24PM:
Re: This is scary!

I got that canned letter even in 2006/2007 when I used to send email to ecare of Central PA.

Only thing was those dashes (or bullet points) were 7's.

The point that "the relatively low number of subscribers (currently only a small minority of customers have high definition compatible television sets)" made more sense back then, but now that's hogwash.

The advent of XBOX 360, PS3, and even wii which isn't HD, along with the FCC's Digital transition prompted a huge increase in HDTV's in homes today. Upwards to about 53%, from the low 30% a year ago.

What stinks about canned responses, for all you know, not one human being read your e-mail or concern. For all we know, a computer program got your message, scanned it for a few popular keywords and spit back the canned response.

Contact the @comcastcares team on Twitter or go into Comcast direct support on here, or even call 1-800-COMCAST and it will feel much more satisfying knowing your concern was heard by another human being.
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cracker 52 @ 6th Nov 05:41PM:
Re: This is scary!

Or even contact local Comcast support by phone in Atlanta. As I posted before, you'll get some live CSRs who are jaded and don't make much effort. But call again, chances are you'll get a top notched CSR who is on the ball, and if they don't know the answer personally, they'll call someone who does while they put you on hold. At least in Atlanta, phone CSRs are more likely to know what's the latest Cavalry schedule than the national customer support center.

I always thought that using e-mail or chats in this situation are usually the most cumbersome, ineffective way to get responses/answers for local matters.
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Joe12345678 @ 6th Nov 10:11PM:
Re: This is scary!

Comcast will have more people on HD if they can get rip of the rip off high rent fees come on $8-$10 per HD box and $15-$20 per HD DVR for 160-250 to as high 320gb?

The DTA seem like a real half ass thing why not use the mini full digital cable boxes and not dta's?

Why can the dta / any clear qam tv get the full digital lineup but HBO,SHOW,MAX,STARS, and PPV?

$6-$7/m for a SD box?

Why can people buy them?

A real half ass cable card system nice way to drive people to your high priced boxes that you rent.

Direct tv does things right $5 /m for any box and they bigger HDD with working e-sata in the dvr's with networking as well.

I see comcast raping people with tru2way

with outlet + cable card / systems access fees / software + HD fees + maybe even DVR / guild fees as well per tv.
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cracker 52 @ 6th Nov 10:29PM:
Re: This is scary!

So why aren't you using Direct TV if you're so enamored with them and full of vile hatered toward Comcast?
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patryan9 @ 7th Nov 11:58AM:
Re: This is scary!

said by Rob :

Well, he got some of it right. The entitlement mentality in this country is alarming.

Agreed, the mentality of corporations that feel they're entitled to get money from consumers for items that they (consumers) don't need is revolting.
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Rob @ 7th Nov 12:11PM:
Re: This is scary!

said by patryan9 :

said by Rob :

Well, he got some of it right. The entitlement mentality in this country is alarming.

Agreed, the mentality of corporations that feel they're entitled to get money from consumers for items that they (consumers) don't need is revolting.

And the mentality that consumers think they can steal something because the big bad corporation makes too much money is revolting.
--
CheckSite.us | YourIP.us | Reverseip.us
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beavercable @ 7th Nov 06:32PM:
Re: This is scary!

You mean the walmart entitlement mentality.
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anon @ 7th Nov 06:51PM:
Re: This is scary!

No, the shoplifter mentaiity.
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patryan9 @ 7th Nov 09:39PM:
Re: This is scary!

said by beavercable :

You mean the walmart entitlement mentality.

Which would be perfect... Walmart makes a ton of money and consumers spend a lot of money there due to the low prices. Unlike the entertainment cartels forming, competition is ample for Walmart and it's helped make them a better company.
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anon @ 8th Nov 07:49AM:
Re: This is scary!

Several problems exist with the "walmart" theory of low being applied to the pay tv and pay internet and phone business.

If you think the service you receive now is poor, just wait until they cut all the employees wages to just above minimum wage and then hire a majority of part time employees and work them 30 hours a week without benefits. I cannot really speak for a lot of the techs on this forum but I do know if I was being only paid 8$ an hour I would not be doing anything but walking into a house trading out a bad box or modem and leaving.

Definitely no crawl space or attic work to replace the customers do it your self outlet back feeding noise and destroying telephone call quality. On an install if the outlet was not already where you had the tv at then I would not be doing any wall fishing for 8$ an hour. You could forget about any kind of network maintenance period. At the 8$ an hour walmart salary range you definitely would never get anyone to stick around long enough to gather the experience and training needed to be a network technician.

If you think the programming quality is bad now, can you say really bad, just never ending cheap to produce reality shows on every network. No well written well acted network series type shows, a company run like wal mart would never pay the up front costs for excellent shows like ER, True Blood the Tudors, Sienfield, Hereos, or even WWE wrestling. Forget about the High Production costs that goes into any NFL, MLB, NBA or NCAA football or basketball telecast.

Wal mart may now offer some name brand products you can counter argue with, but those brands have only shown up in wal mart after they were first in high end stores for a few years, and the High end stores have moved onto a different brand or a better version of the same brand. Personally every time I ever bought or tried to buy anything at wal mart that was a wal mart brand at the $1.00 wal mart price the item barely lasted a month of use. There is a reason a pipe wrench or a rain suit only costs $1 because it is piece of crap. There is a reason a car tire only costs $20 bucks installed because it is a piece of crap.
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gar187er @ 8th Nov 07:12AM:
Re: This is scary!

said by Joe12345678 :

Comcast will have more people on HD if they can get rip of the rip off high rent fees come on $8-$10 per HD box and $15-$20 per HD DVR for 160-250 to as high 320gb?

The DTA seem like a real half ass thing why not use the mini full digital cable boxes and not dta's?

Why can the dta / any clear qam tv get the full digital lineup but HBO,SHOW,MAX,STARS, and PPV?

$6-$7/m for a SD box?

Why can people buy them?

A real half ass cable card system nice way to drive people to your high priced boxes that you rent.

Direct tv does things right $5 /m for any box and they bigger HDD with working e-sata in the dvr's with networking as well.

I see comcast raping people with tru2way

with outlet + cable card / systems access fees / software + HD fees + maybe even DVR / guild fees as well per tv.

1- dvr's arent cheap....

2- because people (40+) dont want to deal with cable boxes...not to mention dta's are 5x cheaper...

3- because now you essentially having a cable box with entitlement on it, and a cable card...price just went up!!

4-ummm no....3 bux....if you want all your channels, then yes, its extra, but thats for programming....not just the box

5- i guess this is supposed to say "why cant"....talk to the manufacturer...not comcast

6- tall to the fcc, and moto/SA for this one...comcast didnt make the system...

7- so go with them!

8- ummmm no.....no guide fees, no system access fees, no software fees...where do you come up with this?!?!!?!?
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gar187er @ 8th Nov 07:15AM:
Re: This is scary!

dude retail comparison is crap....people have 30 stores to choose from....this is only a few for entertainment....dish, or a cable co.....

but fact is, both sides are right....people always bad mouth comcast cause they are too bog, and make too much...etc....the company started from the ground up.....they earned the right to be where they are....
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nerdburg @ 8th Nov 10:42AM:
Re: This is scary!

said by gar187er :

but fact is, both sides are right....people always bad mouth comcast cause they are too bog, and make too much...etc....the company started from the ground up.....they earned the right to be where they are....

Agreed. People pay for Comcast's services, because Comcast offers something people want. They are where they are because they are a savvy company.

They are greedy bastards, but savvy greedy bastards.
--
[Insert Comcast employee disclaimer here.]
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Joe12345678 @ 8th Nov 09:27PM:
Re: This is scary!

said by gar187er :

dude retail comparison is crap....people have 30 stores to choose from....this is only a few for entertainment....dish, or a cable co.....

but fact is, both sides are right....people always bad mouth comcast cause they are too bog, and make too much...etc....the company started from the ground up.....they earned the right to be where they are....

earned the right buy buying up systems and jacking prices up.
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gar187er @ 8th Nov 09:47PM:
Re: This is scary!

said by Joe12345678 :

earned the right buy buying up systems and jacking prices up.

yea cause people would want a crappy analog only system with a 2 week appointment window, no VOD, no HD, no HSI, AND high prices?!?!?!
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Joe12345678 @ 8th Nov 11:14PM:
Re: This is scary!

said by gar187er :

said by Joe12345678 :

earned the right buy buying up systems and jacking prices up.

yea cause people would want a crappy analog only system with a 2 week appointment window, no VOD, no HD, no HSI, AND high prices?!?!?!

no comcast can make the dta work with full starter line may even preferred but they don't.

They can let you buy the $100-$150 cable box but they don't.

They can lower the rent on HD and HD dvr box but they don't.

what is point of outlet fees on top cable card rent ways and why can't we buy the cable card? Service Electric cable lets you buy them.

Why is that some cable co's have the moxi from them with VOD but if you buy it on your own you can't get VOD and need the add on SDV tuner for the systems that need it.

It seems like they are locking stuff out to force to use there boxes.
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