Quote:
Originally Posted by denphone
Well done for getting a good deal Chad but it does seem that the full paying customers are subsidising many of these customers who get half price deals every year and l am not sure for the many customers who are loyal to their provider that is fair as they seem to be subsidising all this.  |
That's the problem. Providers see loyal customers as easy guaranteed money. They don't have to fight hard to retain them. How many people are unhappy with what they pay per month, and price increases, yet stay with their provider and begrudgingly continue to pay regardless?
When was the last time anyone felt their TV provider truly fought to keep their custom? When I left Virgin I'd been a customer for around 8 years, the majority of them I was on the VIP package. I re-contracted with them for 18 months around March 2012 to get TiVo. 8 months later I received a letter stating my package was going up by around £5.50 per month. I was not prepared to accept the price increase, called them and cancelled my contract under the terms and conditions. Even though I had been with them for 8 years and was on their top end package with 10 months still to run on my contract, Virgin wouldn't offer me any kind of favorable discount. They would only make downgrades to my package to save me money. They'd rather lose me as a long time loyal customer than offer some kind of discount to convince me to stay. The same thing with SKY recently. I called to cancel as my package was going up to full price. SKY offered me 30% off with no contract at all to stay. I advised whilst I appreciated the offer it was still more per month than I was prepared to pay. I cancelled my services and 3 weeks later I received a letter offering 50% to come back. In the end, due to getting my broadband for free, I'm actually getting close to 55% off my package. I didn't even really have to do anything. SKY really wanted me back as a customer and in the end where prepared to meet my price expectations.
Ultimately my main concern is what I pay per month. If it's at the expense of others, shame on them for not doing something about it. The SKY 50% off deal is available to all every 8 weeks or so. Likewise Virgin do now and again offer 12 months half price if you join them on a 18 month contract.