Who in here is moving to another cable/satellite company?

[ZandarKoad]

Exactly the opposite...meaningful competition will lead to lower prices, more attractive customer incentives, and force the competing companies to be more efficient or die trying. The local cable company would not be offering this promotion if they did not have competition from Verizon (see attached).

We have a winner.

Price increases should actually be the opposite of the norm. As business operate and compete and human ingenuity sees that all jobs are done at ever increasing levels of efficiency prices should drop and drop and the quality of life should improve for all involved. Unless of course the whole country is in debt (aka slavery) and simplying paying interest on massive un-repayable loans to a private corporation (the Federal Reserve).

But as it is, I would expect price increases to keep up with inflation as our money supply approaches the inevitable fate of the German Mark. I would say price increases have less to do with the industry itself and more to do with the aforementioned lenders.

So don't be pissed at the cable company or Dishnetwork when they raise your bill. Your anger is mis-directed IMHO.

Competition is good...

I'll give ya a cookie if you can name the billionaire who was famous for the quote, "Competition is a sin."

 

[Zero327]

Exactly the opposite...meaningful competition will lead to lower prices, more attractive customer incentives, and force the competing companies to be more efficient or die trying. The local cable company would not be offering this promotion if they did not have competition from Verizon (see attached).

The days of price matching and then cutting ten percent are long gone Riff. Customers are more concerned about stability above incentives, not that incentives don't play a role but overall most customers would rather have a reliable service. Meaningful competition in the new millenium is all about maintaining a price relative to the competition while producing more desirable product (new receivers) or higher quality services (DishHD vs. HD-Lite.)

Cable companies continue to triple play because anything less and satellite gains the upper hand. Satellite is still a major player due to higher quality, more features and better reputation overall than cable comps. DISH's lowest price gets them some customers yes, but DISH's toys are what will put them past D*, if and when that happens. But you can't produce new toys and still maintain the lowest price point, something will give in time.

Customers want to hear that competition is driven by price drops (because customers always want free money,) but that hasn't been the case in the better part of five years and wishing it was doesn't make it so. It's a comforting thought, but it makes no business sense, and you won't see any of the major companies using it more than they are presently. Features, channels, loyalty are the desirables of now.

 

[yaz96]

.......Meaningful competition in the new millenium is all about maintaining a price relative to the competition while producing more desirable product (new receivers) or higher quality services (DishHD vs. HD-Lite.)....

Umm, DishHD IS HD-Lite.....

 

[Zero327]

Umm, DishHD IS HD-Lite.....

I was talking ideal to actual but ok then.