I wonder if R. Lee Ermey is available. Glen Waldrop wrote:
Third time's a cheat...http://contentmarketingtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/geicotherapistthrowingkleenexbox.jpg----- Original Message ----- From: "Glen Waldrop" <gwl...@cngwireless.net>To: <af@afmug.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2015 3:27 PM Subject: Re: [AFMUG] reasonable requestLet's try this again...----- Original Message ----- From: "Glen Waldrop" <gwl...@cngwireless.net>To: <af@afmug.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2015 2:41 PM Subject: Re: [AFMUG] reasonable request----- Original Message ----- From: "Jay Weekley" <par...@cyberbroadband.net>To: <af@afmug.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2015 12:53 PM Subject: Re: [AFMUG] reasonable requestThis is a communication we received from someone shortly after IBEC folded."Seems to me that you guys are kind of trying to take a little advantage of the unfortunate plight of the IBEC customers. We got charged $100.00 by IBEC for a modem to get set up for their service and then paid a fairly reasonable monthly fee of 29.95. For this investment we only got just a little over a year's worth of service before we received word that they are ending their service due to their inability to overcome the tornado damage from April 27 2011. Now you guys seem to be trying to capitalize on the present circumstances that IBEC customers find themselves in by charging double the setup charge and double the monthly fee. It's either you guys or back to dialup service for us IBECS at this point. It would just be nice given the status of the current economic situation for someone to have a little sympathy on those of us who are already struggling to make ends meet. I believe I read where WISP banded together to help you guys out and get up and running again after the Tornado back in April, so it would be nice to see you all do unto others as you would have others do unto you. I know you all are a business and have to make enough money to stay afloat, but it would be nice to feel like there was a company out there willing to give the little guy a break every now and then. Hopefully you guys will reconsider the situation and decide to give us a better deal than is currently being offered, because at this point frankly a lot of us IBEC customers are gun shy due to the rug being pulled out from under us. I mean what's to prevent you guys from doing the same thing to us a few months down the road after we put out the money to get set up with your service? Signed, frustrated in Crane Hill. "Brett A Mansfield wrote:My area is a lot of people that seem to be entitled about everything. They are cheapskates of all cheapskates. If they can get away with paying less they will. And the few customers I have that did pay a $50 install fee back when I charged it are the ones I have the hardest time getting to pay their bills. It is certainly different in every market. The vast majority of my customers are brand new families that are just starting out.Thank you, Brett A MansfieldOn Oct 6, 2015, at 10:39 AM, Ken Hohhof <af...@kwisp.com <mailto:af...@kwisp.com>> wrote:We overlap with Rise. They do free install + first month free. When I fire a customer for egregious nonpayment problems, I often see a Rise dish appear on their house. And then disappear a few months later. One former customer is on their 5th WISP dish on their house. Rise has installed and de-installed twice. If your area is very upscale, maybe what Mark says isn�t true. I am not so lucky, and my experience is similar to Mark�s. We will break the install fee into 2 payments if the customer makes a credible case they can�t pay it all at once, like retirees on fixed income.*From:* Mark Radabaugh <mailto:m...@amplex.net> *Sent:* Tuesday, October 06, 2015 11:28 AM *To:* af@afmug.com <mailto:af@afmug.com> *Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] reasonable requestWe have tried both free install, $25 install and $75 install. There is a significant correlation between the number of short term (<90 day) non-pay disconnects and the free or $25 install. Keeping the install high enough that the customer has at least some skin in the game makes a measurable difference.MarkOn Oct 6, 2015, at 12:20 PM, Ty Featherling <tyfeatherl...@gmail.com <mailto:tyfeatherl...@gmail.com>> wrote: I wasn't speaking globally. In our area the only company that is offering free installs is the one that can't seem to keep customers.-TyOn Tue, Oct 6, 2015 at 11:11 AM, Brett A Mansfield <li...@silverlakeinternet.com <mailto:li...@silverlakeinternet.com>> wrote:Companies that are hurting for customers are not the only onesthat do free installation. I am not hurting for customers at all (I'd actually like to offload a few) and I do free installation.Anyone that has a quality product at the right price for customer and the ISP can afford to do a free installationbecause that customer will be very loyal and stay with you for along time. Thank you, Brett A Mansfield On Oct 6, 2015, at 9:47 AM, Ty Featherling<tyfeatherl...@gmail.com <mailto:tyfeatherl...@gmail.com>> wrote:I basically told him just that. I told him the only providers giving away installations are those that are hurting for customers. I gave him all to positives about our company and service and told him I hope he finds what he is looking for from another provider. -Ty On Tue, Oct 6, 2015 at 9:26 AM, Ken Hohhof <af...@kwisp.com <mailto:af...@kwisp.com>> wrote: You can�t always get what you want. But if you try sometimes you just might find You get what you need. I would take the position that your service is the best available in your area, and it costs what it costs, nopromos or freebies. If it�s the best, people pay your priceon your terms to get it. You know all those 50 year old guys you see driving newCorvettes? Most of them have wanted one since they were 20 and kept asking the dealer when they were having a sale. So they drove Malibus for 30 years, until they paid the askingprice for the Corvette. Do these guys walk up to supermodels and say �Hey, babe,if you�re ever giving it away, call me�? Does that everwork? And if it did work, would that change the desirability factor?I�ve had people like this ask once a year if we were havinga promo or free installs yet and finally after 2-3 years order service. The fact that you don�t give it away enhances your brand image as the best. Or they just continue on their quest for fast, good andcheap with a guarantee but no strings and no upfront cost. And a pony.*From:* Ty Featherling <mailto:tyfeatherl...@gmail.com> *Sent:* Tuesday, October 06, 2015 8:43 AM *To:* af@afmug.com <mailto:af@afmug.com> *Subject:* [AFMUG] reasonable request Check this out, via our website contact us form: "Message: I would like to use your service but I'm tired of endless promises from vendors regarding reliability and available. Up to xmps is a hollow promise.I would like to use your service but I'm not willing to payan installation charge or sign a "contract", and want 24x7 availability and reliability.What can you "garrantee" that will satisfy my requirements?Thanks" I replied with my best explanation of how internet service works in the real world. I let him know we could possible get him a dedicated connection and included an estimated cost so that he could see the difference. His reponse was to ask what our plans are to support UHD (Ultra-High-Definition) streaming video. He thinks it is ridiculous that he can only get HD streams to work. I think I got through to him but damn, what the hell makes a person think they can demand more while saying they shouldn't have to pay installation or have a contract. He finally left me with "let me know if you ever have a promotion for free install and no contract."
