RE: [smartBridges] Could not regain association

[The Wirefree Network]

Title: Now have 45 customers on 1 aPPo

Although you have some good thoughts here...you really MUST keep things in perspective and not twist my words.   I am not asking folks to pay more because they have more.  I am asking them to have "integrity".  A word that seems going away through attrition.    I have 2 residential plans clearly spelled out:  1 Computer = $39.95 and 1 Gig transfers 2-6 Computers = $69.95 and 2 Gigs transfers   Over usage is billed as such: 1st Gig over additional $30.00, 2nd Gig over additional $60.00 (plus the $30.00), 3rd Gig over additional $90.00 (plus the $30.00 plus the $60.00), and so on.   With an unthrottled 1.5 Meg connection, a single user abusing his connection could take the entire network down.  It has happened before.  So...as with any shared medium, you must protect your bandwidth.   To get back on track here�you see, I am offering a service that is UNMATCHED by my one competitor.  They are offering throttled connections that are VERY unreliable.  The closest plan they have to mine is a throttle 1.1 Meg connection which runs $199.00 for one computer and $299.00 for 2-3 computers.  So�they are the �rapers�.  They also REQUIRE a contract, whereas I do not.   So�here I am offering a VERY reliable, VERY fast connection.  All I ask is for INTEGRITY.  Pay for the appropriate plan.  I am actually thinking of putting a clause in my �terms of use� that will put in to place a �penalty fee� if the client is found using more than the stated amount of computers.  Problem being�how do you find out.   It may involve sniffing packets and deciphering them??   I will find a way.   Sully     -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Mark Koskenmaki Sent: Sunday, July 06, 2003 12:11 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [smartBridges] Could not regain association Are you really expecting people to spend more for a commodity, just because they have more to spend?   I would not.   Instead of charging for the availability of bandwidth, charge for what they USE.   I'm going to charge $30 a month for a home.  Be it 1 machine or 5, I don't care, because I'll only give them 1 gig of transfer for that, and charge them $5 a gig for each additional.   OR, they can subscribe at $60 a month, and get 7 gigs of transfer and $3 a gig additional.    If you're determined to keep them limited by the machine, use PPPOE, with no route to the internet on the network.  Insist on installing on your own, and monitor what MAC logs in.    Still, this reminds me of the Steve Stroh posting about Speakeasy helping the end user share internet connections by offering billing and hotspot management service.    Do you want to whip your customers into following YOUR model, or is it that you intend to make your customer an integral part of your business?   Over the years, in the industry I came from, we followed "the customer is always right" when it came to providing service and tailoring our services to the customer's wants.      The question is this, do you wish to have an adversarial relationship to the customer?   The telcos are good at that, and so is the cable co.   Don't make thier mistakes.     NEOFAST.NET North East Oregon FAST Net mark(at)neofast.net       ----- Original Message ----- From: The Wirefree Network To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, July 06, 2003 9:15 AM Subject: RE: [smartBridges] Could not regain association Chris...You and I are in the same boat.  I, too, charge for small networks over single computers.  $39.95 for one computer and $69.95 for 2-6 computers (residential prices) with 1 Gig and 2 Gig transfers per months, respectively.   To tell you the absolute truth....I am freaking disgusted by my clients "cheapness".  <-- its a word.  Our homes range from $400k to $550k...so these people have money.   When I put an add on their doorstep, they call me up in almost tears (of joy)....saying..."FINALLY...FINALLY....HIGH-SPEED INTERNET WHERE WE LIVE...I WILL PAY ANYTHING."  My service is unthrottled 1.5 Meg up and down.  So...my prices are WAY lower than what I could be charging.  But...it is all part of my business plan.  I want to be around for the long haul.  Not just rape them for a few months...then DSL or cable modem access moves in and they all switch over.   So...back to my "cheap customers"...anyway....once it comes down to the actual selection of the service plan (39.95 or 69.95), they all turn into freaking cheapos.  URGGGHHHH...I hate it.  They will say stuff like, "Well, Yes... I have 5 computers in my home...but can I just pay $39.95 if I just use one at a time?"  Or...my favorite straight up lie, "I only need the $39.95 account because we will only use this one computer for Internet."  You know DAMN WELL that they are going to spoof that MAC into their router and be smiling like they made one over on me.   I am seriously thinking of installing VPN clients on each "PAID" computer that will only allow THAT computer Internet access.  But even then...I bet there is some easy way around it.  For example, using Windows XP "Share Internet Connection" option.   Anyone have a way to stop this?!??!?!   Sully   --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.497 / Virus Database: 296 - Release Date: 7/4/03