Truth. I was talking about that yesterday.
If the first question is "how much is it going to cost?" then the price is probably higher than they're willing to pay. $150 install here, breaks even on about half, loses on the rest. Small business, so the install fee keeps our parts fund from eating us. It also keeps out the folks that want Internet just to watch the game, then disconnect. Don't have time for that nonsense. Just so the customers like this I could send christmas cards to digitally, that they would recieve in January when it finally downloads between outages and sub 56k connectivity Btw, That One Guy, well said. ----- Original Message ----- From: Josh Luthman To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2015 11:15 AM Subject: Re: [AFMUG] reasonable request $50 install helps offset the cost, increase revenue, and slows down on installs. If you're flooded for work it's a solution. From my point of view, it keeps all of the bottom feeders out; I let the other guys deal with the "no install fee" and deal with the problematic customers. Josh Luthman Office: 937-552-2340 Direct: 937-552-2343 1100 Wayne St Suite 1337 Troy, OH 45373 On Tue, Oct 6, 2015 at 12:11 PM, Brett A Mansfield <[email protected]> wrote: Companies that are hurting for customers are not the only ones that 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 installation because that customer will be very loyal and stay with you for a long time. Thank you, Brett A Mansfield On Oct 6, 2015, at 9:47 AM, Ty Featherling <[email protected]> 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 <[email protected]> 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, no promos or freebies. If it’s the best, people pay your price on your terms to get it. You know all those 50 year old guys you see driving new Corvettes? 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 asking price 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 ever work? And if it did work, would that change the desirability factor? I’ve had people like this ask once a year if we were having a 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 and cheap with a guarantee but no strings and no upfront cost. And a pony. From: Ty Featherling Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2015 8:43 AM To: [email protected] 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 pay an 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."
