I would like a follow up on this individual. did you cut him a break, and if so how soon after that did he give you a rectal probe of some sort?
On Tue, Oct 6, 2015 at 12:53 PM, Jay Weekley <[email protected]> wrote: > This 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 Mansfield >> >> On Oct 6, 2015, at 10:39 AM, Ken Hohhof <[email protected] <mailto: >> [email protected]>> 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:[email protected]> >>> *Sent:* Tuesday, October 06, 2015 11:28 AM >>> *To:* [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >>> *Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] reasonable request >>> We 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. >>> Mark >>> >>>> On Oct 6, 2015, at 12:20 PM, Ty Featherling <[email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> 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. >>>> -Ty >>>> On Tue, Oct 6, 2015 at 11:11 AM, Brett A Mansfield < >>>> [email protected] <mailto:[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] <mailto:[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] >>>>> <mailto:[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 <mailto:[email protected]> >>>>> *Sent:* Tuesday, October 06, 2015 8:43 AM >>>>> *To:* [email protected] <mailto:[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." >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> > -- If you only see yourself as part of the team but you don't see your team as part of yourself you have already failed as part of the team.
