Yesterday's blog focused on Cablevision's quarterly loss, but the problems in cable are not limited to Cablevision. "Cable, satellite and phone companies that provide TV services lost a combined 380,000 video customers in the second quarter, up from the 162,000 subscribers they shed in the same period a year ago." Today's print edition of the NY Post has a chart outlining all the deals that cable is offering to lure new customers to join. Among them, free access to NFL Sunday Ticket, cashback offers, and multi-platform discounts. But what should you do if you don't want to switch cable providers.
Certainly the cost to switch in terms of time spent waiting for the installer to show up at your door may offset the financial gain. But nothing should stop current customers from re-negotiating their monthly bill. That's right, just pick up the phone and threaten to switch. It may take a couple passes from customer service rep to manager to win-back department, but the half hour on the phone could shave multiple dollars off your bill or give you free upgrade to premium content from HBO, Showtime or Starz. Deals may last six months, some a year, but they can give you the same level of serve for less money.
Cable companies don't want to lose any more customers and it is cheaper to discount in order to retain than to install a new customer. So if you have some time, make the call and push for your best deal.
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