Game, Set, Match

*ping*

Comcast just increased my bill (again), so I was in a receptive mood last week when a Verizon representative came knocking on my door. More services, ten dollars less a month, and customer service completely based in the US (the Prof and I have literally spent a cumulative total of a dozen days of our lives on the phone to India). I signed up, with the option to back out at any time up to the day of installation.

*pong*

I called Comcast to cancel service. THEY offered me the same deal I already had for a $15 savings. I decided that the $5 savings were a good enough inducement since it would save me a little cash plus the agony of switching carriers, so I agreed.

*ping*

I called Verizon back and told them I’d changed my mind and wanted to cancel my order. They offered to match Comcast, but it really wasn’t worth it to me to go through the aggravation of installing all new computer/television service (new wiring had to be installed, new equipment had to be brought in, new systems had to be learned) for no net savings, so I thanked them. They told me that I was welcome to change my mind any time in the next 30 days.

*poing*

Whatever it was I agreed to with Comcast caused them to try and reinstall some sort of something through our internet. This effectively killed my internet for the better part of a day within minutes of the phone call. After three more hours on the phone with India, I finally had my service working again, but was as hissed as pell.

*ping*

Just after I got my computer service back, while I was still fuming, Verizon called me back. The nice customer service person on the phone said that they had learned I had changed my mind and they just wanted to confirm my reasons. When I said that Comcast had offered a better price (not strictly true, but close enough) Verizon cut another $40 per month off their price for the next 12 months. Worked for me. I signed back up.

*pong*

I called Comcast yet again to truly and firmly cancel my service with them, and THEY matched Verizon’s new price. Comcast wasn’t offering free modem, free DVR, and a bunch of premium channels free, so their matched price was still comparing apples to oranges. By that time I was tired of India, tired of haggling, and tired of Comcast. I told them (politely, albeit a bit testily) thanks but no thanks. Actually, what I said was that I was “this time I am through with you guys”.

*ping*

It’s a week later. The nice Verizon service guy just installed everything this morning. They got everything installed and working within 2 ½ hours, even though none of the wiring was in place when they started. The internet is noticeably faster, and the television system is intuitive enough that I’ve figured out how to use most of the new options.

*poing*

And yet I am not completely happy. Why the heck couldn’t both parties just give their best price up front? I feel like both companies tried to “take” me, since both could so easily afford to keep undercutting their own offers. If there was a third internet/cable provider around I’d jump to them in a heartbeat (though I’d probably discover they were playing the same price game too).

Still, I have now bought myself twelve months of peace before the whole haggling starts all over again.