Overheard at Work

[Seppia]

I have no idea, I just got back 5 months ago and I don't have the pulse for the Italian market yet.

Wild guess is nobody is buying houses 10x their gross salary, apart for maybe some lower middle class people in Milan and Rome, where housing is very expensive compared to what people make (think NYC type of salary to cost ratio).

I'm buying a just completely renovated small 1 bedroom, in my home town, for two main reasons
1- wife and I are from the same hometown but live and work 1h away. Would be cool to have a place to stay close to family and friends on the weekend.
2- its price is 14-15 times the annual rent I could get for it
3- we have no intention to buy where we work now as there's close to zero probability we would be here long term.

[ShoulderThingThatGoesUp]

Sometimes cash/100% at front is cheaper, but many times, they push the financing so hard that it's actually worse for you if you want to pay in cash.  Go negotiate a deal on a car where they think you're financing at 0%, and then tell them at the last minute you want to pay cash, they'll try to renegotiate the deal because they want you in the financing, even at 0%.  They get kickbacks from the financing company to keep you financed, even at 0%.  Can't say I completely understand it, but I've witnessed it.

Interesting.   I had no idea that's how it could work.

In fact, last new car we bought, we were able to get a flat $500 off the cash price if we financed it at some really low rate I don't recall because we did so then paid it off after the first month.  We didn't save much as we'd expected, though, as we had to pay the state DMV to retitle it to us instead of the finance company, I don't know if we would bother to go through that effort again. 

It is definitely worth asking the dealership about, though.

It was actually titled in their name?  Usually, there's just lien notice on the title itself, but it's still in your name. And although many do, it's not necessary to retitle when the lien is paid off. Just keep the lien release paperwork with the title, and you're good.

This varies by state. In Pennsylvania my understanding is that you do not have physical possession of the title if somebody holds a lien on it; the lienholder has it.

[terrier56]

Today I had a good one.

Me - I am just happy to finally have wifi again after 2 weeks since I moved into this new place.

CW - Me and my partner don't have wifi which sucks since for every 1GB of data we go over on our phone or ipad costs us $10. So most months he will spend $700 on both devices.

Me - 0_0. Yeh a $60 plan can go a long way to stopping that.

[JAYSLOL]

Today I had a good one.

Me - I am just happy to finally have wifi again after 2 weeks since I moved into this new place.

CW - Me and my partner don't have wifi which sucks since for every 1GB of data we go over on our phone or ipad costs us $10. So most months he will spend $700 on both devices.

Me - 0_0. Yeh a $60 plan can go a long way to stopping that.

Holy shit.  My brain hurts just reading that

[MgoSam]

Today I had a good one.

Me - I am just happy to finally have wifi again after 2 weeks since I moved into this new place.

CW - Me and my partner don't have wifi which sucks since for every 1GB of data we go over on our phone or ipad costs us $10. So most months he will spend $700 on both devices.

Me - 0_0. Yeh a $60 plan can go a long way to stopping that.

Holy shit.  My brain hurts just reading that

WOW! I'm sorry but I feel dumber having heard of your CW. That said, I'm sure they many more gems so please post more.

[boarder42]

Today I had a good one.

Me - I am just happy to finally have wifi again after 2 weeks since I moved into this new place.

CW - Me and my partner don't have wifi which sucks since for every 1GB of data we go over on our phone or ipad costs us $10. So most months he will spend $700 on both devices.

Me - 0_0. Yeh a $60 plan can go a long way to stopping that.

Holy shit.  My brain hurts just reading that

WOW! I'm sorry but I feel dumber having heard of your CW. That said, I'm sure they many more gems so please post more.

holy hell.  this is beyond ... i dont even.... people are dumb.

[LennStar]

Today I had a good one.

Me - I am just happy to finally have wifi again after 2 weeks since I moved into this new place.

CW - Me and my partner don't have wifi which sucks since for every 1GB of data we go over on our phone or ipad costs us $10. So most months he will spend $700 on both devices.

Me - 0_0. Yeh a $60 plan can go a long way to stopping that.

Holy shit.  My brain hurts just reading that

WOW! I'm sorry but I feel dumber having heard of your CW. That said, I'm sure they many more gems so please post more.

holy hell.  this is beyond ... i dont even.... people are dumb.

OMFFG
With that you can get a business fiber cable to your home and still have money left.

[HairyUpperLip]

he will spend $700 on both devices.

lol wow , did CW say it with pride or like that's cool? Or did they at least seem embarrassed sharing that information?

[canuck_24]

Today I had a good one.

Me - I am just happy to finally have wifi again after 2 weeks since I moved into this new place.

CW - Me and my partner don't have wifi which sucks since for every 1GB of data we go over on our phone or ipad costs us $10. So most months he will spend $700 on both devices.

Me - 0_0. Yeh a $60 plan can go a long way to stopping that.

Oi!  I get a lot of similar conversations here, but somewhat flipped the other way.  There's a company that provides a bundle "deal" if you get all your services together, which almost all my coworkers use.  Essentially the home phone and wifi, cable and cell phone package all come from the same provider, and of course if you pick the most expensive in each category you "save" the most money (a max of $40 off if you have all 4 services and are in the top tier pricing)!  So my CWs all have unlimited wifi, unlimited cell phone data for them and all their kids, a house phone, and cable.  If you are actually USING all of those services, that's one thing... but when we moved here and I was asking around for the better provider to use, here's a conversation I had with 2 separate CWs:

Me: "Do you ever even use the house phone?" 
CW: "No. But it's included in the bundle"   [Note: it's $30/month extra for the phone, $45 if you want unlimited long distance. It isn't "included".]

Me: "Well, unlimited data is great, but how much are you usually using?"
CW: "Oh, not much.  I check a few emails, maybe watch a video.  Usually less than 1GB.  I mostly use Wi-Fi, but the data is included in the bundle."   [Note: A cell plan with regular 500MB of data is $30.  It is $85 for unlimited internet for one phone, and goes up with each family member, up to $160 for 5 people, plus a regular cell phone plan under that.]

Me: "If I do a quick calculation here for your family, it looks like you'd save a minimum of $50/month if you don't buy the bundle, and keep using the same services you are using."
CW: "It's only $50/month, and having it in a bundle is just easier."
Me: "But nothing would change. It's all still on one bill, no one would have to come disconnect anything, it would be exactly the same."
CW: "Nah, this is just easier."

I give up.

[Inaya]

Me: "Do you ever even use the house phone?" 
CW: "No. But it's included in the bundle"   [Note: it's $30/month extra for the phone, $45 if you want unlimited long distance. It isn't "included".]

Who the heck uses a house phone for long distance? Isn't it included on most cell phone plans? Unless they mean international?

[Chris22]

Today I had a good one.

Me - I am just happy to finally have wifi again after 2 weeks since I moved into this new place.

CW - Me and my partner don't have wifi which sucks since for every 1GB of data we go over on our phone or ipad costs us $10. So most months he will spend $700 on both devices.

Me - 0_0. Yeh a $60 plan can go a long way to stopping that.

Oi!  I get a lot of similar conversations here, but somewhat flipped the other way.  There's a company that provides a bundle "deal" if you get all your services together, which almost all my coworkers use.  Essentially the home phone and wifi, cable and cell phone package all come from the same provider, and of course if you pick the most expensive in each category you "save" the most money (a max of $40 off if you have all 4 services and are in the top tier pricing)!  So my CWs all have unlimited wifi, unlimited cell phone data for them and all their kids, a house phone, and cable.  If you are actually USING all of those services, that's one thing... but when we moved here and I was asking around for the better provider to use, here's a conversation I had with 2 separate CWs:

Me: "Do you ever even use the house phone?" 
CW: "No. But it's included in the bundle"   [Note: it's $30/month extra for the phone, $45 if you want unlimited long distance. It isn't "included".]

Me: "Well, unlimited data is great, but how much are you usually using?"
CW: "Oh, not much.  I check a few emails, maybe watch a video.  Usually less than 1GB.  I mostly use Wi-Fi, but the data is included in the bundle."   [Note: A cell plan with regular 500MB of data is $30.  It is $85 for unlimited internet for one phone, and goes up with each family member, up to $160 for 5 people, plus a regular cell phone plan under that.]

Me: "If I do a quick calculation here for your family, it looks like you'd save a minimum of $50/month if you don't buy the bundle, and keep using the same services you are using."
CW: "It's only $50/month, and having it in a bundle is just easier."
Me: "But nothing would change. It's all still on one bill, no one would have to come disconnect anything, it would be exactly the same."
CW: "Nah, this is just easier."

I give up.

I have the Comcast Xfinity Triple Play, and I ran the numbers, "unlimited long distance" land line cost $9 to include in my bundle.  Given that I have a small child who I sometimes leave with a baby sitter, and my cell phone is a work phone, I don't own the number, and it's nice to give telemarketers, etc, a number that you don't carry in your pocket 24/7, it's well worth the $9. 

[onlykelsey]

Today I had a good one.

Me - I am just happy to finally have wifi again after 2 weeks since I moved into this new place.

CW - Me and my partner don't have wifi which sucks since for every 1GB of data we go over on our phone or ipad costs us $10. So most months he will spend $700 on both devices.

Me - 0_0. Yeh a $60 plan can go a long way to stopping that.

Oi!  I get a lot of similar conversations here, but somewhat flipped the other way.  There's a company that provides a bundle "deal" if you get all your services together, which almost all my coworkers use.  Essentially the home phone and wifi, cable and cell phone package all come from the same provider, and of course if you pick the most expensive in each category you "save" the most money (a max of $40 off if you have all 4 services and are in the top tier pricing)!  So my CWs all have unlimited wifi, unlimited cell phone data for them and all their kids, a house phone, and cable.  If you are actually USING all of those services, that's one thing... but when we moved here and I was asking around for the better provider to use, here's a conversation I had with 2 separate CWs:

Me: "Do you ever even use the house phone?" 
CW: "No. But it's included in the bundle"   [Note: it's $30/month extra for the phone, $45 if you want unlimited long distance. It isn't "included".]

Me: "Well, unlimited data is great, but how much are you usually using?"
CW: "Oh, not much.  I check a few emails, maybe watch a video.  Usually less than 1GB.  I mostly use Wi-Fi, but the data is included in the bundle."   [Note: A cell plan with regular 500MB of data is $30.  It is $85 for unlimited internet for one phone, and goes up with each family member, up to $160 for 5 people, plus a regular cell phone plan under that.]

Me: "If I do a quick calculation here for your family, it looks like you'd save a minimum of $50/month if you don't buy the bundle, and keep using the same services you are using."
CW: "It's only $50/month, and having it in a bundle is just easier."
Me: "But nothing would change. It's all still on one bill, no one would have to come disconnect anything, it would be exactly the same."
CW: "Nah, this is just easier."

I give up.

I have the Comcast Xfinity Triple Play, and I ran the numbers, "unlimited long distance" land line cost $9 to include in my bundle.  Given that I have a small child who I sometimes leave with a baby sitter, and my cell phone is a work phone, I don't own the number, and it's nice to give telemarketers, etc, a number that you don't carry in your pocket 24/7, it's well worth the $9.

I'm pregnant now, and have been playing with a landline.  I think if we end up doing a nanny or nanny share, I'll definitely look in to it.  We don't own a TV, so I doubt a "bundle" would make sense, but it may still be worth it.

[canuck_24]

Today I had a good one.

Me - I am just happy to finally have wifi again after 2 weeks since I moved into this new place.

CW - Me and my partner don't have wifi which sucks since for every 1GB of data we go over on our phone or ipad costs us $10. So most months he will spend $700 on both devices.

Me - 0_0. Yeh a $60 plan can go a long way to stopping that.

Oi!  I get a lot of similar conversations here, but somewhat flipped the other way.  There's a company that provides a bundle "deal" if you get all your services together, which almost all my coworkers use.  Essentially the home phone and wifi, cable and cell phone package all come from the same provider, and of course if you pick the most expensive in each category you "save" the most money (a max of $40 off if you have all 4 services and are in the top tier pricing)!  So my CWs all have unlimited wifi, unlimited cell phone data for them and all their kids, a house phone, and cable.  If you are actually USING all of those services, that's one thing... but when we moved here and I was asking around for the better provider to use, here's a conversation I had with 2 separate CWs:

Me: "Do you ever even use the house phone?" 
CW: "No. But it's included in the bundle"   [Note: it's $30/month extra for the phone, $45 if you want unlimited long distance. It isn't "included".]

Me: "Well, unlimited data is great, but how much are you usually using?"
CW: "Oh, not much.  I check a few emails, maybe watch a video.  Usually less than 1GB.  I mostly use Wi-Fi, but the data is included in the bundle."   [Note: A cell plan with regular 500MB of data is $30.  It is $85 for unlimited internet for one phone, and goes up with each family member, up to $160 for 5 people, plus a regular cell phone plan under that.]

Me: "If I do a quick calculation here for your family, it looks like you'd save a minimum of $50/month if you don't buy the bundle, and keep using the same services you are using."
CW: "It's only $50/month, and having it in a bundle is just easier."
Me: "But nothing would change. It's all still on one bill, no one would have to come disconnect anything, it would be exactly the same."
CW: "Nah, this is just easier."

I give up.

I have the Comcast Xfinity Triple Play, and I ran the numbers, "unlimited long distance" land line cost $9 to include in my bundle.  Given that I have a small child who I sometimes leave with a baby sitter, and my cell phone is a work phone, I don't own the number, and it's nice to give telemarketers, etc, a number that you don't carry in your pocket 24/7, it's well worth the $9.

I'm pregnant now, and have been playing with a landline.  I think if we end up doing a nanny or nanny share, I'll definitely look in to it.  We don't own a TV, so I doubt a "bundle" would make sense, but it may still be worth it.

If you're USING the things you are paying for in your bundle is one thing, but just paying for it because the company spun the whole package as a "savings"... well, that's an entirely different story.  If I had small kids at home, I would probably consider having a landline too.  I don't, and the CWs mentioned in the story don't - their kids are all teenagers and all have cell phones with unlimited everything plans.

Probably worth mentioning too that I'm in Canada and don't get many of the cell phone promo deals available States-side.

[Kitsune]

I'm pregnant now, and have been playing with a landline.  I think if we end up doing a nanny or nanny share, I'll definitely look in to it.  We don't own a TV, so I doubt a "bundle" would make sense, but it may still be worth it.

We actually got a landline after having a kid and moving to the country... mostly because having a 'family' line meant that child-related things went to the family, and NOT only to The Mom who would then be expected to coordinate EVERYTHING. And because the landline doesn't drop a signal when there's crappy weather. Yay spotty cell coverage!

We don't bundle, though - we have internet (special company, because we are in the middle of nowhere), have cheap cell phones with another place, and the cheapest no-frills landline with a third company. Any company that offers bundling either doesn't do internet where we live (seriously, middle of nowhere) OR only uses it to push cable TV packages, which we never listen to, so NOPE.

[mtn]

Today I had a good one.

Me - I am just happy to finally have wifi again after 2 weeks since I moved into this new place.

CW - Me and my partner don't have wifi which sucks since for every 1GB of data we go over on our phone or ipad costs us $10. So most months he will spend $700 on both devices.

Me - 0_0. Yeh a $60 plan can go a long way to stopping that.

Oi!  I get a lot of similar conversations here, but somewhat flipped the other way.  There's a company that provides a bundle "deal" if you get all your services together, which almost all my coworkers use.  Essentially the home phone and wifi, cable and cell phone package all come from the same provider, and of course if you pick the most expensive in each category you "save" the most money (a max of $40 off if you have all 4 services and are in the top tier pricing)!  So my CWs all have unlimited wifi, unlimited cell phone data for them and all their kids, a house phone, and cable.  If you are actually USING all of those services, that's one thing... but when we moved here and I was asking around for the better provider to use, here's a conversation I had with 2 separate CWs:

Me: "Do you ever even use the house phone?" 
CW: "No. But it's included in the bundle"   [Note: it's $30/month extra for the phone, $45 if you want unlimited long distance. It isn't "included".]

Me: "Well, unlimited data is great, but how much are you usually using?"
CW: "Oh, not much.  I check a few emails, maybe watch a video.  Usually less than 1GB.  I mostly use Wi-Fi, but the data is included in the bundle."   [Note: A cell plan with regular 500MB of data is $30.  It is $85 for unlimited internet for one phone, and goes up with each family member, up to $160 for 5 people, plus a regular cell phone plan under that.]

Me: "If I do a quick calculation here for your family, it looks like you'd save a minimum of $50/month if you don't buy the bundle, and keep using the same services you are using."
CW: "It's only $50/month, and having it in a bundle is just easier."
Me: "But nothing would change. It's all still on one bill, no one would have to come disconnect anything, it would be exactly the same."
CW: "Nah, this is just easier."

I give up.

I have the Comcast Xfinity Triple Play, and I ran the numbers, "unlimited long distance" land line cost $9 to include in my bundle.  Given that I have a small child who I sometimes leave with a baby sitter, and my cell phone is a work phone, I don't own the number, and it's nice to give telemarketers, etc, a number that you don't carry in your pocket 24/7, it's well worth the $9.

I'm pregnant now, and have been playing with a landline.  I think if we end up doing a nanny or nanny share, I'll definitely look in to it.  We don't own a TV, so I doubt a "bundle" would make sense, but it may still be worth it.

I called to drop our cable, since we don't watch it. It was cheaper for me to keep [a lower level of] cable than to drop it. Seriously, internet alone costs more than the same internet plus cable. WTF?

[RyanAtTanagra]

I called to drop our cable, since we don't watch it. It was cheaper for me to keep [a lower level of] cable than to drop it. Seriously, internet alone costs more than the same internet plus cable. WTF?

For most people, they know if it's there they'll watch it, which means they're watching commercials.  I imagine the variable costs for one more cable customer, when the lines are already all there, are almost nil.

[Million2000]

I called to drop our cable, since we don't watch it. It was cheaper for me to keep [a lower level of] cable than to drop it. Seriously, internet alone costs more than the same internet plus cable. WTF?

For most people, they know if it's there they'll watch it, which means they're watching commercials.  I imagine the variable costs for one more cable customer, when the lines are already all there, are almost nil.

My household doesn't have a TV, so we only want internet. For a while I kept getting blasted with cold calls asking me to sign up for a bundle that included phone and cable TV. One guy just kept talking about how great the TV cable package was even after I repeatedly told him I didn't have the equipment to use this "great package". I guess he was trying to get me to buy a TV. I ended up hanging up on him, I couldn't even interrupt the guy to say goodbye.

It was almost as bad as the Comcast customer retention lady telling me the lower tier internet speed (3mbps) was "too slow" for wifi. The cable companies are truly banking on the illiterate consumer.

[dragoncar]

I'm pregnant now, and have been playing with a landline.  I think if we end up doing a nanny or nanny share, I'll definitely look in to it.  We don't own a TV, so I doubt a "bundle" would make sense, but it may still be worth it.

We actually got a landline after having a kid and moving to the country... mostly because having a 'family' line meant that child-related things went to the family, and NOT only to The Mom who would then be expected to coordinate EVERYTHING. And because the landline doesn't drop a signal when there's crappy weather. Yay spotty cell coverage!

We don't bundle, though - we have internet (special company, because we are in the middle of nowhere), have cheap cell phones with another place, and the cheapest no-frills landline with a third company. Any company that offers bundling either doesn't do internet where we live (seriously, middle of nowhere) OR only uses it to push cable TV packages, which we never listen to, so NOPE.

But the "landline" on Xfinity-type bundles isn't even a real landline.  It's a glorified VOIP phone that uses the cable system.  So if your internet goes down (e.g., power goes out), likely your "landline" will be down as well.

[Kitsune]

I'm pregnant now, and have been playing with a landline.  I think if we end up doing a nanny or nanny share, I'll definitely look in to it.  We don't own a TV, so I doubt a "bundle" would make sense, but it may still be worth it.

We actually got a landline after having a kid and moving to the country... mostly because having a 'family' line meant that child-related things went to the family, and NOT only to The Mom who would then be expected to coordinate EVERYTHING. And because the landline doesn't drop a signal when there's crappy weather. Yay spotty cell coverage!

We don't bundle, though - we have internet (special company, because we are in the middle of nowhere), have cheap cell phones with another place, and the cheapest no-frills landline with a third company. Any company that offers bundling either doesn't do internet where we live (seriously, middle of nowhere) OR only uses it to push cable TV packages, which we never listen to, so NOPE.

But the "landline" on Xfinity-type bundles isn't even a real landline.  It's a glorified VOIP phone that uses the cable system.  So if your internet goes down (e.g., power goes out), likely your "landline" will be down as well.

Yep. And that's why we have an old-school landline.

And non-cable internet, because the actual lines around here are bad enough that you can only get dial-up.

When I say middle of nowhere with crap infrastructure? I mean it.

[Rural]

I'm pregnant now, and have been playing with a landline.  I think if we end up doing a nanny or nanny share, I'll definitely look in to it.  We don't own a TV, so I doubt a "bundle" would make sense, but it may still be worth it.

We actually got a landline after having a kid and moving to the country... mostly because having a 'family' line meant that child-related things went to the family, and NOT only to The Mom who would then be expected to coordinate EVERYTHING. And because the landline doesn't drop a signal when there's crappy weather. Yay spotty cell coverage!

We don't bundle, though - we have internet (special company, because we are in the middle of nowhere), have cheap cell phones with another place, and the cheapest no-frills landline with a third company. Any company that offers bundling either doesn't do internet where we live (seriously, middle of nowhere) OR only uses it to push cable TV packages, which we never listen to, so NOPE.

But the "landline" on Xfinity-type bundles isn't even a real landline.  It's a glorified VOIP phone that uses the cable system.  So if your internet goes down (e.g., power goes out), likely your "landline" will be down as well.

Yep. And that's why we have an old-school landline.

And non-cable internet, because the actual lines around here are bad enough that you can only get dial-up.

When I say middle of nowhere with crap infrastructure? I mean it.

This is why we have DSL, and we are well aware of how lucky we are to have it - 3mbps on good days, and it is the only option. No cell data coverage here at all, though we do have spotty voice signal. Cable's not available, for Internet or TV.

[Kitsunegari]

Plus, vanguard's developed Europe etf is currently paying 3.5% dividends.

A bit OT: How do you invest with Vanguard in Italy? I thought they weren't sold in Italy. Or is there an affiliated company that sells them, like Questrade in Canada?

[jda1984]

I'm pregnant now, and have been playing with a landline.  I think if we end up doing a nanny or nanny share, I'll definitely look in to it.  We don't own a TV, so I doubt a "bundle" would make sense, but it may still be worth it.

We got an Ooma for this purpose.  We still use it occasionally for non-babysitter things as well.  I think it's about $5/mo for the taxes associated with the line (in our jurisdiction anyway).  It does have the same VOIP issues if power/internet goes down.  You need an internet connection with decent latency as well.

[Beaker]

Who the heck uses a house phone for long distance?

My mom. Still. Even though she's had a cell phone for years. <sigh>

She's a smart lady in most ways. Just not all of them.

[nobodyspecial]

I called to drop our cable, since we don't watch it. It was cheaper for me to keep [a lower level of] cable than to drop it. Seriously, internet alone costs more than the same internet plus cable. WTF?

For most people, they know if it's there they'll watch it, which means they're watching commercials.  I imagine the variable costs for one more cable customer, when the lines are already all there, are almost nil.

Because once you have cable, even if you never watch it, there is a small chance that you can be sold some premium package. It's a smaller step to sell an existing customer a "free for 3months" $50/month package than it is to attract a completely new subscriber.

[nobodyspecial]

I called to drop our cable, since we don't watch it. It was cheaper for me to keep [a lower level of] cable than to drop it. Seriously, internet alone costs more than the same internet plus cable. WTF?

For most people, they know if it's there they'll watch it, which means they're watching commercials.  I imagine the variable costs for one more cable customer, when the lines are already all there, are almost nil.

Because once you have cable, even if you never watch it, there is a small chance that you can be sold some premium package. It's a smaller step to sell an existing customer a "free for 3months" $50/month package than it is to attract a completely new subscriber.

[gaja]

I'm pregnant now, and have been playing with a landline.  I think if we end up doing a nanny or nanny share, I'll definitely look in to it.  We don't own a TV, so I doubt a "bundle" would make sense, but it may still be worth it.

We actually got a landline after having a kid and moving to the country... mostly because having a 'family' line meant that child-related things went to the family, and NOT only to The Mom who would then be expected to coordinate EVERYTHING.

We got rid of that problem after I answered the phone while traveling for work a few times: "Sorry, I'm in Brussels and won't be home until Sunday. I can't bring the kid's rain clothes to school right now. Could you please call the father? You will find his name in the contact list, next to the comment "father is primary contact person, please only call mom if you can't get hold of dad".

[TheGrimSqueaker]

I called to drop our cable, since we don't watch it. It was cheaper for me to keep [a lower level of] cable than to drop it. Seriously, internet alone costs more than the same internet plus cable. WTF?

For most people, they know if it's there they'll watch it, which means they're watching commercials.  I imagine the variable costs for one more cable customer, when the lines are already all there, are almost nil.

Because once you have cable, even if you never watch it, there is a small chance that you can be sold some premium package. It's a smaller step to sell an existing customer a "free for 3months" $50/month package than it is to attract a completely new subscriber.

I wonder how many people who buy cable/Internet packages despite needing only the Internet subscription ever actually go out and buy a television because they're already paying for cable service they cannot otherwise use.

[Cassie]

We have a landline because as I have gotten older I can't hear as well as before and it is much easier to hear on the landline.  My adult kids only have cells.

[shelivesthedream]

I'm pregnant now, and have been playing with a landline.  I think if we end up doing a nanny or nanny share, I'll definitely look in to it.  We don't own a TV, so I doubt a "bundle" would make sense, but it may still be worth it.

We actually got a landline after having a kid and moving to the country... mostly because having a 'family' line meant that child-related things went to the family, and NOT only to The Mom who would then be expected to coordinate EVERYTHING.

We got rid of that problem after I answered the phone while traveling for work a few times: "Sorry, I'm in Brussels and won't be home until Sunday. I can't bring the kid's rain clothes to school right now. Could you please call the father? You will find his name in the contact list, next to the comment "father is primary contact person, please only call mom if you can't get hold of dad".

Brilliant, but so annoying that you had to do this.

[gooki]

Who the heck uses a house phone for long distance?

In New Zealand it's still significantly cheaper to use a land line to call another lanline user

Landline to landline rates per minute 5 cents
Mobile to mobile/landline rate per minute 30 cents

[terrier56]

he will spend $700 on both devices.

lol wow , did CW say it with pride or like that's cool? Or did they at least seem embarrassed sharing that information?

It wasn't a pride thing or embarrassment. Kind of like she was angry at him but also understood how it could happen because errrry one needs data so how could he be expected to stop?

[MoonShadow]

Who the heck uses a house phone for long distance?

In New Zealand it's still significantly cheaper to use a land line to call another lanline user

Landline to landline rates per minute 5 cents
Mobile to mobile/landline rate per minute 30 cents

That would be rather expensive compared to a typical landline or mobile plan in the United States.  I actually do have a landline for the house still, it costs me $14 per month, and I can call anyone in the 48 continuous United States for nothing at all.

[dragoncar]

Who the heck uses a house phone for long distance?

In New Zealand it's still significantly cheaper to use a land line to call another lanline user

Landline to landline rates per minute 5 cents
Mobile to mobile/landline rate per minute 30 cents

That would be rather expensive compared to a typical landline or mobile plan in the United States.  I actually do have a landline for the house still, it costs me $14 per month, and I can call anyone in the 48 continuous United States for nothing at all.

It's really expensive compared to modern communications technology, which is free.  Skype, Facetime, Whatsapp, you name it.

[theadvicist]

Who the heck uses a house phone for long distance?

In New Zealand it's still significantly cheaper to use a land line to call another lanline user

Landline to landline rates per minute 5 cents
Mobile to mobile/landline rate per minute 30 cents

That would be rather expensive compared to a typical landline or mobile plan in the United States.  I actually do have a landline for the house still, it costs me $14 per month, and I can call anyone in the 48 continuous United States for nothing at all.

It's really expensive compared to modern communications technology, which is free.  Skype, Facetime, Whatsapp, you name it.

Well, those things aren't free. There is just no additional cost, if you already have the equipment and required connection to use them. The data is coming from somewhere, and someone paid for the smart phone. Not saying it isn't a lot cheaper, but that's not the same as free.

[Inaya]

I wonder how many people who buy cable/Internet packages despite needing only the Internet subscription ever actually go out and buy a television because they're already paying for cable service they cannot otherwise use.

Guilty of something kinda similar. Apartment came with a TV, but landlord took the TV stand. We get free cable TV in our building, but had to go out and buy a new TV stand to use it. So technically we didn't pay for the TV or the cable... but we still paid for the stand which enables us to watch cable TV despite having Netflix and Amazon Prime subscriptions. (But... Food Network! And Blackhawks games!)

[Kitsune]

I wonder how many people who buy cable/Internet packages despite needing only the Internet subscription ever actually go out and buy a television because they're already paying for cable service they cannot otherwise use.

Guilty of something kinda similar. Apartment came with a TV, but landlord took the TV stand. We get free cable TV in our building, but had to go out and buy a new TV stand to use it. So technically we didn't pay for the TV or the cable... but we still paid for the stand which enables us to watch cable TV despite having Netflix and Amazon Prime subscriptions. (But... Food Network! And Blackhawks games!)

Blackhawks, pfft. HABS. (Or Penguins, should Habs not be playing).

[Inaya]

I wonder how many people who buy cable/Internet packages despite needing only the Internet subscription ever actually go out and buy a television because they're already paying for cable service they cannot otherwise use.

Guilty of something kinda similar. Apartment came with a TV, but landlord took the TV stand. We get free cable TV in our building, but had to go out and buy a new TV stand to use it. So technically we didn't pay for the TV or the cable... but we still paid for the stand which enables us to watch cable TV despite having Netflix and Amazon Prime subscriptions. (But... Food Network! And Blackhawks games!)

Blackhawks, pfft. HABS. (Or Penguins, should Habs not be playing).

I live in Chicago, I'm pretty sure it's illegal to not be a 'Hawks fan here. :P

Actually I didn't discover hockey until I moved here. Not a whole lot of it back home in New Mexico. I mean I watched the Mighty Ducks growing up, but that was pretty much it.

[mtn]

I wonder how many people who buy cable/Internet packages despite needing only the Internet subscription ever actually go out and buy a television because they're already paying for cable service they cannot otherwise use.

Guilty of something kinda similar. Apartment came with a TV, but landlord took the TV stand. We get free cable TV in our building, but had to go out and buy a new TV stand to use it. So technically we didn't pay for the TV or the cable... but we still paid for the stand which enables us to watch cable TV despite having Netflix and Amazon Prime subscriptions. (But... Food Network! And Blackhawks games!)

Blackhawks, pfft. HABS. (Or Penguins, should Habs not be playing).

I live in Chicago, I'm pretty sure it's illegal to not be a 'Hawks fan here. :P

Actually I didn't discover hockey until I moved here. Not a whole lot of it back home in New Mexico. I mean I watched the Mighty Ducks growing up, but that was pretty much it.

You didn't live here during the dark ages. Been a huge fan my whole life, but when I was in middle and high school I could get in for $8 with a student ID and just upgrade myself to the 100 level. I was the weird one in school because instead of having a Sosa or Konerko or Jordan or Urlacher jersey, I had a Chelios jersey.

[Inaya]

I wonder how many people who buy cable/Internet packages despite needing only the Internet subscription ever actually go out and buy a television because they're already paying for cable service they cannot otherwise use.

Guilty of something kinda similar. Apartment came with a TV, but landlord took the TV stand. We get free cable TV in our building, but had to go out and buy a new TV stand to use it. So technically we didn't pay for the TV or the cable... but we still paid for the stand which enables us to watch cable TV despite having Netflix and Amazon Prime subscriptions. (But... Food Network! And Blackhawks games!)

Blackhawks, pfft. HABS. (Or Penguins, should Habs not be playing).

I live in Chicago, I'm pretty sure it's illegal to not be a 'Hawks fan here. :P

Actually I didn't discover hockey until I moved here. Not a whole lot of it back home in New Mexico. I mean I watched the Mighty Ducks growing up, but that was pretty much it.

You didn't live here during the dark ages. Been a huge fan my whole life, but when I was in middle and high school I could get in for $8 with a student ID and just upgrade myself to the 100 level. I was the weird one in school because instead of having a Sosa or Konerko or Jordan or Urlacher jersey, I had a Chelios jersey.

We want jerseys, but they're so not Mustachian purchases. (The cat has one though...) I wish I'd discovered hockey sooner--I do feel like a bandwagoner, but that's just bad timing (I moved here in 2012). If I'd known that the Blackhawks existed, I'd have been a fan because I've always loved Chicago, and hockey is actually interesting.

[mtn]

I wonder how many people who buy cable/Internet packages despite needing only the Internet subscription ever actually go out and buy a television because they're already paying for cable service they cannot otherwise use.

Guilty of something kinda similar. Apartment came with a TV, but landlord took the TV stand. We get free cable TV in our building, but had to go out and buy a new TV stand to use it. So technically we didn't pay for the TV or the cable... but we still paid for the stand which enables us to watch cable TV despite having Netflix and Amazon Prime subscriptions. (But... Food Network! And Blackhawks games!)

Blackhawks, pfft. HABS. (Or Penguins, should Habs not be playing).

I live in Chicago, I'm pretty sure it's illegal to not be a 'Hawks fan here. :P

Actually I didn't discover hockey until I moved here. Not a whole lot of it back home in New Mexico. I mean I watched the Mighty Ducks growing up, but that was pretty much it.

You didn't live here during the dark ages. Been a huge fan my whole life, but when I was in middle and high school I could get in for $8 with a student ID and just upgrade myself to the 100 level. I was the weird one in school because instead of having a Sosa or Konerko or Jordan or Urlacher jersey, I had a Chelios jersey.

We want jerseys, but they're so not Mustachian purchases. (The cat has one though...) I wish I'd discovered hockey sooner--I do feel like a bandwagoner, but that's just bad timing (I moved here in 2012). If I'd known that the Blackhawks existed, I'd have been a fan because I've always loved Chicago, and hockey is actually interesting.

They're the perfect Christmas/Birthday gift! Something you really want but just can't do.

FWIW, they're really pretty hardy--I've had mine for about 15 years now (and played hockey in it!) and it is still in very good condition.

[Chris22]

Who the heck uses a house phone for long distance?

In New Zealand it's still significantly cheaper to use a land line to call another lanline user

Landline to landline rates per minute 5 cents
Mobile to mobile/landline rate per minute 30 cents

That would be rather expensive compared to a typical landline or mobile plan in the United States.  I actually do have a landline for the house still, it costs me $14 per month, and I can call anyone in the 48 continuous United States for nothing at all.

It's really expensive compared to modern communications technology, which is free.  Skype, Facetime, Whatsapp, you name it.

It's also required that the person you are trying to contact have that technology on the other end.  Hard to facetime with my wife's grandma who doesn't even know what an internet is or what she would do with it if she had one.  Plus, even my moderately tech saavy parents and grandmother don't have their cell phone or iPad within arm's reach at all times like us younger folk do.  I regularly get responses to texts I sent 2-3 days ago from my mom because she just doesn't look at her phone that often.

[markbike528CBX]

I'm the person who doesn't look at the phone - especially on weekends.

My boss was peeved because I hadn't answered a phone call from him (Japan to US) for several days.
Did I mention it is a company phone?

[Inaya]

I wonder how many people who buy cable/Internet packages despite needing only the Internet subscription ever actually go out and buy a television because they're already paying for cable service they cannot otherwise use.

Guilty of something kinda similar. Apartment came with a TV, but landlord took the TV stand. We get free cable TV in our building, but had to go out and buy a new TV stand to use it. So technically we didn't pay for the TV or the cable... but we still paid for the stand which enables us to watch cable TV despite having Netflix and Amazon Prime subscriptions. (But... Food Network! And Blackhawks games!)

Blackhawks, pfft. HABS. (Or Penguins, should Habs not be playing).

I live in Chicago, I'm pretty sure it's illegal to not be a 'Hawks fan here. :P

So this just happened at the cubicle behind me a minute ago:
"Is that a RED WINGS jersey?"
"Yeah..."
"You're in CHICAGO."

[Rural]

Who the heck uses a house phone for long distance?

In New Zealand it's still significantly cheaper to use a land line to call another lanline user

Landline to landline rates per minute 5 cents
Mobile to mobile/landline rate per minute 30 cents

That would be rather expensive compared to a typical landline or mobile plan in the United States.  I actually do have a landline for the house still, it costs me $14 per month, and I can call anyone in the 48 continuous United States for nothing at all.

It's really expensive compared to modern communications technology, which is free.  Skype, Facetime, Whatsapp, you name it.

It's also required that the person you are trying to contact have that technology on the other end.  Hard to facetime with my wife's grandma who doesn't even know what an internet is or what she would do with it if she had one.  Plus, even my moderately tech saavy parents and grandmother don't have their cell phone or iPad within arm's reach at all times like us younger folk do.  I regularly get responses to texts I sent 2-3 days ago from my mom because she just doesn't look at her phone that often.

It's not quite free, but for $30 a year you can call from skype to mobile or landline phones (that's US, Mexico, and Canada - those in other countries would have to check for themselves).

[MoonShadow]

It's also required that the person you are trying to contact have that technology on the other end.  Hard to facetime with my wife's grandma who doesn't even know what an internet is or what she would do with it if she had one.  Plus, even my moderately tech saavy parents and grandmother don't have their cell phone or iPad within arm's reach at all times like us younger folk do.  I regularly get responses to texts I sent 2-3 days ago from my mom because she just doesn't look at her phone that often.

Your wife's grandmother is a luddite.  My 90 year old great-grandaunt has had her own computer since 2003, and my own mother has been mobile only for two decades.  Granted, my Great-Grandaunt was a programmer for the US government for 20 years, and my own mother is almost a gypsy, but still.

[dragoncar]

Who the heck uses a house phone for long distance?

In New Zealand it's still significantly cheaper to use a land line to call another lanline user

Landline to landline rates per minute 5 cents
Mobile to mobile/landline rate per minute 30 cents

That would be rather expensive compared to a typical landline or mobile plan in the United States.  I actually do have a landline for the house still, it costs me $14 per month, and I can call anyone in the 48 continuous United States for nothing at all.

It's really expensive compared to modern communications technology, which is free.  Skype, Facetime, Whatsapp, you name it.

It's also required that the person you are trying to contact have that technology on the other end.  Hard to facetime with my wife's grandma who doesn't even know what an internet is or what she would do with it if she had one.  Plus, even my moderately tech saavy parents and grandmother don't have their cell phone or iPad within arm's reach at all times like us younger folk do.  I regularly get responses to texts I sent 2-3 days ago from my mom because she just doesn't look at her phone that often.

Exactly, which is why landlines are so useless.  More and more young people are going internet-only, so good luck trying to contact them via POTS

[yourusernamehere]

A few years ago we set our grandparents up with a mobile phone and found we could never get through to them on it. Turns out they'd turn it on to make a call, then shut it down completely afterwards. It was a delightful misunderstanding of how they're used. Makes a lot of sense to be honest. Why would you want to be 100% available all the time?

Ha, mine too. My grandma asked me to let her know when I plan to text her so she can turn the phone on. But- both of my grandmothers text! And I enjoy how each text is like a letter, complete with salutation and lovely sign off. Off topic I guess :-)

[Chris22]

It's also required that the person you are trying to contact have that technology on the other end.  Hard to facetime with my wife's grandma who doesn't even know what an internet is or what she would do with it if she had one.  Plus, even my moderately tech saavy parents and grandmother don't have their cell phone or iPad within arm's reach at all times like us younger folk do.  I regularly get responses to texts I sent 2-3 days ago from my mom because she just doesn't look at her phone that often.

Your wife's grandmother is a luddite.  My 90 year old great-grandaunt has had her own computer since 2003, and my own mother has been mobile only for two decades.  Granted, my Great-Grandaunt was a programmer for the US government for 20 years, and my own mother is almost a gypsy, but still.

She's 95 and in hospice, but thanks.

[horsepoor]

Hmm... phome.

[JrDoctor]

Not work technically my house share.  I live in a filthy cheap all bills/utilities 7 bedroom house for £320 a month, which attracts 5 poorer people, one non medical doctor suprisingly and me.  Flat mate next door works in a chainsaw factory, find out he is walking to the petrol station 300m away every day to get a 'costa' coffee made by one of the machines.  Its not much change out of £3.00.  We only pay £11.00 a day to have a roof over our house, electricity, water, gas a council tax.  He complains of being 'skint' and thats why savings doesnt matter.  He is also about a to be laid off as an agency worker but is doing nothing to save and thinks a combination of job seekers allowance and pay day loans will help him.  He also thinks his poor situation in life is the results of us being in the EU.