I love the random calls I get from Time Warner Cable offering a bundle that will "save me money." I just get their basic internet (still at the new customer promo pricing from 3 years ago) and every once in a while they'll call trying to get me to sign up for a TV package. Usually I entertain their call and answer their questions. I tell them I watch less than an hour of TV each week and most of my TV watching is via streaming. Without fail, they always have the "perfect package" for me. Usually to the tune of $100+ per month with "free" movie channels for a year! I always ask how tripling the cost of my current basic internet plan is saving me money and they always give me some made up price that buying those services separately would cost $200+. I just don't get how so many people see spending extra money on a deal as saving.
I was actually incredibly surprised by the experience my wife and I had recently with our cell provider. We live rurally, have terrible service in the first place, and 99% of the services they offer we can't receive. They offer home phone (no need), Internet (can't get), home monitoring (seriously?), and a host of other services. Trying to deal with the customer service people was a nightmare. It is also worth noting that because this company depends on "bundling" to bring your perceived cost down the price we were paying for just two cell phones was obscene.
So we went down to an outlet, in person, with a copy of their competition's flyer, and said we were leaving unless they could match the price.
"Well if you add high speed Internet and home phone your cost will decrease!"
"I can't get your Internet service where I live."
"Where do you live?"
"[Location.]"
"I've never heard of it."
"Happens all the time. Anything else you can do for me?"
"Well... if you drop the add-ons it will bring the cost down."
"The add on that your competition offers as part of the base product?"
"Yeah."
"..."
"Well what if we bundle-"
"Look, forget the bundling. This is the product your competition is offering. This is the price. I personally know 50 other people who have made this change already. I will personally suggest to
everyone I know that they switch too if you can't help me out here. If I cancel service for both my wife and I, unlock our phones, and make the jump
today , even after paying the fees, we will still pay less for both of our phones than we do for one of them now. Along with better service, no add ons, and no bundling. Can. You. Match. This. Price."
And I think I broke him. They are so dependant on this whole bundle scam that they couldn't even give me an answer. After a little bit of back and forth (confirming that I was indeed unable to acquire the necessary bundle related programing) he suggested I go to the competitor. So I did. And yes, our bill is now roughly half.
The best fucking part of the whole experience? A week later I got a call from corporate (I have been a customer for a very very long time) asking why I had left the company. I told them straight, it was a purely financial decision. So they asked me, a rep from the corporate office itself, if I would be willing to return to their company...
... IF THEY WERE ABLE TO BRING BUNDLE CAPABLE SERVICES TO MY AREA.
You can't make this up. I told them maybe.