Save Money on your Internet

[Cow Poke]

I've always been a fan of "renegotiating contracts" when a better deal comes along.

Example -- You always get a good rate on your first year of auto insurance, then the prices creep up. You can call your SAME COMPANY and let them know you're "shopping around", and they'll find new discounts to apply to your account to keep you.

I noticed my internet for home was getting pretty expensive -- it went up $3 / month in February with no explanation at all. $44 a month seemed really high! My provider is AT&T (where I live, that's pretty much my only choice) and I called them today to tell them I thought my internet was way too expensive, and I was shopping around.

The guy was very helpful, and said "I can give you a 6 month promo rate of $19.99 a month (6 meg down, 500K up). That's less than HALF what I'm paying. I asked "same speeds?" and he said, "exactly". I asked what happens after 6 months, and he said "you go back to your current rate".

So, I asked, "and what happens if I call back in 6 months, and ask for another 6 month promo rate". He said, "you'll probably get it -- I just can't make it automatic". HE suggested, "just put a reminder in Outlook to call us back, and he gave me the 800 number and his department's extension.

Since my service is "bundled" with my home phone and cell service, he asked if I would like him to check those too. Apparently, I had all kinds of "extras" on my home phone line that we NEVER USE (call waiting, call forwarding, priority ringing, long distance saver, etc.), because we all have cell phones. He cut my home phone service costs IN HALF!

He took the time to look at the last 6 months of my cell phone plan, analyzing it against other plans available, but suggested I stay with what I have because I'm "grandfathered in" on the "unlimited data" that is no longer available for iPhones.

ANYWAY --- it was a FREE PHONE CALL and about 15 minutes of my time to save $300 over the next 6 months!

You never know til you ask!

[Littlejoe]

Last time I called at&t to complain, they told me I couldn't have the promo rate... I even told them I was shopping around, but he said the only other choice in my area was Hughes net (satellite) and they are $60/mo. so he didn't take the bluff. I haven't tried it again lately.

LJ

[Cow Poke]

Last time I called at&t to complain, they told me I couldn't have the promo rate... I even told them I was shopping around, but he said the only other choice in my area was Hughes net (satellite) and they are $60/mo. so he didn't take the bluff. I haven't tried it again lately.

LJ

Maybe you live FURTHER back in the country than I do --- or ... maybe I'm more charming than you are.

[Littlejoe]

Maybe you live FURTHER back in the country than I do --- or ... maybe I'm more charming than you are.

prolly...I'm an ornery old cuss sometime... That had actually worked a couple of times before, just not the last time.

[Cow Poke]

prolly...I'm an ornery old cuss sometime... That had actually worked a couple of times before, just not the last time.

AH! I also do it on my credit cards... call them and tell them I'm thinking about switching to another card because of a lower interest rate. Almost ALWAYS, they comply.

The CAUTION here, however, is that sometimes they'll give you one of those "gotcha rates" --- where all you have to do is miss ONE PAYMENT or be late ONE TIME, and your interest rate goes to something like 22% to 29%!!!!

I always pay my cards in full at the end of the month, though, so I'm good. I just like negotiating!

[Littlejoe]

AH! I also do it on my credit cards... call them and tell them I'm thinking about switching to another card because of a lower interest rate. Almost ALWAYS, they comply.

The CAUTION here, however, is that sometimes they'll give you one of those "gotcha rates" --- where all you have to do is miss ONE PAYMENT or be late ONE TIME, and your interest rate goes to something like 22% to 29%!!!!

I always pay my cards in full at the end of the month, though, so I'm good. I just like negotiating!

If you never carry a balance...what difference does it make what your int. rate is...

[Cow Poke]

If you never carry a balance...what difference does it make what your int. rate is...

That's why I said "I just like negotiating"!

And if there ever WAS a need to carry a balance, it would be at the lower rate.

[lilpixieofterror]

Gosh, you need to go to some of the places over seas and try your skills there. Get yourself a real challenge with somebody that barters for a living.

[Cow Poke]

Gosh, you need to go to some of the places over seas and try your skills there. Get yourself a real challenge with somebody that barters for a living.

That's why I USED to love to go to Matamoros, Mexico to go to market. I LOVED "buying" stuff that I really didn't want, because there's tremendous power in "walking away". I'm tellin ya -- I LOVE to negotiate / barter!

[lilpixieofterror]

That's why I USED to love to go to Matamoros, Mexico to go to market. I LOVED "buying" stuff that I really didn't want, because there's tremendous power in "walking away". I'm tellin ya -- I LOVE to negotiate / barter!

You must be good at car shopping too.

[Cow Poke]

You must be good at car shopping too.

Oh, I LOVE car shopping. (my wife won't go with me ) I go when I don't have "new car fever" and can "walk away".

One of my favorite things is to get a price from one dealer, and go to another to see if he'll beat it. They'll say stuff like, "well, I need to see that in writing".

And I say, "no you don't --- you can either beat it or you can't -- it's up to you". And as I'm walking out the door, they're calling me back.

One time, the car dealer had one of those "demo" deals where the CPA had driven it, and it was a SUPER DUPER price (yeah, right) and he really wanted to sell ti to me. I told him I'd think about it, and he said, "well, don't think too hard, because there are 2 other people looking at it!" I said, "Cool, then you can sell it to one of them!"

Apparently, it wasn't as "almost sold" as he pretended, because he THEN asked me, "what can I do to sell you this car TODAY!"

I said, "not a cotton pickin thing --- If God wants me to have that car, it will still be here tomorrow".

The next day, the guy called me and asked if I could come back to the dealership. "I guess God wants you to have it, because it's still here and I'm willing to deal".

I love it!

[lilpixieofterror]

Oh, I LOVE car shopping. (my wife won't go with me ) I go when I don't have "new car fever" and can "walk away".

One of my favorite things is to get a price from one dealer, and go to another to see if he'll beat it. They'll say stuff like, "well, I need to see that in writing".

And I say, "no you don't --- you can either beat it or you can't -- it's up to you". And as I'm walking out the door, they're calling me back.

One time, the car dealer had one of those "demo" deals where the CPA had driven it, and it was a SUPER DUPER price (yeah, right) and he really wanted to sell ti to me. I told him I'd think about it, and he said, "well, don't think too hard, because there are 2 other people looking at it!" I said, "Cool, then you can sell it to one of them!"

Apparently, it wasn't as "almost sold" as he pretended, because he THEN asked me, "what can I do to sell you this car TODAY!"

I said, "not a cotton pickin thing --- If God wants me to have that car, it will still be here tomorrow".

The next day, the guy called me and asked if I could come back to the dealership. "I guess God wants you to have it, because it's still here and I'm willing to deal".

I love it!

That is actually the stuff I hear car shopping web sites saying too. I know I walked away from the one I got now for a few days and got it down to below book price.

[Cow Poke]

That is actually the stuff I hear car shopping web sites saying too. I know I walked away from the one I got now for a few days and got it down to below book price.

Yup! NEVER let the dealer "drive" the deal.

[lilpixieofterror]

Yup! NEVER let the dealer "drive" the deal.

Yep, if two people want it, they can have the thing. There's millions of cars out there, it is not as though I can't just find another one. Plus, thanks to waiting I didn't end up with a Hynda with a stick shift and little options vs a Pontiac that had almost every option on it.

[Cow Poke]

Yep, if two people want it, they can have the thing. There's millions of cars out there, it is not as though I can't just find another one. Plus, thanks to waiting I didn't end up with a Hynda with a stick shift and little options vs a Pontiac that had almost every option on it.

When I bought my Mountaineer, it has a DVD Entertainment system in it, at an additional cost of $2800. I told the guy "my kids are grown up, and I can't watch it while I'm driving, so I don't want it". He said "but it comes with the car". I said, "so I guess I'm looking for one without it". He said, "but I have THIS one on the lot!" I said, and I SMILED when I said it, "it sounds like you need to sell it more than I need to buy it". Next thing I knew, he was taking an ADDITIONAL $2500 off for the DVD System, but, of course, he had to leave it in, or there'd be a big hole where it was.

My GRANDKIDS LOVE IT!!!!! (I told him my KIDS were all grown up, but I neglected to mention my grandkids would really get a kick out of watching movies on trips! )