Sedecim
In January, I wrote about the annual dance with my ISP to reverse an annual upcharge when special discounts expire. Six months later, I have another reason to engage in the dance.
My nephew and his family are between homes, having sold one and waiting for the other to close, staying with me in the meantime. He is an architect who can usually work from home, and his formidable computing hardware rests for the time of this stay in my home office. His work involves 3D modeling, connecting to a remote desktop, and sometimes downloading immense files. I have learned that it requires serious bandwidth.
I've gotten by with a 200-down, 35-up plan for years. Streaming music at home is one of my pleasures, and I have synchronized devices in each room and outside for that purpose. I can walk from room to room and onto my deck with continuous, seamless music, a practice that became impossible when my nephew's internet use peaked and music simply stopped.
I wouldn't think of upgrading just for his family's stay; I had, however, concluded some time ago that I'd have to increase my speeds eventually, and the current issue inspired me to explore what increased costs that might entail.
Online, I learned that new subscribers could get much improved speeds for a few dollars more than my current plan cost, which I found out by filling out a new subscriber form that I did not complete, as I am not a new subscriber and just ascertaining what was available in my neighborhood and at what ballpark cost. I had no confidence that I could get a new subscriber price.
Having filled out the form partially and then abandoned it, my ISP's ever watchful minions took notice and sent an email. I replied, explained I was just looking into it with the idea of, at some later date, upgrading, and asked -- nothing ventured, nothing gained -- if I could possibly get the new subscriber pricing.
A reply suggested calling Retention to see what specials they had available for me.
A few days later, I made that call, asking if I could get 1000-up, 35-down service for close to the new subscriber price. The quick reply was, "No." I expected as much, but when the gentleman I spoke with offered it to me for 20% less than my current pricing for one fifth the download speed, I was confused, then delighted as he assured me I had heard what I thought.
One caveat: the price is good for one year. But that is no less than what I've dealt with before, and it means the dance will commence again next July.
Life is puzzling, and often enough, it is good.