Comments on: Lessons From the Mama: How to Save on Utilities http://www.pennypinchinmom.com/2010/05/lessons-from-the-mama-how-to-save-on-utilities/ Extreme Couponing With Class Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:56:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Eric in OP (also KCJohnGalt at SD) http://www.pennypinchinmom.com/2010/05/lessons-from-the-mama-how-to-save-on-utilities/comment-page-1/#comment-2898 Eric in OP (also KCJohnGalt at SD) Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:29:00 +0000 http://pennypinchinmom.com/?p=10444#comment-2898 Another way to save on your cable or satellite bill once you're out of contract: research current offers, then call and ask for the retention department or inquire about canceling your service. You'll be amazed what companies will give you to stay simply for asking. I found out about this technique earlier this year at the following LONG topic: http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?sduid=880337&t=140292 This topic was posted back in 2005, and it still is active which tells you people are successfully doing it. I am a Directv customer and was out of contract when I got the following deal (this was my first post in that topic): I stumbled across this topic yesterday, read a lot of comments, cribbed a few cheat sheets which helped me focus and after 2 friendly calls to Customer Retention I got the following (my contract ended late last year, long-time customer): $179 credit - I purchased the new HR23 HD-DVR and they reimbursed me for it (a new receiver starts a new two year committment) $78 value – 6 months free Starz Super Pack of 11 movie channels $120 value – 6 months of $20 off my monthly bill $120 value – 12 months of $10 off my monthly bill for free HD Access Monthly (which I already have) Total savings on my bill for the next year: $240 + tax Total freebies: $227 + tax + shipping/handling Total value: minimum $497 I made the second call to get the free HD Access for a year - it seemed to help that I said I would definitely commit with Directv if I got that to seal the deal. Both of the people I spoke with were courteous and professional, it's just that money is involved and their job is to not give the farm away and your job is to get a reasonable deal. Interestingly, I have no premium channels, no sports packages, no nothing except HD and DVR access and a legacy Total Choice Plus package, just to let you know that I got the above without being a big-time customer. I did point out as others have the cost of retaining a customer vs. adding a new one is less, and that Directv's current offer for new customers should be somewhat extended to loyal current customers (over 10 years with them). Another way to save on your cable or satellite bill once you’re out of contract: research current offers, then call and ask for the retention department or inquire about canceling your service. You’ll be amazed what companies will give you to stay simply for asking.

I found out about this technique earlier this year at the following LONG topic:

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?sduid=880337&t=140292

This topic was posted back in 2005, and it still is active which tells you people are successfully doing it. I am a Directv customer and was out of contract when I got the following deal (this was my first post in that topic):

I stumbled across this topic yesterday, read a lot of comments, cribbed a few cheat sheets which helped me focus and after 2 friendly calls to Customer Retention I got the following (my contract ended late last year, long-time customer):

$179 credit – I purchased the new HR23 HD-DVR and they reimbursed me for it (a new receiver starts a new two year committment)

$78 value – 6 months free Starz Super Pack of 11 movie channels
$120 value – 6 months of $20 off my monthly bill
$120 value – 12 months of $10 off my monthly bill for free HD Access Monthly (which I already have)

Total savings on my bill for the next year: $240 + tax
Total freebies: $227 + tax + shipping/handling
Total value: minimum $497

I made the second call to get the free HD Access for a year – it seemed to help that I said I would definitely commit with Directv if I got that to seal the deal. Both of the people I spoke with were courteous and professional, it’s just that money is involved and their job is to not give the farm away and your job is to get a reasonable deal. Interestingly, I have no premium channels, no sports packages, no nothing except HD and DVR access and a legacy Total Choice Plus package, just to let you know that I got the above without being a big-time customer. I did point out as others have the cost of retaining a customer vs. adding a new one is less, and that Directv’s current offer for new customers should be somewhat extended to loyal current customers (over 10 years with them).

]]> By: Mary http://www.pennypinchinmom.com/2010/05/lessons-from-the-mama-how-to-save-on-utilities/comment-page-1/#comment-2895 Mary Tue, 01 Jun 2010 01:57:21 +0000 http://pennypinchinmom.com/?p=10444#comment-2895 RE: telephone -- we have a regular phone for our main phone, but save with our cells by using pre-paid phones. NET 10 has 10 cents a minute (5 cents for texting), and we use our cell phones as regular phones. When my older children are home alone or babysitting while I'm out, I like them to be able to contact me. I make a lot of 1-5 min. calls, so I don't need a fancy plan. NET 10 costs me $15 per month once I paid for my initial phone (around $25-50 at Walmart, depending upon what you get). The only tax I pay is sales tax (my old cell phone plan charged me $15/month just in taxes on top of my service)! I know this may not work for everyone, but I don't make a lot of long distance calls (my family is all local), and all we have on our regular home phone is basic & call waiting (gotta have with teens in the house...) We do have unlimited metro calling (I don't have to worry about minutes when I get on the phone with my mom & sisters, or my teens get on the phone...) Oh, by the way, one consideration for those doing without land lines -- I won't let my teenage daughter babysit for anyone who doesn't give her access to a phone when she's babysitting. She needs to be able to call for help if there's an emergency (she can always call me...); she also needs to be able to contact parents if necessary. It's OK when both spouses go out together & leave her with one of their phones, but if 1 parent only has 1 phone and there needs to be a phone with the parent and with my daughter, it's problem. I don't feel it's my job to furnish her with a phone... RE: telephone — we have a regular phone for our main phone, but save with our cells by using pre-paid phones. NET 10 has 10 cents a minute (5 cents for texting), and we use our cell phones as regular phones. When my older children are home alone or babysitting while I’m out, I like them to be able to contact me. I make a lot of 1-5 min. calls, so I don’t need a fancy plan. NET 10 costs me $15 per month once I paid for my initial phone (around $25-50 at Walmart, depending upon what you get). The only tax I pay is sales tax (my old cell phone plan charged me $15/month just in taxes on top of my service)! I know this may not work for everyone, but I don’t make a lot of long distance calls (my family is all local), and all we have on our regular home phone is basic & call waiting (gotta have with teens in the house…) We do have unlimited metro calling (I don’t have to worry about minutes when I get on the phone with my mom & sisters, or my teens get on the phone…)

Oh, by the way, one consideration for those doing without land lines — I won’t let my teenage daughter babysit for anyone who doesn’t give her access to a phone when she’s babysitting. She needs to be able to call for help if there’s an emergency (she can always call me…); she also needs to be able to contact parents if necessary. It’s OK when both spouses go out together & leave her with one of their phones, but if 1 parent only has 1 phone and there needs to be a phone with the parent and with my daughter, it’s problem. I don’t feel it’s my job to furnish her with a phone…

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