Why does Vz want $4 month for me to change an SD STB to an HD STB when new customers in my area only can get HD STBs?
I've been a FiOS user for 5 years - the first in my area and I've convinced lots of neighbors to switch over without the "referral". i\I've been paying Vz about $200/month for my FiOS bundle (without wireless.) Vz is far from perfect, but still the best picture quality & internet service in my area. I started 5 years ago with 1 HD DVR and 5 SD STBs. Three years ago I got a second HDTV and swapped 1 SD STB for an HD STB. $4 a month more. (btw - that change caused my bill to get messed up; it took 6 calls and about 5 hours to get it back to where it should have been.) Recently, one of my kids moved out (yippee) to her own place nearby. She got FiOS, with 1 HD DVR and 2 STBs. She was given HD STBs. She was told FiOS no longer provides SD STBs - only HD STBs. Cool. I recently got two more HDTVs. I called up Vz looking to swap 2 SD STBs for 2 HD STBs. Sure -- for, $8 a month more (plus tax.) BUT WAIT, I said - SD STBs aren't being given out. True. But, to change, I was told, you must pay! Unfortunately for me, the phone rep was NOT Mr. Lowell McAdam (Verizon president & CEO) - only a customer rep in Newark, NJ - so I couldn't, in good conscience, harangue him about being overly greedy. I probably wouldn't have minded it so much if the $8/month actually went to the phone rep!
But, one has to wonder why Vz doesn't seem like they appreciate the 5 years they got from me. I don't understand why Vz would "give" HD STBs to new customers while making loyal long-time customers fork over $4/month more per HD STB - aside from "they can". It doesn't seem right.
Rather than trying to suck people in with contract commitments, Vz might consider customer longevity rewards, likes a piece of equipment or an upgrade, etc., for each year of good payment -- without that onerous "two-year commitment" that forces you to give away all your rights as a consumer. The "free multi-room DVR" was good step in that direction and should be expanded. With Vz's revenues and profits up, all I can say is more is not always better!
Vz - STOP BEING SO GREEDY!
