Time Warner's Unlimited Plan: $150, Still Terrible

[San Pedro]

I like how someone mentioned food monitoring programs as a failure because food is being recalled for being poisoned. I guess they would rather eat the poisoned food and not now about it. That would be much better.[citation][nom]hellwig[/nom]FDA. . . endless poisoned food recalls, all of this overlooked by the government agencies created to supposedly look-out for the consumer.[/citation]

Yeah it would be much better if the food wasn't recalled huh? And those failures to catch the tainted food is because decreases in funding and an increase in deregulation.

 

[agnickolov]

I've had to deal with a similar cap for the last 9 years, but from Cox Communications. They are a monopoly in my area (Santa Barbara, CA) though, and no Verizon FIOS either. At least they don't overcharge (yet)...

 

[eklipz330]

lets all make the move to dsl or Fios asap.

than they can continue hiking their prices all the want

 

[supertj]

TWC is telling a crock of lies. Operational costs does not increased proportionally to support increase number of users and download. If anything over the years, everything gets more efficient and streamlined. TWC just wants to increase their revenue stream. I hope the FTC slaps huge violations and customers find alternatives. There's always satellite if you are stuck in an area TWC is the only provider. TWC sucks.

 

[blppt]

[citation][nom]pug_s[/nom]Fortunately, Optimum Online didn't implement this stupid type of cap.[/citation]

YET. Remember, the Dolans, who own Cablevision, have already run the Knicks into the ground and pissing off the fans (customers)----who's to say they wouldnt do the same with Optimum Online: impose a cap and piss off the customers.

 

[jeverson]

Join me in a small prayer please... "Oh God. Please let Verizon move into my home town/city/whatever so that I might have access to a fairly priced service provided by a company that is obviously not in league with Lucifer" Amem...

Thank you... 😉

 

[Guest]

Man, i do NOT envy people in the us... In most parts of sweden we have 100/100 for the equivalent of 33 dollars a month, if they even gave a hint at raising it above 49 dollars a month, it would be unacceptable, and i'd move (again) just to get a better price. It's time for the US people to rally against the damned ISP's, in my opinion.

 

[astrotrain1000]

Free-market capitalism has failed in this instance, which is why the government needs to step in. Its easy to say don't buy their crap (and often times I don't, looking at you Apple), but when you don't have a choice, then someone with authority has to step in and fix the problem.

Free-market capitalism only failed because it was not allowed to work. Time Warner has a monopoly in many areas including mine. The government failed by allowing them the monopoly.

Yeah it would be much better if the food wasn't recalled huh? And those failures to catch the tainted food is because decreases in funding and an increase in deregulation

The FDA is a useless drain on taxpayers. With out the FDA people would not have to "eat poison food" as you say. An independent (for profit) organization could do a better job. If business could choose their inspector then consumer could choose the product based on which inspecting company they trust. As it stands you get the FDA and if they fail so what they don't lose their jobs.
People blame this stuff on too little regulation but in fact its too much regulation and not letting people make decisions that leads to these problems.

 

[MotorMouth]

[citation][nom]hellwig[/nom]Obviously you don't live in an area with TimeWarner (or TimeWarner isn't your only option), because you're missing the whole point. TimeWarner is the ONLY option in many markets. If you need the internet faster than dial-up, you are stuck with their service. TimeWarner performed their "study" in a market where only they existed, meaning customers didn't have a choice. Then they said "hey look, no one in Asscrack, Texas complained, so it must work for the rest of the world".Free-market capitalism has failed in this instance, which is why the government needs to step in. Its easy to say don't buy their crap (and often times I don't, looking at you Apple), but when you don't have a choice, then someone with authority has to step in and fix the problem.[/citation]

What people are not getting SPEAK WITH YOUR WALLETS. We didn't always has fast connections. It used to be pay by the minute. Why did it go to unlimited because of CAPITIALISM. Someone seen a need for a service and charged less. Then everyone else lowered their prices too. People will not pay for the service if it's going to cost them an arm and a leg.

If you guys would really look at what happens when the government steps in you will learn it's never better. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Responsible spending (LoL), Schools. Just think beyond your little world, with them it's is never about you the person.

 

[samprasfan]

[citation][nom]astrotrain1000[/nom]The FDA is a useless drain on taxpayers. With out the FDA people would not have to "eat poison food" as you say. An independent (for profit) organization could do a better job. If business could choose their inspector then consumer could choose the product based on which inspecting company they trust. As it stands you get the FDA and if they fail so what they don't lose their jobs.People blame this stuff on too little regulation but in fact its too much regulation and not letting people make decisions that leads to these problems.[/citation]

There is a reason we have the FDA. Try reading Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" sometime. Free market capitalism will always fail as long as it's easier to hide your poor business practices as opposed to actually coming up with good ones.

 

[Pei-chen]

I am using RCN in NYC as they are the only alternative to Time Warner in my building. I got a letter yesterday from RCN telling me my monthly fee will goes up $7-$8 because of plan repackaging. I just renegotiated my contract in February and it seems they have renegade already.

 

[Guest]

If you look at their revenue, they make more than 30x profit in 2007, and 40x profit in 2008!

Do you think that is normal?

Most companies are happy if they make 2x profit!
It shows in 2008 they have only a cost of $150M, while having a profit that year of $+4000M

I think it's time to protest against their methods!
They already make too much money, and now they are going to extort people even more?
Bandwidth cap, limiting users but giving nothing in return?
A $24 per month for 5GB I don't think is a good return at all!
If they really want to cap it, then cap it at 250GB,but also reduce the price with 25%!
If they really want to cap it lower, then cap it at 50GB per month, and reduce the price 40%!

I don't agree with their methods, especially not when seeing how much profit they make,and how little cost they have!

They should be ashamed of themselves! Filling their pockets while the rest of America is struggling to get by!

 

[gosefroba]

the sad thing is that you can get the business plan for 80 bucks a month NO CAP (haha pun) and it has a contract that says that you will have really good service

 

[christop]

CAN they get any more greedy... 150 is insane..

 

[dark_lord69]

$150 huh? It might as well be 1 million a month. The problem is that these prices are dreamed up by executives that make over $100,000 a yr. And they live in big cities like NY where a hot dog is over $10. It's no wonder they have a skewed sense of pricing. If corporate dumbasses knew anything they we survey people what they would be willing to pay and what seems reasonable. Then see if that keeps it profitable for them instead they are just trying to figure out a ratio of how much can we charge VS how many customers will we loose at different prices. HOW ABOUT YOU GIVE CUSTOMERS WHAT THEY REALLY WANT!! **A REASONABLE PRICE** This is also direct towards Comcast, Charter and all of those other over priced cable providers.

 

[matt_b]

Let's see what the "operating cost" is once they have this immense "capacity" but no one left using their network............

All of these Verizon switchers may just be fueling the next internet monopoly. Who's to say at the point when FIOS is well-established, that they wouldn't do the same a year from now? Either way, this needs to be shot down while it is still in the infancy stage before it spreads too much!

 

[demyansk]

Lot of problems with Time Warner. What I see is that this company is making profits (high) (that's fine with me) however, now they want to decrease the service I am already getting and charge me more? This doesn't make sense. Now, if they want to charge me 50 percent less for a 50 percent reduction in service that would be fine with me. Plus, their service price is going up while operating costs are going down. Broadband is a no brainer as far as profits go, they buy cheap ass equipment and then leave it while raking in the do $$$$.
What everyone needs to do is to go onto the TWC website and write them a letter and call their customer service stating that you will cancel service. Most likely, the people who work at TWC, do they pay for service? Please follow through and even below this post is a TWC toll free number for ordering TWC, can you believe it? By the way, when can I order TV channels for the ones I watch?

 

[demyansk]

By the way, how much bandwith do online games use like battlefield 2?

 

[ajcroteau]

How can they expect anyone wanting piece of mind that their not going go over there internet usage to pay $150.00 a month? That's way way too much for that. I mean come on, we've already got to watch our cell phone usage, now we gotta keep an eye on our internet usage...

I hope Comcast doesn't end up following this trend... I will most likely have to switch over to something else in that case...

 

[wiyosaya]

Mindless - I live in Rochester, and there is little to move to. For us DSL is not a option as even though we are 18,000' from a switch, the switch we are connected to is 30,000' away.

Me thinks this may be why TWC decided to use Rochester as a test market. The "test" cannot possibly fail because there is virtually no competition in the Rochester market. If you switch, you may end up on crappy dsl, or, worse yet, dialup, unless you go "cellular modem."

An interesting thought that I heard on NPR last night is this:

Cable viewership is down. Competition, aka downloading "rented" movies from Netflix, is up. If you price internet service on downloaded bytes, you can, effectively, drive the cost of your competition's product into the stratosphere.

My guess is that if TWC goes through with this, and right now, they have little reason not to, they will be slapped with an anti-trust lawsuit - assuming justice prevails.

 

[astrotrain1000]

I Guess no one actually read my post,If you are afraid of purchasing tainted food you could purchase it from someone who pays and independent company to do so. There are organizations that do this in other areas such as UL certifications.

There is a reason we have the FDA. Try reading Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" sometime. Free market capitalism will always fail as long as it's easier to hide your poor business practices as opposed to actually coming up with good ones.

You're statement here only substantiates what I'm saying. In a true Free market there would be problems but when something slips by the inspectors that company would get fired in favor of a company with a better track record. The FDA has slip ups but you can't get rid of them. Therefore they have to real incentive to be 100% accurate.

 

[cerulean]

This is completely ridiculous. You as the the TWC customer should not let them get away with this. Actually no I've thought of something that would be more ridiculous: What will come next. Placing blackout restrictions on WHEN online content can be accessed. "Sorry, you'll need to pay another $14.95 per month to access the internet during prime time when you SHOULD be watching our tv service and increasing our ad revenue." Piss off, TWC.

 

[martel80]

ROFL, in Prague, Czech Republic the cable 10/1.5 Mbit unlimited line is like $25 a month! 12-month contract, set-up cost of $5, modem rental is free and first 4 months are at 50% discount ($12.50).

 

[blarneypete]

[citation][nom]hellwig[/nom]Obviously you don't live in an area with TimeWarner (or TimeWarner isn't your only option), because you're missing the whole point. TimeWarner is the ONLY option in many markets. If you need the internet faster than dial-up, you are stuck with their service. TimeWarner performed their "study" in a market where only they existed, meaning customers didn't have a choice. Then they said "hey look, no one in Asscrack, Texas complained, so it must work for the rest of the world".Free-market capitalism has failed in this instance, which is why the government needs to step in. Its easy to say don't buy their crap (and often times I don't, looking at you Apple), but when you don't have a choice, then someone with authority has to step in and fix the problem.[/citation]
Remember though, that areas where ISPs that are not TWC are not allowed to set up shop are not practicing free-market capitalism. It's not the failure of capitalism, it's the failure of government regulation. Regulation that for some stupid reason doesn't allow ISP#2 to compete. A free market requires 4 freedoms - to try, to buy, to sell, and to fail. Take out any one of them (in this case, to try) and you don't have a free market. Other than that part of your argument, I agree.

 

[Guest]

And how are we, the customer, to know the bandwidth that TWC says we are using is actually accurate ? When TWC says I'm using 40GB a month, how am I to know they're are telling me the truth ?