Comcast Bait and Switch Tactics vs. DISH Network Specials
When is a deal not a deal? When something looks too good to be true of course, because it often is. And this is exactly the case with Comcast Cable® Triple Play and other Comcast Cable promotions—which might look cut-rate at first glance, but are actually far more expensive than many DISH Network® specials.
The Truth About Comcast Cable Triple Play Offers
As an example of how bad Comcast bait and switch tactics can get, let’s look at the most touted of Comcast Cable specials, the Comcast Cable Triple Play itself. If you’ve been to Comcast Cable’s homepage you probably already know that this package is currently heading the list of Comcast Cable promotions in a massive 36-point font: “Get started with bundles as low as $99 per month for 12 months!” Heck, if the folks here at Internet Lion didn’t know better, we’d be impressed too.
But having a web designer make your pricing look huge doesn’t mean you’re offering a bargain, as is the case with Comcast Cable Triple Play deals. We’ve chosen Coon Rapids, Minn., as our sample region for this article and after plugging in a random address from this area—which, incidentally, we found on Yahoo where there was a huge Comcast Cable Triple Play ad—into the Comcast website, we find four Comcast Cable Triple Play offers: The $99 per month Starter XF Triple Play, the $119.99 per month HD Preferred XF Triple Play, the $139.99 per month HD Preferred Plus XF Triple Play and the $159.99 per month HD Premier XF Triple Play.
Now, you would think if you were going to try to trick customers into buying a costlier, yet inferior, product you would do so after they’ve made a commitment. But apparently the genius who comes up with Comcast bait and switch tactics isn’t that savvy because after only having entered a serviceable address into Comcast’s location finder, we already see that the “2,600+ HD options” promised by Comcast Cable promotions banners does not refer to the “$99 per month” advertised in the Comcast Cable specials.
Rather, the largest of the featured Comcast Cable specials, the HD Preferred Plus XF Triple Play, is a classic example of Comcast bait and switch tactics. In Coon Rapids, the lineup doesn’t offer 2600-plus Comcast HD channels, but a mere 433 HD and SD channels, including On Demand and Pay-Per-View selections, all priced at a whopping $159.99 per month.
Comcast Cable Specials vs. DISH Network Specials
More damning than this typical Comcast bait and switch, though, is the fact that you’d pay far more for it than if you’d simply ordered one of the DISH Network specials currently available, then ordered your Internet service and phone service separately. And, you’ll get over 295 SD and 200 HD channels with DISH Network’s America’s “Everything” Pak for a grand total of 495+ viewing options, including Free HD For Life with 24 month Agreement and AutoPay with Paperless Billing.
If the DISH Network specials like the America’s “Everything” pack offer more channels than you need, DISH Network packages currently start at only $24.99 per month. The America’s Top 120 package is priced at $24.99 per month for 120+ SD channels and 105 HD channels, for those who qualify for HD Free for Life, with 24-Month Agreement and AutoPay with Paperless Billing.
So, really, if the fact that you could save money every month combining one of several comparatively cheap DISH Network specials isn’t a compelling enough reason to ditch Comcast Cable and its tricky games, at least consider what you’re getting for your money and beware of the Comcast bait and switch tactics. Do your research carefully and look at the fine print. And, do yourself a favor - click here to learn more about DISH Network specials and the benefits of switching to DISH Network today!
Disclaimer: Please note that this article was written when the satellite TV provider DISH was branded as DISH Network. As of 2/1/2012 DISH Network has changed their branding name to DISH. Article post date: 10/20/2010.
