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	<title type="html"><![CDATA[Negotiation Board — Negotiating with Comcast]]></title>
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	<updated>2009-10-29T22:16:10Z</updated>
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			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Negotiating with Comcast]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="http://negotiationboard.com/forums/post133.html#p133"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[<p>bump up</p>]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[Jonathan]]></name>
				<uri>http://negotiationboard.com/forums/user2.html</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2009-10-29T22:16:10Z</updated>
			<id>http://negotiationboard.com/forums/post133.html#p133</id>
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		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Negotiating with Comcast]]></title>
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			<content type="html"><![CDATA[<p>Comcast recently had a great deal, sign up for Triple Play (Phone, Cable with HBO, and Internet) for $100 a month for 2-years.&nbsp; Really a great offer compared to what I was paying.&nbsp; Of course this offer was limited to new customers only.&nbsp; Easy to get around conditions like that.</p><p>Here is how I did it:<br />Negotiation Research: What special offers are the competitors offering?&nbsp; Dish Network is offering a similar deal for new customers.&nbsp; Sure I don&#039;t want to switch and think their service is weaker than Comcast, but Comcast doesn&#039;t know that.</p><p>BATNA: What is my Best Alternative to No Agreement?&nbsp; Well I already have Comcast service and I am happy with it, I am just paying a bit too much for it.&nbsp; So really my alternative to having Comcast sign me up for their program is to maintain the Status Quo.&nbsp; It is not like they are going to cancel my service for trying to negotiate with them.&nbsp; I really have nothing to lose.&nbsp; They don&#039;t have to know that I really don&#039;t plan on switching to Dish Network.</p><p>Making the Call: 1-800-COM-CAST (I hate mnemonic phone numbers!) and ask for customer service.&nbsp; Once I get a representative I tell them how much I like the new offer and that I am interested in signing up for it.&nbsp; I already know I don&#039;t qualify but I want them to starting trying to help me out.&nbsp; The Customer Service Representative(CSR) tells me that the offer is only for new customers or existing customers that don&#039;t already have all three services.&nbsp; I politely ask if there is anything they can do.&nbsp; Of course the answer is &quot;no&quot;, but hey the first line usually doesn&#039;t have the authority.&nbsp; </p><p>Escalation: I then ask who would have the authority to make a change, especially if I am thinking of changing my service provider?&nbsp; The CSR immediately transfers me to a resolution manager.&nbsp; BINGO! Someone who can actually help.&nbsp; Ok so these resolution managers(or whatever they are called) actually get paid to keep you as a customer but also get a commission for not giving in to your demands.&nbsp; If they give in the make a less commission, if they lose you as a customer they make less than if they give in.&nbsp; So their ultimate goals is to keep you at the status quo but give in before losing you as a customer.&nbsp; I start all over with this Resolution Manager.&nbsp; I tell them I really like the offer and ask if I qualify.&nbsp; Again the answer is &quot;No, it is only for new customers.&quot;&nbsp; I then stay really polite but mention the offer from Dish Network.&nbsp; I then ask them &quot;Why shouldn&#039;t I make the switch to the other company?&quot;&nbsp; Ball game changes!&nbsp; </p><p>First Offer: They offer me the plan without some of the bells and whistles.&nbsp; The Resolution Manager is at this point trying to hang on to some of her extra commission for not giving totally in to my requests.&nbsp; My goal here is to stay nice and keep her happy with me but be frank about my willingness to leave(not really.)&nbsp; I tell her that I have some friends that really love Dish Network and that their offer is really enticing.&nbsp; I also tell her that I am a long time customer and have always been really happy with the service that Comcast has given me.&nbsp; Hook Set!</p><p>Next Offer: She offers me the plan as advertised.&nbsp; BINGO!&nbsp; I have achieved my goal.&nbsp; I thank the rep for her help(Always have your opponent leave happy) and tell her how happy I am to be able to keep Comcast.&nbsp; </p><p>Have you ever had to negotiate with your Cable company?&nbsp; What was your experience?</p>]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[Jonathan]]></name>
				<uri>http://negotiationboard.com/forums/user2.html</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2009-08-13T15:19:07Z</updated>
			<id>http://negotiationboard.com/forums/post113.html#p113</id>
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