With cell phone providers like T-Mobile getting Internet, is a bulk package necessary?
The battle with paying for streaming services versus cable and Internet packages
Writer’s note on September 1, 2024: After sharing this post on Threads, I now realize I need to correct one line. I don’t have anywhere near the amount of outages that I did when I first got T-Mobile Internet. I don’t even remember when the last Internet outage was. That’s how rare it is. Whatever glitches were happening when T-Mobile first introduced its Internet modems has definitely been fixed.
“We locked in,” the T-Mobile representative told me a week ago.
I laughed, knowing exactly what he meant. I have been a T-Mobile customer (19 years and counting) for longer than I’ve held romantic relationships. Weird flex, but it’s the truth. Once I find a company I like, I tend to stick to them like glue, primarily because it’s so hard to find one that has quality customer service and quality products at the same time. I don’t ever recall (in almost two decades) ever having a bad experience with their call agents (minus that one guy who said I “sound old school” and made me feel like I should sign up for AARP).
I treat competitor cell phone providers like Positive K treats other women’s boyfriends, “What ya plan got to do with me?” So when I found out that T-Mobile released a home Internet program, I leaped into action to join their mailing list. That’s no knock to Astound Broadband (formerly RCN), another company that I was loyal to for years. The latter has a decent Internet package, and I despise all of its competitors (specifically Xfinity Comcast). But quality e-commerce and brick-and-mortar companies know not only how to treat their best customers but also how to lock in the best rates.
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The flaw with Astound Broadband is common among other cable providers. While it would offer impressive new membership deal, the rate a year later would be astronomically higher. I couldn’t even humor the idea of continuing to pay almost $150 for Internet service versus about one-third of that price for T-Mobile Internet, even after Astound Broadband offered a one-year deal of $30 to get me to say. I wouldn’t risk it. Who knows if/when I’d get another chance on T-Mobile’s waiting list with other locals already waiting. After testing out their 5G Home Internet service, I had to make that breakup call to my former cable provider.
“It’s not you, it’s me,” is about how the call went. “And also, it’s my bill collectors.”
But with cell phone providers offering Internet service at home, and not just tethering or HotSpot technology, this brings up the other obvious question: At what point do Internet consumers take a stand against all these streaming services? After investing in a few, I came to a firm conclusion.