# Smart Beep, you just lost a customer - guess you aren't so smart **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 8, 2003, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074 "2003-07-08T19:59:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074/1 "2003-07-08T19:59:43Z")
Well, I got suckered in by Smart Beep’s advertising blitz offering pager service for $1.99 a month. There was a startup fee, and I had to buy their pager, but I would still come out ahead after a year. WRONG! After the first 1-year contract was up, they jacked up the price by $1 a month. O.K., $2.99 is still a pretty good deal for pager service. Well, I got the invoice for the 3rd year, and they jacked up the price AGAIN, this time $2 a month. 150% price increase after only 2 years? No thanks - I can see where that’s going. I called you and said I’m not paying for that, and you said the price is not negotiable. So now you have one less customer. Fuck you, Smart Beep. Fuck your bait and switch pricing tactics. I hope your customers start dropping like flies. (Sorry, I know it needs more cuss words, but I just couldn’t fit 'em in.) ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074/2 "2003-07-09T07:04:58Z")
Did they raise the prices across the board, or if you made a new account, would you get it for $1.99 again? Because if you signed up now, and it would be $4.99 for everyone across the board, I don’t see what there is to complain about. $5 a month… still sounds a pretty good deal to me. I pay almost $50/month for my cellphone. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074/3 "2003-07-09T07:18:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jinwicked \* > \*\*Did they raise the prices across the board, or if you made a new account, would you get it for $1.99 again? Because if you signed up now, and it would be $4.99 for everyone across the board, I don’t see what there is to complain about. > > $5 a month… still sounds a pretty good deal to me. I pay almost $50/month for my cellphone. \*\* A pager and a cellphone are not the same thing. So you don’t think a 150% price increase is unreasonable? Then I guess you wouldn’t mind if they raised your cell phone price by 150% over 2 years, i.e. to $125 a month? ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074/4 "2003-07-09T07:27:32Z")
Plus, if they keep increasing the price hike by $1 each year, in 10 years I’ll be paying $56.99. Or if they’re _doubling_ the price increase every year, it’ll be $1034.99 (I think). At any rate, I’m not sticking around to see what their plan is. ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074/5 "2003-07-09T07:32:21Z")
I know they aren’t the same thing. I’m just saying that $5 a month is cheap for a pager, especially given your other options. I used to see pagers advertising as much as $20/a month. $5 is a forking value meal at McDonald’s. I leave at least that as a tip whenever I go out to eat. Big whoopie. I’d probably look for a different cell provider if they raised it to $125/month. There’s a big difference between paying an extra $75 a month, and paying an extra $3.00. I don’t think raising prices over three years constitutes “bait and switch.” I’ve always under stood b&s to be advertising one deal and then offering you another when you came to purchase the item. What you describe is no different that Roadrunner raising my cable from 44.95 a month to 49.95 a month last year. In case you didn’t notice, many things gradually cost more over time. Perhaps they found that as their business expanded they could no longer support a $1.99/month service. Eh. Perhaps you’d rather them still offer you the $1.99 service at a loss, until they go out of business and you can use the $20/month pager company. ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074/6 "2003-07-09T07:35:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blowero \* > \*\*Plus, if they keep increasing the price hike by $1 each year, in 10 years I’ll be paying $56.99. Or if they’re _doubling_ the price increase every year, it’ll be $1034.99 (I think). At any rate, I’m not sticking around to see what their plan is. \*\* I am sure a giant corporation like that will be positively devastated by the loss of $60 in annual income. I seriously doubt pagers will even be in existence in ten more years, anyway. I don’t know anyone that uses them anymore. Everyone I know has a mobile phone, even my old luddite parents. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074/7 "2003-07-09T07:41:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jinwicked \* > \*\*I am sure a giant corporation like that will be positively devastated by the loss of $60 in annual income. I seriously doubt pagers will even be in existence in ten more years, anyway. I don’t know anyone that uses them anymore. Everyone I know has a mobile phone, even my old luddite parents. \*\* Yep - I resisted using the message alert capability on my cell phone because it’s more awkward to carry around and has to be charged frequently, but I’m going to make the switch now, and Smart Beep can bite my hairy yellow ass. ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074/8 "2003-07-09T07:46:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blowero \* > \*\*Yep - I resisted using the message alert capability on my cell phone because it’s more awkward to carry around and has to be charged frequently, but I’m going to make the switch now, and Smart Beep can bite my hairy yellow ass. \*\* Good decision. I just find your vitriol towards Smart Beep to be a little out of proportion for a measly $36 a year. 🙂 Is your ass truly yellow? ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074/9 "2003-07-09T07:54:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jinwicked \* > What you describe is no different that Roadrunner raising my cable from 44.95 a month to 49.95 a month last year. Yeah, a 10% increase is exactly the same as a **150%** increase.:rolleyes: And let’s keep comparing apples and oranges, shall we? Hmmm…the price of a house went up $20,000 last year; so I guess it’s o.k. to charge that much for pager service, hmmm? > [@](#): > > In case you didn’t notice, many things gradually cost more over time. The key word being “gradually”. More than doubling the price is anything but gradual. > [@](#): > > Perhaps they found that as their business expanded they could no longer support a $1.99/month service. Eh. Well then they shouldn’t have fucking offered $1.99 service in the first place. Frankly, I’ve never in my life heard of any kind of a business model where exanding your customer base makes you _lose_ money. WTF would be the point of expanding then? > [@](#): > > Perhaps you’d rather them still offer you the $1.99 service at a loss, until they go out of business and you can use the $20/month pager company. Pager service hasn’t cost $20 a month since the 1980’s. Anyone who pays that much is an idiot. No, my ass isn’t yellow, I was just paraphrasing Homer Simpson.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074/10 "2003-07-09T17:16:49Z")
Oh well, then go on continuing to get all bent out of shape over $3.00 then, I guess. I just don’t see a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074/11 "2003-07-09T17:33:40Z")
People still carry pagers? My pager company went out of business 5 or 6 years ago. I don’t get bent out of shape over a few bucks but obvioulsy YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074/12 "2003-07-09T17:50:02Z")
Boy, and I thought I was cheap! World Eater, I still carry a pager. My firm makes me. I hate it because I only get paged three times a year, maybe. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074/13 "2003-07-09T18:16:58Z")
Well, now I know how to make a lot of money. I’ll just start a company offering some service at an incredibly low price, then after people sign up for it, I’ll double or triple the price. I won’t lose any customers because they’ll all just think “It’s only a few dollars a month; I don’t want to be _cheap_”. Apparently I’m the only one in the world who seems to be bothered by such a strategy. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074/14 "2003-07-09T18:23:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blowero \* > Well, now I know how to make a lot of money. I’ll just start a company offering some service at an incredibly low price, then after people sign up for it, I’ll double or triple the price. I won’t lose any customers because they’ll all just think “It’s only a few dollars a month; I don’t want to be _cheap_”. \ I’d be willing to bet that’s exactly what happens. They know how many customers they’re likely to lose, and they know that the new rates will probably make them more money. You are free to cancel your account with them amidst all your righteous indignation, of course, and I won’t fault you for it. But you need to lighten up a bit. It’s just a fucking pager company. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074/15 "2003-07-09T18:27:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blowero \* > \*\*Well, now I know how to make a lot of money. I’ll just start a company offering some service at an incredibly low price, then after people sign up for it, I’ll double or triple the price. I won’t lose any customers because they’ll all just think “It’s only a few dollars a month; I don’t want to be _cheap_”. Apparently I’m the only one in the world who seems to be bothered by such a strategy. > :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: \*\* You wouldn’t be the first. Actually I have a pager for work as well, and I too, get paged about 3 times a year. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074/16 "2003-07-09T19:11:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > But you need to lighten up a bit. It’s just a fucking pager company. [sniff] Were you _trying_ to [sniff] make me cry? I hope you’re happy…😉 ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074/17 "2003-07-09T19:27:53Z")
Wait … you mean that a corporation is trying to maximize their profits through a sneaky marketing tactic? That an unbelievebly low rate in fact had a hidden catch? That good deals don’t last forever? I’m so disillusioned… ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074/18 "2003-07-09T20:10:45Z")
Wait, you mean we’re not in Candyland, Furt?😉 Damn, and I got a really great deal on tickets for the Good Ship Lollypop, too… Seriously though, does the fact that companies use underhanded tactics all the time mean that I’m not allowed to complain about it? Why is that? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074/19 "2003-07-09T20:21:34Z")
I think it’s more a matter of the complaint being proportional to the offense. We’re not talking about an insurance company refusing to pay for your gramma’s brain transplant, we’re talking about a fucking pager company. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074/20 "2003-07-09T20:27:12Z")
…and a couple of bucks. Literally. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-beep-you-just-lost-a-customer-guess-you-arent-so-smart/187074.md?page=2)