You typically get a better price on a package and
installation if you have more than one service.
The promotions offered by Comcast Xfinity are hard-coded
into the computer system. When you call
in offers are pre-loaded on the agents screen based on your service address
since mailers with different offers vary by address. Agents have very little room to negotiate on
rates since they are all hard coded and offer little to no room for flexibility.
Your package price will be different from the advertised
offer you may have received which is advertising the starting price. The average household price for TV and
Internet is $100. For example, an offer
for $79.99 for TV and Internet is actually $99 when you add on $10 HD on 1 TV
and $10 Wi-Fi Modem Rental. Also keep in mind that $79.99 rate is for one year
with a 2 year contract and increases $20 the second year.
The $79.99 offer being mailed to customers with a gift
card up to $250 requires a qualifying HD Triple Play package (including TV,
internet and home phone or security) and the packages that qualify for the gift
card offers start at $139.99 a month without equipment.
The promotional rate you see advertised online or in your
mailbox is the starting rate for service without any equipment or any
extras. Comcast isn’t the only provider
that advertises this way - all providers including satellite price their Hopper
and Genie services this way. If you
don’t believe me, read the fine print on their mailers or web site. One way to lower your bill is by purchasing a
new cable modem.
Comcast has their price structure down to a science. Their 105mbps Internet Only offer with no
promotion including the modem rental is $99 a month. Their 220 channel package with a SD Cable Box
and Wi-Fi Modem rental is $99 a month with contract. Their 140 channel package with SD Cable Box,
75mbps Internet, Wi-Fi Modem Rental and Unlimited Home Phone service is also
$99 a month. Take your pick.
Comcast Xfinity offers free installation with triple play
(TV, Phone or Security, Internet) or quad play (TV, Phone, Internet, Security)
packages where the base price for triple play is $139.99 before equipment and
quad play is $169.99 before equipment.
Very select areas in Colorado and Kansas City offer free installation on
TV/Internet packages with a contract.
Everyone else is subject to installation which varies between $49 and
$149 in most cases. Internet-only
installation is $89. In many cases a
Self-Install Kit is available if the home has had service recently.
Don’t call in to only order Internet service unless you
have your modem, know your home is Comcast-ready and you want to
self-activate. It’s faster and probably
cheaper to order internet-only service online. Ordering Internet with other
services like TV is more complicated to do online and it’s probably easier to
order bundled services over the phone.
Contract offers are $10 less per month than non-contract
offers. This means $39.99 x 12 for 25
mbps Internet-only is $49.99 x 12 without a contract. Don’t forget to add an extra $10 per month if
you are leasing a Wi-Fi modem.
Comcast has the lowest early termination fees in their
industry ranging from $110-$230 depending on your package and are pro-rated
based on when you are cancelling.
DirecTV has ETF’s up to $400 or more and will put you into a new
contract if you add/upgrade equipment whereas Comcast does not.
Existing customers who are moving and call 1-800-Comcast
to transfer their service to their new address qualify for a new
promotion. You don’t have to cancel your
existing service and then set up new service to get a new offer… just transfer
your service to your new address- even if you aren’t moving in to the address
immediately you can have billing stopped at the old address and started at the
new address on separate days. Cancelling
and then starting entirely new service just makes things more confusing for you
and Comcast. (For example, your Comcast login’s for your account and apps don’t
move from one address to another unless transferred properly as part of the
move process.)
Door to Door Comcast Agents have the best offers; they
have better offers than Comcast’s web site, their stores and better offers than
over the phone sales. If a Comcast agent
comes to your door don’t send them away as you likely won’t get a better deal-
and you have to sign up with that door to door agent. If you have to “think about it” that same
offer is not guaranteed at a later time with a different agent.
The entire month of September and Black Friday are when
Comcast usually has their best promotional offers.
Be sure to share this with your friends… they’ll likely be very grateful you did.
Be sure to share this with your friends… they’ll likely be very grateful you did.
