I'm bored this morning, and so it got me to wondering just how much $2 is worth. The context is this:
I was reviewing my cable television service and high-speed Internet service, as I typically do every September, and realized that after my promotional rate expires early next month, it won't really be "worth" what we're paying. I've tried to get a new promotional rate, going up the ladder in my attempt, actually, all the way to the executive offices, but there aren't any deals available that I find worthwhile. I've compared other suppliers, both satellite and terrestrial, and no alternatives are worthwhile either. We're paying what we want to pay, and no one is willing to give us what we're getting now at that rate.
So the best alternative of all, I found, is downgrading my current service, to a lower tier. With that downgrade, my monthly fee will be $3.75 more than what we're paying now with the promotional rate for the higher tier. That's okay; it's still $30 less than we'd be paying for our current service after the promotional rate expires.
There is really only one channel in the higher tier that we'd have recorded anything off of. We've been watching a series on that channel, but it had its season finale last night. There are two shows that they're about to start up, that perhaps we'd have recorded (to watch later), but we'll almost surely be able to pick both shows up on Netflix anyway, next year. So not a big loss, and surely not worth an extra $30 per month for just those two shows.
So the question (remember -- I'm bored, so this isn't necessarily supposed to be a riveting narrative
) is when to make the switch. The promotional rate is good through October 10. However, they bill in advance, with the bill printed on October 4. I don't know when I need to change service by, in order to make sure my service change is reflected on that October 4 bill. Of course, if I don't time it right, it'll just result in a credit next month, so not a big deal either way. If I change service early, though, then I'm switched onto the rate for the downgraded service, which (remember?) is higher than the promotional rate I'm paying now. Then, of course, there is the whole "If I don't do it now I'm going to forget to do it," situation. Making the change too early will probably end up costing me $2 more. Forgetting to make the change for a week or so after October 4 will probably cost me $2 more. How much is $2 worth? Is it enough to prompt me to call in precisely on October 10th?
Anyway, I'm sure you'll agree that this is just about the most trivial concern one could possibly have. Given that, it kept me amused for five minutes typing it in, and hopefully amused you for the minute or so it took you to read it.
I was reviewing my cable television service and high-speed Internet service, as I typically do every September, and realized that after my promotional rate expires early next month, it won't really be "worth" what we're paying. I've tried to get a new promotional rate, going up the ladder in my attempt, actually, all the way to the executive offices, but there aren't any deals available that I find worthwhile. I've compared other suppliers, both satellite and terrestrial, and no alternatives are worthwhile either. We're paying what we want to pay, and no one is willing to give us what we're getting now at that rate.
So the best alternative of all, I found, is downgrading my current service, to a lower tier. With that downgrade, my monthly fee will be $3.75 more than what we're paying now with the promotional rate for the higher tier. That's okay; it's still $30 less than we'd be paying for our current service after the promotional rate expires.
There is really only one channel in the higher tier that we'd have recorded anything off of. We've been watching a series on that channel, but it had its season finale last night. There are two shows that they're about to start up, that perhaps we'd have recorded (to watch later), but we'll almost surely be able to pick both shows up on Netflix anyway, next year. So not a big loss, and surely not worth an extra $30 per month for just those two shows.
So the question (remember -- I'm bored, so this isn't necessarily supposed to be a riveting narrative
) is when to make the switch. The promotional rate is good through October 10. However, they bill in advance, with the bill printed on October 4. I don't know when I need to change service by, in order to make sure my service change is reflected on that October 4 bill. Of course, if I don't time it right, it'll just result in a credit next month, so not a big deal either way. If I change service early, though, then I'm switched onto the rate for the downgraded service, which (remember?) is higher than the promotional rate I'm paying now. Then, of course, there is the whole "If I don't do it now I'm going to forget to do it," situation. Making the change too early will probably end up costing me $2 more. Forgetting to make the change for a week or so after October 4 will probably cost me $2 more. How much is $2 worth? Is it enough to prompt me to call in precisely on October 10th?Anyway, I'm sure you'll agree that this is just about the most trivial concern one could possibly have. Given that, it kept me amused for five minutes typing it in, and hopefully amused you for the minute or so it took you to read it.
