USA Broadband providers - S/D

^_^

But yeah, thanks ron, I researched Yahoo! and it was the cheapest AND they don't invade privacy as was previously rumored to me. so yahoo! it is. kill me.

New to the US from the UK and need broadband. Comcast are doing my head in, and I am only browsing the 'products' page. They seem to only let you sign up if you choose $99 professional installation - does anyone know what this means? Does a line need to activated or something, like when you sign up for a new landline phone no? We have coaxial cables in the apartment already.

OK, here is a transcript of the live chat help I just went on - I wanted to add a basic internet package which seemed to say was only available to existing customers (as do all their products..?) - added to my cart to see what it would entail, the only 'installation' option was "Professional Installation for one computer (with one-time fee of $99.00) - Select this option if you would like to have Performance professionally installed on one (1) computer" - I didn't select it, but it wouldn't let me proceed without it. Not sure if this was a technical error or what, I went on the live chat:

user *me*_ has entered room

me
I want to purchase 'performance' internet as a new customer. It will not let me proceed to purchase unless I select "Professional Installation" for $99" as an installation option. Is this actually an option or a requirement?

analyst Sharon has entered room

Sharon
Hello, Thank you for contacting Comcast Live Chat Support. My name is Sharon. Please give me one moment to review your information.
Hi! It's a pleasure to have you on chat today.

*me*_
how can i wrap the text in this window?

Sharon
I will be very glad to assist you today.
May I ask what exactly do you mean when you say wrap the text?

*me*
The text in this chat window is sometimes longer the window, which requires me to scroll to read it. "wrapping" would wrap the text onto the next line.

Sharon
do you mean to say that you want to minimize the window so the text will be read?

*me*
No, please do not worry if it is not easy to do. Are you able to answer my question about installation options?

Sharon
Yes, the Comcast team would love to assist you with your inquiry regarding the installation option.
Please correct me if I am wrong, *me*.
Sharon
You would like to inquire if you have to select the $99.00 fee for the professional installation, and therefore would like to know if it is a requirement or not, right?

*me*
yes
can i also ask what exactly is involved in the professional installation, so that I can decide whether I need it or not?

Sharon
For that installation question,
The technician will put into your home the needed units as the modem.
establish the connection.
therefore, the wirings are connected as well as provisioning your modem for the unit to connect with the Comcast server
Of course they have to make sure that the home alarm system is not damaged in anyway.
was I able to answer your query?

*me*_
No - I would like to know how I can purchase this package without selecting this option

Sharon
With the purchasing part I will connect you with our partners in the Sales Department.
Please wait as I will connect you now, okay?
Please wait, while the problem is escalated to another analyst

analyst Douglas has entered room
analyst Sharon has left room

Douglas
Hello!
How are you?

*me*
hi
is anyone able to answer my question?

Douglas
How can I help you today?

*me*
I would like to know whether i can purchase the 'performance' internet package as a new customer wihtout selection the $99 professional installation option

Douglas
No, every new costumer needs the professional installation

Douglas
If you want I can look for you some promotion with a special discount for the installation

*me*
Can I ask why it's necessary? What does it involve?

Douglas
Unfortunatelly I am not a technician but the system does not allow me to process an order for a new costumer without the professional install

May I ask you a Question?

*me*
Your website calls this an 'option' on the 'customize' step, as it says "Select this option if you would like to have Performance professionally installed on one (1) computer. " This strongly suggests it is not a requirement and is in the least, very confusing!
yes please ask

Douglas
Do you have another Comcast Service, like Comcast Cable or Comcast Digital Voice® ?

*me*
No as I have said, I am a new customer

Douglas
This special price is for customers who currently subscribe to Comcast Cable or Comcast Digital Voice® service.
As I said If you want I can look for you some promotion with a special discount for the installation

*me*_
Can I ask what special price you mean? I have not mentioned a price
I have been to 'all products' - does it not appear there?

Douglas
The $19.99 Comcast High Speed Internet Service promotion
I can give you this Special price if I add to you order the Comcast Basic Cable Service. it cost around $17.00

*me*
What is basic cable service?

Douglas
Or if you prefer I can look another option for you

*me*_
Can you give me a link to a list of internet products available to new customers please.

Douglas
Let me check it for you, please hold on
You can find the available promotion in you area in www.comcast.com

*me*
No, I have looked in 'all products'. They all say they are for existing customers.

Douglas
If you want only the internet service, the price is $57.95 per month

*me*
Can you send me the link to this product and this price.

Douglas
I can give you the Internet Service for $57.95 per month

The only link is Comcast.com

*me*
?? I can't see it there
How can i add it to my cart

Douglas
If you want I can add it for you. I would be happy to assist you with your request

*me*_
I would like to look at the details of the product. Please can you tell me where on comcast.com it is advertised.

Douglas
Under the label shop

*me*
I am looking there. There is no product for 57.95.

Douglas
Under the shop lable your are going to find "See All Products"

*me*
As I have said, all products listed there say that they are only available to existing customers

Douglas
I apologize for the inconvenience. As I have said if you want I can try to help you with your request looking for the best rate for you

*me*
You have said there is an internet package for 57.95. I would be interested in this. Please send me the link for where I can read about it.

Douglas
There is no another link

*me*
So I cannot add it or find out any information about it?
Do you have a supervisor who can help me?

Douglas
Is the same product you found in Comcast.com

*me*
is this the one that says 'only available to existing customers'?

Douglas
The price is for new costumer looking only for internet service

*me*
it does not say that

Douglas
If you want to save money I can recommend to you another promotion

*me*
yes please

Douglas
I can give you this Special Price if I add to your order the Comcast Basic Cable service too

*me*
what special price? And for what product?

Douglas
I mean $19.99 for the Internet service plus $17.00 for the cable service

*me*
Is cable service television?

Douglas
Yes it is

*me*
is that $19.99 for 'performance' package, and is it $19.99 every month?

Douglas
Yes $19.99 for the first 6 months $42.95 thereafter

Or If you prefer I can recommend to you the following promotion: Digital Starter with Performance High-Speed Internet
On Demand with tons of free movies + downloads up to 15Mbps with PowerBoost®.
Over 80 digital cable channels.
Downloads up to 15Mbps, uploads up to 3Mpbs with PowerBoost®.
All the speed you need for downloading music and movies, and uploading photos and streaming video.
Offer limited to residential customers satisfying applicable eligibility criteria.
Special Comcast.com Price! $69.99 for the first 6 months $109.90 per month thereafter

*me*
I do not have a TV
I am only interested in internet packages

Douglas
Ok the only thing I can do for you is add the Performance package for $57.95 per month

*me*
I will think about this, please can you tell me how I can add it to my cart later on, so I don't need to spend half an hour in live chat

Douglas
If you prefer you can call 1-800-COMCAST

*me*
I would prefer to do it online
I can't understand why you don't list this 57.95 product on your website?

Douglas
Unfortunatelly you can add to your cart only the promotions available in the web page, so if you want to add the regular price some analyst will help you

*me*
Do you think this is helpful for new customers?

Douglas
I try to help all new costumer

ha, i had an *identical* conversation with them a few months ago. try to find a local dsl provider instead. comcast sux

I think everyone who tries to buy internet only from comcast has this experience and gives up. Unfortunately the alternative in my area is pretty much verizon and nothing else. These fools could use some competition. At least in the UK if you don't like BT or virgin there are 100 other people willing and able to take your money and give you internet in return.

haha wow.
i have dsl but it sux, too.

Comcast is horrendous. Just wait until you need service and they tell you the only available time is between 8 AM and noon on a day which is absolutely horrible for you, but you cancel other obligations anyway - only to have them call at 6 PM after no showing to tell you they need to come out the following day.

i'm happy with my dsl!

Actually I just had a very similar experience with Verizon, I wanted to upgrade to 7Mpbs (oooh 7, I had 24 in the UK) and had a half hour conversation with lots of hold music which lead to the conclusion that the infrastructure round here wasn't up to it. (this was all in response to a flyer in my bill offering me the upgrade).

Verizon took a month and a half to get us a DSL connection that could stay up for more than 10 minutes at a time when we first signed up.

We called Io/Cablevision b/c the people downstairs from us have it and there's already a cable in our house, we just needed a connection. The worker says the cable in our liv rm isn't connected to anything, and he can't connect us to the local "box" because it's too full already...? He repeatedly claimed that no one in our building could get service, even though we said, that's impossible, they ALREADY HAVE IT downstairs.

He put in a work order for an upgraded erm...system? junction box? whatever? in our neighborhood to accommodate more connections, but that will take 1-2 months to get put in. I don't understand any of this.

The company has a MONOPOLY on providing service to my apartment but they CAN'T GIVE ME SERVICE even though I want to pay them. It makes less than no sense.

Metrocast is really good, if you're in the 135 cities it covers. I'm thinking about going back to DirecTV for tv content, but I'm really happy with their VOIP and internet service. (10Mb down/1Mb up)

i had a radical experience w/ cablevision--guy showed up right on time, took about 20 minutes, was really funny. shit has worked well so far too.

OK, so looks like I should probably avoid Comcast if I just want internet (would be tempted by cable, but even in a bundle with internet it's bloody expensive :( )
Will look around. Any suggestions appreciated (I'm in SF)

http://mediamobilizing.org/its-comcastic-comcast-files-suit-effort-perpetuate-digital-divide

you can look into getting FiOS from verizon - fiber optics to your door

Seems like every time I enter my zip code, nothing is available :(
Looking at Astound, who at least seem to have clear pricing on their website. Anyone used them?

lol, i started this thread and now i haven't paid for wifi in like 3-4 years thanks to "linksys" and "NETGEAR", <3 u d00dz.

There is definitely a penalty to living in a building full of computer science graduate students.