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Asking for lower bills

zsazsa-stlzsazsa-stl member
Eighth Anniversary 5000 Comments 100 Love Its First Answer
in Wedding Woes
I stink at negotiating.  I know some of you are better at it.I pay DirecTV $56/month plus taxes.   I just got a thing in the mail offering me the same package plus a new HD DVR for $25/month.  Online, the same package is advertised as $35/month.  I called to see if they would give me the new customer offer and she said no, that is only available to new customers.  I told her that I knew I wasn't under contract any more so was there anything to keep me from cancelling and calling back to sign up for the new package a day later?  She said that I wouldn't be eligible because I still wouldn't be a "new" customer.  Fair enough.So can I have the $35 rate?  I didn't see anything online limiting that to new customers only although it is only valid for 12 months.  She put me on hold and came back and said that she could only offer me $10 off my bill for 6 months.  I took it because there is no reason to turn down $60.  But what should I have done?  Should I have asked for a supervisor?  Threatened to cancel if they didn't give me the $35 rate?
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I just a friendly gal looking for options.

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Re: Asking for lower bills

  • Future Mrs ButterworthFuture Mrs Butterworth member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    That's when you say, "Alright, I'd like to cancel my subscription then. I'll be going to DISH."She'll offer you better deals.
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  • MinMMinM
    10000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Always ask for the person's name and employee ID and then to ask to talk to their boss. Gets results 100% of the time.
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  • MinMMinM
    10000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Oh, and I am super nice about it. B!tch hardly gets you anywhere in this situation.
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  • fishgirl77fishgirl77 member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Normally what FMB says works pretty well, because that usually gets you sent to the retention folks.  But H, who is an expert negotiator, struck out with the Directv person he talked with.  No sending to retention or anything.  Not even $10 bucks off.I have heard that if you actually do leave, they will throw a lot of deals at you to get you back
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  • Future Mrs ButterworthFuture Mrs Butterworth member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm not a batch when I call, but when I had a huge cable package I called every year to "cancel" my subscription and they'd always give me the introductory rate. They have departments specifically for customer retention. That's what they're paid to do. In essence, Zsa, you're keeping someone in a job.
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  • zsazsa-stlzsazsa-stl member
    Eighth Anniversary 5000 Comments 100 Love Its First Answer
    edited December 2011
    Ha, FMB, I guess that is a good way to think about it.   I will have to call back in a day or two after a glass of wine.  I'm such a chicken. 
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    I just a friendly gal looking for options.

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  • Cant_wait!Cant_wait!
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I've found things like: "what can you do to keep me happy with X service""I've been a loyal customer for X years, and would like to stay with you""I'd hate to switch over to a different company since I've been with you guys for soooo long!" all while being sweet work wonders. At&T messed up on our text plan, and DH called and used the first line up there. $25 off our bill. Sweet.
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