How can Comcast Cable compete with Verizon DSL???

jEct2

Golden Member
Mar 1, 2005
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I've been very happy with Comcast but this was an absolute no brainer. I even called Comcast retention department to explain what Verizon offered, but they simply could not match at all. I actually used work at Comcast as a CSR which made me very pro-Comcast, but this deal is simply irresistable.

Comcast Cable
4 mb down / 384 kb up
$42.95 a month
I had to buy my own modem, otherwise +$3 a month for lease.

Verizon DSL
3 mb down / 768 kb up
$29.95 a month + additional $10 off for first three months

Absolutely no cost and hassle for me to switch
Free Modem/Wireless router for me to keep after one year.
No activation charge, no set up fee
No charge on shipping above router
No truckroll or in-house appointment, they simply turn it on through my phoneline. (I hated Comcast's truckrolls and workers coming in my house with dirty shoes & making a mess everywhere.)

How can Comcast compete with this?!?
 

Caminetto

Senior member
Jul 29, 2001
821
49
91
You do realize that not everyone will get that speed, as it depends on how close you are to the CO.
Post back with some speed tests after you are up and running. You wouldn't be the first person to sign a contract with DSL and get stuck with a year of sh*tty speed.
 

edmicman

Golden Member
May 30, 2001
1,682
0
0
Is it 29.95 forever or just for a promo period? Not everyone has landline service to get discounted DSL rates, either.
 

jEct2

Golden Member
Mar 1, 2005
1,726
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0
Originally posted by: Caminetto
You do realize that not everyone will get that speed, as it depends on how close you are to the CO.
Post back with some speed tests after you are up and running. You wouldn't be the first person to sign a contract with DSL and get stuck with a year of sh*tty speed.

Will do. I did some research with Verizon's performance in my area, and it seems good so far.

 

EyeMWing

Banned
Jun 13, 2003
15,670
1
0
Verizon doesn't even offer 1.5mb here... And due to loop lengths, I'd get ISDN speeds at best.
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
126
Yeah...I would have gone with Verizon, but I have Satellite TV for most of my channels, so I wanted Comcast for the locals anyhow. Comcast seems to have pretty reliable service...but if I was able to Save $120+ per year, I'd switch pretty quick.
 

jEct2

Golden Member
Mar 1, 2005
1,726
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0
Originally posted by: edmicman
Is it 29.95 forever or just for a promo period? Not everyone has landline service to get discounted DSL rates, either.

For a year with contract. When the contract is up, it'll be $37.95 which is STILL cheaper than Comcast. I can also go into another contract upon that time to receive another year of current rates.
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Originally posted by: jEct2
I've been very happy with Comcast but this was an absolute no brainer. I even called Comcast retention department to explain what Verizon offered, but they simply could not match at all. I actually used work at Comcast as a CSR which made me very pro-Comcast, but this deal is simply irresistable.

Comcast Cable
4 mb down / 384 kb up
$42.95 a month
I had to buy my own modem, otherwise +$3 a month for lease.

Verizon DSL
3 mb down / 768 kb up
$29.95 a month + additional $10 off for first three months

Absolutely no cost and hassle for me to switch
Free Modem/Wireless router for me to keep after one year.
No activation charge, no set up fee
No charge on shipping above router
No truckroll or in-house appointment, they simply turn it on through my phoneline. (I hated Comcast's truckrolls and workers coming in my house with dirty shoes & making a mess everywhere.)

How can Comcast compete with this?!?

Those are not guaranteed speeds. They're caps. DSL should have faster ping times, but cable's got a MUCH fatter pipe (unless you're hosting a server from home or something, you don't need 768kbps up). Take your pick.
 

jEct2

Golden Member
Mar 1, 2005
1,726
0
0
You're telling me cable speed is actually guaranteed? I thought they weren't guaranteed either as said in fine prints.

As for Upload, (which is x2 over comcast) it should help out torrents a lot, whicn in turn will increase my download as well.
 

EyeMWing

Banned
Jun 13, 2003
15,670
1
0
Originally posted by: jEct2
You're telling me cable speed is actually guaranteed? I thought they weren't guaranteed either as said in fine prints.

As for Upload, (which is x2 over comcast) it should help out torrents a lot, whicn in turn will increase my download as well.

Torrents are for girls and communists.
 

BrokenVisage

Lifer
Jan 29, 2005
24,771
14
81
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Originally posted by: jEct2
You're telling me cable speed is actually guaranteed? I thought they weren't guaranteed either as said in fine prints.

As for Upload, (which is x2 over comcast) it should help out torrents a lot, whicn in turn will increase my download as well.

Torrents are for girls and communists.

And Usenet isn't?
 

FreshPrince

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2001
8,361
1
0
If they build a verizon CO within 1500 feet from my house, I will switch in a heart beat!

I hate my Comcast cable service right now as our Atlanta router is completely hosed up and I can't get a decent ping when I play UT2K4. I get spiked packet loss as well :|
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Originally posted by: jEct2
You're telling me cable speed is actually guaranteed? I thought they weren't guaranteed either as said in fine prints.

As for Upload, (which is x2 over comcast) it should help out torrents a lot, whicn in turn will increase my download as well.

No speeds are guaranteed.
 

jEct2

Golden Member
Mar 1, 2005
1,726
0
0
Originally posted by: Nik
Originally posted by: jEct2
You're telling me cable speed is actually guaranteed? I thought they weren't guaranteed either as said in fine prints.

As for Upload, (which is x2 over comcast) it should help out torrents a lot, whicn in turn will increase my download as well.

No speeds are guaranteed.

Then what the hell is your point? :confused:
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Originally posted by: jEct2
Originally posted by: Nik
Originally posted by: jEct2
You're telling me cable speed is actually guaranteed? I thought they weren't guaranteed either as said in fine prints.

As for Upload, (which is x2 over comcast) it should help out torrents a lot, whicn in turn will increase my download as well.

No speeds are guaranteed.

Then what the hell is your point? :confused:

"you're telling me cable speed is actually guaranteed"

"no speeds are guaranteed"

What the hell is so damn hard to understand about that?
 

KarenMarie

Elite Member
Sep 20, 2003
14,372
6
81
comcast internet without comcast cable teevee = $57.95 per month in NJ.

I am anxiously awaiting FIOS in my area.

 

jEct2

Golden Member
Mar 1, 2005
1,726
0
0
Those are not guaranteed speeds. They're caps. DSL should have faster ping times, but cable's got a MUCH fatter pipe (unless you're hosting a server from home or something, you don't need 768kbps up). Take your pick.

I took this response as an argument against Verizon DSL, stating DSL is not guaranteed vs Comcast Cable may be more consistent.

Then you said,
No speeds are guaranteed.
Then what the hell is your point in your first post if you say both speeds aren't guaranteed? They're both equal. What's having a fatter pipe make a difference?

 

LuckyTaxi

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
6,044
23
81
i highly suggest you go back with Comcast. I made the same decision about a year ago wanting to save some money.
I got the DSL modem and was excited to give it a try. The best speed I got was 1mpbs. I never got anything over that.
I called to complain and all the rep told me was that I was too far from the CO! I am about 7000 feet!!!! I dont think that's too bad.
Well, I sucked it up and I'm currently paying more with Comcast, but my speed has been consistent.
 

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
32,236
53
91
Only DSL available in my area is Sprint and they are way more expensive than comcast. I live in a dorm now though so it doesn't matter...
 

aplefka

Lifer
Feb 29, 2004
12,014
2
0
Bah, I'm on 6mb/768kb and it's $55 a month normally and I'm paying $20. I just bitched out Comcast for being down during my Spring Break and told them I might as well go back to dialup because at least it'll always be up and the guy cut me a deal. Problem is I think it'll go up in July to normal price unless the bill has been kept current for the 3 month period, in which case we can get another 3 or 6 months depending.
 

jEct2

Golden Member
Mar 1, 2005
1,726
0
0
Originally posted by: lilcam
i highly suggest you go back with Comcast. I made the same decision about a year ago wanting to save some money.
I got the DSL modem and was excited to give it a try. The best speed I got was 1mpbs. I never got anything over that.
I called to complain and all the rep told me was that I was too far from the CO! I am about 7000 feet!!!! I dont think that's too bad.
Well, I sucked it up and I'm currently paying more with Comcast, but my speed has been consistent.

I got 30 day full grace period. I'll stick to whatever is good, whether Verizon or Comcast. There's no harm in trying out first. Besides I highly doubt Verizon will suddenly turn into a two-faced crappy service provider.
 

jEct2

Golden Member
Mar 1, 2005
1,726
0
0
Originally posted by: lilcam
i highly suggest you go back with Comcast. I made the same decision about a year ago wanting to save some money.
I got the DSL modem and was excited to give it a try. The best speed I got was 1mpbs. I never got anything over that.
I called to complain and all the rep told me was that I was too far from the CO! I am about 7000 feet!!!! I dont think that's too bad.
Well, I sucked it up and I'm currently paying more with Comcast, but my speed has been consistent.

What's CO? I assume it's the bandwidth providing node or something and how do I find out what the nearest CO is to my house?
 

flashbacck

Golden Member
Aug 3, 2001
1,921
0
76
Originally posted by: jEct2
How can Comcast compete with this?!?

I had the worst experience ever with Verizon. They had a similar promotion a few months ago when I was looking for broadband in LA. I didn't need 4mb down, so I called up Verizon and ordered a landline + DSL (the landline, btw, causes the final price to be comparable to Comcast).

The landline gets setup quickly, and I wait two weeks for my DSL kit to come. Doesn't come. So I call Verizon, and they say they're having difficulty testing my line, but the test'll be done in a few days. A few days pass and I call again, the response is to wait a few more days. A few more days pass, and I call again, they explain I'M NOT ELIGIBLE FOR DSL. Meanwhile, I've already received my first month's bill for the landline! So, of course, I bitch that the only reason I signed up for a landline was for DSL which they never told me I wasn't eligible for in the first place! They're actually nice about this, and refund my account.

The next month passes, and I receive a bill from verizon for ~$250. Apparently, they've mixed up accounts and I'm being charged for a business' DSL service. After an hour with CS, I clear it up.

The next month passes, and I receive a bill from verizon for ~$310, also warning me that collection agencies have been notified. THEY NEVER CLEARED UP THE ACCOUNT MIXUP. I call CS again and again they claim to have cleared it up.

I'm now waiting to see if I receive a bill this month.