How do you make a snake oil salesman look honest

Just wondering how many people have been sold the "TV essentials" package with 178 channels, but are only able to get about 100 channels? What I found out makes a snake oil salesman look like honest Abe. There's a bunch of channels you can't get unless you have a cable box...but in order to get the cable box you have to have "Advanced TV". UM am I missing something here or does this appear like a bait and switch thing? We're having to pay for the 178 channels that we are told we have but we can't get unless we upgrade to the next level. What a crock of caca de torro. been a customer for almost 20 years but we are now renting and have a pre-installed dish TV antenna, making me think about other options...but I suspect they have the same kind of bait an switch stuff. No wonder cable companies have the lowest satisfaction scores for any companies in the US.

Domino

Valued Contributor III

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2.8K Messages

A TiVo DVR with a cable card, or a Samsung receiver with a cable card will allow you to receive the digital channels in Essential. And what is your source of "...but in order to get the cable box you have to have 'Advanced TV'."

[BTW, "Advanced TV is only $3 extra, and receives more than 100 channels extra. And, Advanced TV currently $23 off for the first 3 months.]

chazcheese

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4 Messages

First, The principle of the thing, we were told by the salesperson that we would get all 178 channels as we have newer digital TV's without having to get anything extra. Like buying a car because you were told that it goes 500 miles on a single tank, but you find that it only goes 350 miles and when asking the dealer they tell you the car only goes 500 miles if you rent a special key for an extra $10 per month for the first 6 months that then goes up to $30 per month after that. Second, Sounds like Advanced TV somewhat, $3 more for the first 6 months, but then ??? how much more after that, plus there is an extra charge on top of that for the box rental (~$9 - 12 per month). My wife had her hours cut to less than 30 hours per week about a year ago that's why we opted for TV essentials as it fit our budget. Buying a Tivo or something similar ($50 - $200) alone won't get us the channels because you still have to get a cable card starting at $150 online with no guarantee it would work with Cox or get a cable card from Cox which I'm sure we'd have to rent, they're not going to give it away. My source's regarding "having to get Advance TV" is from 1. from the Cox 1-800 service person and 2. from the service person who came out to look at our lines.

Domino

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2.8K Messages

chazcheese: "Second, Sounds like Advanced TV somewhat, $3 more for the first 6 months, but then ??? how much more after that"

No. Let me type slower. "Advanced TV" is $3/month more than "TV Essential" when both are at regular price. Currently, "Advanced TV" is $23/month LESS than TV Essential (for 3 months.)

It explains on multiple sites on Cox's website that rental of a digital box or CableCARD is necessary for many of the Digital channels of "TV Essential." Why would it say this if "Advanced TV" were required for cable box rental? You should know by now that the bar is set VERY low to become Level 1 CSR or installation "tech."

chazcheese

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4 Messages

Just got off of the phone with Cox and YES you do have to upgrade to Advanced TV to get a cable box, no they won't give me the sale price going on now, but you are correct Advanced TV is only $3 more per month...but you have to rent a cable box @ $8.50 per box per month in our case 2 boxes ($17 + $3 = $20). My wifes hours have been cut to less than 30 hours per week which have drastically cut into our income so $20 more per month is kinda tough as we're already into Cox for about $170 per month what with phone, internet, and TV. So what's with the snarkey reply, does that make you feel powerful?

Domino

Valued Contributor III

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2.8K Messages

So the website is lying on multiple pages when it says of some of Essentials programs: "Digital or HD channel included with service level noted; requires rental of digital receiver."? Did you ask that? Someone has to answer that. Maybe you need to speak to a higher level CSR. Also, did they say why they couldn't give you the sale price? If they say it's because you are already a customer, tell her "That can easily be changed." And perhaps you think that re-stating a fact is being "snarky." I just want to make sure that all reading levels understand.

chazcheese

New Contributor

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4 Messages

The website is not lying, never said it was if you'd have bothered to read the original post. Slowly now just for you...the salesperson TOLD us that we would not need to have to buy/rent anything extra to receive all of the channels. Perhaps being too trusting, or as you suggest...slow w/reading disabilities even though, once again we were TOLD by the salesperson so reading did not come into play as we believed what the salesperson TOLD us. I admit advanced TV is only $3 more per month, so how come you can't admit that in order to get a cable box you NEED to upgrade to at least advanced TV and that the cable box will cost $8.50 per month per TV. Also just got off chat with COX and was told that if we upgrade to advanced TV we would not see any more channels than TV essentials unless we rent a cable box/receiver. Once again originally the salesperson TOLD us we didn't need anything extra, we were not on the website at that time. My complaint is with the original salesperson not with COX in general as this was several years ago and presumably they have been retrained as now we are getting reliable info with no hidden surprises when contacting COX about changing services.

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