Movie Industry Problems: Not My Fault
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Telcos Offering Free iPods If You Complain About Cable Companies

Overhype

from the conflict-of-interest? dept

Fri, Dec 30th 2005 3:39pm — Mike Masnick
In the battle between telcos and cable companies, both sides like to look for "public opinion" that proves their point -- but unfortunately there are way too many cases where that "public opinion" is bought and paid for by the companies it benefits. We've seen this with Astroturf campaigns funded by one side or the other, and now Broadband Reports points out that a front organization funded by Verizon is handing out free iPods to people who complain about their cable provider.
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17 Comments

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  • identicon
    kingmanor, 30 Dec 2005 @ 4:56pm

    guilty

    honestly, I'd complain about my cable company if you gave me a free iPod.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      George, 30 Dec 2005 @ 5:01pm

      Re: guilty

      I woudn't, for the simple fact that my cable company has a monopoly in this market.

      If I complain, I can expect to never get service from them again. Then I'll be forever stuck with the telcos and their crappy DSL.

      No thanks, you can keep your iPod.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Eric, 30 Dec 2005 @ 11:43pm

        Re: guilty

        for a free ipod? ill complain about them for one of them. shoot that'd be great. just because you complain about them doesnt mean they wont give you service anymore. and if they do just sue for discrimination (cuz everyone is so frikkin sue-happy now-a-days). another way is just get a friend to subscribe for it for you and pay him every month. simple. done.

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 31 Dec 2005 @ 10:38am

          Re: guilty

          You dont get an ipod just for complaining. You get a CHANCE to win an ipod nano. It looks like they choose one (maybe several, but not many) person per month from all of the people who submit their cable horror stories and give them the nano. Its not like you can just go over there and give them some bogus story, pocket the ipod, then leave.

          Personally though im quite happy with my cable internet. It does bug me that I have to pay for all these cable tv channels (and none of them are the ones I want) in order to be allowed to get internet, but the internet service itself is great.

          [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Andrew Strasser, 31 Dec 2005 @ 5:38pm

        Re: guilty

        Hehe a good chuckle... Wonder if working for them you get stock options?

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      thehunter, 31 Dec 2005 @ 9:29pm

      Re: guilty

      If all cable conpany's are like my cable Company, everyone needs to complain - and I do, and It's not for an iPod, It's an attempt for better cable service and viewing

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 30 Dec 2005 @ 5:14pm

    No Subject Given

    shoot I complain about my cable company's crappy quality anyway. Where can I sign up for the iPod?

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    discojohnson, 30 Dec 2005 @ 6:29pm

    No Subject Given

    well it's not that great of a deal

    (from the actual page)
    "Submit your personal cable horror story for a chance to win an iPod Nano. Winners are chosen monthly"

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      UberOberClocking, 30 Dec 2005 @ 8:16pm

      Re: No Subject Given

      Ha, for one its a nano, u can get them for like 50$ if you try, and second, i have verizon DSL, till i get my cable, and my god is this the crapiest internet ive had. But then again, what do you expect for 20$ a month.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Cheap iPod Nano, 31 Dec 2005 @ 6:27am

    Cheap iPod Nano

    I got mine here ... thanks Santa :)

    Cheap iPod Nano

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Howard, 1 Jan 2006 @ 1:57pm

    Guess I jumped the gun...

    I've been complaining about the crappy "service" from Comcast for years. Finally switched to Verizon FIOS, and my broadband problems have pretty much vanished. So where's my IPod?
    --
    Violins for sale

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Andrew Strasser, 1 Jan 2006 @ 4:40pm

      Re: Guess I jumped the gun...

      You didn't check with your modem provider and make sure it was running in perfect phase. If you'd done that then you'd most likely be happy with your service from them.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        jdragon, 2 Jan 2006 @ 9:24pm

        Re: Guess I jumped the gun...

        The cable companies should counteract with their own free ipod program. I would about both of them and hence, get 2 iPods!

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        EldestHanson, 3 Jan 2006 @ 9:13am

        Re: Guess I jumped the gun...

        > you'd most likely be happy with your service from them [sic]< br>
        Hahahahahahahahahaha! Robin Williams reads Techdirt!

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Sonny, 2 Dec 2006 @ 12:47pm

    Slow Speeds

    I have been complaining for several months about my slow speeds on cable(Media Com)..Regardless of a free anything..Its december and I still have slow speeds...Im paying almost 60 bucks a month and Im getting 500 kbps instead of the 5000 it advertises.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]


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