Useless Conversation

[Yegolev]

a local shop had a girl who gave me free slices all the time.

[WayAbvPar]

So Time Warner is FINALLY updating their DVR hardware. Is anyone else in on the beta for the new hardware? I'm scheduled for an install Friday, couldn't talk them into letting me just trade in the box at the local branch.

As long as they aren't skinning you for the cost of the tech coming out, this is actually beneficial. I had a problem with some of my subscription channels (NHL Ice) not coming in. Comcast wanted to send a tech, and they promised it was no charge, so I worked that guy like a mule. He was there for almost 3 hours boosting my signal, replacing some old connectors, etc. It made the $200 a month I get Cosby'ed for by them every month a bit more palatable.

[Sky]

That's my intention. I have a few things queued up on the old DVR to demonstrate my signal issues with a couple channels; as well as some I recorded onto my phone to highlight different artifacting. And I took the afternoon off.

[MisterNoisy]

So Time Warner is FINALLY updating their DVR hardware. Is anyone else in on the beta for the new hardware? I'm scheduled for an install Friday, couldn't talk them into letting me just trade in the box at the local branch.

This is a little inside baseball, but if their new video hardware/platform is anything like our new setup, you'll beg them to give you the old boxes back.

[HaemishM]

Comcast's new XFinity X1 boxes are a mixture of total shit and really good upgrade. On the one hand, you get a shitton more space and can record 4 things at once while watching a fifth. On the other hand, their menus are HBO Go style and they are slow as shit, especially on the non-DVR boxes which are really nothing more than clients serving media from the DVR box. Also, sometimes the box just can't fucking to the "X1 Platform" which means when you are actually watching a show on the DVR, you can't do anything - fast forward, rewind, exit out of the menu, you can't even stop the program you are watching on the DVR because the DVR can't connect to the "X1 Platform." What the fuck is that?

[Viin]

I decided to ditch Comcast and go back to Directv - holy cow is their DVR still way better than Comcast's crap, even the X1. (Actually bought a Tivo to use with Comcast due to the craptastic DVR software they have). Directv has a similar MoCa client for other rooms to stream from the "main" DVR. Pretty slow (1-2 second lag for commands) but haven't run into issues with losing connectivity to the main DVR. The kids use that one.

And Directv is cheaper. Go figure. (Now with on-demand and streaming PPV with a WiFi link).

[Sky]

Since I have it 6 months free and they expect my feedback in exchange (it's "beta" in this market), I'm ok with it being a shit experience, me ripping them a new asshole, and then canceling service next spring. They're already on thin ice with the signal corruption and the price creep since the last time I canceled service.

[Paelos]

Fucking Comcast tried to charge me for a modem that I've owned for 8 years with a modem charge.

They sent me some form letter going, HI WE SEE YOU HAVEN'T BEEN PAYING FOR A MODEM! CAN'T HAVE THAT! WE'LL CHARGE YOU $9 A MONTH NOW PLZKTHX.

I complained, nothing happened. I called back today and ripped somebody a new asshole. They promised me it's not on the bill now. I'm this close to telling them to fuck off and quit.

[Chimpy]

They are notorious for that kind of shit. If they weren't the only viable option in my location I would not use them.

[Bunk]

There's always issues everywhere. Up here the two big providers are competing with new streaming services. I signed up for the one Telus carries: craveTV
$4 a month, primarily just tv shows, but includes HBOs entire offline catalog, so I can catch up shows I missed like the Wire. Except it doesn't work. Signed up a week ago and currently have access to 27 shows, the same 27 that show up in the preview for people who haven't bought it. They are "working on it".

[Khaldun]

I've never been a person to think about how to build a custom set-up for my media purchases, content to buy services as offered, but I'm pretty close to stepping out into a more radical space where all I buy from Verizon is broadband access, dump the cable package completely, and buy everything streaming or a la carte to our TV. I don't want to pay for massive bundles of shit that I almost never watch. I rarely if ever watch live sports, for example--any time I want to, I'd almost rather go see it at a bar or somewhere else like that. I'm really sick of how all the big providers are approaching their customers.

[Paelos]

The second that sports leagues allow me to directly stream from them with no blackouts, I'm never using cable again.

[WayAbvPar]

That's my intention. I have a few things queued up on the old DVR to demonstrate my signal issues with a couple channels; as well as some I recorded onto my phone to highlight different artifacting. And I took the afternoon off.

Just an update- checked my latest bill and the shitweasels charged me for the visit. I called prepared to fucking SCREAM at someone today and they removed it without any argument at all. Pretty sure the SOP is to charge everyone and see who doesn't bother to read their bill. God I fucking hate them so much.

[Yegolev]

Many places do this.  I had a medical lab do this to me a while back.  AT+T has only done it once, and even then it was sort of a grey area where I wanted them to fix my DVR but they replaced it instead.  They wanted to charge me a upgrade fee, so I called them and said I wanted my old DVR back.  They removed the charge.

[Polysorbate80]

Don't ascribe malicious behavior when incompetence will account for it.  I often set up a bill for a client, including notes in the goddamn database with the reasons on why something is billable or not billable, and the person who processes it and sends it out will look at it and say "that's not typical, it can't be right.  He must have made a mistake" and they change the bill without bothering to talk to me or read the fucking notes 

[Rasix]

There was a $50 charge on my ER visit for being between 10pm and 5am.    

[Chimpy]

There was a $50 charge on my ER visit for being between 10pm and 5am.    

That is just to cover your copay for the urgent care visit you would have made first if they were open!

[Lantyssa]

There was a $50 charge on my ER visit for being between 10pm and 5am.    

Typo on their part.  It was for being between 10 pm and 10 pm.

[schild]

Just saw an article about a kid with down syndrome being in a Target catalog. Who is this for? I feel for the parents of kids with problems - such as down syndrome - but like, I don't get the point, unless "parents of children with problems" is a target demographic. Also, why is Target being praised for this? Last I checked, people with down syndrome had more rights than gay people (this is a joke, not a can of worms, don't open it) - and their parents definitely have better parking spots.

Sorry, that got dark pretty quick.

[Reg]

Sounds kind of weird. I'm sure it's good publicity but I doubt many parents are going to say "Yes! let's dress him up like that kid!"

[schild]

Even as good publicity, marketing to .3% of the population (.1% has down syndrome, let's assume family exists and extend that to 3 people total), seems just silly. You can hit a wider swath than that putting an obscure minority in an ad.

[schild]

Just read an article about millennials not buying cars or houses. Companies genuinely think it's an appeal issue. I think it's more straightforward than that.

1. It's an entire generation raised to believe debt is evil and will ruin their lives.
2. They have no fucking money. None. They're all broke as shit. They don't have jobs. The previous three generations left them with /nothing/. Except Tumblr.

They have Tumblr.

[Paelos]

Millennials don't have careers yet for the most part. Many of them still have no idea what they actually want to do for their lives. I think the house part is simple. They don't want to be locked into living anywhere long term, because they may change jobs or cities next year.

They have no money because they don't realize most of their "skills" are completely unmarketable, and/or they are still chasing some dream. Which is fine, but the money lies with the Boomers in terms of disposable income, still. Marketing to millennials is stupid.

[Hawkbit]

Marketing to millennials is stupid.

Our marketing research found that millennials tend to latch on to specific brands and create long relationships with all products released under a trusted brand umbrella. 

If a company is interested in a long term business plan with that generation, then any marketing dollars spent is most likely going return over a long period of time.  We tend to think of our millennial marketing as investment for when they actually have money to spend. 

[Paelos]

I'm wary of people predicting what people will buy 5 years from now. I'm more interested in what they are buying right now or in the next year or so. Because that's what I'm selling right now.

Playing the long game when it makes sense is good, especially for things like new product development. But when it comes to marketing I want to it to sell something in the near future. Not 10 years from now. Plus what if that's wrong and we wasted money trying to attract people who will make new purchasing habits when they actually get money.

I'm buying totally different things now that I'm in my 30s and have a career. It seems like the natural order of life.

[schild]

Marketing to millennials is stupid.

Our marketing research found that millennials tend to latch on to specific brands and create long relationships with all products released under a trusted brand umbrella. 

If a company is interested in a long term business plan with that generation, then any marketing dollars spent is most likely going return over a long period of time.  We tend to think of our millennial marketing as investment for when they actually have money to spend. 

The world changes too much in five years for this to be logical in any way. Especially for a car company.

[Hawkbit]

Except for the major companies, P&G, Kraft, etc.:  http://www.businessinsider.com/these-10-corporations-control-almost-everything-you-buy-2012-4

These companies should be investing heavily in creating life-long relationships with millenials. 

There's some really funny, head-scratcher stats in this article:  http://digiday.com/brands/15-stats-brans-should-know-about-millennials/

23 percent of companies reported having heavy contact with parents of millennial employees. (Collegiate Employment Research Institute)

4 percent of employers involved reported parents attended their children’s job interviews. (CERI)

31 percent of employers involved reported parents submitted resumes on behalf of their offspring. (CERI)

[schild]

oh my god fuck parents

fuck'em

[Paelos]

oh my god fuck parents

fuck'em

Parents of millennials know they've fucked them up.

[schild]

oh my god fuck parents

fuck'em

Parents of millennials know they've fucked them up.

People should be telling them more, every day, and reminding them. They've created a generation of fuckers that even I hate and I'm only 32.

[Teleku]

So...your a millennial.

[Merusk]

23 percent of companies reported having heavy contact with parents of millennial employees. (Collegiate Employment Research Institute)

4 percent of employers involved reported parents attended their children’s job interviews. (CERI)

31 percent of employers involved reported parents submitted resumes on behalf of their offspring. (CERI)

I thought this was bullshit the first time I heard it, so I asked our HR folks about it.  It was fucking true and none of them understood it either.  We haven't hired any of them, but my god the goddamn co-ops and college kids. 

So...your a millennial.

He is.. and it gets funnier every day.

[schild]

So...your a millennial.

You're.

Also, I am that awful accident that happened between Generation X (who I share nothing in common with) and the millennials (a group whom I share even less in common with) - a term that didn't exist before 1987. I believe we're referred to as Generation Catalano. Mostly, we're awful white people, but happen to have marketable skills because the internet didn't exist when we were kids.

Fake Edit: Decided to look it up, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Catalano

I would prefer a more precise nomenclature that calls people born post-internet to be the cyber generation (which is too cool a name for them), so let's stick with millenials for 87-2000. I am more a fan of Generation Y, even though that got tossed out the door in 1987, to label those born between 80-81 and 87-88. 2000-now, we will refer to as Totally Fucked Generation, I Hope You Like Manual Labor and Flipping Burgers, You Utterly Skill-devoid Slaves or more aptly "Generation I Hope You Have a Trust Fund."

[Khaldun]

You know what I can't wait for? Is when the next bunch decide that you guys who are deciding what they are going to feel are the real enemy.

[Paelos]

I would prefer a more precise nomenclature that calls people born post-internet to be the cyber generation (which is too cool a name for them), so let's stick with millenials for 87-2000. I am more a fan of Generation Y, even though that got tossed out the door in 1987, to label those born between 80-81 and 87-88. 2000-now, we will refer to as Totally Fucked Generation, I Hope You Like Manual Labor and Flipping Burgers, You Utterly Skill-devoid Slaves or more aptly "Generation I Hope You Have a Trust Fund."

Do you have a job yet? I don't remember getting an answer on this since you're railing against Millennials.