[DM-MUG] OT: Qwest and Mediacom Internet Service Advice

Mon Dec 7 18:48:01 CST 2009

Let me expand on the comment about Mac support from Qwest. I have never been a Qwest employee, I just like to be a loyal patron to the companies I am satisfied with.

Qwest's Mac support team is in Boise, Idaho. But they only work 8-5pm M-F. All other times you get re-routed to first available call centers. Some are in the US some are not. I always ask where the CSRs are located anyways. I've had them long enough and called enough times to know and been told their location and hours when I've called to request Mac support CSRs. 

I prefer DSL for many reasons. If the person's main concern is download speed, and NOT upload speed Cable internet "can" be faster, but it's like a highway at rush hour. Just because the posted speed limit is 70 miles, doesn't mean you are going 70 miles when  everyone in the in the neighborhood is getting off work and kids are getting out of school jumping on the internet. You internet speed is the equivalent of going with the traffic flow. If your friend wants reliability and a constant speed, DSL is a better choice, whatever provider your friend elects.

Qwest's 2 year contract isn't that bad. they never charge you more (for the speed you want)... they have a price for life guarantee. If they have a promotion they discount you the difference regardless of a 2 year contract. Example: I went with a 1mb speed plan and had been a customer for 3 years, they ran a promo for that speed which was cheaper than the regular price and they gave me the monthly discount for the entire duration of the promo. Last year my internet was supposed to be $45/mo. and because they ran the promo twice, I was only charged $15/mo for most the year. When I've chose to go with a faster speed, I get the new promo price, and the 2 year agreement was not restarted since I had already served the 2 year time. You can upgrade your connection speed at any time before of after the 2 years is up. It's mainly for those that terminate early. Moving service does not change anything either, only some one time transfer fees which is like $30-100
 depending on all the services being transferred/changed. The more services you have through Qwest, the more discounts they give you. When I added DirecTV they added a $5 discount on top of the existing discounts. 

I don't know much with cable internet or other DSL providers other than maybe NetINS, since I've been happy with Qwest collectively.

-A.

--- On Sat, 12/5/09, CW Smith <cwsmith7 at gmail.com> wrote:

From: CW Smith <cwsmith7 at gmail.com>
Subject: [DM-MUG] Fwd:  OT: Qwest and Mediacom Internet Service Advice
To: "Des Moines Mac Users Group" <dmmug at dmmug.org>
Date: Saturday, December 5, 2009, 3:17 PM

Don't forget Freese Notis -- they use Qwest's network but their cust svc (especially Mac support) is much better. Local contacts too -- you won't be talking to someone in Calcutta.

---------------------------------------------CW SmithWindows & Macintosh repairApple Certified Mac Technician
(515) 577-1716cwsmith7 at gmail.com
"Guitar, bass, percussion, Mac"www.cwsmith.fm---------------------------------------------
Begin forwarded message:

From: "Dave Weis" <djweis at internetsolver.com>
Date: December 5, 2009 1:23:52 PM CST
To: "Des Moines Mac Users Group" <dmmug at dmmug.org>
Subject: Re: [DM-MUG] OT: Qwest and Mediacom Internet Service Advice
Reply-To: djweis at internetsolver.com, Des Moines Mac Users Group <dmmug at dmmug.org>

I appreciate the compliment. We work hard at service and support. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris <chris at kavanaughgallery.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 13:16:51 
To: <djweis at internetsolver.com>; Des Moines Mac Users Group<dmmug at dmmug.org>
Subject: Re: [DM-MUG] OT: Qwest and Mediacom Internet Service Advice

Dave-I was going to recommend you, internet solver does the DSL for  
my work and they have always been helpful and reliable.  I had  
mediacom for about a year and the product is intermittent at best and  
the service is horrible. We would have outages at least a couple  
times a month, every month. I would get a different excuse from every  
different CSR I would talk to. They would promise credits for time  
unusable that would never appear on my bill. A couple of years ago  
mediacom was much faster than qwest but I chose qwest. Good luck Chris

On Dec 5, 2009, at 1:05 PM, Dave Weis wrote:

And just so the people that know me well don't think I've lost my  
self promotion skills, I recommend our DSL if you are in the more  
central area of the metro.

------Original Message------
From: Ray Bowler
Sender: dmmug-bounces at dmmug.org
To: Des Moines Mac Users Group
ReplyTo: Des Moines Mac Users Group
Subject: Re: [DM-MUG] OT: Qwest and Mediacom Internet Service Advice
Sent: Dec 5, 2009 12:59 PM

Alan,

I agree with David. I would go with Qwest DSL. When Mediacom is
working it is fine but I have had several times when their server is
down for several days. When the problem seems to be at my end it can
take 3 or 4 days to get someone out here to fix it.

On Dec 5, 2009, at Dec 5, 200912:22 PM, Alan Maupin wrote:

I'm asking for advice for a friend on Internet service in Ankeny.
It's been awhile since I've negotiated a deal and I'm not sure of
what to tell her.  She's been offered two deals:   Qwest 7 mbps for
$41 per month and Mediacom 8 mbps for $39.  Since the price and
download speeds are very similar what other criteria should she
consider?  One possible negative is the fact that Qwest requires a
two year contract.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance -alan

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Ray Bowler

rbowler.home.mchsi.com

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Chris
chris at kavanaughgallery.com

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