1-888-DISH-HELP
I found it a little odd that this advertisement was running on my local cable TV
service:
A pale white guy (PWG) and an attractive lady of indeterminate ethnicity (ALIE) are standing in front of a table holding two satellite dishes, one with the DirecTV logo and the other with the Dish Network logo. PWG: When we considered getting a satellite dish we thought it would be quick and easy. ALIE: Then we learned we had to make a lot of decisions. Like which service to get? PWG: With what equipment, what programming packages, at what price, for how many rooms... ALIE: There were so many choices... we were confused! (She reaches for brochure lying on the table.) PWG: Until we got this helpful brochure from the Satellite Entertainment Information Center. (Brochure cover reads: The Practical Guide to Choosing A Satellite System -- 9th Edition. The cover closely resembles the "Handbook for the Recently Deceased" from Beetlejuice.) It tells you everything you need to know and best of all... ALIE: It's free. PWG: So... If you're confused and want help, call 1-888-DISH-HELP. ALIE: That's 1-888-DISH-HELP. Text on screen reads: Call Now for your Free Guide 1-888-DISH-HELP Toll Free)
I googled the phone number and found a website which reveals that the purpose of the DISH-HELP service is
to rat you out to the cable company,
so they can call you and try to keep you from defecting. I decided to
order a copy of the brochure to see what’s inside, so I called the number.
A perky young lady answered, and took my name and address. She promised
right away that the information I was providing would not be sold or provided
to satellite companies (duh!).
After taking my address she promised that the brochure would arrive in 2-3 weeks.
Then she asked if I would take a short survey, saying that the information would
be provided to “other media companies” (hmmm, I wonder which ones?) but would
not be sold or provided to satellite companies.
The questions on the survey were:
- How many TVs are in your house? I said “thirty.”
- How likely are you to switch to Satellite? I said “somewhat likely.”
- Reason for switching to satellite? I said “The service my cable provider has is not very good.”
- How disatisfied are you with your cable company on a scale of 1-5? I said “somewhat disatisfied.”
- Who is your cable provider? I told them.
Again, I was told the brochure would arrive in 2-3 weeks. Needless to say, this gives the
cable company plenty of time to try and retain me as a customer. I’m expecting a call from them
any minute now…
September 16th, 2005 at 7:03 pm
You have to admit that it’s quite clever, even if deceptive. I would file a complaint to the Better Business Bureau, or write to the executives.
When you get the brochure, please post the images on Flikr :-)
September 17th, 2005 at 12:42 am
Well, technically I don’t think they’re doing anything illegal. It’s certainly deceptive, however.
October 1st, 2005 at 1:56 pm
Sleazy Cable Company Tactics
I saw a TV commercial today that struck me as very odd. It was supposedly for a service that would send you a brochure on how to choose a satellite provider. Given that DirecTV and Dish Network wouldn't be likely to get together for a commercial t…