THE CONNECTION CONNUDRUM

from Prairie Business July 2022

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With more technology providers and choices than ever, where do you start?

For at least a couple of generations, we have been making the choice of which wireless technology company we want to pursue. It’s not always as easy as your utility company, which is often your only choice in the area.

Choosing your wireless provider comes down to three key factors: trust, price, and quality. Let’s dive into each factor and what separates the fakes and the fabulous.

Trust In Your Provider

We’ve all been burned by being overpromised and under-delivered by a company. It’s the worst! The fine print quick-talking voices at the end of a commercial tend to cover all the ways they will get you in the end with elevated prices and loopholes.

The first way to see if you can trust a provider is to talk to a human. It’s a novelty to reach a live representative but brick-and-mortar stores with tech experts still exist. If your local representative can quote you an offer in person or over a web chat you can hold them to their word.

Know the best way to ask for an offer. We asked local tech expert Derek Kuntz from BeMobile Verizon how customers can get more from their providers he said “Keep it local! Often local providers can offer the best discount. Speaking from experience if you have a locally owned store like BeMobile they can stack national Verizon offers with BeMobile exclusive offers to make your dollar go further.” He added how you can get big companies like Verizon to do more for you, “Don’t forget about rewards programs. We have access to get you rewards that save you money in other places than your phone bill, like grocery and gas discounts, free streaming services, and more!”

Make The Price Right

As Derek highlighted the reward programs from Verizon, some providers offer additional programs to save you money. What if you just want a discount on your phone bill? There are options! easy to spot but the best way to see if their websites are right is to ask your neighbors! If people around you are excited about their service they will let you know. It’s likely if they are frustrated with their service they probably will tell you even quicker.

Ways to save money immediately are to ask about auto-pay discounts, group plans/multi-service discounts, retail credit cards, and occupation-based discounts (military, teachers, etc.). Another way you can save is to finance your purchase. Many retailers can offer financing options that do not hurt your credit and can elongate your purchase to be more affordable. You already plan to keep your devices for a couple of years so financing at the standard 36 months can help protect your money today while maximizing your savings in the future.

Also, there are usually other options for new customers if you are looking to switch, for existing customers you may have to wait for peak seasons like Back to School, Winter Holidays, and New Year’s.

New to the neighborhood and not sure who to ask? Look for certifications as well like Verizon’s RootMetrics ‘Most Reliable’ award or JD Power’s ‘Best in Class’. Those are well-respected quality control groups that you can lean on for a great recommendation.

Quality Control

Now that you know how to find who you can trust and how to ask for the right price, let’s check the quality. This is the research you can do online before you walk into the store. You can go on providers’ websites to see their coverage maps, check their network speed in your area, and online reviews.

In more rural areas like the upper midwest, there are not a lot of providers to choose from, unlike our coastal neighbors. Top performers are usually

Finding technology that checks all the boxes you need can be tough but finding the right local partner can make all the difference. Derek summarized it for us this way, “Finding the right provider should feel like a weight is lifted off your shoulders not that you got the short end of the stick. At the end of the day, your providers are just that - providing you a good or service. Before you sign anything make sure that it feels right to you and that you trust they gave you the best price and quality available.”

Technology is here to stay and keeping connected is more important than ever. Find the fabulous among the fakes with local tech experts like Derek at bemobile.com

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