Phone calls from payphones now cost 50 cents instead of 25.
Yes, payphones still exist.
But now whenever you answer a call that originated from a payphone you get to hear an intelligent and interesting rant about how it’s now 50 cents to make a phone call and that’s outrageous. And everyone standing next to the payphone gets to hear it too!
I actually heard someone declare that “this will not stand.”
So we’re fine with our banking fees and our service fees and our access fees and our dispensing fees, but a fucking phone call, whose price has remained stable for around two decades jumps and civilisation is suddenly collapsing.
I need a shotgun that fires common sense.
Comments 5
lol good entry and YES I am one of those people complaining about the increase in price of a phone call. Your post made me laugh but then I went straight back in to a rage about the 25 cent price increase!
A shotgun that fires common sense - not a bad idea. Let me know if you make any progress on that.
Posted 04 Jul 2007 at 6:00 pm ¶I have this to say and no more: If you make so many phone calls from payphones that this price increase affects you adversely, you need to reconsider your telecommunications strategy.
Posted 05 Jul 2007 at 6:38 pm ¶For over 70 years Coca Cola cost only 5 cents. The reason why is called ‘nominal price rigidity’ and this article explains it wonderfully:
http://www.slate.com/id/2165787/nav/navoa/
Bell Canada is likely in the same position as Coke back in the day: the 100% increase is a shock to consumers.
(Side story: I usually don’t carry change. Last week I wanted to call Laura and all I had in my pockets were 25 cents. It was only then that I noticed the price increase; I searched my pockets in vain for quarters, but no luck. In conclusion, I demand more price rigidity).
Posted 12 Jul 2007 at 4:24 pm ¶Everyone should have more rigidity at all times.
The difference between Coke’s issue and Bell’s issue is that, when a consumer bought a ten-cent bottle of Coke, they didn’t pour half out onto the sidewalk in protest of the price increase. Stand next to a phone booth long enough and you’ll find that on average, the first 25 cents’ worth of talk time is wasted on a loud, ignorant discussion of the 25-cent increase.
Lest we fool ourselves into lionising other phone companies, I’m sure Telus has upped its rates in regions where it is the incumbent landline operator.
I’ve always strived to be non-Ontariocentric here. Always.
Posted 12 Jul 2007 at 4:35 pm ¶The Fifth Wheel I was at this morning insisted on dollar deposits or phone cards, surely truckers are up in arms as well.
Posted 12 Jul 2007 at 8:02 pm ¶Post a Comment