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Thread ID: 89660	2008-05-07 21:07:00	Thumbs up for Xtra broadband	Strommer (42)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
667044	2008-05-07 21:07:00	Xtra has been trashed here on PF1, for good reasons. Personally, I don't like Xtra and have not been with them since 1999. But my friend got hooked into Xtra's current deal of "$16.95 - same cost of dial up", and he rang me up wanting me to set it up for him. First things I told him was that he was getting only 200 mb a month and he would surely go over that, and that Xtra was bottoms on consumer ratings, but OK, I would set it up for him. Set up went well although a 5 minute wait to the help desk was needed as they needed to unblock something (entering my friend's details did not activate his account). Reluctantly, because I do not like TelecoN, I must admit that download speeds are very fast, faster than what I get on Slingshot. And I must hand it to Telecom/Xtra for brilliant marketing: $16.95 is a great way to get people off dial up - even though we all know that hardly anyone will stay on that pathetic 200 mb limit. My friend is like so many - they will jump at an apparent bargain ($16.95), and then not blink when having to go on a more costly plan. He says his plan now is 3 Gb for around $26 a month (a special deal for 6 months) and with his fast downloads he is a happy chappy. I have not measured the download speed but will do so later this week, and compare it to what Slingshot gives me. Lastly, Xtra will refund all costs within 30 days if the user is not satisfied. So I say "Good on ya, Xtra". The trick of getting people on a cheap 200 mb plan is a good one, and it makes me wonder why other ISP's have not done this.	Strommer (42)
667045	2008-05-07 21:17:00	Firstly that 200MB plan is nothing more than a con, even elderly people doing a bit of surfing and emails every day will blow it. So Xtra can go and frag themselves for even offering it to unsuspecting victims. Secondly DSL speeds can vary wildly from exchange to exchange. One person on Xtra can obtain much better speeds than someone else on Xtra elsewhere or other ISP's. Xtra also outsourced there service desk to another country, yea they deserve your support?	Battleneter2 (9361)
667046	2008-05-07 21:25:00	As you say it is a trick and other ISPs are not as devious as to offer a useless 200MB plan which you then pay excess for when you go over after a few days use. By the way Xtra does not exist anymore, it is called Telecom.	Safari (3993)
667047	2008-05-07 21:38:00	Firstly that 200MB plan is nothing more than a con, even elderly people doing a bit of surfing and emails every day will blow it. So Xtra can go and frag themselves for even offering it to unsuspecting victims. Secondly DSL speeds can vary wildly from exchange to exchange. One person on Xtra can obtain much better speeds than someone else on Xtra elsewhere or other ISP's. Xtra also outsourced there service desk to another country, yea they deserve your support? If you would read what I wrote, you will see that I am well aware that the 200 mb plan is a con. Its good marketing, though (in the sense that many adverts are tricks, or cons). Its like this: I have tried for over a year to get my friend on broadband, but he just would not do it, even when he is on a very good salary and I told him about Slingshot's $25 plan. Then TelecoN comes along and ropes him in - AND he gets a very fast dowload speed - AND there is a 30 day money back guarantee. As I said, I don't like Telecon/Xtra. But their marketing ploy is to be commended - as long as the fact that its actually a con is admitted. I get frustrated when my friends refuse to go broadband when they can afford it - they gripe about how slow dialup is and I cannot get through to them on the landline since they are on the dial up for so long. People have a block about spending an extra $15 or so to get broadband, even when they happily pay $15 for a movie or a few cups of coffee or a few drinks. Sure I know that speeds vary according to several factors, but with the 30 day money back guarantee its no problem. Sorry if you want me to hate Telecom Xtra ALL the time. I am not into black and white thinking. Search my old posts - I'm the guy that pissed a few PF1'ers off by praising Bill Gates for his philanthropy work. :D And besides, this forum has been too tame for too long and its time I stirred things up. :p :lol: By the way Xtra does not exist anymore, it is called Telecom. Really? See this: www.telecom.co.nz	Strommer (42)
667048	2008-05-07 21:45:00	As you say it is a trick and other ISPs are not as devious as to offer a useless 200MB plan which you then pay excess for when you go over after a few days use. By the way Xtra does not exist anymore, it is called Telecom. My thoughts exactly Saf. Didn't know about Xtra. A jolly good font as usual,ta.	Cicero (40)
667049	2008-05-07 21:57:00	If you go to www.xtra.co.nz you get http://nz.yahoo.com/ Click on the broadband link there and you go to www.telecom.co.nz	Safari (3993)
667050	2008-05-07 22:00:00	Your word is gospel,no need for proof.	Cicero (40)
667051	2008-05-07 22:19:00	Steve_L I didn't mean to imply you didn't know the 200MB was a con, I saw your response. I just believe Xtra should be condemned for it rather than commended in any way. Sure its great marketing for them. The excess usage charges are nuts also, think it was $20 a gig (someone might want to correct me). Personally I would rather see your friend on Dialup, and he would get much better value form not running a false economy by spending $30 for 5 gig at another ISP.	Battleneter2 (9361)
667052	2008-05-07 22:50:00	$16.95 is a great way to get people off dial up The trick of getting people on a cheap 200 mb plan is a good one, and it makes me wonder why other ISP's have not done this. No its a great way to sucker them into joining Xtra. And tough luck if you'd love to get off dialup but cannot get broadband. And yes, there are other ISPs offering the same kind of cheap low data plans. And if your friend wanted to stay with dialup, then so what? It is/was his choice.	pctek (84)
667053	2008-05-08 03:41:00	Firstly that 200MB plan is nothing more than a con, even elderly people doing a bit of surfing and emails every day will blow it. So Xtra can go and frag themselves for even offering it to unsuspecting victims. Secondly DSL speeds can vary wildly from exchange to exchange. One person on Xtra can obtain much better speeds than someone else on Xtra elsewhere or other ISP's. Xtra also outsourced there service desk to another country, yea they deserve your support? Weren't vodafone offering a 'free broadband' offer at one stage, which also only had a minimal bandwidth limit. Some people will actually not use 200MB, as many of these dial up users solely use it for email, and viewing the odd website. I must admit that telecom does provide good support, compared to other ISPs I have used. It is also one of the only ones that does provide true 24x7 phone support, which is required for the type of person that plan is marketed to (your mum and dad users), as they require more than your average level of help.	robbyp (2751)
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