Greed!!

[Rvrwind]

THe outright greed of Russian buisness never ceases to amaze me. What amazes me even more is the people accept it as the norm.
Anyway a heads up for those with ladies & family in Russia.
We received a notice with our last phone bill that as of February 1st. we will be charged a monthly fee as well as a per minute charge for our home phones. According to my wifes translation that will apply to incoming as well as outgoing calls.
We are not sure yet but are trying to find out if we call long distance if we will be double charged, the per minute for long distance as well as the per minute for being on the phone. They don't stipulate that little detail & that in itself is worrisome.
There is a plan you can purchase that will allow you 375 minutes per month, however, the fee is three times what we pay now.
I can see this adding to the hardship of many Russian families who are scraping by as it is.
Even I am considering having our phone removed, cheaper to use my cell phone!

[catzenmouse]

We heard this recently from the in-laws. They are also strongly considering going cell only.

Don't worry Rvr, it's not just a Russian tradition. Just think what the oil industry did last year after Katrina and throuh the Summer with gas prices. Greed crosses all borders.

[wxman]

I read recently that in Ukraine the mobile phone providers have 40 million subscribers and the population is around 48 million. That has to be one of the higher subscribers percentage wise vs total population in Europe. It's much higher than US. I would venture that it's partially due to the cost of owning a landline, along with the cost of installing a landline. I would imagine that Russia has a high percentage of mobile phone ownership vs landline too. Plus of course the convenience is also a big reason. I found an old article from 1999 which stated that Kyivstar had reached a 120,000 subscribers. Amazing how much change that has taken place in 7 years!

[ScottinCrimea]

     I have been hesitant to put a home phone in our apartment in Simferopol because of the cost of having it installed as well as the fact that the cost per call isn't a whole lot less than using our mobile phoes.  I just don't see the benefit.  Here in Ukraine, there is a real fascination with cell phones.  You are nobody if you don't have one and they spend an inordinate amount of time admiring each other's.  Just about every other store on the main street is a mobile phone store.  It's a status symbol more than a necessity.  They are also a prime object of theft so you have to watch yours very closely.
     Big business in Ukraine and Russia are opportunists.  If they see a way to make a bigger profit, no matter at whose expense, they will do it.  Not much different than in the US, but they are not yet as sophisticated in hiding it.  The same goes for corruption.  It's worldwide, and the US certainly can't point any fingers, but they hide it better.

[wxman]

Scott,

You are right. We in the US have had 200 years to practice our capitalism and finding ways to scam the consumer. Of course the companies have figured out the easiest way to scam the consumer. Slap a sale sign on the window, broadcast the "BIG" sales on tv and television, and the consumer will flock to buy it, whether it is truly on sale or not. Why do you think the stores and companies reap most of their profits during the Christmas season? It's those bogus sales at prime gift giving time. Most consumers are gullible, whether here or there.

[jinx13]

Slap a sale sign on the window, broadcast the "BIG" sales on tv and television, and the consumer will flock to buy it, whether it is truly on sale or not.

  I own a retail business, and this is true, but it's also spurred on by consumer demand. I have tried to keep my prices low without "slapping the sale sign on the window" but the average consumer always wants something for nothing, so you can set your price very fair, but then you hear "when is it going on sale, how bout taking 20% off?"

 So now I do it the old fashioned way, raise the price so I can give them a discount 

[ScottinCrimea]

It's just like the "$2.0999 cents" they use to advertise gas.  It doesn't really fool anyone anymore, but it's so ingrained that no one dares to change it.  It's probably a good thing that Western marketing prowess hasn't gotten a good foothold in Ukraine yet, because the people there are pretty unsophisticated about it.

[wxman]

I find the smaller merchants a lot more honest that the big "super" stores. The smaller merchants take pride in the words "customer service". I will tend to use the smaller merchants even if it costs a few dollars more than the big chains. Especially when it comes to electronics, appliances, etc. I know if I ever have a problem the product will be repaired by the merchant, and not shipped off to some sub contracted repair shop. The mega stores are solely about profit for their shareholders. The smaller merchants of course want to make money, but not at the expense of their character.

[START2]

If the private sector only knew how much power they could wield over big or small business they would control those businesses. If the consumer would say "no" we will not buy your product at that price, then business has to lower rates/prices. Can you imagine the consumer uniting for just a week and tell the the phone company to go ahead and disconnect us, we won't pay your increase? How long do you think the phone company or any other business would force their increase? Of course that's in a perfect world. It's difficult to get 10 people on the same page let alone several million. We just don't seem to want to be inconvenienced in any way for even a day. For that attitude, we pay the high price. In America, most families are so much in debt they can't even afford to leave work for just a day to protest for a good cause. Oh what a difference we could make in our country if we stood united. I know, what a pipedream, da?

[Son of Clyde]

Think of the days when there was a single car in most families. People walked and took public transportation.  If people took to taking the bus whenever the gas prices went up maybe the prices would not stay high for long.

What is the solution for overcrowed highways? Make more cars and bigger highways. More greed and higher gas prices.

Why is more always equated with better?

[prince_alfie]

Think of the days when there was a single car in most families. People walked and took public transportation.  If people took to taking the bus whenever the gas prices went up maybe the prices would not stay high for long.

What is the solution for overcrowed highways? Make more cars and bigger highways. More greed and higher gas prices.

Why is more always equated with better?

Intelligent response. Plus with all of these conveniences, are we truly happier for having everything bought?

[ScottinCrimea]

I see it this way:  In America we have too much money and not enough time, so we pay whatever we have to in order to free up more time-fast food, gardeners, housecleaners, etc.  For us, time has more value than money.  In Ukraine, they have plenty of time but not enough money, so they will spend time waiting in line, comparison shopping, bargaining to save 50 kopek, etc.  But how many Americans, on their deathbed, would not give everything they own for a few more precious moments with their loved ones?  I have lived in both worlds, and I much prefer having less money and more time.  For me, time is the most valued commodity and I know I will never regret what i did not buy, but I would always regret the time I did not spend with those I love.

[START2]

Scotincrim,
  Your last sentence just spoke volumes.

[Stirlitz]

I have been hesitant to put a home phone in our apartment in Simferopol because of the cost of having it installed as well as the fact that the cost per call isn't a whole lot less than using our mobile phoes. 

Ukrtelecom must die!!!