telecom@eecs.nwu.edu (TELECOM Moderator) (11/23/90)
AT&T has started a new promotion called 'Qaulity Connections' which offers a rebate on selected AT&T equipment in direct proportion to the amount of long distance service one uses. The two products currently being offered are the Answering System Model 1125 (normally $129.96) and the Cordless Telephone Model 5325 (normally $179.88). You buy either of these products by mail, making twelve monthly installments of $10.83 each for the answering machine or $14.99 each for the cordless phone. Your monthly installment payments are reduced by an amount of money equal to ten percent of your long distance bill for the month prior up to a maximum of fifty percent of the monthly installment. Example: You buy the cordless phone in twelve installments of $14.99 each. You use $70 in long distance service. Your installment payment is credited with $7, meaning the final purchase price is fifty percent of the original amount. It seems to me it would be easier to administer such a premium incentive program by merely saying that if a person spends at least $700 per year in long distance they get a certificate allowing them to buy an answering machine or cordless phone at half price. They also add a 'gotcha': if you move out of your current billing area then you 'may' have to pay the accelerated balance due in full. For more information on this new promotion: 1-800-242-1003, ext. 6222. Has anyone other than me been receiving *lots* of mail from AT&T lately pushing answering machines, cordless phones and regular phones? They have several different models, all of which seem to be on sale or available under some special offer. It is as if they are trying to get out of the equipment business once and for all. Patrick Townson