Existence is pointless.

And yet here we all are, screeching anyway.

I don't live in Worcester anymore, but when I did and I smoked pipe, I lived for this place.

That Mavrodaphne pipe tobacco is some next-level shit.

This makes me so sad.

I worked for both Spectrum and Comcast in Massachusetts.

A little peak behind the curtain:

Calling and saying you are going to cancel does nothing. We send you to the retention department ("Customer Solutions" at Comcast) and they have access to the same exact promos as any other rep, they are just really, really skilled at selling you stuff. It'll make your call longer and there's nothing they'll do that a normal rep can't do.

"Promo pricing" is selling a bundle for less than what the company wants to charge. If you have your services bundled, it's no hassle for them to just re-up you for a promo price if you call in. But note, when the promo ends, that's what the company wants you to pay. So they bank on you either forgetting that the price changed or you are non-confrontational.

If your services are ala carte, the company usually never offers a promo beyond the first one that they offered to get you to sign up. This is where most folks get fucked and where you get strong-armed. But honestly, bundling doesn't save you money if it adds a bunch of stuff you don't use. You're better off staying ala carte at the higher price.

If a rep tells you that they can't put you in a new promo price, it's either because you're not bundled, or they are an asshole and don't want to do their job. If they are in category B, go ahead and ask for retention/threaten to disconnect.

But word to the wise, folks. People working in cable company call centers are fucking burnt out. We get abused all day. People tell you you are a giant piece of shit all day, or they tell you to kill yourself. Even the most battle-hardened folks can only take that for so long before it starts to eat away your soul.

Be kind. We're already dead inside. Being nice makes me want to go out of my way to help you. Being an asshole makes me want to let you piss in the wind. We don't like the cable company, either. Yes, we know they suck. But as a human, I feel better about working for a monstrosity if what I've done actually made a difference for someone.

Also, for fucksake, lobby for another provider in Worcester County. The rest of the state is hooked up to fiber optic and most of Worcester is still running on coax or hybrid. I was selling gigabit internet (that was actually gigabit) to people in Middlesex in 2017. Spectrum has 0 motivation to upgrade Worcester and they told me as much to my face.

The original statue, in Florence, does not have a fig leaf.

Oh, we've had a few of those. Ask a long time Woo-dweller about the infamous "Lamp Store."