More than we want to admit it, perception is everything. After weeks of negative statements regarding an issue, the President’s ratings plummet. The President then hits the road with a PR campaign and his ratings go back up. What changed? Did the facts of the matter change or did perception just change in that short period?
You see it all the time in politics. You see it with celebrities. Why do celebrities care so much when a seemingly false accusation is leveled? Why not just blow it off? Because they know that a huge percentage of people believe what they are told, no matter if it doesn’t seem true or reasonable.
With their huge advertising and PR budgets, major carriers have the ability to change the perception of reality in millions of consumers’ minds.
I wonder why in reality my two prepaid cell phones are saving me over $25 per month over my previous contract phones. I rarely hear stories such as mine.
What I do hear is that prepaid is suitable for low use consumers, credit challenged, or young people. I hear that inexpensive, cool cell phones are not available for those interested in going prepaid, when they are. I even hear people who complain that they have to pay when they use their prepaid plan, when with their $39.99 monthly contract plan they received free minutes. Excuse me people, but you are paying for those “free” minutes in your monthly rate! Someone told me he was spending about $25.00 per month on his prepaid plan, but wasn’t getting any “free” minutes. He didn’t comprehend that he was talking the same amount of minutes for $15 less per month than his previous contract. Man, these mobile phone companies are good. They get people to spend more for less and accept it.
Do yourself a favor. Ignore the messages sent out by the major carriers. Ignore the free phone offers for phones that are never free. Buy yourself a nice prepaid phone from a reputable prepaid company like Cingular, STi Mobile, T-Mobile, Tracfone or Boost Mobile. You will be happy. If not, there is no contract to cancel, so just choose another prepaid company and have a nice day.
With that being said, it does look like prepaid mobile is just starting to gain the attention and maybe respect of the major mobile carriers. It is about time.
Russ Snapper works in marketing for cheapphonecards.com and Deal King |
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