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* AT&T Minimum Texting Plan Price Quadruples in One Year - 24 messages, 8
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http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/d30df867e6683fac?hl=en
* Telephone answering machine for elderly person - 1 messages, 1 author
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==============================================================================
TOPIC: AT&T Minimum Texting Plan Price Quadruples in One Year
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/d30df867e6683fac?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 24 ==
Date: Wed, Aug 24 2011 11:45 pm
From: SMS
On 8/24/2011 9:45 PM, The Real Bev wrote:
> Not to be argumentative or anything, but we've done all that already
> using just maps a van and a telephone. The old fashioned kind -- paper
> maps and a wired phone that just made phone calls. And when we wanted a
> motel we just drove until we found one with a vacancy sign.
>
> People can't figure out how to do this any more?
A lot of people just show up at a hotel. It was amazing to me to be
sitting in the lobby of a hotel (Microtel) last month (trying to use the
printer at their guest computer) and listening to the range of prices
that were being offered base on the guest's haggling ability. I'm sure
each guest thought they were getting the best possible price, but they
weren't.
The AAA rate and the AARP rate were not the cheapest. The "Allied
Business Network" (free membership), which I used, had the best advance
reservation rates at Wyndham hotels (Baymont, Days Inn, Hawthorn Suites,
Howard Johnson, Knights Inn, Microtel Inn & Suites, Ramada Inn, Super 8
Motel, Travelodge, Wyndham, Wingate Inn), offering 20% off versus 10%
for AAA and AARP. But there were guests getting the 20% off rate just by
asking for a better rate, since obviously the hotel was anxious to fill
as many rooms as possible at 10:00 at night.
== 2 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 3:09 am
From: Vic Smith
On Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:28:18 -0700, SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com>
wrote:
>On 8/24/2011 9:45 AM, Vic Smith wrote:
>> On Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:01:28 -0500, Paul Miner
>> <pminer@elrancho.invalid> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>
>>> In my case, I probably wouldn't notice, and if I did notice, I
>>> probably wouldn't care. Of all the times I've been to 'remote'
>>> National Parks like Yosemite, Zion, Glacier, and Yellowstone, I don't
>>> remember even taking my phone out of my pocket, let alone trying to
>>> make a call. Checking to see if I have coverage there is not something
>>> that I've done, ever.
>>
>> I never checked either, but with Steve around that's taken care of.
>
>And of you've never needed or wanted to make a call while enroute to
>those parks either. It's great that non-urban coverage is of such minor
>importance to you. Most people like having coverage when on road trips
>into rural areas. To each their own.
I forgot who made the point about balancing coverage to your needs,
but it was a good point. Something about 99% coverage.
You have to look at the big picture.
I make road trips to rural areas often, and always have coverage with
T-Mobile, anywhere from Chicago to Florida.
Occasionally there's a dead spot in a valley or such.
That would be important to me if I lived in that valley.
Since you travel in National Parks - during snowstorms no less -
PagePlus is what works for you.
No argument from me.
You've made me aware of coverage in places I probably won't go to,
and that's what I meant above.
Now I see that if I ever go to Glacier, I might check their web site
for cell coverage first. Or maybe not. But you've made me aware.
The only trip west I was considering was Badlands, and it looks like
T-Mobile has coverage for the trip, but no carriers cover the park
well.
I expect I'll just do without coverage. I don't have to talk all the
time.
BTW, if you do backwoods or ocean trekking and are concerned about
rescue, you want an EPIRB, PLB or SPOT device.
Don't depend on cell.
--Vic
== 3 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 3:29 am
From: "Rod Speed"
Richard B. Gilbert wrote
> Rod Speed wrote
>> Richard B. Gilbert wrote
>>> Justin wrote
>>>> Richard B. Gilbert wrote
>>>>> Justin wrote
>>>>>> Anonymous wrote
>>>>>>> SMS<scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote
>>>>>>>> Anonymous wrote
>>>>>>>>> It's akin to people like Myriam Joire (editor at Engadget) who
>>>>>>>>> will take a phone that is otherwise a 9 out of 10 and grade it
>>>>>>>>> as a 3 out of 10 because it (1) doesn't have 900/1800 UMTS
>>>>>>>>> support [but does have 900/1800 GSM] support and (2) its
>>>>>>>>> camera isn't as good as a Nokia N8.
>>>>>>>> Actually it's totally different than that. Cell phone users
>>>>>>>> have consistently ranked coverage as one of the most important factors in selecting a carrier.
>>>>>>> Right, but I think (no evidence to support this besides just
>>>>>>> talking to friends) that coverage *in the area they are in 99%
>>>>>>> of the time* is what they care about.
>>>>>> I wonder why that would be. I would be OK without coverage in 5 %
>>>>>> of the area I spend 99% of my time in if it were available 100% of the time in areas I don't go to often but
>>>>>> would need to be able
>>>>>> to call if I get lost, break down, etc.
>>>>>> Perhaps they don't know that the T-Mobile service doesn't work
>>>>>> well in an area like Yosemite until they get there
>>>>> It seems to me that a good travel agent should be aware of which
>>>>> carriers provide service in the area(s) that you plan to visit. If he doesn't know, he should certainly know how
>>>>> to find out! It
>>>>> certainly will not hurt to ASK before you go!
>>>> Who uses a travel agent anymore?
>>> I don't know. The last time I traveled by commercial air a travel
>>> agent issued the ticket, scheduled the airport limousine, etc, etc.
>>> If you travel frequently, you may prefer to do some of this stuff for yourself. The infrequent traveler should
>>> probably seek professional help!
>> No need when going to the sort of place being discussed.
> Oh! Right! Just jump in your car and drive a thousand or two miles.
> Hope that you don't get lost.
I know I wont get lost, I have a decent GPS.
> Stay in a motel each night if you can find one with a vacancy.
Never failed to find one yet.
> Or climb aboard some random Airliner and hope you can parachute into Yellowstone Park.
I'm not stupid enough to go there by plane.
> Or maybe you could bite the bullet and consult a travel agent.
Not that stupid.
> Or, if it's something you have done every year for the last ten years, you
> *know* which airline you want to fly, which hotel/motel you want to stay in. . . .
Dont need to do that every year for the last ten years to do that.
> Pick up the phone and arrange hotel rooms as needed.
Or get real radical and use the net.
> Call Hertz to arrange a rental car. . . .
Or get real radical and use the net.
> I think that, in most cases, you will be better off using a good travel agent.
More fool you.
== 4 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 3:37 am
From: "Rod Speed"
Richard B. Gilbert wrote
> Paul Miner wrote
>> Richard B. Gilbert <rgilbert88@comcast.net> wrote
>>> Justin wrote
>>>> Who uses a travel agent anymore?
>>> I don't know. The last time I traveled by commercial air a travel
>>> agent issued the ticket, scheduled the airport limousine, etc, etc.
>> Yes, but what year was that? 1982? :-)
>>> If you travel frequently, you may prefer to do some of this stuff
>>> for yourself. The infrequent traveler should probably seek
>>> professional help!
>> SMS says WiFi is nearly ubiquitous. With all of that Internet access
>> floating around, what excuse would a person use to seek out a travel
>> agent, if they still exist, versus simply arranging their own travel?
> WiFi is not going to help you select a hotel in a strange city.
Wrong, as always.
> If you pick a hotel at random
That isnt the only alternative.
> you may find that it rents rooms by the hour!
Cant say I have ever run into one of those and it would be obvious if I did.
> Wifi is not going to get you to the proper terminal at the airport.
Wrong, as always.
> A travel agent may not be essential to the experienced traveler.
It isnt essential for the inexperienced traveller either.
> For the infrequent traveler such as I, a travel agent is a necessity!
Wrong, as always.
== 5 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 3:39 am
From: "Rod Speed"
Richard B. Gilbert wrote
> Paul Miner wrote
>> Richard B. Gilbert <rgilbert88@comcast.net> wrote
>>> It seems to me that a good travel agent should be aware of which carriers provide service in the area(s) that you
>>> plan to visit. If he doesn't know, he should certainly know how to find out! It certainly will not hurt to ASK
>>> before you go!
>> Travel agent? Do those still exist?
> Have you looked in the Yellow Pages of your phone book?
I'm not such a dinosaur.
> I counted thirty travel agents before I got tired of the game.
Your problem.
> So yes, travel agents still exist!
You quite sure you aint one of those rocket scientist dinosaurs ?
== 6 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 3:44 am
From: "Rod Speed"
nospam wrote
> Richard B. Gilbert <rgilbert88@comcast.net> wrote
>> WiFi is not going to help you select a hotel in a strange city. If you
>> pick a hotel at random you may find that it rents rooms by the hour!
> it most certainly will help and there's absolutely no reason to pick
> anything at random.
> you can easily research what options there are, check for ratings,
> look at maps, etc., or just stick with the well known hotels like
> marriott, sheraton, holiday inn, etc. those are usually a safe bet
> and not in a shit section of town.
> what if the travel agent picks at random or more likely, whatever
> gives the biggest commission?
>> Wifi is not going to get you to the proper terminal at the airport.
> of course it will. airlines usually have all the necessary information
> on their website.
> airport websites also have terminal maps and some of them even have
> virtual walk-throughs. they also usually have extensive info on how to
> get to or from the airport, such as what shuttles, limos, taxis,
> public transportation, etc. serve the airport.
>> A travel agent may not be essential to the experienced traveler. For
>> the infrequent traveler such as I, a travel agent is a necessity!
> i think what you need is a chaperone.
Nope, a nanny/minder/whatever the retarded have/'carer'
== 7 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 3:44 am
From: Vic Smith
On Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:45:56 -0700, SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com>
wrote:
>On 8/24/2011 9:45 PM, The Real Bev wrote:
>
>> Not to be argumentative or anything, but we've done all that already
>> using just maps a van and a telephone. The old fashioned kind -- paper
>> maps and a wired phone that just made phone calls. And when we wanted a
>> motel we just drove until we found one with a vacancy sign.
>>
>> People can't figure out how to do this any more?
>
>A lot of people just show up at a hotel. It was amazing to me to be
>sitting in the lobby of a hotel (Microtel) last month (trying to use the
>printer at their guest computer) and listening to the range of prices
>that were being offered base on the guest's haggling ability. I'm sure
>each guest thought they were getting the best possible price, but they
>weren't.
>
>The AAA rate and the AARP rate were not the cheapest. The "Allied
>Business Network" (free membership), which I used, had the best advance
>reservation rates at Wyndham hotels (Baymont, Days Inn, Hawthorn Suites,
>Howard Johnson, Knights Inn, Microtel Inn & Suites, Ramada Inn, Super 8
>Motel, Travelodge, Wyndham, Wingate Inn), offering 20% off versus 10%
>for AAA and AARP. But there were guests getting the 20% off rate just by
>asking for a better rate, since obviously the hotel was anxious to fill
>as many rooms as possible at 10:00 at night.
I never reserve because I don't want a strict schedule on the road.
Just asking for a better rate always worked for me years ago except
once, but it's hard to measure.
Only time I was sure was at a major (maybe Holiday Inn) in Chula
Vista, CA. Two women were at the counter in front of me and just paid
the offered price. I got 2 adjoining rooms for the same price.
I still do a variation of the same opener as when there were 7 of us,
going into the office alone and energetically (like I'm ready to walk
out again) and asking,
"How much for a room for me and my wife?"
I get offered the usual discounts, and that's usually that.
Might have done better per room when I was getting 2 rooms.
What I've noticed in the past 10 years or so is that the clerks don't
have the discretion to go below some fixed point.
Some chains advertise a an already reasonable fixed low price.
Luckily I can afford more now.
Twenty-thirty years ago there were more owner/operators manning the
desks, and they didn't hide their pondering very well.
You could see the wheels turning in their head, figuring their chance
of filling their room and what price would make me walk.
I always stop early because I don't drive in the dark except dawn, and
figure I get a good rate that way. They don't know if they will fill.
The problem with that 10 PM scenario is tired drivers who need to
sleep NOW. I suspect the motel operator knows this.
--Vic
== 8 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 5:30 am
From: Paul Miner
On Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:14:32 -0400, "Richard B. Gilbert"
<rgilbert88@comcast.net> wrote:
>On 8/24/2011 10:41 PM, Paul Miner wrote:
>> On Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:13:18 -0400, "Richard B. Gilbert"
>> <rgilbert88@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>>> It seems to me that a good travel agent should be aware of which
>>> carriers provide service in the area(s) that you plan to visit. If he
>>> doesn't know, he should certainly know how to find out! It certainly
>>> will not hurt to ASK before you go!
>>
>> Travel agent? Do those still exist?
>>
>
>Have you looked in the Yellow Pages of your phone book? I counted
>thirty travel agents before I got tired of the game. So yes, travel
>agents still exist!
I don't have a Yellow Pages or any printed phone book. Those go into
the recycling bin moments after they land on my doorstep. I don't
think I've had any kind of printed phone directory in my home since
about 1999 or maybe 2000.
Thanks for confirming, though, that there are still a few around. I
assume their days are numbered.
--
Paul Miner
== 9 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 5:58 am
From: Paul Miner
On Wed, 24 Aug 2011 22:14:24 -0600, Todd Allcock
<elecconnec@AnoOspamL.com> wrote:
>At 24 Aug 2011 21:41:03 -0500 Paul Miner wrote:
>> On Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:13:18 -0400, "Richard B. Gilbert"
>> <rgilbert88@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> >It seems to me that a good travel agent should be aware of which
>> >carriers provide service in the area(s) that you plan to visit. If he
>> >doesn't know, he should certainly know how to find out! It certainly
>> >will not hurt to ASK before you go!
>>
>> Travel agent? Do those still exist?
>
>
>Sure, there's one in my neighborhood between the Blacksmith's shop and
>the Cobbler.
Thanks, you've given me an idea of where to look. I'll swing by the
Telegraph office and Livery Stable on my way home from work.
--
Paul Miner
== 10 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 6:31 am
From: "Richard B. Gilbert"
On 8/25/2011 12:50 AM, Justin wrote:
> Richard B. Gilbert wrote on [Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:04:18 -0400]:
>> On 8/24/2011 10:48 PM, Paul Miner wrote:
>>> On Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:38:54 -0400, "Richard B. Gilbert"
>>> <rgilbert88@comcast.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 8/24/2011 3:32 PM, Justin wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Who uses a travel agent anymore?
>>>>
>>>> I don't know. The last time I traveled by commercial air a travel agent
>>>> issued the ticket, scheduled the airport limousine, etc, etc.
>>>
>>> Yes, but what year was that? 1982? :-)
1998 give or take a year!
>>>
>>>> If you travel frequently, you may prefer to do some of this stuff for
>>>> yourself. The infrequent traveler should probably seek professional help!
>>>
>>> SMS says WiFi is nearly ubiquitous. With all of that Internet access
>>> floating around, what excuse would a person use to seek out a travel
>>> agent, if they still exist, versus simply arranging their own travel?
>>>
>>
>> WiFi is not going to help you select a hotel in a strange city. If you
>> pick a hotel at random you may find that it rents rooms by the hour!
>
> Yes, because all the Hampton Inns rent rooms by the hour, all the Marriots
> do too
I didn't realize that the big chains such as Marriot were so dependent
on the "quickie" trade!
>
>> Wifi is not going to get you to the proper terminal at the airport.
>
> Neither is a travel agent
The travel agent will tell me that my flight departs from "Terminal 3".
That's enough of a clue.
== 11 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 6:38 am
From: "Richard B. Gilbert"
On 8/25/2011 12:54 AM, Justin wrote:
> Richard B. Gilbert wrote on [Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:14:32 -0400]:
>> On 8/24/2011 10:41 PM, Paul Miner wrote:
>>> On Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:13:18 -0400, "Richard B. Gilbert"
>>> <rgilbert88@comcast.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> It seems to me that a good travel agent should be aware of which
>>>> carriers provide service in the area(s) that you plan to visit. If he
>>>> doesn't know, he should certainly know how to find out! It certainly
>>>> will not hurt to ASK before you go!
>>>
>>> Travel agent? Do those still exist?
>>>
>>
>> Have you looked in the Yellow Pages of your phone book? I counted
>> thirty travel agents before I got tired of the game. So yes, travel
>> agents still exist!
>
> Phone books? Do they still exist?
Lost in time! Pitiful!!!!
== 12 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 7:17 am
From: Justin
Richard B. Gilbert wrote on [Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:31:47 -0400]:
> On 8/25/2011 12:50 AM, Justin wrote:
>> Richard B. Gilbert wrote on [Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:04:18 -0400]:
>>> On 8/24/2011 10:48 PM, Paul Miner wrote:
>>>> On Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:38:54 -0400, "Richard B. Gilbert"
>>>> <rgilbert88@comcast.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>> Wifi is not going to get you to the proper terminal at the airport.
>>
>> Neither is a travel agent
>
> The travel agent will tell me that my flight departs from "Terminal 3".
> That's enough of a clue.
When you get to the airport you find out your flight has been moved.
Happens a lot.
== 13 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 9:02 am
From: The Real Bev
On 08/24/2011 11:35 PM, SMS wrote:
> On 8/24/2011 9:57 PM, The Real Bev wrote:
>
>> What indeed? Long ago people used travel agents because (1) they
>> couldn't figure out how to do it themselves; or (2) travel agents could
>> do it cheaper and didn't cost anything. I don't think either of those is
>> true any more.
>
> There are still cases, especially for international flights, where a
> travel agent that is a consolidator can be useful, though there are
> finally some on-line consolidators as well, like Vayama.
Perhaps a travel agent would be really useful if you had to make changes
to your flight arrangements during your foreign trip, especially if you
don't speak the language in question.
> There are still some travel agents that do well, especially those that
> sell a lot of cruises. Not everyone is so price sensitive that they want
> to look for discounted cruises on-line.
Not everyone is crazy enough to WANT to go on a cruise :-(
> That said, 'consult a travel agent' is Mr. Gilbert's all purpose
> response, even when the chance that a travel agent would have a useful
> answer is very small.
"Consult your doctor before embarking on a weight loss program." My
husband's doctor asked HIM for advice.
--
Cheers, Bev
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't
we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys,
it's worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it any more.
== 14 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 9:18 am
From: The Real Bev
On 08/25/2011 03:44 AM, Vic Smith wrote:
> On Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:45:56 -0700, SMS<scharf.steven@geemail.com>
> wrote:
>
>>On 8/24/2011 9:45 PM, The Real Bev wrote:
>>
>>> Not to be argumentative or anything, but we've done all that already
>>> using just maps a van and a telephone. The old fashioned kind -- paper
>>> maps and a wired phone that just made phone calls. And when we wanted a
>>> motel we just drove until we found one with a vacancy sign.
>>>
>>> People can't figure out how to do this any more?
>>
>>A lot of people just show up at a hotel. It was amazing to me to be
>>sitting in the lobby of a hotel (Microtel) last month (trying to use the
>>printer at their guest computer) and listening to the range of prices
>>that were being offered base on the guest's haggling ability. I'm sure
>>each guest thought they were getting the best possible price, but they
>>weren't.
>>
>>The AAA rate and the AARP rate were not the cheapest.
NEVER the cheapest.
>>The "Allied
>>Business Network" (free membership), which I used, had the best advance
>>reservation rates at Wyndham hotels (Baymont, Days Inn, Hawthorn Suites,
>>Howard Johnson, Knights Inn, Microtel Inn& Suites, Ramada Inn, Super 8
>>Motel, Travelodge, Wyndham, Wingate Inn), offering 20% off versus 10%
>>for AAA and AARP. But there were guests getting the 20% off rate just by
>>asking for a better rate, since obviously the hotel was anxious to fill
>>as many rooms as possible at 10:00 at night.
Husband just walked in and asked "Where are the CHEAP hotels?" When I
checked for Yuma motels in April the various travel sites came up with
better rates, as did the chain websites themselves. I discounted the
reviews, figuring that they were all shills of one sort or another and
that people who are really happy don't bother sending flowers.
When we were there before we went to an independent and haggled. Worked
out fine.
--
Cheers, Bev
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"What fresh hell is this?" -- Dorothy Parker
== 15 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 9:24 am
From: The Real Bev
On 08/25/2011 05:30 AM, Paul Miner wrote:
> <rgilbert88@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> Have you looked in the Yellow Pages of your phone book? I counted
>> thirty travel agents before I got tired of the game. So yes,
>> travel agents still exist!
>
> I don't have a Yellow Pages or any printed phone book. Those go into
> the recycling bin moments after they land on my doorstep. I don't
> think I've had any kind of printed phone directory in my home since
> about 1999 or maybe 2000.
>
> Thanks for confirming, though, that there are still a few around. I
> assume their days are numbered.
AT&T (our landline carrier, may their name be forever cursed) geve us a
white pages. Verizon (no relationship whatsoever) gave us a yellow
pages, which I assume contains only Verizon customers.
--
Cheers, Bev
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"What fresh hell is this?" -- Dorothy Parker
== 16 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 12:36 pm
From: "Rod Speed"
Richard B. Gilbert wrote
> Justin wrote
>> Richard B. Gilbert wrote
>>> Paul Miner wrote
>>>> Richard B. Gilbert <rgilbert88@comcast.net> wrote
>>>>> Justin wrote
>>>>>> Who uses a travel agent anymore?
>>>>> I don't know. The last time I traveled by commercial air a travel agent issued the ticket, scheduled the airport
>>>>> limousine, etc, etc.
>>>> Yes, but what year was that? 1982? :-)
> 1998 give or take a year!
Figures. The real world might just have moved on a tad since then.
>>>>> If you travel frequently, you may prefer to do some of this stuff
>>>>> for yourself. The infrequent traveler should probably seek
>>>>> professional help!
>>>> SMS says WiFi is nearly ubiquitous. With all of that Internet
>>>> access floating around, what excuse would a person use to seek out
>>>> a travel agent, if they still exist, versus simply arranging their own travel?
>>> WiFi is not going to help you select a hotel in a strange city. If you pick a hotel at random you may find that it
>>> rents rooms by the hour!
>> Yes, because all the Hampton Inns rent rooms by the hour, all the Marriots do too
> I didn't realize that the big chains such as Marriot were so dependent on the "quickie" trade!
They are anyway.
>>> Wifi is not going to get you to the proper terminal at the airport.
>> Neither is a travel agent
> The travel agent will tell me that my flight departs from "Terminal 3". That's enough of a clue.
You can get much better than that without using a travel agent.
== 17 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 12:43 pm
From: "Richard B. Gilbert"
On 8/25/2011 12:24 PM, The Real Bev wrote:
> On 08/25/2011 05:30 AM, Paul Miner wrote:
>
>> <rgilbert88@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Have you looked in the Yellow Pages of your phone book? I counted
>>> thirty travel agents before I got tired of the game. So yes,
>>> travel agents still exist!
>>
>> I don't have a Yellow Pages or any printed phone book. Those go into
>> the recycling bin moments after they land on my doorstep. I don't
>> think I've had any kind of printed phone directory in my home since
>> about 1999 or maybe 2000.
>>
>> Thanks for confirming, though, that there are still a few around. I
>> assume their days are numbered.
>
> AT&T (our landline carrier, may their name be forever cursed) geve us a
> white pages. Verizon (no relationship whatsoever) gave us a yellow
> pages, which I assume contains only Verizon customers.
>
It contains the name, address, and phone number of each Verizon customer
who paid for a listing. Those who pay more get more space in the yellow
pages. AFAIK anyone who pays the price can get a listing.
If you want a plumber, painter, an electrician, or a surgeon; the yellow
pages are one place to look.
You may do better by asking your neighbors to recommend someone!
== 18 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 1:01 pm
From: "Richard B. Gilbert"
On 8/25/2011 3:36 PM, Rod Speed wrote:
> Richard B. Gilbert wrote
>> Justin wrote
>>> Richard B. Gilbert wrote
>>>> Paul Miner wrote
>>>>> Richard B. Gilbert<rgilbert88@comcast.net> wrote
>>>>>> Justin wrote
>
>>>>>>> Who uses a travel agent anymore?
>
>>>>>> I don't know. The last time I traveled by commercial air a travel agent issued the ticket, scheduled the airport
>>>>>> limousine, etc, etc.
>
>>>>> Yes, but what year was that? 1982? :-)
>
>> 1998 give or take a year!
>
> Figures. The real world might just have moved on a tad since then.
>
>>>>>> If you travel frequently, you may prefer to do some of this stuff
>>>>>> for yourself. The infrequent traveler should probably seek
>>>>>> professional help!
>
>>>>> SMS says WiFi is nearly ubiquitous. With all of that Internet
>>>>> access floating around, what excuse would a person use to seek out
>>>>> a travel agent, if they still exist, versus simply arranging their own travel?
>
>>>> WiFi is not going to help you select a hotel in a strange city. If you pick a hotel at random you may find that it
>>>> rents rooms by the hour!
>
>>> Yes, because all the Hampton Inns rent rooms by the hour, all the Marriots do too
>
>> I didn't realize that the big chains such as Marriot were so dependent on the "quickie" trade!
>
> They are anyway.
>
>>>> Wifi is not going to get you to the proper terminal at the airport.
>
>>> Neither is a travel agent
>
>> The travel agent will tell me that my flight departs from "Terminal 3". That's enough of a clue.
>
> You can get much better than that without using a travel agent.
>
>
Perhaps I could if I were a more frequent traveler but I'm not and not
about to become one. Most of my traveling has been business related and
paid for by my employer. I'm retired now and the bill comes to me!
== 19 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 1:55 pm
From: Justin
Richard B. Gilbert wrote on [Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:43:25 -0400]:
> On 8/25/2011 12:24 PM, The Real Bev wrote:
>> On 08/25/2011 05:30 AM, Paul Miner wrote:
>>
>>
>> AT&T (our landline carrier, may their name be forever cursed) geve us a
>> white pages. Verizon (no relationship whatsoever) gave us a yellow
>> pages, which I assume contains only Verizon customers.
>>
>
> It contains the name, address, and phone number of each Verizon customer
> who paid for a listing. Those who pay more get more space in the yellow
> pages. AFAIK anyone who pays the price can get a listing.
> If you want a plumber, painter, an electrician, or a surgeon; the yellow
> pages are one place to look.
>
> You may do better by asking your neighbors to recommend someone!
You can do just that, it's called Angie's list
== 20 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 2:33 pm
From: "Rod Speed"
Richard B. Gilbert wrote
> Rod Speed wrote
>> Richard B. Gilbert wrote
>>> Justin wrote
>>>> Richard B. Gilbert wrote
>>>>> Paul Miner wrote
>>>>>> Richard B. Gilbert<rgilbert88@comcast.net> wrote
>>>>>>> Justin wrote
>>>>>>>> Who uses a travel agent anymore?
>>>>>>> I don't know. The last time I traveled by commercial air a
>>>>>>> travel agent issued the ticket, scheduled the airport
>>>>>>> limousine, etc, etc.
>>>>>> Yes, but what year was that? 1982? :-)
>>> 1998 give or take a year!
>> Figures. The real world might just have moved on a tad since then.
>>>>>>> If you travel frequently, you may prefer to do some of this stuff for yourself. The infrequent traveler should
>>>>>>> probably seek professional help!
>>>>>> SMS says WiFi is nearly ubiquitous. With all of that Internet
>>>>>> access floating around, what excuse would a person use to seek out a travel agent, if they still exist, versus
>>>>>> simply arranging their own travel?
>>>>> WiFi is not going to help you select a hotel in a strange city. If you pick a hotel at random you may find that it
>>>>> rents rooms by the hour!
>>>> Yes, because all the Hampton Inns rent rooms by the hour, all the Marriots do too
>>> I didn't realize that the big chains such as Marriot were so dependent on the "quickie" trade!
>> They are anyway.
>>>>> Wifi is not going to get you to the proper terminal at the airport.
>>>> Neither is a travel agent
>>> The travel agent will tell me that my flight departs from "Terminal 3". That's enough of a clue.
>> You can get much better than that without using a travel agent.
> Perhaps I could if I were a more frequent traveler
You could even if you werent.
> but I'm not and not about to become one.
You are in fact a dinosaur who still uses travel agents and phone books.
> Most of my traveling has been business related and paid for by my employer. I'm retired now and the bill comes to me!
Then you are stupid if you use a travel agent, because they get paid for doing what they do.
== 21 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 3:29 pm
From: Paul Miner
On Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:43:25 -0400, "Richard B. Gilbert"
<rgilbert88@comcast.net> wrote:
>On 8/25/2011 12:24 PM, The Real Bev wrote:
>> On 08/25/2011 05:30 AM, Paul Miner wrote:
>>
>>> <rgilbert88@comcast.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Have you looked in the Yellow Pages of your phone book? I counted
>>>> thirty travel agents before I got tired of the game. So yes,
>>>> travel agents still exist!
>>>
>>> I don't have a Yellow Pages or any printed phone book. Those go into
>>> the recycling bin moments after they land on my doorstep. I don't
>>> think I've had any kind of printed phone directory in my home since
>>> about 1999 or maybe 2000.
>>>
>>> Thanks for confirming, though, that there are still a few around. I
>>> assume their days are numbered.
>>
>> AT&T (our landline carrier, may their name be forever cursed) geve us a
>> white pages. Verizon (no relationship whatsoever) gave us a yellow
>> pages, which I assume contains only Verizon customers.
>>
>
>It contains the name, address, and phone number of each Verizon customer
>who paid for a listing. Those who pay more get more space in the yellow
>pages. AFAIK anyone who pays the price can get a listing.
I think you're confusing the yellow pages with the white pages. The
white pages typically have separate sections for residential,
business, and government. The business listings are just the business
name, perhaps the address, and of course the number. No advertising
allowed there. The yellow pages, OTOH, are strictly business
advertising. There won't be any residential listings in the yellow
pages.
>If you want a plumber, painter, an electrician, or a surgeon; the yellow
>pages are one place to look.
Yep, but that's the absolute last place I would suggest a person
looks. It's a complete crap shoot in there.
>You may do better by asking your neighbors to recommend someone!
Friends, neighbors, and family are all possible sources. Angie's List
is well known and pretty reliable. I've also used Service Magic with
great success. There's no reason to go anywhere near the yellow pages.
--
Paul Miner
== 22 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 3:49 pm
From: SMS
On 8/25/2011 3:09 AM, Vic Smith wrote:
> I forgot who made the point about balancing coverage to your needs,
> but it was a good point. Something about 99% coverage.
> You have to look at the big picture.
> I make road trips to rural areas often, and always have coverage with
> T-Mobile, anywhere from Chicago to Florida.
It's more a regional thing. Voicestream built up a decent GSM network in
the eastern part of the country before there was any GSM at all out
west. T-Mobile's western network has always been weak, and the fact that
it's less urban out west did not help them. They were also greatly hurt
by the expiration of roaming agreements with AT&T and Cingular, which
were not renewed. Either the new AT&T wanted too much money, or the new
AT&T simply did not want to help a low-cost competitor equalize coverage.
To me, the "big picture" is looking beyond your home area and evaluating
the areas you're likely to drive through, or to visit. The San Francisco
Bay Area is an interesting case as well, since you have dense urban
areas 10-15 minutes from very sparsely populated rural areas.
Unfortunately, the expiration of roaming agreements had a big negative
effect on T-Mobile coverage in some of these rural areas. It's not cost
effective for T-Mobile (or Sprint for that matter) to put up their own
cells in these areas.
== 23 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 4:20 pm
From: AJL <128945nomail@none.com>
On Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:45:56 -0700, SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com>
wrote:
>The AAA rate and the AARP rate were not the cheapest.
Probably depends on the hotel. My most recent experience was a few
weeks ago with the Glorietta Bay Hotel in Coronado CA (across the
street from the Del Coronado if you're familiar with the area). Their
website claims that by booking online you get the best price
available. But they don't mention that they give a AAA discount so by
calling the 800 number I got the discount worth $30 a night off the
online price. I stayed 4 nights so that paid for a few meals... ;)
As a general rule I check the hotel website first and then call to see
if they have any better deals. Sometimes they do and sometimes not,
but it costs nothing to check.
== 24 of 24 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 5:03 pm
From: "Richard B. Gilbert"
On 8/25/2011 5:33 PM, Rod Speed wrote:
> Richard B. Gilbert wrote
>> Rod Speed wrote
>>> Richard B. Gilbert wrote
>>>> Justin wrote
>>>>> Richard B. Gilbert wrote
>>>>>> Paul Miner wrote
>>>>>>> Richard B. Gilbert<rgilbert88@comcast.net> wrote
>>>>>>>> Justin wrote
>
>>>>>>>>> Who uses a travel agent anymore?
>
>>>>>>>> I don't know. The last time I traveled by commercial air a
>>>>>>>> travel agent issued the ticket, scheduled the airport
>>>>>>>> limousine, etc, etc.
>
>>>>>>> Yes, but what year was that? 1982? :-)
>
>>>> 1998 give or take a year!
>
>>> Figures. The real world might just have moved on a tad since then.
>
>>>>>>>> If you travel frequently, you may prefer to do some of this stuff for yourself. The infrequent traveler should
>>>>>>>> probably seek professional help!
>
>>>>>>> SMS says WiFi is nearly ubiquitous. With all of that Internet
>>>>>>> access floating around, what excuse would a person use to seek out a travel agent, if they still exist, versus
>>>>>>> simply arranging their own travel?
>
>>>>>> WiFi is not going to help you select a hotel in a strange city. If you pick a hotel at random you may find that it
>>>>>> rents rooms by the hour!
>
>>>>> Yes, because all the Hampton Inns rent rooms by the hour, all the Marriots do too
>
>>>> I didn't realize that the big chains such as Marriot were so dependent on the "quickie" trade!
>
>>> They are anyway.
>
>>>>>> Wifi is not going to get you to the proper terminal at the airport.
>
>>>>> Neither is a travel agent
>
>>>> The travel agent will tell me that my flight departs from "Terminal 3". That's enough of a clue.
>
>>> You can get much better than that without using a travel agent.
>
>> Perhaps I could if I were a more frequent traveler
>
> You could even if you werent.
>
>> but I'm not and not about to become one.
>
> You are in fact a dinosaur who still uses travel agents and phone books.
>
>> Most of my traveling has been business related and paid for by my employer. I'm retired now and the bill comes to me!
>
> Then you are stupid if you use a travel agent, because they get paid for doing what they do.
>
And people pay them because most people are not travel experts! If I am
more or less clueless it makes sense for me to pay someone with a clue
to do things for me. If I spent a lot of time traveling it would make
sense to learn to do things myself. Since I don't do a lot of traveling
I pay the experts to get it right the first time!
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Telephone answering machine for elderly person
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/fd46c7795ef75afe?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Aug 25 2011 1:11 pm
From: hchickpea@hotmail.com
On Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:50:00 -0700 (PDT), aesthete8 <artsy6@gmail.com>
wrote:
>I am hoping to find one that is durable, easy to set up, and easy to
>use?
>
>Don't need bells and whistles, just basic features.
>
>Any recommendations?
Walmart $15 AT&T digital machine.
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