atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums General Telecom News Windstream Buys Paetec for 891Million in stock

Thanks for the link Matt.
I know around here Windstream bought the ole Verizon then Altel areas several years ago and have became very assertive in selling CPE.

Fudge. That changes things.

Yes, my employer is now pushing hard with those Service Providers and their CPE business....

Tim, how so????

Well here in CA we have the misfortune to have CBeyond, the MOST aggressive salespeople in the world. They sold my synagogue 8 lines, that needed 4, and priced it over $400 and now I'm shrinking it back to about $160.

No one would listen to me, they were going to save money. Like HELLO! And another customer of mine, they grabbed a half dozen lines and when he was going to move, proposed a voip system for $10,000 for 4 lines and a dozen phones, now wasn't that nice? I talked him out of that and he got a refurb CIX 100 Toshiba with PRi, new VM, call accounting, ACD and a dozen phones for less than 7K.

The people who formerly wanted to just sell circuits your referred, now want to eat YOUR cake and gouge the customer.

And, a lot of interconnects think they are getting a big deal with the 4% that Telepacific and others pay as a referral fee, but over here, we have T-Cast who will put you on as an AGENT and give you 20% without a bat of an eye.

I had a similar deal with AireSpring, but the first deal with them went sour as two people who are no longer there screwed up the credit app so badly that the circuit couldn't get done in time, but they were still doing the 20% deal.

If you want to "see the money" go into the big circuit providers in your area and tell them you want 20% not 4% and see if they don't roll over.

If you don't ASK, you don't get but bubkis, advice from THE Bunnie (who gets her 20% every month.)

How did they ever manage to convince the decision makers of the Synagogue to spring for twice as many phone lines as they really needed :confused:

If 4 lines were enough for all of the business needs, adding capacity....when future projections don't indicate a need for it....is a really questionable move.

And you get 20% a month?

Well, the rabbi and I were not quite seeing eye to eye and since it was HIS synagogue, I walked. Not hard to find another synagoue, they welcome your membership and money.

Meanwhile other people came in ran up the phone bill and while I had donated two phone systems, no one ever called me for advice. One morning the phone rang and I was told, "the CBeyond technician is here, come over and hook everything up."

Since I hadn't been there for a couple years I asked if they had made a service appointment and how were they going to get the other four lines four blocks down the street to the other learning center. {Silence}

Well they didn't change anything over that day, the phone system from the learning center had to be brought four blocks up and only 1 line used, and who knows who hooked that line up as they never called me back.

Now the rabbi and the guys who signed the contract are moving out, probably paying a huge penalty. Assuming they hire a nice mellow rabbi I will be a member again, just don't care much for the strict, really pushy, black hats that think you are worthless if you don't fit their particular cookie cutter mold. I'm not the only one that left and a lot of people like rabbis that demanding so to each their own.

But really, I sign a PRi, I get 20% of everything, the circuit, the LD calls, EVERYTHING but the taxes. If you don't ask, you don't get.

You need to get classified as an AGENT, not as a common peon referral nobody person. Why wouldn't they keep the extra 16% money if they can?

Chutzpah, you call up the carriers and say, "Listen, Bunnie gets 20% as an AGENT for PRi referrals and Joe and Billy Bob and Sam and I are looking for AGENT status and the NORMAL 20% status that goes with that. What can you do for us?" They drive a Mercedes, do you?

The real issue is that when the carrier starts selling CPE either hosted or prem. You sell customer PRI. Yes you will get commission on that. A year goes by and the carrier sells that customer equipment. Even if you get commission on that (and I doubt you will) you lost the customer. If you are just an n agent ok but if you are an interconnect not good. I do not know the answer as all the letco's are trying to get into our business. Along with the alarm guys, computer guys, electricians etc etc

Good point Jim.
Just for the record, we don't like this either.

Then we start getting calls, like :
You guys are Avaya BP's can you help me with my problems.
And come to find out that the new system was installed weeks ago by WXXXXXXXX and it still doesn't work correctly.
But the customer thinks because we are an Avaya BP that we should mop up the mess for FREE.

It is just one more thing to watch out for. I wish I knew the answer but I hope in the end the high level of service an interconnect provides will win in the end.