Why do we have to pay extra for texting?

[pcorrado]

I believe the real question we should be asking is not "why do we have to pay extra for texting?" but instead "Why do we pay extra for texting?"

answer the latter question and you will have the answer to the former.

 

[dissdnt]

This thread is proof of the appalling lack of economic education in the US. It also explains why 53% voted the way they did. Ignorance. Talk about sheep.

What it costs a company to produce a product defines the minimum price they have to charge in order not to lose money on each sale.

The selling price is set at whatever someone else is willing to pay for an item.

ATT doesn't force anyone to send text messages or buy a text message plan. If you don't like the price, don't use the service.

There has been countless articles on data usage and SMS and the fact that the amount they charge in no way reflects what it costs them.

This isn't free market. All the carriers know they have us by the balls, that's why they all charge the same for it to keep the whole scheme going.

If all the carriers had the same coverage in all areas and all had the same phones people would jump ship for the cheapest service and drive prices down. That will never happen though and these cell companies won't let it happen.

 

[MikePA]

Short Answer as to why they charge crazy amount of money: They are greedy SOBs.

Long Answer: They are greedy SOBs and congress is in their pocket.

Grow up, switch to a carrier with lower texting charges and stop whining. Or stop using texting in protest of the high prices.

 

[MikePA]

There has been countless articles on data usage and SMS and the fact that the amount they charge in no way reflects what it costs them.

You quoted my message but obviously didn't read it.

This isn't free market. All the carriers know they have us by the balls, that's why they all charge the same for it to keep the whole scheme going.

No one is forcing you to use texting.

If all the carriers had the same coverage in all areas and all had the same phones people would jump ship for the cheapest service and drive prices down. That will never happen though and these cell companies won't let it happen.

Stop using texting in protest of the high prices which actually might accomplish something instead of whining on an Internet forum and posting paranoid conspiracy theories. The right to text isn't in the Constitution, at least not yet.

 

[ucfgrad93]

ATT charges what they do because people are willing to pay it. This isn't rocket science nor anything to be confused about.

Agreed. If enough people didn't pay the price, the carriers would have to drop the price.

 

[kage207]

Agreed. If enough people didn't pay the price, the carriers would have to drop the price.

You get everyone to cancel their texting plans until they lower prices then.

And if you don't, I'll bite your head off!