5 Ways to Make Sure You’re Getting the Best Deal for Your Services and Utilities
Whatever you’re purchasing, you want to ensure you’re getting the best bang for your buck. If there’s a cheaper deal elsewhere, you’d quickly switch over to save some money. The truth of the situation is that there are probably way better deals out there. You’re just having trouble finding them. Here are ways to ensure you’re getting the best price for all of your services and utilities.
Price comparisons
The first thing you need to do if you suspect you’re getting ripped off is to compare the price of your current service to your competitors. This can be done for any service or utility, including things like home energy and electricity. For example, there’s an energy price comparison site usave.co.uk that will allow you to view energy providers in the area, and see which ones will give you the best price. Using a website like this is great, as it will allow you to skip all the annoying research. Once you’ve found a good provider, give them a call and see what they can do for you. Comparing prices is one of the best ways to ensure you’re getting a good deal for what you’re paying.
Haggle with the company.
While companies have rates they will offer you, generally, they aren’t firm if you know how to negotiate. Companies want you as a customer, and they will do whatever it takes to get you to choose them. You can use this to your advantage when the time comes to choose someone for your service. Get a few quotes and write down the best ones. Once that’s done, call each one up and tell them another company will give you a better price. Most of the time, they will offer you a much better deal for a lower price. Patience is rewarded in business, so give yourself plenty of time to ensure you’re picking the right company.
You don’t even have to switch companies to take advantage of this tip. If you find a better price, simply call up your current service provider and inform them that you plan on switching due to a better deal. As mentioned before, they will do whatever they can to retain you as a customer and offer you a great deal. If they don’t, there’s no need to worry, as you can easily switch toward another company.
Get the right plan.
The next thing to look at is what type of service you plan on getting. Remember that these companies are out to make as much money as possible and will try to sell you some of the best services, even if you don’t need them. The biggest offender when it comes to this is cable companies. Cable companies will come with huge bundles for channels, even if you don’t plan on using any of them. Do you only want a few sports channels to watch? Too bad, you’ll have to buy a massive bundle that will cost a huge amount of money. Don’t ever fall for a business ploy like this.
Do some research before you call your provider, and figure out for yourself what it is that you want. If you know what you want, it’s that much harder for them to upsell you or take advantage of you. Sure, a great deal might come up, but most of the time, these salespeople are just adding fluff to your contract for an added fee. Find out what you want from your service, and ensure you’re getting that.
Bundle services
An excellent way to save money on multiple services provided to your home would be to bundle them together. Think of Internet, cable, and phone lines, for example. Companies that work in this area will generally be able to provide all of these services to your home. When you’re on the phone with them, mention that you’re looking for all three, so you can see what bundles are available. More often than not, you’ll end up saving money by putting them altogether.
That being said, however, it’s important that you get a price breakdown of your bundle to see where your money is going. Some companies will hide the breakdown, and refuse to tell you how much you’re paying for each individual service in the bundle. This can make it challenging to get better deals from other companies, therefore trapping you with them. Always look to bundle your services together, but be aware of certain schemes companies use to rope you in and keep you.
Check the quality of your service.
Finally, always ensure you’re getting what you paid for. Some companies are very evil in the fact that you’ll be paying for a certain service, but only be receiving a fraction of what you’re supposed to be getting. One of the biggest offenders when it comes to this is Internet providers. While getting the top speed at all times can be slightly unrealistic, you should never be dropping below 80% of your speed. If you run tests and you find that this is happening, there’s a good chance the Internet company is doing something to your service to save money on their end. If you notice this happening, give them a call and either get support or threaten to leave. It doesn’t matter how great of a price your service is if you’re not getting what you’re supposed to be.
These things are essential to consider and think about when it comes to your services and utilities. Remember always to be patient, as it might take a little bit of time to find the best price. Don’t be afraid to be a strong negotiator as well. Some people are a little shy when it comes to sales reps, but always remember that you have a lot of power as a customer. Make the right choices for you and your home, and you’ll find yourself saving plenty of money in the long run.
