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Nearly 60% of Web surfers plan to quit AOL
Reuters via digitalMASS.com ^ | 5/21/02

Posted on 05/21/2002 11:37:43 AM PDT by GeneD

Edited on 04/13/2004 2:07:48 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

NEW YORK

(Excerpt) Read more at digitalmass.boston.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: americaonline; aoltimewarner; internet; isp
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To: GeneD
I won't even consider using AOL because of their illiterate TV ads. They's had two different ads, with actors reading the same illiterate lines: "If I knew it was this easy, I'd have signed up long ago."

It should, of course, be: "If I had known it was this easy..."

21 posted on 05/21/2002 12:04:09 PM PDT by Arthur McGowan
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To: rdavis84
BTW, it's sure FUN trying to talk to a living nerd of any kind at aol, isn't it?

There's just something wrong about knowing more about computers than the tech support guy who is supposed to be up to speed on these things. It's like the episode of "The Simpsons" where Homer was getting open heart surgery, and Doctor Nick ("Hey, everybody!") had to look to Lisa for a hint on where to make the incision.

22 posted on 05/21/2002 12:04:10 PM PDT by TrappedInLiberalHell
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To: GeneD
The company has also acknowledged that it needs to clarify its high-speed strategy but has downplayed the urgency after getting into high-speed services, noting that the mass market is unlikely to embrace broadband overnight.

This is truly one of the most idiotic statements ever made by a business.  Ever.

These people deserve bankruptcy.

 

23 posted on 05/21/2002 12:05:02 PM PDT by Psycho_Bunny
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To: TrappedInLiberalHell
They will offer you free months every time you call to cancel. We tried for SIX months to cancel; they kept just giving us free months instead. I finally just cancelled the credit card, because I was tired of haggling with them over their lousy service and the basic fact that I just wanted to cancel.

Mrs Kus

24 posted on 05/21/2002 12:06:15 PM PDT by cgk
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To: GeneD
The ONLY reason to have AOL is if you are an international traveler. You can find world-wide local numbers. Outside of that, with the advertising and poor software, they are a joke.

Can't begin to count how many friends had me remove the AOL software because it crashed their operating systems.

AOL bought Time-Warner (was it?) only because they knew they had no future and hoped to get diversified.

25 posted on 05/21/2002 12:06:34 PM PDT by A CA Guy
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To: Kaslin
How can AOL be # 1 if they have to give all those hours away to attract customers?

Possibly the same way Scientologists would sell and re-purchase books 'written' by L. Ron Hubbard, to boost their positions on best-seller lists. I think this particular business model is called 'loss-leading', where you take an initial loss in order to get someone in the door, then you really sock 'em with the hard sell. A more sinister version of this would be the classic bait-and-switch, which is illegal. AOL just overpromises. Like I alluded to earlier, they're like drug dealers. They offer you freebies until you're hooked, then they've got you where they want you, and make it hard for you to let go. I'm dramatizing, of course, but not by much.

26 posted on 05/21/2002 12:07:34 PM PDT by TrappedInLiberalHell
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To: 1Old Pro
They could have saved time and money if they just asked me. AOL sucks. It takes minutes to clear off all their marketing pop-ups just to get mail or to a website.
You can turn those off. I'm at work not home, but if I remember right its Preferences, Marketing Preferences, and turn off the "special pop-up members offers" or something like that.

-Eric

27 posted on 05/21/2002 12:08:12 PM PDT by E Rocc
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To: GeneD
AOL is truly a horrid service. I am only familiar with them because I am the "computer guru" in my family and I am always being called upon to assist them when they have problems. They usually end up with AOL because about a half a dozen AOL disks fall into their laps everytime they open up a magazine. However, I try my best to wean them off the service and when I finally do get them connected to a real ISP, they are always ecstatic.

The average AOL user is invariably with AOL user only because they it was the first online service they ever had and they have no idea how much better it is elsewhere.

AOL has always had a problem with people leaving in droves. They were always able to overcome this problem by signing up new users who were getting computers for the very first time. The pool of people who have yet to purchase their first computer is rapidly shrinking and for the first time, the number of people leaving are exceeding the number of people signing on.

It's nothing but downhill from here on out for AOL.

28 posted on 05/21/2002 12:09:30 PM PDT by SamAdams76
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To: Arthur McGowan
It should, of course, be: "If I had known it was this easy..."

Arthur...shouldn't the copy read

"If I had known I was this easy"....?

29 posted on 05/21/2002 12:10:05 PM PDT by Focault's Pendulum
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To: tdadams
But even on the minimum plan ($4.95 a month), I felt like I was wasting my money. Procrastination was the only thing that kept me from dropping it before.

I was exactly like you....until I found my boss's password.

30 posted on 05/21/2002 12:12:27 PM PDT by Focault's Pendulum
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To: rdavis84
They were the only local access ISP at the time I went with them...

Same here. With my jerkwater string & tin can phone company, AOL was my only option for an ISP without toll calls ---- until the local cable company upgraded to digital. Wow. What a difference!

If the powers at AOL think broadband is no big deal, they will be bankrupt in another few years. Serves them right the arrogant fools. But those CDs they send all the time do make excellent skeet targets.

31 posted on 05/21/2002 12:19:30 PM PDT by Ditto
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To: GeneD
NRA LAUNCHES NRA ONLINE - THE ULTIMATE PRO-GUN ISP

In an effort to create a high quality Internet Service that helps promote and protect Second Amendment rights, the National Rifle Association has launched NRA Online. The service provides unlimited dial-up access, up to five e-mail addresses, free web hosting and 24 hour live technical support for only $19.95 a month. Covering more than 95% of the U.S.population through more than 1900 local numbers (which will grow to 2300 next month), NRA Online provides nationwide coverage for Freedom-loving Americans. "We're excited about NRA Online," says NRA Treasurer Woody Phillips. "So many people have requested a high-quality, pro-gun alternative to the mass market ISPs that we felt the time was right to launch one. We've spent considerable time building a solution that will be appreciated by our supporters while helping the NRA protect and defend our Constitutional Rights."

NRA Online can be downloaded right from the Internet click here to join online in just a few minutes, or a CD can be requested from their toll-free 24 hour hotline, 1-866-602-6402.

32 posted on 05/21/2002 12:21:06 PM PDT by green team 1999
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To: GeneD
Nearly 60% of Web surfers plan to quit AOL

Nice to know I'm ahead of the curve...

33 posted on 05/21/2002 12:21:32 PM PDT by Corin Stormhands
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To: Ditto

Things you can do with AOL disks


34 posted on 05/21/2002 12:22:43 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: GeneD
AOL sends me free disks all the time, and I thank them for it. I take the nice black cases, carefully remove any stickers, then take out the paper liner underneath the clear plastic outer liner, reverse it to white, then place it back into the case. Voila! A free, sturdy, CD case, for those CD's that you might have burned, or whose cases you have lost.
35 posted on 05/21/2002 12:36:33 PM PDT by Paradox
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To: Kaslin
Volume of customer turn over????????
36 posted on 05/21/2002 1:06:50 PM PDT by GailA
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To: GeneD
Walmart Connect by AOL is same thing for $9.94 a month. If you're stuck with AOL because of limited phone areas, switch to www.wmconnect.com, same phone numbers....save about $200 a year. Same bad service.
37 posted on 05/21/2002 1:10:48 PM PDT by John Jamieson
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To: Dog Gone
AOL was a great entry point for new web users. After awhile, they will probably notice that they are still on a tiny little bicycle with training wheels, while the rest of the world is zooming by on motorcycles. AOL will be in huge trouble, especially if they think broadband isn't that important.

And what is better?

And AOL DOES have broadband service. They try to sign me up every day, but I cannot justify the expense. Tell me an equal or better service that I can access both from home and from my computer at work, and I'll switch. I'm a technological dummy, but I like to save money!

38 posted on 05/21/2002 1:25:40 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: 1Old Pro
MOST people get started with AOL becuause they simply really don't understand the alternatives, many which offer quicker speed or the same speed for less cost.

OK I confess. I was a real dummy when I started with AOL in 1996, but I'm still there and not a whole lot smarter. I don't notice too many pop ups (certainly not as many as on Lucianne! Ugh!)

Do you have another suggestion for a service that I can access both at home and at work? At work we have own own provider, and we use Internet Explorer to access the Web and Outlook for e-mail -- but I can access my AOL account through IE, and that's really convenient.

39 posted on 05/21/2002 1:31:04 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: Dog Gone
Why anyone would stick with AOL when highspeed internet service is available at a comparable cost

Where? What is the name of this service?

40 posted on 05/21/2002 1:33:35 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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