Minnesota, USA – December 7, 2011 – We are taught from a young age in school that the more companies that are offering a product or service, the better it is for the country. After all, it encourages competition in price and quality. Yet, when could we consider there to be too many options that it is difficult for consumers to make a choice In addition, does it lead to too many fluctuations in the market that make it an unending task for consumers to maintain the ‘best deal’
The changes that Netflix made a couple months ago – which was announced back in the beginning of summer – angered its customers as well as irritated consumers even if they did not have the service; it separated its DVD service from its streaming service and forced its customers to choose between having one over the other or paying an enormous price hike. Since then, Amazon launched its Prime video streaming service that was a good alternative for Netflix. Now, there is speculation that Verizon will also begin a video service next year. With additional options such as NetCast, RedBox, Hulu Plus, CinemaNow, and much more, is the movie market becoming too chaotic, cluttered, and frustrating for consumers
On top of this, companies are offering services for different devices, brands, and more; in some cases if you want a certain product, you can only use a particular service. Instead of diversifying the market, it limits the consumer. Legally, it can do this because there are different services out there –yet, it makes it difficult when consumers want to make ‘changes’. Although there is not a ‘monopoly’, there are complications and frustrations for consumers.
When we hear that Verizon may also launch a service, it almost sets our heads spinning; could this be good or bad for consumers Most would automatically assume that it is good since Verizon provides multiple services and products from other companies –such as the Apple iPad – so it could collaborate with other companies to give consumers even more. Yet, the crazy moves made by companies such as Netflix in the past causes us to hesitate. Could Verizon lock its customers into contracts and hit them with price hikes As much as we hope that government could prevent this from happening, would it intervene when the economy is still trying to recover After all, companies need the money –this is what we are led to believe.
Although we are providing more questions rather than answers, we want to show you what your options are, what could possibly happen in the future, and give you the tools to make good buying decisions right now. Remember that price is not the only way to compare services, but it is also important to consider the compatibility with devices, and options for additional services.
