[Ooper]

I don't like paying increasing or new fees any more than the next guy... but I don't see what is so hard to understand. The developer is not going to make money from this... it is Comcast that is going to reap the benefits. The Villages had a contract with Comcast and that contract is ending and not being renewed because Comcast wanted too much money from the developer so the developer just washed their hands of it. If you want to complain, complain to Comcast. I really don't see what is so hard to understand about this. And Comcast is just raising their fees $2 for the 1st time in over 5 years. Like I said, I don't like this fee any more than anybody else, but business is business. And if you don't want to pay... use the phone line... simple as that!

[chuckster]

Muncle thanks for the reference......I agree with some of the assumptions (the POA does seem to be mellowing) but will continue to pay for the convenience of a "visual" system.

[GatbTester]

You can say what you want; however, with the greed of the developer already evident in many other areas, how could you expect some different treatment?

[chuckster]

Gatb Tester

I must be naive but what are the "many other areas" of developer greed. It would be helpful to list them so that I could be better informed. Thanks.

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by Ooper

The developer is not going to make money from this... it is Comcast that is going to reap the benefits.

Comcast owns villages.net? That's who the money is paid to. Correct?

[trav]

It seems to me that Comcast had been absorbing the fee for a period of time as a hook to get cable customers. That arrangement is now coming to an end. The villages.net can be accessed through any ISP but you still need to get sign in an passwords through them. It is now The Villages.net that is imposing the fee not Comcast. Just my opinion

[iaudit]

Originally Posted by Ooper

I don't like paying increasing or new fees any more than the next guy... but I don't see what is so hard to understand. The developer is not going to make money from this... it is Comcast that is going to reap the benefits. The Villages had a contract with Comcast and that contract is ending and not being renewed because Comcast wanted too much money from the developer so the developer just washed their hands of it. If you want to complain, complain to Comcast. I really don't see what is so hard to understand about this. And Comcast is just raising their fees $2 for the 1st time in over 5 years. Like I said, I don't like this fee any more than anybody else, but business is business. And if you don't want to pay... use the phone line... simple as that!

This is 100% wrong. Comcast is getting nothing out of this, the developer is getting all the money.

[katezbox]

Originally Posted by iaudit

This is 100% wrong. Comcast is getting nothing out of this, the developer is getting all the money.

It seems there are differences of opinion on this - laudit or anyone - can you cite your source for who earns this money? Like many of you, I am willing to pay a fee for the service - but I would like to know who is getting the revenue.

Thanks so much,

Kate

[villages07]

Way back in the beginning of this thread (or perhaps it was a related thread), I had planned to dig into this arrangement.... well, I talked to folks at Comcast, villages.net, and the golf and country club division of The Villages. I didn't get many clear answers and employees didn't seem to be told many details. It got to be a frustrating search with little hope of any relief, so I gave up.

The original deal between Comcast and the Developer is a little murky.... whether comcast was paying the developer or the tee time access was part of their original deal, I dont know.... and, it's somewhat immaterial now. The deal is over.

Villages.net is a private for profit company and is one of many owned directly or indirectly by the developer. They will reap all the revenues from the tee time system as well as the cost for operations and maintenance.

My issue before and now is that the projected revenues (and I agree with the approx $2 million) represent an enormous profit. I was an IT development manager and I know the costs of developing, maintaining, and operating an online system.... this is no $2M/year system.

As a golfer, I would not squawk with paying a reasonable fee to use the tee time system.... but something at or less than $50/year makes sense to me and still provides a tidy profit. I have great respect for the developer, but, sorry folks...this time I think we are being gouged. But, like Uncle Muncle, I'll grouse about it and pay the fee anyway.

I do suspect that comcast stands to lose a lot of subscribers in the next 3 months..... between this additional $8 and a recent $4/month cable TV increase.... the equation to go with Direct/Dish is getting heavily weighted to making the switch. I mentioned this to the Comcast staff and they shrugged their shoulders with a 'who cares' response.

I would not mind seeing a public campaign to expose the cash flow/costs/beneficiaries of this new charge. Maybe that letter/article in the POA will get more folks fired up about this.

All of the above are my own opinions.

[Bob S]

It seems to me that the most direct way for homeowners to respond is to vote with their dollars. If most residents boycott the $8/ month pay system and stick to calling in, perhaps there will be pressure on the developer to make the fee more reasonable.

[billethkid]

We got caught in the transition to Comcast. We were told we were "grandfathered" and there would be no charge for access to TV.net and the T time system. Not a word about it only lasting till 6/09.

My opinion: TV made a deal with Comcast. TV .net is owned/operated by TV. The T time system is part of TV. It is an issue of TV....for TV...by TV...et al.

I will NOT pay an additional $$ to any provider for an amenity of TV.

There are so many changes in TV management they can play hide the facts till the buffalo come home!!

I am in the process of dumping Comcast.They have old non digital technology technology with band aids to provide some HD programming. They have consistant pricing increases with no up grade of performance for the same old same old technology. Yes someday they will get to fiber optic....who knows when. They are one of the last to make the conversion.

I am switching to Dis Network this month. I have already gone to Verizon's air card for high speed internet. I tried their air card for the last month and unless you are a major download/upload freak for music and video streaming, there is hardly a noticeable difference. The air card is $59 per month for 5 gig per month....most people will never ever even hit one gig. Comcast high speed internet is $45 per month and rising. The Dish net work programming...all digital...substantially more HD programming.....$78 per month. At the end of the switch I will be paying $10-15 less per month than Comcast. I will use the phone for T times it is no big deal and it is free.

Plus I can take the Dish Network box to our lake home and use it there for no additional charge so I get to use one provider for both locations. Another almost $60 per month savings.

Plus with the Dish Network promotions currently available, the monthly fee is reduced by $35 per month for 6 months. Another almost $500 savings over the 6 month period.

Why would one stay with Comcast or TV.net??? For the $$$ one wouldn't and I am not.

When it is time to call Comcast and cancel they will do some real strange things price wise to keep the account. My answer....too late.

Until another cable provider comes to town, we are hamstrung and held at bay by Comcast....just like TV. That will change when the upcoming fiber optic capability is attained by the phone companies. Then watch what Comcast does to TRY to be competitive.

I find it quite interesting that friends and family who live on the fringe of TV where they have acces to Brighthouse Cable....most choose Brighthouse VS Comcast.....they have better technology. And I wonder why they are not (allowed) in TV.

I will soon have better programming....the flexibiloity of a second location for no additional cost. It is a no brainer. The other alternative is Direct TV....it boils down to a matter of choice....get it...a choice....which one does not have with TV or Comcast.

Asta la vista Comcast and TV and money in my pocket!!!! No contest!!

BTK

[katezbox]

Originally Posted by villages07

Way back in the beginning of this thread (or perhaps it was a related thread), I had planned to dig into this arrangement.... well, I talked to folks at Comcast, villages.net, and the golf and country club division of The Villages. I didn't get many clear answers and employees didn't seem to be told many details. It got to be a frustrating search with little hope of any relief, so I gave up.

The original deal between Comcast and the Developer is a little murky.... whether comcast was paying the developer or the tee time access was part of their original deal, I dont know.... and, it's somewhat immaterial now. The deal is over.

Villages.net is a private for profit company and is one of many owned directly or indirectly by the developer. They will reap all the revenues from the tee time system as well as the cost for operations and maintenance.

My issue before and now is that the projected revenues (and I agree with the approx $2 million) represent an enormous profit. I was an IT development manager and I know the costs of developing, maintaining, and operating an online system.... this is no $2M/year system.

As a golfer, I would not squawk with paying a reasonable fee to use the tee time system.... but something at or less than $50/year makes sense to me and still provides a tidy profit. I have great respect for the developer, but, sorry folks...this time I think we are being gouged. But, like Uncle Muncle, I'll grouse about it and pay the fee anyway.

I do suspect that comcast stands to lose a lot of subscribers in the next 3 months..... between this additional $8 and a recent $4/month cable TV increase.... the equation to go with Direct/Dish is getting heavily weighted to making the switch. I mentioned this to the Comcast staff and they shrugged their shoulders with a 'who cares' response.

I would not mind seeing a public campaign to expose the cash flow/costs/beneficiaries of this new charge. Maybe that letter/article in the POA will get more folks fired up about this.

All of the above are my own opinions.

V07

Thank you for a well-written, informative post. I am also a software person and agree that the cost to develop is minimal. Like you and Muncie, we will also pay the fee. At the time we both retire, well, we shall see...

[GrayGoose]

Originally Posted by ijusluvit

Yes, that's $8 per month, beginning next summer. If you do some math with the number of Comcast customers there are in TV, some of us think this is an outrageous amount, way more than the actual cost to The Villages to provide the tee time service as part of Villages.net. After all, The Villages already has huge computer capability, servers, personnel, etc. The tee time software was purchased a few years ago because it was far more efficient than using the phone. It may cost a little more to run that program now that there are more residents, but does that warrant an increase from an annual fee of zero to $100!

One of our members is researching this matter and I for one can't wait to read what she discovers.

Lets see $8 x 50,000 people that play golf... $2,880,000 a year... HELLO

[iaudit]

Originally Posted by GrayGoose

Lets see $8 x 50,000 people that play golf... $2,880,000 a year... HELLO

HELLO. $8/month times 12 months/year equals $96 per year times 30,000 HOUSEHOLDS equals $2,880,000.

10,000 households = $960,000
20,000 households = $1,920,000
30,000 households = $2,880,000

The rate is per household, not golfer, take your pick how many households actually use the system.

[cabo35]

REMEMBER THE BOSTON TEA PARTY!!! Dissenters who are outraged at the tee time registration fee should meet on June 14, Flag Day, at the dock on Lake Sumter and toss a golf TEE into the lake to protest taxation without representation.

All others...on June 14, book your favorite course and tee time while everyone else is throwing golf tees in the lake.

Free tee fees now!
Free tee fees now!
Free tee fees now!

Tee shirts with the red hot "Free Tee Fees" logo, will be available at all starter shacks for just $29.95. $39.95 at Palmer.

Those who don't care can obtain a tee shirt with large printed letters stating, "What...me worry?" , and a full face frontal of Alfred E. Newman. The development office says you can pick them up free where the buffalo roam.

Who is Alfred E. Newman?

http://www.leconcombre.com/concpost/..._e_neuman.html