Regular readers of the blog will know we've been planning how our products should develop in 2011. We've emerged from our bunker into the daylight with a plan and the outcome is that we're going to be retaining our focus on unlimited and unthrottled broadband but we will be updating our prices for new members at the end of March.
However, we agreed that we shouldn't change prices for members already using these products. We appreciate the loyalty to BE so many of you have shown over the years, the constructive feedback you give us every day and the recommendations you make about us. Together we've got something special going on and long may it continue.
You said (and thankfully we agree) that there's a massive desire for what we do best - unthrottled, unlimited broadband with top quality support to match. There are already plenty of ways to get cheap broadband so we're going to focus on making it better instead. We need to ensure that we do that in a sustainable way hence the need to increase prices for new members.
We wanted to share the news with our current members here first - even though it does not affect you. However, if you know friends who should join be, be sure to spread the love and encourage them to join before our prices increase.
Here's a list of the new prices from 31st March 2011:
| BE Value | - £17/month with a 12 month contract |
| BE Unlimited | - £22/month with a 12 month contract - £25/month with a 3 month contract, plus £25 set up fee |
| BE Pro | - £27 /month with a 12 month contract - £30/month with a 3 month contract, plus £25 set up fee |
Thanks again for taking the time to tell us what you think. It's reinforced our belief that's there’s still a place for broadband that is truly unlimited and unthrottled.
Posts
44 comments:
Given the news just a few days ago that BE/O2 net additions per quarter are already declining why do you feel this a smart move?
Would the new pricing apply if I moved house? Having been a customer from the early days of be* I would hope the loyalty pricing would follow me and not the phone line.
I would like to echo the concerns of Anonymous above. I've been a Be member for years now and am moving house on 2 April...
I am also moving house, but would probably not pay this much!!!
As a customer from the early days, BE were fantastic when I moved house. Not only did they reconnect me for free as promised, they also offered me a considerable discount on the BE Unlimited plan. I wouldn't be worried if you're an existing customer about to move house :)
Wow. That's just over a 20% price hike for the 12 month contracts. Much as I love BE - great service, great network, great ethos etc. I find it had to see how anyone except serious data-junkies can justify paying this much.
In these times of difficult finance and uncertain employment, and with inflation still historically low, I really can't see many new customers moving to BE at those prices.
I think this move runs a serious risk of BE pricing itself out of the market. I hope I'm wrong...
I think the point is that if people want truly unlimited, unthrottled broadband then they have to be willing to pay proper money for it.
If you want really, really cheap internet, then go to O2, be traffic managed and have a monthly cap. If you don't, pay Bethere for the service they offer.
I personally have no issue with the new prices and will continue using Be for my internet, even when I eventually have to sort out a new deal and pay the higher prices. One thing it would be nice to see is an FTTC offering though.
I just signed up to BE recently.
...Did I mention I'm probably about to leave?
@Sean it’s a balancing act. Our priority is a premium quality service – we think it’s what most people value about BE and it’s something we really believe in so we’re introducing new prices to support that.
@anyone asking about house moves - no worries there, existing members who move house will maintain their current pricing. We even waive the connection fee for your first move.
If I migrate to BE before 31st of March would you still pay the old prices?
Would you consider an unthrottled but capacity-limited product?
I upload a lot of content to various servers so I like my 2 Mbps upstream, but I probably send / receive less than 20Gb a month in total. It would be nice to have a connection with BEs quality and honesty of service, but without having to subsidise users who are hammering torrents 24/7.
(Or is volume of traffic not an issue?)
I am happy now I understand I can move house without extra costs :)
I am soooo happy with the service, it's faster than our works Virgin Managed Internet service. Also my recent requirement to contact your support was my best support experience ever.
I think I agree, if you want the service, pay the money. It does seem a bit all or nothing with BE though?
What about FTTC pricing?
So as an existing customer on the 40GB Value package, who will be switching to the BE Value package on 31 Mar, will I have to pay the £14.08 per month (an 84% increase) as I had been told or the new £17 per month (a 122% increase)?
Yeh what about VDSL.
Thats what we are all waiting for.
I don't have a problem with this move but I can see a lot that will.
The problem is that a large proportion of the type of users who consume huge bandwidth believe they are "entitled" to get something for nothing. What sort of legal content uses THAT volume of bandwidth day after day after day.
So they will kick off an cause lots of noise which is a shame because not all high bandwidth users are downloading illegal content.
Thus the few spoil it for the many.
Wow, 20% pay increase. I'm glad other companies aren't increasing their prices by 20%, especially at a time when many people have their salaries frozen, and the cost of living increase is about 5%. How do you get off on a 15% above inflation price increase?
I am so glad I signed up before, I wouldn't even entertain the proposed amount if I were looking for a new ISP regardless of how good you say you are (I know you are good, prospective signups probably do not).
Have you gone completely mad?
Far too expensive.
Yeah, I think personally I'd round it down a bit, so for 12 months - Value £15, Unlimited £20, Pro £25 - personally I'd still be happy to pay £25 for the service I get, but £27's starting to sound pricey to me somehow.
I dont mind paying £25 per month. Im sure it was at the price when I joined them in September 2007? Then they reduced the prices down. I remember at the time some members where worried they might introduce traffic management etc as they rather pay extra for the truely untrottled unlimited connection.
Correction it was £24.00 per month then they reduced it to 18.00.
I would not mind paying for the increase in price since it is still a relatively small amount per year compared to other expenses, like food or mortgage. However, I do hope this will not put Be out of business due to superscription rates. It would be a pity if the only honest and good provider in the UK goes down... Many people do not understand that you get what you pay for. A miser pays twice.
Phew, good job I joined BE few days ago.
are there any promotions or codes for new customers on unlimited or pro ?
How about introducing 'capacity limited' packages alongside your existing unlimited packages for those who don't download huge amounts. I recall you used to have the 40GB Value deal mentioned above.
What about 15GB, 30GB & 50GB packages unthrottled?
I have recently been looking for a new ISP and was considering BE but now with the 20% price hike I will looking elsewhere as I can't move before the price increase.
I think BE will struggle to add many new customers with these prices & packages on there own.
Well that's disappointing, I was planning on taking out a Be Pro package when I move into my new flat at the end of the month, with this price hike it unfortunately makes Virgin Media a no-brainer.
Sad to see BE fall as well, you certainly offer something unique in the UK, but I don't if you'll find that many people have the spare cash to throw 20%+ more at you for privilege.
Well I joined a few days ago. I would be happy to even pay £22 a month for unlimited. As someone has said before not all high BW users are illegal leechers. I do about 200GB a month but mostly from online TV streams and sky. All legal.
It's true that you get what you pay for. If Be can continue with this price thats good.
Some of the comments here make me laugh. one person said " oh this is crap blah blah blah" and when they found out it was a free house move it was " oh I am so so happy" what total horseshit!
The irony is that people will complain about £22 for an internet connection yet go out and spend what £7 per pack of fags or £30-£40 on a night out boozing. What's the adverage 12" pizza these days £6-£10!? Yet that's all fine.
You don't go and haggle the pub to get a cheaper pint of beer you just accept it so man up and accept this too!.
Sorry for the rant but some people really get on my nerves!
"..we agreed that we shouldn't change prices for members already using these products..."
Does this apply only to "unlimited" customers?
My prices are going to change from £7.66> £14.08.
This seems a bit steep. The email that I received continued: "or ..Contact us to cancel your service".
I don't really understand the logic behind competing with cheaper broadband products by increasing your prices, all you're doing is putting yourself much closer to BT Infinity for a significantly inferior connection. I've always recommended Be unreservedly to people who've asked about broadband, but in the future that's going to have to have the caveats of "it's a bit pricey if you're not a power user" and "if you're a power user it's not nearly as good as FTTC". If this is meant to fund 1) FTTC 2) better modem/routers, then great, but it'd have been a good idea to announce that at the same time. Right now it just looks like you're making a grab for "money left on the table".
I was paying 24.99 to ukonline comparable with the new 22
Was pleased with the 6.73 saving though!
However for 25.60 from july bt infinity guesstimate 27.2Mb download 6.2Mb upload
I'm not a power user but will be downloading films, music and radio in the immeadiate future so need an unlimited package. I am currently on £7.50 8mg 40gb Value package. I have to decide whether to stay with BE and pay £14.08 for a potential increase to 12mg unlimited with a future increase to at least £17 or switch to Orange £10 unlimited 12mg(improved router), Plusnet with 60gb limit 20mg £11.49, or O2 20mg unimited £12.25.
My inclination was to stay with BE, although on paper it's the worst deal and switch my phone from BT to BE as well thus compensating for the immeadiate price increase.
Now I'm not so sure.
I'm not sure thats a good idea, when I suggest Be to my friends it is beacuse you guys are cheap for the quality you give, if I don't have the cheap point to suggset anymore I don't think they will listen to me.
Most people don't really understand how internet connections work, all they know is the money with the prices going up it's hard to show them how Be is worth looking into.
I am considering joining BE but have not applied for my MAC code yet from my current provider. As I will run out of time before I actually recieve my MAC code is there any way of reserving an order and paying the old price if I begin the order process by the 31st March.
I totally agree with rewarding loyal customers but BE still need to win over new customers
Simon
As long as you place the order before the price change you should be fine :D
Im a new customer - seems I got in just before the price hike.
I'd still pay the increased price for the quality of the service I've had so far. The connection is in it's early days and getting some nice ping rates, fast and consistent download speeds/upload speeds and just feels superior to everything I've used in the past.
I'll recommend Be to anyone that wants a quality service. Shame the costs are going up, but personally the cost reflects the product, just hope BE doesnt price itself out the market.
I am unable to join until 5th April and will have to pay new prices. I am sooo disappointed I will have to look elsewhere. Please reduce the increase a little so I can join you, or at least do an introductory offer to lessen the pain.
Why are you unable to join? If you place an order now, you can fill in the MAC at a later date if your current provider is unable or unwilling to provide it earlier.
I am changing my phone line back to BT from talktalk and although I am VERY willing to place an order with you NOW, your staff say they can't accept it until I have a BT line (this is due to finalised on 5th April)
Edit
I did all this just so I could join you!!!!
Ouch, yes.. that is going to be a problem. Not much more I can offer in the way of advice though.
A long winded way around it which _may_ back fire but you are entitled to ONE house move per year for free.
Place an order on your grandparents / parents / friend's phone line who currently do not have broadband and then after the 5th, ask BE to "house move" your service :)
You are best asking the sales team about this though.
Worth a try.... thanks for the idea, I'll call them tomorrow!
Some of you lot just dont get it, as the guy above posted you dont squirm paying 7 quid for a pack of smokes or 3 quid for a beer?
its not just about speed , their customer service is exceptioanl, no capping, reliable and these things come at a cost.
Try going with BT or talk talk if you want cheap value broadband with cack customer support and download limits.
Your the sort of people buying shitty kia shisento cars and complaining there not made like a bentley, get real!!!
I was keen to sign up today for BeThere as I've heard about the good feedback and excellent service, unfortunately my situation was quite disappointing. I had recently enabled my BT line in order to place an order before the 31st so I could benefit from the reduced price, unfortunately BT told me today that it might be up to 24 hours more before the line goes live. I was expecting customer service from Be would be able to confirm my order today as I have already a BT number assigned, but there was nothing they could do. I understand the quality of the service is excellent, but not being able to place an order on a line that is confirmed by BT and activate the DSL service one or two days later is something I'm having a hard time to understand...
Thomas
im with BT and i hate it so much im not even waiting for infinity. im moving to virgin, but BE broadband i was a very very close to moving to
the deciding factor was FIBRE OPTICS
im sure in year from now when BE has fibre optics i will cancel the virgin media and move to BE ! but until then...
Post a Comment