Free Routers Important?

We've been wondering what is more important these days?
When ordering broadband, is it more important to have a free router or have a short contract?
Freedom to migrate and use any router you want?
Or be tied down into a 12 month contract and the isp's cheapest router?

Personally I prefer to buy and have my own router. I wouldn't want an ISP to try and choose and give me a router I didn't want. However I guess for those people that aren't very into technology, it would be handy for them. Or maybe you could offer a broadband shop or selection page where you could pick a router from a list.

Long contracts are quite daunting and scary, so something like 1 month is good. If you're a good ISP, then customers will want to stop with the ISP after 1 month anyway.

Always a monthly contract. If all customers demanded one, we would have them as standard with a free router.

Long contracts are one of the first things that usually rule an ISP OUT for me. Keep me by being about the best I can get on my limited exchange.. not by handcuffing me to a network that may soon become over contended

Free router? no interest, I prefer to choose my own equipment. My line seems to work best with a HGV2700, not with whatever feature crippled/bargain basement/ got a big consignment cheap unit the ISP may dictate.

Just My Opinion...... YMMV

Does this post have any real purpose - other than being spam?

In reply to a post by Sandgrounder:

Does this post have any real purpose - other than being spam?

Exactly my reaction.

Also there's a lot wrong with his website, including a total lack of ownership details and no Limited Company at Companies House or ADR memberships.

See this post and my reply to it.

Hi All,

This post has importance as consumer opinion, not as a spam or marketing tactic. We're doing reseach which indicates the standard is 12 month contracts.

A few operators are offering 1 month terms or the option for a contract.
Our question is, why are all the key operators opting for contracts and free hardware.

Is this really customer choice or a by product for another offering?

Honest question. Also see other thread for Companies House or ADR memberships details.

Thanks
Chris

Edited by NationsurfUK (Thu 20-Jan-11 01:11:42)

In reply to a post by NationsurfUK:

We've been wondering what is more important these days?
When ordering broadband, is it more important to have a free router or have a short contract?
Freedom to migrate and use any router you want?
Or be tied down into a 12 month contract and the isp's cheapest router?

A short contract shows some confidence from the ISP IMO

I prefer to use my own router.

I think long contracts, or virtually any contract length, is a waste of everyone's time. From personal, family, and friends experience, most of us have very rarely changed once you go through all the hassle of a new provider.
A bit like dealing with banks (**xxbb**) in fact, less hassle not to change. Unless you are really ticked off about the provider.
Free router doesn't do anything for me, but I imagine it lights up a lot of eyes in the mass sheeple.
Similar situation to mobile phones, where the 18 month or whatever contract is only designed to pay for the "free" handset. Needs to be a better way.

And BTW I don't normally participate in surveys, but the OP was good enough to come back on the queries, so I'm happy to respond.

In reply to a post by NationsurfUK:

A few operators are offering 1 month terms or the option for a contract.
Our question is, why are all the key operators opting for contracts and free hardware.

Is this really customer choice or a by product for another offering?

They know that they will make much more than the router costs them back over the term of the contract. And most folk like free, regardless of how much it really costs them. Personally I prefer to use my own router rather than a cheap PoS the ISP may want to send me. My O2 box is sitting unused in a cupboard and has been since I signed up with O2 a year ago.