Often, just threatening to cancel an ongoing subscription or membership can be enough to prompt a customer-service representative to offer an inducement to keep you as a customer. Whether it’s a newspaper, satellite radio or a gym membership, offering to prepay a year up front can often score you a deal, perhaps in the form of a free month or two, or a discount off what you’re currently paying.
No matter what the industry is, it’s always cheaper to retain an existing customer than to try to land a new one. As when you’re trying to nail down a better rate for Internet or phone service, if your first effort doesn’t get you anywhere, call back. Sometimes just speaking to a different customer-service rep can be all it takes.