I don’t know much about how internet stuff works, so I need some advice. I saw a post on a local news alerts page where someone offers to replace your Comcast modem/router for you. He’s charging $40 an hour and says he’ll return the equipment to Comcast for an extra $20. He even calls it a good gift idea for older folks.
Here’s his post:
"Don’t pay Comcast $15 a month forever just because you don’t want to bother switching out your modem or router. My rate is $40 an hour, and I’ll buy the equipment for you (or you can get it yourself). I’ll set everything up, explain any changes, and return Comcast’s equipment for $20 if you want.
November/December special – no trip charge within 20 miles. $10 referral credit for sending new customers.
Perfect gift for your parents or grandparents who are always asking for help with their electronics. I’ve been there, and I can help."
That’s the post. Does this sound like a good deal? Or is it something anyone could do easily? I just don’t want locals, especially older folks, getting scammed. Thanks for any thoughts!
I don’t think it’s a scam. He’s just offering a service to switch out the modem/router and return it to Comcast. Anyone could probably do it themselves, though.
Cliff said:
I don’t think it’s a scam. He’s just offering a service to switch out the modem/router and return it to Comcast. Anyone could probably do it themselves, though.
Do you think $40 an hour is too much? Would it even take a full hour to do?
Cliff said: @Umbrielle
Depends on where you live. I’d just do it myself or ask a friend who knows tech.
I live in a small town in PA where the minimum wage is $7.25. I also know this guy personally, and he doesn’t have any real tech background other than setting up his own modem. It feels a bit shady to advertise this as a helpful service for older people at $40 an hour. I mean, almost anyone could do it for way less.
You can’t just replace the modem/router with any one you want. Here’s why:
The modem has to be compatible with Comcast. That’s probably why he offers to buy it for you, but he’s likely adding an extra charge for that.
It’s not just unplugging and plugging in the new one. You need to call Comcast so they can register the new modem on their system.
If you’re unsure, you could just look up a YouTube video to guide you through it.
For some people, switching to their own modem makes financial sense. Comcast charges $15 a month, which is $180 a year. A decent modem costs $200–$300, so it pays for itself in a year or two and should last 5–6 years. That’s a lot of savings over time.
But not everyone cares or knows how to do it, and some are fine paying Comcast. Just be aware that if there are any internet issues, Comcast might blame it on your equipment instead of fixing the real problem (if you get a bad tech support person).