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FarCenter

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42. In the '60s when TouchTone and color telephones were introduced, they sold well in poor areas

Tue Nov 26, 2013, 10:22 AM

Nov 2013

When Touch Tone and color telephones were introduced by the Bell System, the state regulators adopted a policy of charging extra for these feature to cover the cost of modifying central office equipment and of manufacturing and stocking more models of sets.

The regulators thought that it was also good social policy, since obviously the higher charges would be paid by more affluent customers that could afford them.

A study was done in one metro area. It was found that color and Touch Tone sold better in the poor areas than in the affluent areas.

Having a color telephone or a push button telephone conferred status if you were poor.

The rich didn't care.

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Yes, poor people have color TVs [View all] Recursion Nov 2013 OP

only hipsters have black and white TVs Pretzel_Warrior Nov 2013 #1

I poured Sriracha on mine to make it color (nt) Recursion Nov 2013 #2

Back in the '60s, I remember a mail-order house Art_from_Ark Nov 2013 #10

that is transparently sad Pretzel_Warrior Nov 2013 #11

I grew up with a black and white TV perched precariously on another, non-working, TV Recursion Nov 2013 #12

Sorry to go further off-topic but a2liberal Nov 2013 #22

Sorry, I should have specified "in India" Recursion Nov 2013 #23

Oh ok a2liberal Nov 2013 #24

There are some pirate channels depending on where you are Recursion Nov 2013 #27

My grandpa had one of those in the 1950s, I kid you not Hekate Nov 2013 #32

Do they even make black-and-white TV's anymore? 655351 Nov 2013 #39

Right-wingers love to say that poor people aren't poor due to Lydia Leftcoast Nov 2013 #3

Globally the "1%" line starts at about $30K Recursion Nov 2013 #5

Someone used that "steak with an EBT card" line recently. pamela Nov 2013 #18

good one. nt laundry_queen Nov 2013 #19

Your last paragraph is spot on. CrispyQ Nov 2013 #45

Well how are exceptional Americans going to measure success if everyone has the same consumer goods? NYC_SKP Nov 2013 #4

Honestly, there's probably some of that involved, too Recursion Nov 2013 #6

lolololol... exactly, NYC_SKP. I think that's a big chunk of it right there, my friend! spot ON! Divine Discontent Nov 2013 #14

Exactly, which is why I hate this kind of crap treestar Nov 2013 #31

Rich people have maids RobertEarl Nov 2013 #7

Yeah, that was what my other thread was about Recursion Nov 2013 #8

my TV remote is a butler who changes channels for me Pretzel_Warrior Nov 2013 #13

FOX trades in resentment, not facts. nt Hekate Nov 2013 #33

First off, I'm under the impression that black and white TVs haven't been SheilaT Nov 2013 #9

I have a dumb phone, and boy, is it *dumb* Art_from_Ark Nov 2013 #15

You need to pay more attention to it. SheilaT Nov 2013 #50

You know, Art_from_Ark Nov 2013 #53

The last one I can think of was the Sony Watchman, last B&W models 1994. dimbear Nov 2013 #29

I can proudly say I've still never bought a flat screen. Still working with the 32" CRT Pretzel_Warrior Nov 2013 #16

Every company I've sysadmin'd at usually had a graphic artist Recursion Nov 2013 #17

Shows how long they've been spouting this nonsense. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #20

I remember motels having that sign out... Historic NY Nov 2013 #21

Its not free hbo anymore thats the 1990's and early 2000's ... kydo Nov 2013 #34

LOL. Historic NY Nov 2013 #44

I reckon about half the people in the US who don't have a TV are on the DU Fumesucker Nov 2013 #25

We have a 25-year old Zenith up in the bedroom rucky Nov 2013 #26

Glad you got that off your chest JustAnotherGen Nov 2013 #28

RICH people have black and white TVs! MADem Nov 2013 #30

Do they even make black and white tv's anymore? kydo Nov 2013 #35

Breakfast Bugs and mud huts are the new conservative poverty bar. HughBeaumont Nov 2013 #36

I wouldn't ascribe motives Shankapotomus Nov 2013 #37

They have indoor plumbing and electric lights too. quaker bill Nov 2013 #38

Circuses have always been made available to the poor... Orsino Nov 2013 #40

Poor people all over the world have TVs because Nevernose Nov 2013 #41

In the '60s when TouchTone and color telephones were introduced, they sold well in poor areas FarCenter Nov 2013 #42

The gap is less about manufactured goods bought than services consumed. LWolf Nov 2013 #43

Go to ANY Goodwill in the country and buy a color TV for $15.00 Glitterati Nov 2013 #46

non-digital... JCMach1 Nov 2013 #54

The digital converter tuner boxes are readily available for cheap at flea markets and thrift stores Fumesucker Nov 2013 #55

TVs are cheap entertainment XemaSab Nov 2013 #47

Real estate (rent) and food do not get cheaper. PowerToThePeople Nov 2013 #48

Just this morning I followed a Facebook link to a video of a 1982 news story Lydia Leftcoast Nov 2013 #49

Hand-me-down TVs Quantess Nov 2013 #51

They need to walk into a thrift store gollygee Nov 2013 #52