Any easy way to return devices to RCN

[jarodwen.livejournal.com]

Greetings everyone! Nice to meet you guys here!

I am just wondering whether there is any easy way to return devices to RCN? I just canceled the internet service but its local store is far away from here...

Thanks!

Comments

[mistresshellena.livejournal.com]

The 77 bus drops you right in front of the RCN office in Arlington. Look at the schedule on the MBTA website and plan your trip accordingly. It should take you 1 hour round trip tops.

It isn't actually that far.

[jarodwen.livejournal.com]

Oh That's cool! Thanks for your information!

BTW, I am just wondering why the Google Map told me that "Sorry we have not covered the area you want to go..." when I tried to find the public transit from here to the RCN store in Arlington...

[ron_newman]

What Google tells me is:

Your search for transit directions from 55 davis square to 956 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA 02476 (RCN) appears to be outside our current coverage area. Please consult our list of participating public transit agencies

and when I follow that link, the MBTA isn't on Google's list. Try MBTA.com instead.

The #77 is a very frequent bus, maybe even the most frequent in the whole system.

[jarodwen.livejournal.com]

Ha ron_newman, you are right; in fact I just paraphrased their words in my way...

Before I thought that MBTA is cooperated with Google on their guide system, since they use Google Map to show the routes. It seems that I should turn to MBTA in the future.

Thanks for all of your help!!!

[ron_newman]

Yeah, I have no idea why the MBTA isn't (yet?) participating in Google's transit program. But MBTA.com's use of Google maps predates Google's program by several years.

[ursamajor]

IIRC, it's because the MBTA didn't want to give Google unfettered access to their schedules (some sort of "this is *our* information for *our* website" thing?), but this is just pinging in the back of my brain and I don't have a source to cite right this second.

[nathanjw]

I think you're crossing the streams and remembering the issues the DC Metro has been having with Google, which have been pretty well publicized. I haven't seen anything about what's up with the MBTA in this regard.

[wallacestreet.livejournal.com]

As I understand it, the T is afraid that Google won't be as careful with its data as it itself is. They're worried that schedule changes and special events won't be correctly reflected on Google's web site. I suspect that Google has figured this out with the other agencies, but nonetheless, the T hasn't joined up yet. I also suspect that there's some proprietary feeling about the data and that giving it away for Google to make money somehow doesn't feel right to someone. Nonetheless, I can't wait since the T's website is so much less elegant than Google.

[nathanjw]

Okay. Do you know where you've heard this? I ask because I can imagine lots of reasons for the T not being on board, some more sensible than others, but I don't think I've read anything from someone involved, either at Google or at the T, and I'd rather not make assumptions.

[wallacestreet.livejournal.com]

Yes. I have an inside source. It's not firsthand, i.e. my source isn't directly involved in the T's relationship with Google, but it's definitely their understanding of the situation. We've discussed it at length several times because Google Maps is so much better than the T's website (IMO).

[cold-type.livejournal.com]

On a sidenote, RCN still hasn't wired all of Somerville. I thought the company was required to serve the entire city, but two different RCN reps told me last week they wouldn't provide service to my address. They insisted RCN can pick and choose which parts of Somerville to serve.

[ron_newman]

Tom Champion at City Hall would surely like to hear your story. Give him a call Monday.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mattt/]

The RCN Center in Arlington has long lines, at least in the non-work hours when I could go there.

I called RCN, and learned you can simply mail your box back USPS registered mail.

I hope this helps.

[ron_newman]

That sounds very expensive though.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mattt/]

Well, that's up to the person returning to decide; whether taking time off from work and/or waiting in line at RCN customer service in Arlington is worth more or less to them than the postage (I had the original box, so I think mailing it from work was about $10).

I just wanted to let people know the option exists.

[jarodwen.livejournal.com]

Thanks matt for your help! Anyway, I think I need to pay a visit to their local store for the devices, and also for my bill... It is really hard to get through their customer services through phone call.

[jarodwen.livejournal.com]

In fact I have encountered several times of services breakdown around winter holiday, and I have never got through RCN's customer services during that time. So finally I decided to cancel the service...