Cell phone fun...

[Avril Lavigne]

Well I'm coming up to the end of my three year contract with Rogers... and this time I've done an extensive analysis of my usage.

My plan is to examine all the different providers and then pick the one that best suits my needs.

I use about 2-300 minutes a month, with about 80% of that long distance. I rarely use text messages.

I had a look at the "hobby" phone with 7/11, but it works out more expensive for that usage.

My existing gsm phone with Rogers is a basic Nokia 6065 and has all the features I need.

So, when I called Roger yesterday to find out how I give notice of cancellation (30 days before end of contract), I got the hard sell from the rep to sign up again, but I resisted until I did some more analysis.

If you folks have any suggestion, strategies, etc, I'd glad to hear from you... I have until Dec 21 to give notice to Rogers.

Thanks

 

[Pompal 09.]

I'd go to redflagdeals.com and look up rogers retention plans etc. You can get some amazing deals if you press for them.

WHat'd I press for is the unlimited long distance plans, you can get one without bargaining for around $50.00 per month so if you work them, you should get one for around $35.00 - $40.00. Probably better if you're willing to sign a contract (and for the record, a contract is easily broken...).

I think virgin and solo have one that is $45.00 plus the taxes and fees but you could probably negotiate with robbers, oops I mean rogers for an all in price of $45.00.

I have a plan with fido that has 100 daytime minutes, unlimited eve and wknds, voice mail, caller ID and 1000 LD minutes a month for $40.00. No texts, they are 15 cents each if I send them.....

Just remember: YOU have the power. It is far cheaper for a company to keep a customer than to get another one so depending on who you get as a CSR, you could come out way ahead....

 

[Alihaa]

Thanks tboy....

They did offer me the $50 unlimited.... but I didn't realize they would negotiate a lower fee...

Sounds good...

Thanks for the tip

I let you all know how it goes... anyone else with an idea?

 

[Simonsays]

Just checked on Red Flag... nothing much for Rogers except for a BB deal, which I don't want.

But I did notice a pretty good long distance deal. Since I use a lot of L/D it might be a good option.

Here's the link:

http://www.redflagdeals.com/deals/main.php/alldeals/comments/80_mins_of_long_distance_free/

I'm continuing to look...

 

[Sonia]

You'll have much more luck negotiating a deal with robbers as opposed to going to a new provider. Unless of course you go to a private shop where they can put you on a "corporate" plan with a bunch of other people.

Just remember: there really is no such thing as "long distance" anymore. Back in the day if you wanted to call vancouver from toronto, they'd have to route you through switchboard after switchboard in each city until your call was connected.

Now with all the telecommunications satellites up there, if you call barrie, or vancouver, you're probably going through a satellite, or at least, simply routed through towers. No personnel are involved......(and if you're using a voip phone, it is routed via the net so there's no added cost to them either).

Make sure you listen closely though and have them explain everything and have them email the offer to you in writing. When I signed up for robbers they told me I had My5 unlimited calling/ texting.... they left out the part about it being LOCAL.

They also left out the part where if I'm out of my LOCAL calling zone, anyone who calls ME I get the long distance charges. Even if someone calls me from the zone I'm in, it's STILL long distance and I get dinged. It never used to be that way, wherever you were, that was local. I used to have a 1000 minute plan with Bell and talked to my GF the whole trip back coming from Montreal and I only used my airtime, NO long distance. They changed that without telling anyone.....

 

[*:]$un$hine[:*%]

Yeah, in doing my analysis today I noticed that incoming calls from locations when I am outside my local area, I get charged with both L/D and airtime.

Just to add information.. I found from another source this link which I think might be good for someone who does all their long distance from their local area.

GetFreeAirtime.com

 

[snipe4lyf]

If you want to compare plans and providers, go to Bestbuy. They offer all the plans from all the different suppliers.
Get all your info and facts, then call rogers back and see what they'll do for you. If they don't offer enough, get to the 2nd level in the call centre, and push the supervisor for more! It works, just gotta have the facts!

 

[jhig78]

Sorry, I should have mentioned you have to go to the hot deals forum...that's where it is...

here's the link:

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/rogers-wireless-retention-plans-933329/

read the first, then go to the last page and work backwards to see what the most recent deals are...that thread's been around awhile so it's quite long....

 

[Needfulthings]

That's an amazing post... thanks

 

[Beastly]

I love how Bell for example offers new clients new shit but existing clients get the bums rush.
I get regular calls from those assholes and whenever they tell me that they have a special offer for me I tell them I am an existing client and what are they offering me to keep my business? When they say there are not incentives to keep me I usually just completely lose it on the poor bastard on the other end. Sanjay or Gupta or whatever the fuck his name is.....

 

[Bart]

I dont know if this helps and you have to watch for roaming charges but I just got a phone plan with wind. Unlimited talk and text plus zone to zone calling for 25 bucks a month for the first year.

Limitedcoverage but free to call in zone
www.wind.ca

 

[Barb L]

^^ I would read the fine print, go out of your zone and make a call and now you're not only on the hook for wind airtime, but whatever carrier they are connecting with.....

As for Short and hairless, I hear you. You see ads all the time for Bell PVRs at amazing prices and then the fine print states "for new bell customers only, existing customers pay $399.99".....

I had to fight to get this deal but it was a free HD PVR for 3 yrs.....the people at the store didn't know anything about it.....

 

[HandsAbove]

I have telus. For $50 I receive 350 weekday minutes. Unlimited evenings and weekends. 1GB of data that I use for everything from work emails to checking forums. Caller ID voice mail included. For $20 extra I have 200 long distance. I have been a customer for 7 years now and I have negotiated lower prices. So I would start there. Tell rogers you are going to change because another company is offering whatever and they will match it.

 

[Home treasure]

Tboy -yes you have to watch that zone business, but I changed my settings so that I dont accidentally leave a home zone and roam. The zones work well for me nearly 900 minutes last month. Still just 25 bucks.

However I still have a 711 for when im out of zone or as a hobby phone.

Its not for everyone but works for me.

oh yeah and no contract...pay as u go or pay in advance.

 

[kpk]

Well, I've been looking around, and it looks like I can;'t beat what Rogers has offered.

$50 per month - unlimited airtime, unlimited long distance.

I'm gonna try to negotiate the add ons for voicemail, and a low-usage system renewing for my SO.

I'm gonna let it sit over the weekend and go back to them on Monday

 

[Just a Guy]

That's an ok deal, a great deal if you can get voicemail and caller ID. They should throw those in because really, it doesn't cost them anything.......

Now one rubberdicked member would argue that they have to maintain the equipment, but it would be like me cutting two 1 x 4's in half on my table saw. The cost to do two over 1 is miniscule....

That's why companies like Wind, Mobilcity etc can make it: The big companies have been hosing us for years and I mean HOSING us at really zero cost to them.

To be frank, having a customer WITH voicemail is better for a company because you chew up airtime checking your messages so effectively, it's a win win for them. (that's one thing that pisses me off about this zone BS. They not only charge you airtime to collect your messages but long distance too if you're out of your home "zone". Even though you're in a rogers zone.....)

 

[XxKristina01]

I don't know if VM costs them anything, but companies do pay the company that stores the Caller ID info every time it gets looked up.

 

[FLOW]

This used to bug the crap outta me too!

Until I gave Bell the heave ho!

I am now 100% Bell Free, and have never been happier! :great:

 

[Unknown]

I'm not a bell customer at all but I love busting telemarketers balls.

 

[-=Ryan=-]

Yup, I got Bell free a few years ago... went to FTA TV, Roger's cell, and wifi internet...

Now, sadly, I've had to go back to Bell for my DSL internet, but its worth it cause its a pretty fast connection... for P'boro, anyhow...

I can now use my Bell internet connection as a bargaining tool against Rogers to help me get credits on my cell phone contract..

As for TV, since FTA is pretty much dead, I'm using an OTA HD antenna on my roof and it gets me 4 channels, which is fine. By the way, if anyone wants a good source for such an antenna, I got mine from a US company for about $70 including a rotor. PM and I'll give you the link.