I used to be a long term Rogers customer from 1993 to 2010. The last 2 phones I had were the iPhone 3G and 3GS. I was on a 3 year contract and my monthly payments were $115.00 month. That would be a total of $4,140.00 each per year total not including the cost of each iPhone. I got the so-called great 6 GB month data plan.
One month I received an extra $45.00 charge for supposedly going over my 6GB for one month.
I called Rogers and demanded it be removed! The representative refused. I informed the employee that I was a long term customer with Rogers and that if the $45.00 was not removed, I would cancel my service with Rogers and pay out the balance of the contract. The employee refused. I got the cancellation amount ($650.00) and I cancelled after 1 months notice. I guess they do this so that you would calm down and change your mind. I DID NOT!!!! I sold my iPhone for $425.00. I paid only $225.00 NET to get out of the contract.
As the month counted down, I dropped into London Drugs and relayed my story to the employee. The employee showed me the KOODO plan and cell phones.
The KOODO plan at the time was $50.00 month with NO CONTRACT. The LG phone was on a $150.00 tab. What this means is that I did not have to pay anything for the cell phone, and that 10% of whatever plan I chose would come off the cost of the phone each month which was on the tab. As I chose $50.00 month, $5.00 a month would come off the phone tab each month until the cell phone was paid off. If I cancelled the service, I would have to pay off the balance of the tab. That is a lot less than cancelling a 3 year contract! I could have chosen as low as $20.00 month. I could change my plan monthly if I choose!
Now, the phone is paid off and the tab is now adding 10% month until it reaches up to $150.00, which can be used towards a new phone at any time we choose. I bought 2 new batteries for $30.00 from the US and my wife now uses this phone which is still like new!
I just purchased a new Samsung Galaxy SII X with the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It is super fast with a larger screen than the iPhones. I paid $100.00 for the phone up front with $150.00 on the tab. I received $100.00 of Visa cards towards anything except towards the purchase of the cell phone. AND NO CONTRACT!!!!!
Are you beginning to see the picture?
My nephew just got sucked into a 3 year Rogers iPhone 5 with a 3 year contract. My nephew pays between $133.00 and $166.00 month if he goes over the minuscule amount of GB's Rogers now offers. (No more 6GB's month).
Let us do the math. The minimum paid over 36 months at $133.00 month is $4,788.00 at the end of the contract. So much for the FREE Phone!!!
The maximum amount paid over 36 months at $166.00 month is $5,976.00.
I notice that contracts are for 3 years. Probably, by that time the batteries need replacing and Rogers hound you for a new so-called free phone for another 3 years, and so the addiction goes!!!!
Compare that with an iPhone or Samsung SIII with no contract. Samsung has a sale on the SIII for $350.00 up front and $150.00 on the tab with NO CONTRACT. You can choose any plan as low as $20.00 month.
If you go to $55.00 month, you get an array of features including unlimited long distance, texting, and cell time as well as many more features. Data starts at $5.00 month (Not needed).
I choose to wi-fi as I have internet at home and many restaurants and businesses have free wi-fi.
So, if I have the full meal deal on my Samsung or iPhone with no contract, 36 months at $55.00 month is $1,980.00 total!
If you subtract $4,788.00 (Rogers) - $1,988.00 (Koodo) = $2,800.00 less for the Koodo phone.
If you you subtract $5,976.00 (Rogers) - $1,988.00 (Koodo) = $3,988.00 less for the Koodo phone.
Therefore, you could have bought 4.6 iPhone 5's at the minimum of $133.00 month, and 6.7 iPhone 5's at the maximum of $166.00 month.
So much for the hype of the free iPhones! They are not free if you could have bought between 4 and almost 7 iPhone 5's cash by the time your 3 year contract is completed!!!
Suddenly, the Rogers' hype is not such a steal!
Rogers sucks us in with the free phone hype and the 36 month contract. It is on the radio and TV all the time. This is why Rogers and the other cell phone companies have so much power over us and over the Government of Canada.
Rogers, Bell, and Telus keep us addicted to these so-called free phones while they buy up television stations, control high cable, and cell phone bills.
Rogers banks on the consumer addiction to keep the gravy train running.
The consumer does not realize that if they all cut their contracts with the cell phone companies, they would bring the cell phone companies to their knees.
Rogers did me a favour when they refused to cancel the $45.00 for the data overcharge. I am off the contract treadmill forever!
You can do the same!!!!!! read more