Mostly: Classical

[Sexton O Blake]

Zero loyalty. All of them are trying to suck every penny out of the customer to improve margin.

Take for instance our cable/cell companies. Today we have Rogers who controls about 1/2 of the cell business (bot competitor using same GSM system recently too). They are into Cable and offer digital services (PVR etc) of which I opted for. Plus internet access over cable (I too have that service).

Now the main competitor is Bell - they have the CDMA system for the cell phones; do not provide cable - but provide Satellite. Do not provide cable internet access but DSL. I currently have DSL as well (read previous emails).

I am a VIP with Rogers. But how much value is there in that "VIP"? I save $5 with my internet. I save $4.50 with my cell. So loyalty to keep everything with Rogers saves me $9.50. FUCK $10!!! I want the service because it offers me what I need today for the right price.

Rogers has introduced a scam to lock you into their services - 15% off - 2 years. I am getting 10% off cell and net but not cable. The fine print - with VIP I get a free digital box - but with 15% I do not get a free ($8.95) box but I save otherwise. So one must do the math and determine if it is worth it. Is it worth being locked into TWO OR THREE (essential to some) SERVICES with ONE COMPANY for TWO YEARS to save 15%? 15% isn't even saved on the entire cell phone bill - only the "base plan/extra minutes". And if I add in internet services (firewall; virus) - that isn't covered either. And they can change what to include/exclude anytime!!

I tell you this - I have talked to them about 10 times since I went digital for various reasons - friend - EVERY SINGLE TIME I AM TOLD ABOUT THE 15% and the response I get is "you are some stupid asshole for not taking the 15%. You must have shit for brains friend." They are like the car dealer who says "Buy? Why buy? Lease!". So if they are pushing that slop at me - there must be a downside. Of course the carrot is the 15% but the prison term is two years.

Now loyalty - I tell them "your picture is washy - not clear; not digitally good - I am still thinking of moving to satellite". blah blah - (Cable compresses everything poorly; I will compare to satellite.. I think my eyes will open a lot wider!).

Anyways - so I am at the point - VIP or not - I am gone if the time is right.

Now here is the kicker - my buddy, a Bell customer for YEARS - has DSL and Cell and Satellite - all is good. So he gets a HD projector - and calls them - "so now what has to happen for me to get HD reception". He asks about "RENTING THE HD TUNER". Bell for years was forcing you to buy the gear - now I might do that for the tuner ; but not for the PVR. Bell now is renting PVRs too. So that sounds good.

So how does my friend get rewarded after MANY YEARS OF CUSTOMER LOYALTY to Bell? SORRY SIR - BUT YOU ARE AN EXISTING CUSTOMER AND AS SUCH YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RENT. Thanks for choosing Bell.

Blake