R.I.P. Fido 2010 - No More Denial - Fido is equal to Virgin/Koodo/Solo

**Mr. Taiga** · 11-02-2009, 03:03 AM

I will no longer be in denial anymore.

I have been patient and always checking for New Phones or Superior plans with innovative ideas to be introduced first by Fido. BUT............

No More

I realize Fido is Dead. It's awful yellow color stores and kiosks. Their budget themed phones. Along with their lack of customer service or the inability to provide education/training to their inept CSR reps you reach while calling in to customer service.

Everything is Garbage

Why or why did I come back

Do I miss the days when walking into a Clearnet or Fido store meant looking at fresh ideas at competitive rates

There are so many things wrong with Fido, that unless you have ORIGINAL CITY FIDO for $40-45. Then why stay or come to Fido.

No more denial folks. Fido is cooked and done

**JustinCredible** · 11-02-2009, 04:04 AM

Agreed for the most part, except with Fido you get access to:

Tethering
3G laptop sticks
Blackberry service
Per-second billing

Koodo/Solo/Virgin do not offer all this. Well, Virgin and Solo have BB's, but whatever. No comparison to Fido's SERVICE offerings. But yes, Fido's god awful new branding and penny-pincher products are quite WRONG for the Fido brand which was all about innovation.

**casualsuede** · 11-02-2009, 06:20 AM

Originally Posted by Mr. Taiga

I will no longer be in denial anymore.

I have been patient and always checking for New Phones or Superior plans with innovative ideas to be introduced first by Fido. BUT............

No More

I realize Fido is Dead. It's awful yellow color stores and kiosks. Their budget themed phones. Along with their lack of customer service or the inability to provide education/training to their inept CSR reps you reach while calling in to customer service.

Everything is Garbage

Why or why did I come back

Do I miss the days when walking into a Clearnet or Fido store meant looking at fresh ideas at competitive rates

There are so many things wrong with Fido, that unless you have ORIGINAL CITY FIDO for $40-45. Then why stay or come to Fido.

No more denial folks. Fido is cooked and done

Yeah, the first two complaints is more of a personal issue. While I don't know much about the FIDO plans, I agree with poster two that it isn't that FIDO is doing bad, it is that you have outgrown FIDO.

You should be on Rogers, if you want a great phone. Or now, BELLUS with their HSPDA lineup.

Many people are happy at the low end cause they don't care about the phones as much and want good network and plan prices.

**Jack_GMS** · 11-02-2009, 07:26 AM

I pay $45 per month for a 6gb iPhone voice and data plan.
Can't beat that for my needs.

**Mr Mystery** · 11-02-2009, 07:35 AM

I definitely think Rogers killed all the innovative ideals from the brand, but dead no not yet.

**Astroboy-ATM** · 11-02-2009, 08:41 AM

I love Fido. ALways have, always will. For my money, it's still the best of the bunch.

**orphanboy** · 11-02-2009, 08:49 AM

What's all this talk about "innovation"??

Quit saying that when all u mean is "cheaper rate plans".

Yes, the original City Fido Unlimited was ahead of its time and that's what initially converted everyone to Fido. But if you really look at it: $45 + SAF + 911 fee + tax = $58.74. That's not including unlimited text messaging, which the new plans come with.

Rogers is sucking Fido dry, as you've all mentioned. And if you haven't noticed, Rogers is now offering only mid to high-range phones while Fido has been forced to take the low to mid-range phones. I know the current phone selection sucks, but that's why we have other cell phone retailers. It's really not that hard to find them. Plus, Fido is getting new phones by the end of the year, so don't get all freakazoid just yet.

**Martinga** · 11-02-2009, 09:24 AM

Think about it this way:

Rogers has corporate, more expensive plans, yet they have a WAYYYYYYY better line of phones.

Fido has cheaper, more affordable plans, yet a really crappy line of phones.

And thats simply how both companies make money. Fido service (plans) + Rogers phones @ Fido would = Rogers "out of business".

Now if you'd be smart, you'd just get yourself and unlocked phone, and have fido service. Then you'd have the best of both worlds

**gthompson75** · 11-02-2009, 10:02 AM

Why does everybody say rogers is the business brand, Rogers is a provider for everybody, business or personal, Rogers would have killed off fido brand at the time of the purchase but weren't allowed to under the buy out deal. They were really only there to kill off competition and get back what they thought was theres. Fido will never be anything other then a value brand for personal users and may flourish under that model or will die off and be rebranded as whatever rogers see fit. At this point Fido is far from dead and are doing a good business. The thing with CSR's that you can't knock is now a days is you get what you pay for, you want good cheap plans and A1 service, but its not possible as with every company Fido has to reduce costs and csr positions would be the ones that see lower rates for new hires. Also that being said your right some of the csr's wouldn't even make it at Tim Hortons there so dumb, some are great though. Fido is ok as long as you are prepared to buy your own unlocked phone or be like most the new users on fido looking for a simple phone to make calls and text a bit. Shocking that companies still make phones with the primary function being to make calls.

**Mr. Taiga** · 11-02-2009, 10:29 AM

Buying an unlocked phone is exactly what I did.

I saw that Fido had no phones and went out and purchased:

A Rogers BB BOLD ! - Unlocked it and carried on my way....BUT

I have lurked here for a while and was always in hope that Fido would turn the corner. Like I am sure most of you still do when you read the newest "FIDO Q4" reports. Just to be let down with a relaunch of a Nokia from years back etc etc.

See I am in my late 30's and have had cellular for almost 20 years

and guess what. it's got worse

back in the day, my old Rogers plan or Cantel were like this
700 mins + Unlimited Eve/Weekend @ 6pm for $40
Had the current Motorola Star Tac or V60 and it felt good.

Now, its all about using phones from years back and paying more now for less service. All that and have to deal with CSR's who have not been trained properly.

Don't worry, just wanted to RANT and of course. Strike now while the Iron is Hot ! - TELUS OR BELL HSPA NETWORK FOR 2010.

Trust me. Their Plans at Launch will be their best offerings. Like Fido and Rogers. Once it's established in he new market. Prices will only go up from there and service will decrease along with overall value for your dollar

EDIT - One last thing, does anyone else find it B.S. - that Fido will not support or at least transfer you to Rogers to find support for a Blackberry Branded by Their Owners.

I could see if it was an American phone, but its a Rogers Phone.

"You are keeping the money in the family" so to speak. When you do purchase a Rogers phone. Why not at least help ???

**green1074** · 11-02-2009, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by orphanboy

What's all this talk about "innovation"??

Quit saying that when all u mean is "cheaper rate plans".

Yes, the original City Fido Unlimited was ahead of its time and that's what initially converted everyone to Fido. But if you really look at it: $45 + SAF + 911 fee + tax = $58.74. That's not including unlimited text messaging, which the new plans come with.

To be fair, the plan originally offered by Fido included the SAF. I'd take $55 for Unlimited calling/texting and a larger zone vs. 2000 mins/unlimited texting and a smaller zone.

Granted, many people don't go over 2000 mins, so the new plan could pose a better value but there are still people who would rather the former plan.

**Emendo** · 11-02-2009, 04:41 PM

It would have been nice if Fido remained independent. This discount branding looks awful compared to before. I do wonder if they would have enough cash to actually upgrade the network to 3G if they stayed independent.

**gthompson75** · 11-02-2009, 04:48 PM

Nope they would have had no cash at the time of the sale to do anything, they were looking for investors and couldn't find any, I believe Telus had the first offer on them for a little less then Rogers second offer, but Rogers had a clause that if Fido accepted the offer and before they took it to shareholders they couldn't accept a higher bid without paying Rogers 50 million cash. Telus at that point didn't want to up there offer that much so they walked away.