General Retention discussion, just wanna chew the retention fat

**OCZ** · 11-26-2010, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by RelleR

I was hunting for a retentions deal, yes: Isn't that the name of the game when you're winding down to your last few months of a 3-year termed contract?

yea at least they could have gotten him some freebies or some credits but they did not!

**RelleR** · 11-26-2010, 12:36 PM

the 2nd line's phone (not mine) isn't with me, but when it is I'll be getting ready to do the port or cancellation; once it's back next week I'll give one more call and end the contract then and there. I won't even port. The number is not important to us as it's just a family phone that rarely receives calls.

Is it more pressure to the rogers rep if I cancel then and there then to say I plan on porting in 'X' amount of days/weeks? Does it affect their personal record that someone canceled a contract through them? ... I ask in hopes that it gives me more chances of the current rep in helping out my monthly bills?

**iridescence** · 11-26-2010, 12:38 PM

Are you sure you were talking to Retention? It's odd that you weren't offered anything at all, though obviously I don't know how the conversation went. Really, I would suggest calling in once more, because generally you can get a better deal with your current provider than with a new one.

Are you planning on buying your phone outright with Bell, then? I'm guessing so, because you say you'd be month to month. If you're planning on buying your phone outright no matter what, then the agent doesn't have as much leeway, with Rogers. Generally credits and freebies are supposed to match up with a term of some sort.

**skomes** · 11-26-2010, 12:52 PM

I wouldn't take whatever this guy is saying as 100% true. Everyone knows student plans are harder to renegotiate with because you're already getting more for less than everyone else pays.

If Bell is really offering you such a great plan, then I'd think you would have taken it already. My guess is the plans are 1-1 comparable.

Also:

"Waah, I called retentions once and they didn't give me anything. "

Sometimes you have to try multiple times, calling once, getting upset and then posting here doesn't show us anything other than you are quite whiny. If this is how you negotiated then perhaps the rep just didn't want to deal with you any longer.

Originally Posted by RelleR

I rebuttalled how that was infact a decent plan, but it's the monthly service access fees & HST charges that are affecting my finances and it was better for me in the long run to find a plan that didn't charge those monthly fees.

The reps aren't going to want to help you if you're whining about having to pay tax, Rogers isn't going to pay your HST for you. Bad negotiating tactic. You should have looked around at what kind of credits were available.

Since Rogers is basically the best carrier for re-negotiating deals, I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that you were the problem here and not Rogers.

**RelleR** · 11-26-2010, 12:57 PM

The original person who was helping me was definitely not a retention. I think he said to me that he was connecting me to an appropriate representative in relations. Does anyone know if they have 'relations' department?

Maybe it was a decoy for him to make me think I was in the relations department in hopes that I thought I was in RETENTIONS? what kind of tactics do these salespeople need to make a few bucks?!

**RelleR** · 11-26-2010, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by skomes

I wouldn't take whatever this guy is saying as 100% true. Everyone knows student plans are harder to renegotiate with because you're already getting more for less than everyone else pays.

If Bell is really offering you such a great plan, then I'd think you would have taken it already. My guess is the plans are 1-1 comparable.

Also:

"Waah, I called retentions once and they didn't give me anything. "

Sometimes you have to try multiple times, calling once, getting upset and then posting here doesn't show us anything other than you are quite whiny. If this is how you negotiated then perhaps the rep just didn't want to deal with you any longer.

The reps aren't going to want to help you if you're whining about having to pay tax, Rogers isn't going to pay your HST for you. Bad negotiating tactic. You should have looked around at what kind of credits were available.

Since Rogers is basically the best carrier for re-negotiating deals, I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that you were the problem here and not Rogers.

Haha, you got me there. I did take the plan with Bell already. I've had it set up for the last 6 weeks or so (on a month-to-month plan) and I've been trying out their service on an unlocked iPhone 4 as a trial. The network data works just as well, maybe even less bogged down?

I never said Bell matched my contract perk for perk, minute to minute. I could care less about the infinite minutes they give me. I don't care if they give me 1000 weekday minutes + 500 whenever or whatever it is. All the phone needs is 500 minutes a month tops. I found a plan suitable to it's basic iPhone needs: enough data to not have overage charges, enough minutes to use the phone casually, and the right perks so I won't get charged/gouged for nonsense things like voicemail, call display, or picture/video texts. The bill came in to my email at an even $55. Something I can get used to.

I never called whining about the taxes. I just said that I'm looking for new ways to save money and one of those would be to rethink my phone usage. I did that by finding a month to month based plan without the need for a contract, since I'll be using an iPhone 4. If Rogers can help me out by saving money I'm all for it. I never whined. I am actually quite unstressful when it comes to money matters.

I never once, insinuated anything to them about giving me credits, giving me a retention deal. I simply laid it out pure and flat: My current plan doesn't, fiscally, make sense. The alternative plan is not held down by a contract, it is $55 flat fee without any hidden charges, no activation fees, etc. I pay $75 with outdated features with you guys. It makes more sense for me and my money to go to this plan at $55. I told them that. I put the ball in their court and they sent it right back. Good for them if they aren't going to take my cowboy run and gun tactics. Send me my bill. I'm out to go save $20 a month. I'm not going to put up and pay my bills like a sucker. I have the total freedom to decide where it should go, I thought I'd try and call in and see IF anything was possible to help me out, am I not entitled to that as a client of Rogers? "I'm sorry, He's New..er"

I might as well just take away my $5 500 Long Distance Canada minutes and just use skype for my LD calls while I'm at it!

**skomes** · 11-26-2010, 01:40 PM

I still think you probably handled the negotiation very poorly for them to not offer you anything substantial if you do indeed pay $60/month. You should seek help in the retentions forum.

**RelleR** · 11-26-2010, 01:50 PM

You're right, I did handle it poorly. I called with no plan set in mind. I guess I was a tad too aggressive with the mindset that I had already found a cheaper deal too. But still, I thought they would help me out. I don't ask much of Rogers. I do remember as a high school student (being with Telus) in the flip-phone days they'd be so much more helpful, at times just randomly offering me single monthly credits just for calling in and asking random stuff about my plan ... what happened to those chivalrous cellphone provider days!?

**skomes** · 11-26-2010, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by RelleR

You're right, I did handle it poorly. I called with no plan set in mind. I guess I was a tad too aggressive with the mindset that I had already found a cheaper deal too. But still, I thought they would help me out. I don't ask much of Rogers. I do remember as a high school student (being with Telus) in the flip-phone days they'd be so much more helpful, at times just randomly offering me single monthly credits just for calling in and asking random stuff about my plan ... what happened to those chivalrous cellphone provider days!?

I was with Telus for 6 years, and they often overcharged me, made stupid errors, offered me pretty much nothing when I was renewing, and even when I was calling in to cancel, the guy didn't offer me anything. Instead he asked me, "Why are you cancelling?", I said because new customers were getting the same plan as me, but for $5 less/month, at which point he said "So you want to be on the cheaper plan?", but again, not actually offering me anything, and I said "No" and cancelled.

Everytime I called in for being overcharged, they'd say they couldn't do anything, and to call back at the end of month. Well my billing period was near the start of the month, so I'd always forget by then. They ripped me off for a lot of money.

You had a good Telus experience, I did not, I'm sure it is the same thing with Rogers.

**morfy50** · 12-12-2010, 09:56 AM

I was thinking of jumping ship to WIND with their new $40 offer. I called Rogers to see what my ecf is. Rep said it's $300.00.

He offered me the following:
- unlimited NA calling
- unlimited NA text messaging
- caller id, display, vm
- keep my 6GB data plan
all for $57.00 + tax per month

This is still $17.00 more than WIND, but saves me ECF and hassle (if there is one) of porting to WIND. Also, I'm happy enough with Rogers "technical" service -- data speeds, etc. It's their CS and high prices that kill me!

What would you guys do? I'm sure I can make my $300 + a bit back selling my Nexus One too.

**OCZ** · 12-12-2010, 10:03 AM

hmm...what is included with the WIND $40 plan???

but the Retention offer you got from Rogers is very good....

**morfy50** · 12-12-2010, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by OCZ

hmm...what is included with the WIND $40 plan???

but the Retention offer you got from Rogers is very good....

The new $40 plan is Unlimited US/Canada calling + Unlimited Data for life. Comparable to what Rogers is offering but it's guaranteed forever. Rogers offer only extends for the remainder of my contract; however, I can signup for 3-years again and get it for that long if I want.

**CGY Guy** · 12-12-2010, 10:23 AM

Does WIND give you the same text package Rogers offered? Do you travel outside of the 'zone'? That may be a mitigating circumstance.

**morfy50** · 12-12-2010, 10:42 AM

This is the WIND plan http://www.howardforums.com/showthre...2#post14167142 Unlimited texting worldwide.

I live/work in Toronto. Never travel out of the WIND zone unless I'm on vacation somewhere.

I think I'm going with WIND. Too good to pass up!

**BellVictim** · 12-12-2010, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by morfy50

He offered me the following:
- unlimited NA calling
- unlimited NA text messaging
- caller id, display, vm
- keep my 6GB data plan
all for $57.00 + tax per month

Wow, that's a very, very good offer from Rog.

Sticker price on that is almost twice what they're telling you it would cost ($50 + $30 + $10 + SCUMfee).

Based on the reported experiences of more than a few here I would tend to doubt that Rog would actually honour such a discounted plan.

If Wind has what you want avoid the hassle of yanked or non-implemented credits say sayonara (as you've indicated you will so do).

+Props to your negotiating skills to get offered that $57 price tho!