Goodbye Inukshuk

**fruvous** · 02-13-2012, 02:29 PM

It's been announced a while ago but now the end is coming near. Rogers is shutting down Inukshuk, which they inherited from Microcell, in about 1.5 weeks. Interesting article at Stop the Cap where RogersChris pops his head in and doesn't answer any questions about how Rogers can justify a minimum doubling the rate for current subscribers. I wouldn't be surprised if Bell follows suit some time later this year.

**Eluder** · 02-13-2012, 02:56 PM

Bell already is following suit, just not sure when they're shutting it down.

**B407** · 02-13-2012, 03:07 PM

This is old news. Both Bell and Rogers announced this a while back.

**DataDude** · 02-13-2012, 03:20 PM

Gee wiz, the article looks pretty crummy for sure. I always said $30 for 1 GB or even $30 for 6 GB is highly overpriced. Who knew there were other communities in Canada which (were) enjoying far better prices.

Why should Chris answer the question? The answer is obvious: Rogers wants more money, Rogers can get more money because they're an oligopoly - in an oligopoly the price will always be fixed at a non optimal price; that's basic economics - so why wouldn't they do it?

**some-gei** · 02-13-2012, 03:22 PM

Because some companies realize there is more to doing business than simply gouging your customers at every possible opportunity? Like providing quality services and reasonable prices?

Everyone hates Rogers. People are generally only with Rogers because they don't have a choice, not because they like them as a company. In the long term this is a very dangerous position to be in - as soon as alternatives become available, people will leave them simply out of spite.

There is a point when greed goes too far and becomes counterproductive. For example look at the extortionate roaming rates that Rogers charges. Because of this, I would NEVER use my Rogers SIM while I'm in the US, and instead have found alternative (and significantly cheaper) options. Thereby giving Rogers exactly $0 when I travel. If instead they charged somewhat reasonable rates, I might actually not bother finding alternatives and just pay them a few bucks for roaming.

**Eluder** · 02-13-2012, 03:55 PM

35 cents/min in the US doesn't seem too bad to me if you add one of their roaming packs.

**fruvous** · 02-13-2012, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by DataDude

Why should Chris answer the question? The answer is obvious: Rogers wants more money, Rogers can get more money because they're an oligopoly - in an oligopoly the price will always be fixed at a non optimal price; that's basic economics - so why wouldn't they do it?

Personally, I feel they have a moral responsibility to offer a replacement service that is within the same price range as the product they are discontinuing.

When they shut down their TDMA network, they offered free handsets (like they are here with the free rocket hub hardware) and they didn't double rates.

**some-gei** · 02-13-2012, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by Eluder

35 cents/min in the US doesn't seem too bad to me if you add one of their roaming packs.

You have to pay $15 just for the privilege of being gouged a bit less. That $15 will get me unlimited talk text AND data for a week on my t-mobile SIM.

Guess which one I'll be using?

**Willys** · 02-13-2012, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by Eluder

35 cents/min in the US doesn't seem too bad to me if you add one of their roaming packs.

Nothing Rogers related ever seems bad to you, such a shill.

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**JustinCredible** · 02-13-2012, 04:52 PM

Wow, I still have my old iFido modem sitting around. I signed up when Fido first launched iFido/Inukshuk and bundled it with my existing Fido cell package for a discount. Oh the good ol' nostalgic days.

**DataDude** · 02-13-2012, 05:00 PM

@some-gei and fruvous: Lol not to worry, I intended my post to be highly sinnicle. I'm not a fan of Rogers either and I totally agree that people are only with them due to lack of options. My whole point is that since they're an oligopoly, the Rogers execs see nothing but dolla signs in front of their eyes, as in, "okay, these people only have us as an option...sweet! We can inflate prices pretty much as we like." When they see words like 'moral' or ' 'responsibility' they connect to LTE, wait till the connection drops down to HSPA, force the connection to Edge because there's no coverage, then when the connection is finally established, pull up a dictionary and look them up.

**DataDude** · 02-13-2012, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by Eluder

35 cents/min in the US doesn't seem too bad to me if you add one of their roaming packs.

Nooo! It's far far too cheap. How do you expect them to pay their buttler's salary with rates like that?

**ceredon** · 02-13-2012, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by some-gei

Everyone hates Rogers. People are generally only with Rogers because they don't have a choice, not because they like them as a company. In the long term this is a very dangerous position to be in - as soon as alternatives become available, people will leave them simply out of spite.

I think you'd be surprised at how much some people will actually defend Rogers. It seems almost cult-like in some of them. That or Stockholm Syndrome on display. Either way, it is funny/scary to see.

Originally Posted by fruvous

Personally, I feel they have a moral responsibility to offer a replacement service that is within the same price range as the product they are discontinuing.

When they shut down their TDMA network, they offered free handsets (like they are here with the free rocket hub hardware) and they didn't double rates.

Rogers and morals. That would an interesting combination.

In the end Rogers does not, ever, act because something is right or wrong. That never enters the equation. Money is the factor. Maybe when Ted was around protecting his family name meant something (not usually at the expense of money), but these days it's only about money. It's no wonder we actually hear their staff here actually say things like "it doesn't matter if it right or wrong, it only matters what Rogers decides".

One of Rogers argument for the next spectrum auction was how they wanted to service the rural communities and so need to be able to snatch and hold the spectrum. The truth of the matter is closer to Inukshuk.

**some-gei** · 02-13-2012, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by ceredon

I think you'd be surprised at how much some people will actually defend Rogers. It seems almost cult-like in some of them. That or Stockholm Syndrome on display. Either way, it is funny/scary to see.

I don't know about that - in real life I literally don't know a single person who doesn't loathe Rogers. It's almost surreal that a company that is generally hated so much can have so many customers.

Bear in mind here on HoFo we have a lot of Rogers Dealers/Employees or people that are in some other way affiliated with Rogers. I wouldn't be surprised if most of the positive/supporting posts are coming from corporate shills.