Telus TV

[CDNPiper]

Hey All.. Long time lurker, but this subject is something I have some knowledge about (unlike reefkeeping - still leeching knowledge)

I have had TelusTV for about 4 years. I've had no real problems with it, but I'm in a new area of Edmonton. I recently upgraded to the new Telus TV that they are currently advertising and am very happy.

One of the downsides of it before was the limit to a 3mbps internet connection and 2 Set top Boxes. Now I can have up to 6 Set Top Boxes, all of them HD capable and my internet is 15mbps (when all the TV's are off) and around 7mbps when they are on. I have 3 set top boxes in my house right now and all are HD capable. The PVR is 320gig and ANY tv in the house can access content from it, and even the old school analog TV's can display recorded HD content. Convenient when my kids want to watch Spongebob, I can send them upstairs and they can access the PVR from there when we have people over.

Last night my wife wanted to watch a movie that was on the PVR and I wanted to watch the game. She went to the bedroom and watched it while I was downstairs watching the game live using the PVR. Both were HD and it worked solidly. Also, I told her she HAD to watch the last 5 min of the 3rd so I went upstairs, paused her show, joined the game and rewound it to the last 5... Something I can't do with any other provider right now.

Shaw doesn't offer the "Whole Home PVR" and charges at least $400 for a HD PVR.

Disclaimer: I used to work for Shaw and really can't stand them so I am biased. Nor will I ever have any Shaw/Starchoice products in my home.

Also, it's well known that Shaw uses bandwidth throttling on their internet connection, and Telus doesn't. I'll stick to Telus because I don't need an ISP deciding the priority of the traffic that I want from the internet.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by CDNPiper

The PVR is 320gig and ANY tv in the house can access content from it,
Shaw doesn't offer the "Whole Home PVR" and charges at least $400 for a HD PVR.

My PVR is 1TB and cost 150.00 from shaw. I will admidt that the whole house things is cool, the best I can do is record two different shows at once while watchign a third. would be nice to be able to access that from my upstairs tv also, midn you all I have to do is run a cable and I can..

My issue with telus isn't there services but rather there buisness practice and lack of customer service.

also people don't realize that there is an quazi monopoly on celphones in canada, there are two major companice,, Telus and rodgers. they work hand in hand to set pricing and eliminate compatition. people are going to say what about bell, and the other little guys.. they are controled by either telus or rodgers.

this is why all the plans when you realy look at them end up costing about the same thing for the same services, one company might give you one thing a little cheeper but the other stuff costs more. untill they let the big NA cell companies into canada we will never have fair pricing or services. it is pretty sad when I can pay 60 bucks in the US and unlimited everything to any number accross NA. my cousins don't have home phones anymore they just use there cells. In Canada you can't do that as they have no all invclusive LD plan.. and even my fave 5 nation wide is only good in canada if I am in the US I am payign roaming charges and also air time and LD I calculated that if I used my phone like my cousins do it would cost me about 585.00/month to get the usage they pay 60 bucks for. its good being in Canada where our goverment lets companies screw us eh


Steve

StirCrazy

"also people don't realize that there is an quazi monopoly on celphones in canada, there are two major companice,, Telus and rodgers. they work hand in hand to set pricing and eliminate compatition. people are going to say what about bell, and the other little guys.. they are controled by either telus or rodgers.

this is why all the plans when you realy look at them end up costing about the same thing for the same services, one company might give you one thing a little cheeper but the other stuff costs more. untill they let the big NA cell companies into canada we will never have fair pricing or services. it is pretty sad when I can pay 60 bucks in the US and unlimited everything to any number accross NA. my cousins don't have home phones anymore they just use there cells. In Canada you can't do that as they have no all invclusive LD plan.. and even my fave 5 nation wide is only good in canada if I am in the US I am payign roaming charges and also air time and LD I calculated that if I used my phone like my cousins do it would cost me about 585.00/month to get the usage they pay 60 bucks for. its good being in Canada where our goverment lets companies screw us eh"

There are about 6 cell companies in Canada 3 of which piggy back on either Telus or Bell's networks. Rogers has thier own network which they have been working endlessly to upgrade I believe all of Alberta is finished now and They have started on BC.

Price setting is illegal in Canada and the companies can get hug fines for it, In there defence when one company changes their service the others have to follow suit to be competitive. so they undercut the other company. They have seen what this does to them in the 90' when they all brought in unlimited longdistance calling. they lost a tunn of money and now that Shaw is cutting into there phone profits they need to look to the futur insted of just reacting to te present. This is all theyare doing right now just reacting to what is happening with Shaw. Video phone is the way for the future and fiber to the home. Telus has tried many projects in Vancouver with no real seccess with fiber to the home. Ed Tel tried also and Telus after they bought EdTel. We are moving forward slowly one day we will get there, it is looking like things are getting closer.

Bill

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by bvlester

There are about 6 cell companies in Canada 3 of which piggy back on either Telus or Bell's networks. Rogers has thier own network which they have been working endlessly to upgrade I believe all of Alberta is finished now and They have started on BC.

Price setting is illegal in Canada and the companies can get hug fines for it, In there defence when one company changes their service the others have to follow suit to be competitive. so they undercut the other company. They have seen what this does to them in the 90' when they all brought in unlimited longdistance calling. they lost a tunn of money and now that Shaw is cutting into there phone profits they need to look to the futur insted of just reacting to te present. This is all theyare doing right now just reacting to what is happening with Shaw. Video phone is the way for the future and fiber to the home. Telus has tried many projects in Vancouver with no real seccess with fiber to the home. Ed Tel tried also and Telus after they bought EdTel. We are moving forward slowly one day we will get there, it is looking like things are getting closer.

Bill

Bell and telus share systems and are in the middle of merger talks which willbe completed with in the next two years. rodger has its own network. so there are two major players in reality. now the other 3 or 4 companies are all leasing space off of telus/bell or rodgers systems which means they have to agree to pricing scheams or they get there access cut.

yes price fixing is ileagal and when it comes to cell phones in the 16 years I have had a cell phone the rates have only gone up since digital has come along. every now and then there will be a good deal on a plan, but it is replaced befor the next cycle so you have to stay with the one you have or pay more for a better plan. no cell company in canada has price wars, I agree undercutting and such is happening with the cable and home phone side, but thats because the CRC opened thes sides wide up for compatition and busted the monopolys that were in place. in the cell side, in canada there is no compatition and rodgers and telus/bell are happy to keep it that why that is why they are sinking a ton of money into fighting the laitest CRC proposal of letting new cell companies have garentees access to the celular infastructure for a modest CRC regulated price which the big 2.5 companies cannot regulate. also the fact that you will be able to take your phone with you to a different company soon to. so I can keep my storm and go to rodgers and use it there. so the goverment is making steps in the right direction but I think they need to do like the US did and declair the celualr system a national infastructure, compensate telus and rodgers and then the CRC control the sales of system access. I know there are 3 US companies just waiting for the final ruling so they can move into canada and undercut the hell out of the cell companies we have now.

Steve

outw west Bell pioggy backs Telus's network and out east Telus piggy backs Bell's network they alway have from the start of this moving into each others teritory. They both figured if you can't stop them then charge them a rate they can't refuse. Bellwest has put up a few cell sites of their own and so has telus out east but for the most part they piggy back. Telus bought qubec Tel a couple years ago is as stated in to posts in talks now or will be. I do know managers and ex manager of Telus they are not to say to much about things prtaining to talks with Bell. Things have slowed down a bit with the talks recintly they will go through in the end but Bell Now wants more money since Telus shares took a hit 1.5 weeks ago or so. Telus does not want what happened with AT&T too happen again. Too much gets out and the deal will be off and then someone else will scoop bell up. There are a few player out there that can make a play at Bell now they are lossing ground to the likes of Telus and Rogers ect....

Bill

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

yes price fixing is ileagal and when it comes to cell phones in the 16 years I have had a cell phone the rates have only gone up since digital has come along. every now and then there will be a good deal on a plan, but it is replaced befor the next cycle so you have to stay with the one you have or pay more for a better plan. no cell company in canada has price wars, I agree undercutting and such is happening with the cable and home phone side, but thats because the CRC opened thes sides wide up for compatition and busted the monopolys that were in place. in the cell side, in canada there is no compatition and rodgers and telus/bell are happy to keep it that why that is why they are sinking a ton of money into fighting the laitest CRC proposal of letting new cell companies have garentees access to the celular infastructure for a modest CRC regulated price which the big 2.5 companies cannot regulate. also the fact that you will be able to take your phone with you to a different company soon to.

Steve

Actually, my cell bill is now as cheap, if not cheaper, than when I first signed up in 1997 with Telus Mobility. Having stayed with them this long, they offered me lots of free perks for being a loyal customer. My monthly bill is under $50 and I have free LD North America (always had this since I worked in Powell River when I first signed up).

I'm blown away that for the next year, my High Speed Internet/HD TV/Digital Phone bill will be almost exactly the same as my cell phone bill. Now I will have all 4 telecommunications services through Telus for $90+tax. Woohoo!!!!


It would cost me $1626.11 to stay with Shaw this year or $554.40 with Telus TV. That means a savings of $1071.71

After the lower rates are over at the end of 1 year, and I pay regular Telus TV rates, I will still save $443.39 a year (and still free PVR & Wireless modem).


Anthony

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by SeaHorse_Fanatic

It would cost me $1626.11 to stay with Shaw this year or $554.40 with Telus TV. That means a savings of $1071.71

After the lower rates are over at the end of 1 year, and I pay regular Telus TV rates, I will still save $443.39 a year (and still free PVR & Wireless modem).


Anthony

yup, but you could always go to shaw and say Tellus is going to give me this for this price, what are you going to do to keep me? I know quite a few people that have done this and gotten very substantial deals in a permant price breaks that made it hard to switch.

the only problem I have is telus has a history of sucking you in with a fantastic deal and by the end of 2 or 3 years it turns into not so good of a deal. they did this to my daughter who had there internet and phone in victoria, she switched to shaw because all of a sudden she found her internet and phone changed on her so that it was almost double the cost.. and that was only last year.

I left telus because we had there free long distance evening and weekends unlimited in the 90's when they started that. then 2 years later they capped it at 2000 min with out notifying it. most people never know about that as it is a lot of min.. we had two teanage kids who called people all over the frigging country but we still stayed under 1900 min so I let that slide. although I did phone and complain and got the "thats the policy nothing we can do. then less than a year later they changed it again to 500 min cap with out any notification and all of a sudden I got a 400 buck phone bill. so I called to find out why and guess what I got.. to bad so sad.. thats the policy nothing we can do about it. next day I talked to shaw and they said there phone service would be available in my area in 3 days time. I never talked to telus again about that except when they called to find out how they can get me back.. I told them in a blunt strait to the point way they couldn't and somthing about the temp in hell and to put me on there do not call list.

I had another beef with telus in early 08, where my truck was ripped off while I was playing hockey. the cops called telus security to get them to do a trace onb my cell phone as it was in the truck and on and they said they can't do it unless it is a mater of life or death, so instead of getting a location on my truck 20 min after it was taken they never found it till the next night where it had been driven into a lake up island. so in the end because of telus' refusal to co-operate with the police it ended up costing me 20K to fix my truck by the time I am done. the worst was I had a fancy darn cell phone that was not avilable any more that did everything I wanted a cell to do.. they couldn't care less. it took me 5 months and threating leagal action (good to have a friend who is a lawyer) to get them to be gracious enough to get a 3 year price on a replacment phone. still paid 300 for the damn thing. and then they lied to me as I was looking at the BBerry phones and asked when they would get one that was wifi enabled as my starcom was and I used the wifi alot. I got told it woul dbe at least 5 years befor a wifi bbery would be out and guess what.. 1 year after I get my storm the storm 2 is wifi enabled..


where as I had to call Shaw the other day and ask why my bills seamed so hi, when they reviewed it they found none of the 1 month promo channels were cancled and I told them I cancled them 2 days befor the end of the first month which I did. since they screwed up and never did they credited my account 448.00 I didn't even have to get upset or anything. bang taken care of like that.

ok now.. sorry for the rant, but I think that explains my dislike for telus. now I need a drink

Steve

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by SeaHorse_Fanatic

Actually, my cell bill is now as cheap, if not cheaper, than when I first signed up in 1997 with Telus Mobility. Having stayed with them this long, they offered me lots of free perks for being a loyal customer. My monthly bill is under $50 and I have free LD North America (always had this since I worked in Powell River when I first signed up).



Anthony

ya in 94 I paid 50/month for 150 min no long distance, no nothing else, and If I remember right it was 0.65/min back then for overage.. so usaly my bill was around 100 bucks. it did get lower for a while but then they suck you in with the "you've been a good customer for so long we want to give you a free data device".. and you go "cool, I always wanted one but couldn't aford the 500.00 for one" and then you pay the same 35 bucks for your voice plan, but oh wait it is another 40 for the data.. so now I have 250 min and can surfe the web but I am paying almost 80 bucks.

now a 5 more years later I have the BBerry realy cool phone, pay 35 for a deicent plan, but also pay 25 for the smart phone package, and then 15 bucks for MF5 nation wide (canada) then 5 bucks for 911 enhanced and 7.50 for some acces fee that was suposed to be removed as the crc said it was not leagal to charge that but something happened there to.

yes the plans give you more for your money than they used to but they find new creative ways to suck your money out of you. tellus has been trying to get me to change my phone plan for 2 years now as they don't offer this one and I was advised not to change it as it is a smokin deal as I do not pay for any incomming calls get 250 anytime min 35 min of free LD and some other stuff. it ued to include evenings and weekends but some how they cancled that one me and when I complained they said the normal telus answer " oh well" so we'll see what happens when I am done this tearm.. there will be a few changes in the next couple years I think.

Steve

hay after talking to Shaw you can then talk to Telus and say hay Shaw just offered me this what are you going to do. lots of people are doingthis exact thing and getting great deals only if they are a loyal customer of Telus that is...

Bill

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

yup, but you could always go to shaw and say Tellus is going to give me this for this price, what are you going to do to keep me? I know quite a few people that have done this and gotten very substantial deals in a permant price breaks that made it hard to switch.

I tried that. They offered to drop my monthly bill to $90 and leave me with everything I already had, which I agreed to, but when I called back & talked to someone else, it turned out the first guy LIED and just cut my cable to channels 2 to 28 (instead of up to 58) to get my price down. Lying flat out to me when I asked him several times if I would keep my services in full.

Only when I got totally POed did they offer to give me my internet for $19.99 for the next six months. What they didn't know is that I had one of their pamphlets that Shaw sends out to non-customers offering them $29.95 for internet/cable/digital phone for 6 months (3 months on the phone). So their "DEAL" still stunk compared to Telus' and to what non-Shaw customers are offered. So, yeah, I tried but they LIED then gave me a half-ass offer that comes nowhere close to what I am getting with Telus TV.