Switching Cable Suppliers, who do YOU recommend. - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Gundo · 02-20-2012, 04:23 PM

I have been a BellTV customer for about 5 years and after dealing with another service black out due to the "huge" snow fall we got last night Im done with them not to mention the $125 monthly bill AFTER the 20% they give me off. I know we have Telus & Shaw threads but I'm looking for what you guys are using and if you would recommend them to someone else.

I currently have a Telus phone and Internet so in theory I could bundle everything up and save some coin. If I did go to Shaw for TV I would leave my internet with Telus since my wife has her business email tied to Telus.

So what supplier do you have and would you recommend them?

RW99 · 02-20-2012, 06:53 PM

But seriously, it's a roll of the dice between them. You wont have to worry about weather with the other ones, but be prepared for otherwise messed up product, service or billing.

Cecil Terwilliger · 02-20-2012, 06:55 PM

Just curious where you live? I was with Bell here in Calgary for about 5 years, maybe more, and had maybe 5 hours of blackouts in that entire 5 year stretch.

IMO Telus is an inferior version of Bell (overall) that is cheap for the 1st year and then completely outrageous after that.

Shaw is the redheaded stepchild of the three but I'm unfamiliar with the new EXO system. I think that's what it's called. With up to 6 HD streams.

metallicat · 02-20-2012, 06:58 PM

And here I am wanting out of Shaw, and into Bell. I wish the websites for the providers would make it simple to find out how much your bill would be. Have a list of all available programming options, and let us check which ones we want to see the total cost. It can't be that hard. We shouldn't have to call a customer service agent for info like that.

GreatWhiteEbola · 02-20-2012, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

And here I am wanting out of Shaw, and into Bell. I wish the websites for the providers would make it simple to find out how much your bill would be. Have a list of all available programming options, and let us check which ones we want to see the total cost. It can't be that hard. We shouldn't have to call a customer service agent for info like that.

This works well...https://shawpersonalizer.ca/...but you won't be needing it.

PsnaP · 02-20-2012, 07:37 PM

I would go with TELUS. But, Im a little biased.

ken0042 · 02-20-2012, 08:34 PM

Watched the Flames game at a friend's house on Saturday; and he is on Telus. If I was leaving Bell it would be for Shaw; for picture quality. Shaw has also been sending out stuff to former subscribers- one thing that got me attention was a "best of HD" package. It had almost every channel I watch.

ricoFlame · 02-20-2012, 08:41 PM

you really need to go adjust your dish...we've had bell since 2005 and I can think of twice where we lost service (and one was when the neighbours tree grew into the dish path). If the dish is set up properly, you'll have to work to lose the signal.

My parents had the same issue, a thick frost would throw off their service...we went up and adjusted the dish until the signal strength was 92% and they haven't has an issue since.

The billing, that's understandable...$120 is too much.

All the best!

Russic · 02-20-2012, 10:48 PM

I know people rip on Shaw, but I've enjoyed my time with them. The customer service experience over the past 6 months has been pretty damn awful, but they are working to improve it. The website is actually really strong for finding out what your bill would be (as mentioned by GreatWhiteEbola) https://shawpersonalizer.ca/.

psicodude · 02-21-2012, 12:12 AM

I would put my effort into getting your problem fixed, rather than switching, as they all have serious issues. I have had Bell for years, and the only time I ever lose signal is when it's hailing out. Tell them to cover the cost of sending a technician or you are out. If they choose not to, then it's their own fault for being stupid. I know I wouldn't have any qualms leaving a company that cares so little about retaining customers.

My job has actually afforded me the opportunity to work with Shaw employees a little lately, and I honestly get the impression that they know they suck and are really putting in some effort to improve things. I think with a company of that size though, real change moves at a glacial pace.

cKy · 02-21-2012, 01:38 AM

For all the years and massive snow dumps we had while living in Calgary - rarely did my dish go out (Bell and good old FTA). I agree with Rico in making sure your dish is perfectly aligned. If you have close friends or relatives on Bell (or looking to get into bell) - get them to piggy back off your account. You can have up to 6 receivers on one account, the only caveat being that the receivers have to be purchased and not rented - Bammo - you just cut your bill in half!

Rathji · 02-21-2012, 05:38 AM

If you would be bundling, I would say Shaw in a heartbeat, but the need to keep Telus internet means you would probably save a bit more money bundling through them. As has been mentioned, they are super cheap up front but will be more expensive than all other options once your 1 year period expires. I still think you end up saving a little bit over the 3 year contract.

I really like the Shaw Gateway system, but for you it might end up being a little bit more in the long run, depending on the channel packages you need. For reference, I saved my mom over $40 a month switching to Shaw from Bell while adding a landline and increasing her internet speeds. Her Bell was $120 (her 20% discount expired) and Shaw internet was $52. Now, including her equipment Easy Own payments, she is paying about $130 for all 3 services, using the personalizer.

GP_Matt · 02-21-2012, 10:11 AM

A bit OT but I think this is a great example why you should never tie your email address to your ISP. A lot of people do this, especially with small businesses and you are effectively locked into one provider for life or you have to go through the hassle of switching and re branding everything.

Nammer403 · 02-21-2012, 10:19 AM

Ive been with Shaw for my cable provider for quite some time now so Id recommend them, I am with Telus for internet/phone and we are getting such a killer price for internet for both it would be logical to bundle everything together but from using Telus at friends/family houses i find that telus is a bit slower when loading stuff from the PVR and the picture quality on shaw is a bit more clear

Flames Draft Watcher · 02-21-2012, 10:22 AM

I plan on continuously switching between the companies to take advantage of the cheap rates for the first 6 months to 1 year. Just had 6 months of cheap Shaw at ~$35 a month for cable and internet. Now trying to switch to Telus for ~$45 a month for a year for cable/internet. If you wanna do that just make sure you don't sign a contract and get their free tablet or laptop!

sclitheroe · 02-21-2012, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GP_Matt

A bit OT but I think this is a great example why you should never tie your email address to your ISP. A lot of people do this, especially with small businesses and you are effectively locked into one provider for life or you have to go through the hassle of switching and re branding everything.

I think it also looks really poor from an optics perspective - I'd almost always go with a business that secured their own domain name and email services rather than joes_aluminum_siding22@gmail/hotmail/yahoo/telus.com, all other things being equal.

malcolmk14 · 02-21-2012, 01:36 PM

I've had a better experience personally with Telus but I think Shaw has the better product.

GoinAllTheWay · 02-22-2012, 04:20 PM

Biased....but I'd go with Shaw. Never had a problem with thier product or service. My experience is Shaw is VERY fair with their hardware and prices. I honestly don't think you can beat them in terms of internet. Compared Optic TV to the Gateway system, I like the picture on the Gateway system more. AND you don't have to sign any kind of contract with Shaw, that's a big plus for me. Ironic as I've been with them for years now so it wouldn't have made much difference if I did have to sign one with them but the freedom is valuable to me.

So based on that last part alone, try Shaw. If you don't like them you can easily switch to Telus without having to worry about paying out a contract.

kermitology · 02-22-2012, 04:42 PM

I may be an employee of Shaw, but my hatred of Telus is actually unrelated, and knows no bounds. I've been screwed by that company in every way outside of TV services because I swore off of them before that debuted. My opinion is that Telus customers are just waiting to be screwed by them at some point.

Those #######s still have $15 of mine.

I was with Bell for 3 years before getting my employee rate with Shaw, and I had zero issues with them, aside from how they didn't really seem to get why I was cancelling and I had to talk to a manager to get them to stop calling trying to bring me back to Bell.

Shaw's internet reigns supreme, pretty much in North America as far as I can tell. The speed and service is unparalleled.

TV services are probably on par with Bell, slightly better than Telus, and I keep hearing issues with quality on Optik. Shaw's HD capacity is going to be pretty slick with reduced analog channels.

And yes.. improving customer service is a paramount task right now. We're trying to make sure our CSR/TSR teams are aware of all the apps we're providing so we don't mess generate a tonne of calls into the call centre.

Vulcan · 02-23-2012, 03:12 PM

If you already have Shaw internet {whoops just noticed you don't but maybe you can get a deal with both internet and TV cheaper than TV alone, even if you don't use their net}, and you plan to switch to Shaw TV, I 'd try for a deal from Shaw. I have Shaw net and Bell TV and Shaw phoned me and offered a deal where I get Shaw Extreme and Shaw TV with a HD box for $39/mo. for a year. I took the deal since I save $20/mo. on internet alone but I hardly bother watching Shaw TV since I'm happy with Bell and my 3 PVRs. This isn't the latest box from Shaw so their new systems may be a lot better but going to the Shaw Pvr and remote is like stepping back ten years. It's clunky.

As for losing picture on Bell, where I live I lose my internet connection more often than I lose my Bell TV connection. If you can, put your dish near your porch where you can sweep it off easily when it snows. Sometimes the cables can get water in them which can cause problems when it rains hard and or freezes. If this is the case you need to replace the faulty cable.