Shaw Internet - Magical New Speeds and Lots-o-bandwidth, fickle geeks appeased

[SebC]

Okay, I see that you can get Telus Internet without a contract... but I'm not seeing that option for Telus TV, which means if you want no contract you're looking at the non-bundle price, in which case the value proposition between Shaw and Telus "High-Speed" seems to be similar. 60 GB/mo at 7.5 Mbps (and 12.5 Mbps for files under 10 MB) for Shaw vs. 75 GB/mo at 6.0 Mbps, both $37/mo for Telus.

I can see the rationale for switching, actually.

[Jimmy Stang]

For the Calgary folk, Teksavvy does offer a DSL service for $36/month that gives a 200 gig cap (with a mere $0.25 per gig over - a steal compared to what Shaw wants to charge!). The speed is "up to 6 megs down and 1 meg up", which isn't the most blazing fast internet connection in the world, but for some users it would probably be more than plenty.

I'm envious of Teksavvy's services in Ontario. They've got a cable 15 Mbps down / 1 Mbps up plan (basically Shaw Extreme) with a 200 gig cap for $36, and an unlimited plan for $55.

[macwillions]

too bad

hope ottawa reverses this

election time is coming SO the pc or any party will do almost anything to not pi@@ off the voters.

you see now harper is on the bandwagon...quite smart

[macwillions]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

For the Calgary folk, Teksavvy does offer a DSL service for $36/month that gives a 200 gig cap (with a mere $0.25 per gig over - a steal compared to what Shaw wants to charge!). The speed is "up to 6 megs down and 1 meg up", which isn't the most blazing fast internet connection in the world, but for some users it would probably be more than plenty.

I'm envious of Teksavvy's services in Ontario. They've got a cable 15 Mbps down / 1 Mbps up plan (basically Shaw Extreme) with a 200 gig cap for $36, and an unlimited plan for $55.

must have missed that plan.

could you please post a url to it? thank you!

[SebC]

Originally Posted by macwillions

must have missed that plan.

could you please post a url to it? thank you!

I believe it's the one that's now $100/mo, with a $250 activation fee.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Originally Posted by SebC

Okay, I see that you can get Telus Internet without a contract... but I'm not seeing that option for Telus TV, which means if you want no contract you're looking at the non-bundle price, in which case the value proposition between Shaw and Telus "High-Speed" seems to be similar. 60 GB/mo at 7.5 Mbps (and 12.5 Mbps for files under 10 MB) for Shaw vs. 75 GB/mo at 6.0 Mbps, both $37/mo for Telus.

I can see the rationale for switching, actually.

But now let's look at bundled pricing:

Shaw Basic Digital TV and Shaw Extreme Internet 15mps (100gig cap)
$83.95

Telus Optik TV and Telus Optik High Speed 15mps (125gig cap)
$60

Based on a 3 year contract...First year I only pay $30. First month $15. Optik High Speed is a 2 year contract. My first year will cost me $15 a month for internet, my second year $37 (for 15mps, which is the equivalent to Shaw's Extreme, and that cost $47 a month).

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

The information above is posted 4 months ago, so I'm not sure how much as changed. Also, it doesn't mention Telus Optik. Telus High Speed and so on are different from my understanding because it doesn't come packaged with Telus Optik TV. Also utilizing different technology

http://www.telus.com/content/internet/

Plus if the exceeded limit is true, then $2 per gig would be the same as Shaw. I don't know how that can be worst. If anything, it's the same overage charge.

Shaw charges $2 per GB for Lite Speed and High Speed and $1 per GB for Extreme or better plans. See here for a summary. Again, it is just the first link that popped up, but I assume it wouldn't take much effort to find a Shaw link for that info.

As you can see, that is half as much as the listed Telus plans, although the Telus plans have a slightly higher bandwidth for a comparable plan. Sure they are 4 months old, so if anyone has updated info I would gladly take a look. I had assumed since someone corrected me on the bandwidth caps for the plans earlier, but not the charges per GB over for those plans, that they were correct.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

But now let's look at bundled pricing:

Shaw Basic Digital TV and Shaw Extreme Internet 15mps (100gig cap)
$83.95

Telus Optik TV and Telus Optik High Speed 15mps (125gig cap)
$60

Based on a 3 year contract...First year I only pay $30. First month $15 . Optik High Speed is a 2 year contract. My first year will cost me $15 a month for internet, my second year $37 (for 15mps, which is the equivalent to Shaw's Extreme, and that cost $47 a month).

Where do you get that? Looking at the Telus website, I see $33/month for the first 3 months and $60/month after that...

[KTrain]

I received a "coupon" from Telus yesterday. It offered $15 a month each for Telus Optik high speed, TV and phone for the first year. That's $45 a month for everything. A savings of $100 a month after taxes. $1200 savings in one year is pretty significant.

I am considering it but had a crappy experience with Telus when I used their DSL 7 or 8 years ago.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by KTrain

I received a "coupon" from Telus yesterday. It offered $15 a month each for Telus Optik high speed, TV and phone for the first year. That's $45 a month for everything. A savings of $100 a month after taxes. $1200 savings in one year is pretty significant.

I am considering it but had a crappy experience with Telus when I used their DSL 7 or 8 years ago.

Hmmm, I suppose if I phoned them I could get this deal... I guess I'm willing to sacrifice HD NET for that much of discount...

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by I_H8_Crawford

So, uhhhh... why does the CRTC still exist again?

It seems all they do is be the lap dogs of the incumbent big TelCos, and then get bitch-smacked down by the government when people scream about their BS decisions.

I seriously wouldn't be surprised to find out that CRTC decision-makers receive some nice, lavish "presents" from Bell, Shaw, Rogers, Telus...

Dump the dinosaur, they are USELESS and in fact WASTE our tax money.

I think the ONLY thing that the CRTC has done well is enforce Canadian Content rules. Whether we ought to have them is an entirely different discussion, of course.

As far as being a regulator, the CRTC has been fail for decades. Perhaps things were different back in the late 60's, but their inability to effectively regulate in the best interests of Canadians has been apparent for a long time.

[theonlywhiteout]

Originally Posted by SebC

Okay, I see that you can get Telus Internet without a contract... but I'm not seeing that option for Telus TV, which means if you want no contract you're looking at the non-bundle price, in which case the value proposition between Shaw and Telus "High-Speed" seems to be similar. 60 GB/mo at 7.5 Mbps (and 12.5 Mbps for files under 10 MB) for Shaw vs. 75 GB/mo at 6.0 Mbps, both $37/mo for Telus.

I can see the rationale for switching, actually.

i cant stress this enough, the only thing a contract does for you is give you discounts on pvr or box rentals. the bundle discount is available to you for tv if you have at least phone or adsl with that tv service

[KTrain]

Here's the coupon I received. I cut off the "offer code" in case it actually does something and I decide to use it.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

It is a valid choice. Higher cap (125gigs) and package deal that cost just as much as Shaw's high speed alone. Why wouldn't people switch?

Ping-Ponging every six to twelve months can be a bit of a hassle, but having done so, I bet that I've saved at least $2500 in the past 5 years.

Uber-conservative estimate math (based on my usage)
Regular Services @ 100
Promo Services @ 60
Savings @ 40/mth x 60 mth = $2400

And realistically, I've been saving a lot more than $40 average, and for a lot longer than 5 years. It probably averages closer to $60, for the past 7-10 years. These businesses do everything based on their "Bottom Line".......wtf wouldn't I?

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by KTrain

Here's the coupon I received. I cut off the "offer code" in case it actually does something and I decide to use it.

I have the same offer.......iirc it requires a contract though. Otherwise, a terrific offer. It's basically the same offer Shaw gave me ~8 months ago to lure me back. Methinks it's getting close to ping-pong again.

[VladtheImpaler]

Awesome - thanks, KTrain - switching now.

[Burninator]

Phoned Telus yesterday and they offered me the "win back" pricing. I wasn't a Telus customer before, but told them I am a Shaw customer right now. This was the offer.

Optik TV
Pick your HDTV
$37 for the first 6 months ($75 after)

Optik Internet
High Speed $15 for first year
High Speed Turbo $23 for first year

Home Phone
One feature $15 for first year
Three Features $23 for first year

Pricing had nothing to do with a contract. A contract only got me the HDPVR or Xbox 360.

I am seriously thinking of switching. That's a pretty good deal. I am not sure what to do with my Shaw hardware though (HD PVR and I got a Shaw expander for x-mas). Maybe I'll hold onto it and in a year consider switching back to maximize my savings.

What are the other costs on a Telus bill? Do you have to rent a modem?

[silentsim]

Nah, they include the router/modem (no surcharge). it's an all in one necessary to run Optik TV.

[theonlywhiteout]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

Ping-Ponging every six to twelve months can be a bit of a hassle, but having done so, I bet that I've saved at least $2500 in the past 5 years.

Uber-conservative estimate math (based on my usage)
Regular Services @ 100
Promo Services @ 60
Savings @ 40/mth x 60 mth = $2400

And realistically, I've been saving a lot more than $40 average, and for a lot longer than 5 years. It probably averages closer to $60, for the past 7-10 years. These businesses do everything based on their "Bottom Line".......wtf wouldn't I?

people like you drive me nuts.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by theonlywhiteout

people like you drive me nuts.

Don't take it personally.

I don't believe in spending an entire day driving around, going store to store, and haggling like mad just save a $3.00 on a sweater - that's foolish. But only a true fool would pay $100+ when they could get the same thing for $50.

Whether you're a spendthrift or penny-pincher, it's a big deal. For spendthrifts, that's a half-decent Mexican vacation each and every year. For penny-pinchers like me......$100,000 at retirement. (Age 25 to 65, $50/mth, 6%)