Rogers to add a Tab system

[TorontoColin]

Here’s the deal. According to the internal doc we received it states that effective today, May 17th, the Device Savings Recovery Fee (DSRF) and Additional Device Savings Recovery Fee (ADSRF) are thankfully being renamed to “Rogers FLEXtab.” Rogers will now allow customers to pay off their FLEXtab balance at any time and is based on the same calculations as the previous upgrade process. Once your balance is paid off you can stay with your current device on a month-to-month plan, or decide to upgrade to a new device with a contract. Rogers notes that “FLEXtab applies to customers who have activated or upgraded as of January 22nd, 2012 (or June 30, 2010 for Quebec customers).” Here’s the calculation:

FlexTab Balance = (MTM Device Price – FlexTab Term Price) / (FlexTab Term Length in Months) X (Months Remaining In Term).

From MobileSyrup

This is essentially just renaming their old system.

[cafebrad]

i am curious about how this works for 'sales'. say the gs3 is 159 on term but goes on sale for 0 dollars on contract. Does rogers really knock 159 of the price and contract or do i pay it all out eventually on the term or 'flextab'.
Is it possible they are just rolling the 'savings' into the eventual payout?

[JamesK]

^^^^
You can be certain you're paying for it in one way or another. Compare the plans you get with the phone with what may otherwise be available. I have never had a plan tied to a phone purchase and my plans have generally cost less, especially over the long haul. For example, I have twice taken advantage of plans that gave me far more data than is included with a "free" phone plan. I currently am on a plan that was on special a couple of months ago. I have 6 GB of data, 200 weekday minutes & unlimited evening & weekends, unlimited texting and the My10 list all for $60/month or $51 after 15% bundle discount. Compare that with any of the plans that qualify for that phone.

[yyzlhr]

Originally Posted by cafebrad

i am curious about how this works for 'sales'. say the gs3 is 159 on term but goes on sale for 0 dollars on contract. Does rogers really knock 159 of the price and contract or do i pay it all out eventually on the term or 'flextab'.
Is it possible they are just rolling the 'savings' into the eventual payout?

It depends. If Rogers officially reduces the price to zero dollars for ALL distribution channels, then that extra $159 will be added to your flextab balance. Occasionally the retail division may have sales on certain devices, but all other divisions of the company are selling the phone at regular price. In that case, the savings will not be added to the flextab balance if you choose to purchase the device from retailers. 3rd party dealers are also free to discount the phones at their discretion and the additional discount will not be added to your flextab balance.

[cafebrad]

So i guess it might be a better deal to go through future shop or best buy or whoever retail wise if it is on sale from them but not rogers. That way the discount is 'real'?
although it might be good to go thru retention dept at rogers to work a deal as well.

[yyzlhr]

Correct if a retailer is running a sale, the discount is coming out of their operating budget and not Rogers budget. Therefore, the additional savings are not added to your flextab balance.

[cafebrad]

this is what i wanted to hear.