Shaw $5 Purchased Modem Discount - Page 2 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

envirogeek · 2011-06-10, 01:14 PM

The question of the "Purchased Modem Discount" has come up in some of the other threads as part of the pricing discussion on the new packages.

It is clear that this has been a billing fiction for quite a while now, and that the right thing for Shaw to do would be to credit to customers who had purchased their modems the value of the purchase.

Here is a portion of a log from a live chat I had recently with a Shaw CSR, some unrelated questions before and after the "purchased modem" part of the discussion have been deleted.
--------------------------------------------

(me) (16:16:28):
If I go to Extreme only, will I actually get the "Purchased Modem Discount"?

(Shaw CSR) (16:16:37):
Yes.
(Shaw CSR) (16:16:46):
But the $59 already factors that in

(me) (16:17:16):
That is the reason I checked... the 59.00 is what is advertised to anyone.
(me) (16:17:43):
Will Shaw credit me back the 60.00 I paid for my modem, which was supposed to get me a discount?

(Shaw CSR) (16:20:36):
One second (me) while I review your account details.
(Shaw CSR) (16:22:32):
Thanks for waiting (me). I can verify that purchasing a modem previously did give you an extra discount of $5 a month; however, that offer was later extended to include those that simply had our internet services

(me) (16:24:57):
I don't understand your reply. Is there still such as thing as a "Purchased Modem Discount" or not? If I change my services to internet only, which is advertised at 59.00 per month with no other bundled services, will I pay 59.00 plus tax, or 54.00 plus tax?

(Shaw CSR) (16:26:43):
It will be $59 + Tax. There was a purchased modem discount a few years ago; however, this year, we included the discount to include those that simply had internet services with us. The $5 discount is now applied to all customers that have internet services with us. So all prices that you see now factor that in, meaning you will not receive an extra $5 off.

bowmah · 2011-08-08, 03:36 AM

It's no use to fight this. Shaw says they no longer charge the $5 for modem rental and for anyone who previosuly purchased it, your overall bill will be $5 more, then subtracted $5 to make it look like you have a discount. BUT... you will be paying the same amount as they person who did not purchase the modem. Shaw's answer (with 3 separate reps at 3 different times) = you are getting the $5 discount. It says so right on the bill. Not going to win this one I am afraid. Shaw's only response now is that you can keep the modem when you disconnect the service - as if this is going to make things right.

dabell · 2011-08-08, 10:23 AM

I should just sell my modem (if a buyer was out there - $20? - doubtful) - and then shaw can provide me a free one like they do for other customers.

bowmah · 2011-08-08, 12:06 PM

I do see a few of them listed on Craigslist now but do people really buy these? Why wouldn't they just get a free one from Shaw? Curious.

cslusarc · 2011-08-14, 06:04 PM

I think that we need to form a Class Action law suit that Shaw is charging each and every customer with cusotmer owned modems.

Flash604 · 2011-08-14, 06:38 PM

I'm confused what everyone is complaining about. I too bought my modem years ago, and overall I saved money with the number of months I did get a $5 discount that renters did not get. Is there anyone out there that just purchased the modem within the past few months and therefore spent extra money over not purchasing it? Or, as I assume, did everyone who bought the modem save money overall by making that purchase?

Shaw Champ · 2011-08-14, 09:27 PM

@Flash604 - Shaw stopped selling the standalone moto modem years ago. When it stopped selling the modem it started giving away free rentals instead.

One would of received their monies work out of purchasing a modem in the space of a year between Shaw selling and then giving free rentals out. More importantly there was a period of over 7 years when free rentals were not given when the only option was to purchase a modem thus those that purchased a long time ago would of equally received their monies worth. There is a actually a difference on the way the bill is printed coming out over the next few months to hopefully solve confusion as personally I agree if it was worded differently they I think there would be less frustration. I'll also add in that when Shaw sold the modems they were at $60 years and years ago. For example Teksavvy require a purchase of same modem for $85+$10 shipping on some plans today. (nothing against Teksavvy they are a great company - just pointing out value for money in modem costings) Warranty wise is 3 years or lifetime with all 3 services. We will also look after your investment by replacing it with similar or better model if ever it broke.

Flash604 · 2011-08-14, 10:14 PM

Thanks Shaw Champ, that's about what I figured. For myself I got great value as I purchased it 8 years ago for $30, and then got Shaw to trade it no charge for a better modem when I upgraded to Extreme a few years ago. Well I realize that some will have barely benefited compared to me, from what you describe everyone did end up spending less in the end. Deals and offers will change, and so I don't know why so many are upset. I could understand if you bought the modem for $60 and then only received 6 months of being billed $5 less than others that you would have a legitimate beef; but if you got more out of the deal than you paid for it then I don't understand what the issue is if the deal is no longer available.

alejandra · 2011-12-15, 03:19 PM

The thing is Shaw does not tell every subscriber on the bill that the $5 discount is no longer available for those who bought the modem.

DSgamby · 2011-12-15, 03:30 PM

Not true. I still get the discount.

alejandra · 2012-01-10, 06:32 AM

The discount is not there anymore?

DSgamby · 2012-01-10, 07:09 AM

It is still there.

LD500 · 2012-01-10, 07:29 PM

Wonder if there was some slip up in the original wording when they offered the $5 discount for non-renters of the modem. Maybe they can't get out of it now so instead they move up the pricing and still officially offer the $5 discount. Of course that seems to be tricky wording since most reading their bill would think they are indeed saving $5 for having paid up front for the modem instead of renting.

That's just a guess. Or maybe with Shaw's accounting system it was far easier to adjust prices this way rather than mess with each of the custom priced plans in there.

I find their invoices the opposite of my Telus cell plan. Telus puts so many additions and subtractions that you have no idea how to compare prices. Shaw dumbs it down so much you have no idea how to save a few dollars by cutting out some channels.
I am guessing these companies put significant effort into deciding how their invoice information could affect future purchase decisions.

alejandra · 2012-01-21, 02:08 AM

I was checking the bill. They removed the $5 modem discount, and at the same time reduced high speed internet price by $5 to from $52 to $47. So it looked like nothing changed for 1 or 2 months.

Then later they jacked up high speed internet price by $5. Now the net effect is that the modem discount is no longer there.

DSgamby · 2012-01-21, 09:28 AM

Looking at my bill. I still have the modem discount. I don't have a separate line for Internet. It is joined with my Classic Digital/Movies package.

2011-06-10, 01:14 PM	#16
envirogeek Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Calgary - Shaw phone & internet, 4 bay OTA in attic / Pigeon Lake - CCI Wireless, 8 bay OTA on roof Posts: 532	Modem "discount" and new packages The question of the "Purchased Modem Discount" has come up in some of the other threads as part of the pricing discussion on the new packages. It is clear that this has been a billing fiction for quite a while now, and that the right thing for Shaw to do would be to credit to customers who had purchased their modems the value of the purchase. Here is a portion of a log from a live chat I had recently with a Shaw CSR, some unrelated questions before and after the "purchased modem" part of the discussion have been deleted. -------------------------------------------- (me) (16:16:28): If I go to Extreme only, will I actually get the "Purchased Modem Discount"? (Shaw CSR) (16:16:37): Yes. (Shaw CSR) (16:16:46): But the $59 already factors that in (me) (16:17:16): That is the reason I checked... the 59.00 is what is advertised to anyone. (me) (16:17:43): Will Shaw credit me back the 60.00 I paid for my modem, which was supposed to get me a discount? (Shaw CSR) (16:20:36): One second (me) while I review your account details. (Shaw CSR) (16:22:32): Thanks for waiting (me). I can verify that purchasing a modem previously did give you an extra discount of $5 a month; however, that offer was later extended to include those that simply had our internet services (me) (16:24:57): I don't understand your reply. Is there still such as thing as a "Purchased Modem Discount" or not? If I change my services to internet only, which is advertised at 59.00 per month with no other bundled services, will I pay 59.00 plus tax, or 54.00 plus tax? (Shaw CSR) (16:26:43): It will be $59 + Tax. There was a purchased modem discount a few years ago; however, this year, we included the discount to include those that simply had internet services with us. The $5 discount is now applied to all customers that have internet services with us. So all prices that you see now factor that in, meaning you will not receive an extra $5 off.

2011-08-14, 09:27 PM	#22
Shaw Champ Join Date: May 2010 Location: AB. LG47"LE5500/Toshiba 32E200U /BDC6500/ Shaw Gateway Posts: 823	@Flash604 - Shaw stopped selling the standalone moto modem years ago. When it stopped selling the modem it started giving away free rentals instead. One would of received their monies work out of purchasing a modem in the space of a year between Shaw selling and then giving free rentals out. More importantly there was a period of over 7 years when free rentals were not given when the only option was to purchase a modem thus those that purchased a long time ago would of equally received their monies worth. There is a actually a difference on the way the bill is printed coming out over the next few months to hopefully solve confusion as personally I agree if it was worded differently they I think there would be less frustration. I'll also add in that when Shaw sold the modems they were at $60 years and years ago. For example Teksavvy require a purchase of same modem for $85+$10 shipping on some plans today. (nothing against Teksavvy they are a great company - just pointing out value for money in modem costings) Warranty wise is 3 years or lifetime with all 3 services. We will also look after your investment by replacing it with similar or better model if ever it broke. __________________ Shaw Employee, Opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.

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2011-08-08, 03:36 AM	#17
bowmah Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 530	It's no use to fight this. Shaw says they no longer charge the $5 for modem rental and for anyone who previosuly purchased it, your overall bill will be $5 more, then subtracted $5 to make it look like you have a discount. BUT... you will be paying the same amount as they person who did not purchase the modem. Shaw's answer (with 3 separate reps at 3 different times) = you are getting the $5 discount. It says so right on the bill. Not going to win this one I am afraid. Shaw's only response now is that you can keep the modem when you disconnect the service - as if this is going to make things right.

2011-08-08, 10:23 AM	#18
dabell Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sooke,BC Posts: 621	I should just sell my modem (if a buyer was out there - $20? - doubtful) - and then shaw can provide me a free one like they do for other customers.

2011-08-08, 12:06 PM	#19
bowmah Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 530	I do see a few of them listed on Craigslist now but do people really buy these? Why wouldn't they just get a free one from Shaw? Curious.

2011-08-14, 06:04 PM	#20
cslusarc Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 307	I think that we need to form a Class Action law suit that Shaw is charging each and every customer with cusotmer owned modems.

2011-08-14, 06:38 PM	#21
Flash604 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Abbotsford, BC Posts: 162	I'm confused what everyone is complaining about. I too bought my modem years ago, and overall I saved money with the number of months I did get a $5 discount that renters did not get. Is there anyone out there that just purchased the modem within the past few months and therefore spent extra money over not purchasing it? Or, as I assume, did everyone who bought the modem save money overall by making that purchase?

2011-08-14, 10:14 PM	#23
Flash604 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Abbotsford, BC Posts: 162	Thanks Shaw Champ, that's about what I figured. For myself I got great value as I purchased it 8 years ago for $30, and then got Shaw to trade it no charge for a better modem when I upgraded to Extreme a few years ago. Well I realize that some will have barely benefited compared to me, from what you describe everyone did end up spending less in the end. Deals and offers will change, and so I don't know why so many are upset. I could understand if you bought the modem for $60 and then only received 6 months of being billed $5 less than others that you would have a legitimate beef; but if you got more out of the deal than you paid for it then I don't understand what the issue is if the deal is no longer available.

2011-12-15, 03:19 PM	#24
alejandra Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 45	The thing is Shaw does not tell every subscriber on the bill that the $5 discount is no longer available for those who bought the modem.

2011-12-15, 03:30 PM	#25
DSgamby Veteran Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario Posts: 3,895	Not true. I still get the discount.

2012-01-10, 06:32 AM	#26
alejandra Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 45	The discount is not there anymore?

2012-01-10, 07:09 AM	#27
DSgamby Veteran Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario Posts: 3,895	It is still there.

2012-01-10, 07:29 PM	#28
LD500 Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 114	Wonder if there was some slip up in the original wording when they offered the $5 discount for non-renters of the modem. Maybe they can't get out of it now so instead they move up the pricing and still officially offer the $5 discount. Of course that seems to be tricky wording since most reading their bill would think they are indeed saving $5 for having paid up front for the modem instead of renting. That's just a guess. Or maybe with Shaw's accounting system it was far easier to adjust prices this way rather than mess with each of the custom priced plans in there. I find their invoices the opposite of my Telus cell plan. Telus puts so many additions and subtractions that you have no idea how to compare prices. Shaw dumbs it down so much you have no idea how to save a few dollars by cutting out some channels. I am guessing these companies put significant effort into deciding how their invoice information could affect future purchase decisions.

2012-01-21, 02:08 AM	#29
alejandra Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 45	I was checking the bill. They removed the $5 modem discount, and at the same time reduced high speed internet price by $5 to from $52 to $47. So it looked like nothing changed for 1 or 2 months. Then later they jacked up high speed internet price by $5. Now the net effect is that the modem discount is no longer there.

2012-01-21, 09:28 AM	#30
DSgamby Veteran Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario Posts: 3,895	Looking at my bill. I still have the modem discount. I don't have a separate line for Internet. It is joined with my Classic Digital/Movies package.