[99gecko]

I believe the notice stated effective March 1st and I believe mine will be increasing from $3 to $4: only a dollar more but it is still an increase of 66%.

Rogers has offered the ability to purchase your own modem for many years, but for a couple of reasons I haven't done so.

What strikes me as ironic, is that they have the audacity to increase the rent on a depreciated piece of hardware. It is as if they are saying, it is costing us more and more to maintain your antiquated hardware on our more current network.

As if....

/rant

 

[Eluder]

So then buy the modem.
I bought my SB5120 many many years ago for $100 and it saved me years of rentals and never had any issues...
I only recently retired it because I moved to the Ultimate package which required a Docsis 3.0 modem.

 

[99gecko]

Really I'm not too concerned about the extra $1. It is the concept they will increase the rental on something that has depreciated that I find ironic.

One of the reasons I haven't bought is that I have been looking for a great opportunity to leave Rogers, completely. Every time I do, Retentions has found another "option" to save money. Buying a modem always seemed as another step towards binding myself to Rogers.

Now that there is the possibility of Teksavvy (cable) coming to east Markham, I am more inclined to purchase a modem that will work on their network.

 

[hugh]

New SB6120 DOCSIS 3.0 modem is about $100 so rental payback for a consumer is about 25 months.

 

[sailmaker]

This is the old money maker used by Bell Caada back in the dark ages when they had the only game in town. You rented that one black phone hanging on the kitchen wall. Same story with electric and gas companies rental hot water heaters. Heater gets older, monthly fee goes up and yes it is not the increase, it is the concept of charging more for older equipment. And again yes, you can buy the heaters. That is not the real point of the initial poster.

 

[hugh]

Equipment rentals occur in many business and yes they are money makers but what is wrong with that? Companies have to make money. At least you have a choice to buy or rent.

 

[ScaryBob]

I wouldn't rent a modem. Payback on purchasing is typically about a year or two. In that time, it's usually covered by warranty so rental has no advantage. I am basing my estimate on a resale value of $25-$50 for a used $100 modem. Anything past the break even point is savings.

 

[57]

So, if you're thinking of leaving a company in less than 2 years, rent, but if you're likely to stay, then you should purchase. Same goes for STBs, PVRs, etc.

I know I've saved many thousands of $, not just hundreds, by buying my equipment - even if there is the occasional repair or replacement required.

I agree that it's odd to increase the rental on a piece of equipment that's probably already paid for itself, rather than say having the increase only affect new users...

$3 to $4: only a dollar more but it is still an increase of 66%.

Nope, 33%

 

[hugh]

I agree that it's odd to increase the rental on a piece of equipment that's probably already paid for itself, rather than say having the increase only affect new users...

+1. In defense of Rogers though, I'll bet many rental modems are recycled through users and that costs a lot of money to administer.

 

[csks]

New SB6120 DOCSIS 3.0 modem is about $100 so rental payback for a consumer is about 25 months.

Isn't SMC the only DOCSIS 3.0 modem that Rogers officially supports?

 

[hugh]

Officially perhaps but the 6120 does work on the Rogers system since that is what Teksavvy sells. I simply used that model as an illustration of what a modem would cost to buy vs. rent.

 

[mrvanwinkles]

So if they're going to increase the rental fee on your modem by 66%, then a couple possible strategies might be:

1. Research very well ...and inform yourself what are the best most up to date modems offered by Rogers. If your modem can be "upgraded", request that from Rogers at this time.

[ If they're gonna charge more for rental ... request the best, and request that ROGERS upgrade your modem for you now - at no charge to you. ]

2. Search around and see if you can buy a "good" used modem on the market, compatible with Rogers's network. If you can lower your purchase cost for a good modem ... then the payback time will be much shorter - and stop paying the ROGERS modem rental fee at all.

[ We did something similar with the phones, when Bell was charging the rental. It reached a point were there were many old fashioned, bullet proof, reliable phones on the market, for really cheap. So we bought half a dozen, and wired up the whole house with jacks everywhere, and put phones everywhere convenient - and then gave the BELL RENTAL FEE the BOOT. ]

Careful though - if you have your own equipment w/no rental charge - the next game the Telco's play - when you have a problem - they say to you "sorry, your modem is the problem, and we're not going to support you, or help you with your issue".

Then it becomes a back and forth pissing match with the Telco - trying to get tech support - trying to prove or disprove who's equipment or facilities (cables / network) are at fault.

Telco: "Your modem is the problem Sir ... and until you can prove differently to us ... we're not going any furthur with your issue. Bye bye now Sir ... have a nice day. We're closing your trouble ticket now."

( The Telco's can be real difficult and stubborn when they get you into this kind of pissing match. They do it amoungst themselves too ... Telco to Telco. They can be real p. r. k. s. like that. )

 

[57]

A simple way around that is to purchase the modem from Rogers for about $100. It may be a bit more than you can get elsewhere, however, it saves the finger pointing and also saves the rental charge. Years ago the modem rental was "free" with Rogers. As soon as they wished to charge, I purchased.

 

[congo]

A few years back, I bought my Motorola SB5100 from a person in the US on Ebay. After all the associated costs, I only saved a few dollars over buying from Rogers. I sent back my Rogers rental.

When I took my new modem to Rogers to have it authorized, they couldn't find it in their system. I guess they have all of their modems that would have sold at Best Buy or Future Shop registered in their system. So the guy had to call someone and it took a bit to get it in the system. I thought I was going to be SOL and I wouldn't be able to use. They finally got it registered. It ended up dying but I got it replaced by Motorola on warranty. Back to Rogers with it and again, it took a bit to get it authorized.

Is this still a problem today or can I buy any modem outside of Rogers that they would normally rent and get it authorized?

Thanks,
Congo

 

[57]

This is not the thread for that topic really. There are several previous threads:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=126675&highlight=purchas*+rogers+modem

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?p=995812#post995812

It also depends on which service you want and it usually isn't worth the hassle to save a few $.

 

[ScaryBob]

So, if you're thinking of leaving a company in less than 2 years, rent, but if you're likely to stay, then you should purchase.

I would say one year. A one year old modem should be worth $50 so that would be the break even point. If they have a longer warranty, such as 2 or 3 years, it would be foolish not to purchase as this decreases long term cost and increases the resale value.

 

[mrvanwinkles]

it usually isn't worth the hassle to save a few $.

Ya, true ... typically it's not worth the hassle ... for the amount of money we're talking about here. And the possible compatibility issues, and difficulty of the Telco to set up their system to use your own modem.

But then the Telco's play another game:
Now that you've purchased, and laid out the investment to buy the modem... then they "obsolete" your equipment.

Telco: "Sir, your equipment needs to be upgraded ... otherwise it won't work properly with the new technology, features and products that we're migrating our systems to ... so uhhh ya ... Sir, by the way Sir, the "plan" or "product" or "features" you have now, will no longer be offered in a couple of months, so you MUST purchase or rent a new compatible modem by such and such a date ... and be migrated with everyone else, otherwise you will lose service, or functionality ... a letter will be going out by such and such a date ... just wanted to let you know Sir ... have a nice day Sir."

Change is the only constant in the industry.

I wonder sometimes ... snake oil.

 

[apn]

Ah yes, the annually scheduled screw-tightening for Robbers customers. Looking at their web page shows that it's accross the board; home phone, mobility, internet and cable customers will equally share the joy.

Interesting that they held the line on internet pricing, but jacked up the modem rentals.

Still, I have my $79 no-tax/free-shipping SB6120 in hand, waiting to jump off the red bandwagon to TSI cable. Factoring-in next year's hike, I figure I'll be free and clear inside of 18 months

 

[hugh]

so if they're going to increase the rental fee on your modem by 66%

$4 - $3 = $1.

$1/$3 = 33% not 66%.

 

[99gecko]

Nope, 33%

$4 - $3 = $1.

$1/$3 = 33% not 66%.

Only a 33% increase? Maybe it's not so bad after all. Are you guys sure you're not working for Rogers Retentions? .... Yes, yesterday was a bad math day for 99gecko. I apologize if my OP caused someone suffering an equally math-challenged day to run out and cancel their service!

Anyway, I found the actual insert and here is the new rates, effective March 1st (Rental | Purchase):
Standard: $4.00 | $99.95
Wireless G: $5.50 | $149.95
Wireless N: $7.00 | $199.95

For the time being, I will keep renting until such time that an alternate provider (cable) is available and evaluated.