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- OddyOh, on 07/07/2008, -5/+199Man, I hope this is true, Rogers should be whacked for their outrageous plans. Also, the Canadian government should never have let Rogers purchase Fido...dunno what on Earth they were thinking. Hmmm, one GSM provider, that sounds good... :(
- Jenadae, on 07/07/2008, -1/+168I wouldn't call this punishment... i'd call it shipping what they expect to sell with the ***** plans offered...
- jeffits420, on 07/07/2008, -8/+169Karma's a bitch. Burn in hell Rogers.
- RogueMountie, on 07/07/2008, -4/+150Boycott Rogers!
- rebotfc, on 07/07/2008, -2/+139"Rogers is also claimed to be promptly firing the part-time staff that had been hired to handle an expected deluge of customers at some stores."
They should fire the moron responsible for the extortionate rates. - smithereensblog, on 07/06/2008, -24/+109Just an FYI that there is also a lively discussion thread from the original submission of the story quoted in AppleInsider. You can join in there too if you like: http://digg.com/apple/Apple_Flips_Rogers_the_Bird_ ...
Disclaimer: The original article appeared on my blog. Just trying to keep as much of the great discussion in one place as possible. - tedrock, on 07/07/2008, -15/+77due to the fan boy reactions Apple knows they aren't going to sell as many phones so they aren't going waste the stock in Canada. better for it to go to Europe.
- mal1964, on 07/07/2008, -7/+61Apple doesn't give a *****, I'm sure its a supply and demand issue. Its all about sales and if you think its not you're living in dream land.
- Steinr, on 07/07/2008, -2/+46dugg you up for the disclaimer. Honesty is the best policy.
- WoollyMittens, on 07/07/2008, -1/+43Monopolies can not be tolerated in capitalism. The system is not designed to work that way. Rogers in Canada and Telstra in Australia are good examples of this.
- binarymelon, on 07/07/2008, -1/+37fan boys of what!?! money?!
- icndvl, on 07/07/2008, -11/+41When companies the size of Rogers and Apple make an agreement, they have this thing called a contract. A contract will dictate the terms of the agreement. If Apple cared about unlimited bandwidth so much they would have included a provision in the contract; they did not (or so would be fair to assume as this would otherwise be legal battle) so they do not care -- any indication otherwise is just a PR move. In fact I would be willing to guess that this whole rumor is a guerrilla PR move from Apple.
Also no one is forcing anyone to buy an iphone, which by any standard is a luxury item. If you wait a while chances are prices will drop due to market forces alone. Its natural for a LIMITED supply product to start at a higher price and then drop over time. Life can continue without an Iphone. - smithereensblog, on 07/07/2008, -3/+30Well it didn't help that Fido was running themselves into the ground, dropping their prices to barely-profitable levels to gain subscribers in an effort to attract a buyer. Rogers successfully made the argument that buying them out was the only way to salvage the business, and the way things were going, they may have been right...
Nonetheless, we need to allow some international GSM competitors into the game and quickly (hopefully the spectrum auction will take care of this.) - cquilliam, on 07/07/2008, -1/+26***** ROGERS
- LogicBomB, on 07/07/2008, -0/+23Canada needs more cell phone competition.
- Wilsomatic, on 07/07/2008, -6/+28Give them fewer shipments of a phone no one will buy from them... that'll teach em.
- mpdid, on 07/07/2008, -0/+21you have pleased the internets.
- inactive, on 07/07/2008, -0/+18yeah. high plan prices will reduce sales of iphones, so apple doesn't want units just sitting on the shelves. it makes sense for them to do it due to the exorbitant plan prices
- Spuy767, on 07/07/2008, -0/+18I'm a fanboi of cash. Every time I hear news coming out of the Federal reserve, I shoot a load in my pants. I also digg down any unfavorable articles about The Bureau of Engraving and Printing that show up on digg.
- jggr, on 07/07/2008, -1/+18The iPhone isn't the monopoly... Rogers is. It's the only GSM game in the country.
- SpecialStyrke, on 07/07/2008, -0/+17Norway also has a big problem with their data plans too. We got like Canada just 1 gigabyte of data. Why hasen't Apple made their carriers give unlimited data for a extra fee? It's rather stupid.
- amjadabbas, on 07/07/2008, -7/+21I HOPE SO.... THESE GREEDY BASTARDS DESERVE THAT!!
- doctordbx, on 07/07/2008, -5/+19Please explain to me how this isn't just "revising projections" as opposed to "punishment"?
If Apple really wanted to punish Rogers, there's be a get out of the deal agreement in the contract I am sure they could execute. The truth is, Steve doesn't care about Canadians. - ButlerMonkey, on 07/07/2008, -0/+13I'd be surprised if Apple didn't have a reaction to the negative press, but if this is true, I can just see Rogers claiming that the Canadian sales of the 3G iPhone on their network is a great success because they sold out faster then expected.
Also, why aren't people bothered by the fact that Apple will only sell this locked with a provider? I still think that was a bad move on Apple part, or at least for consumers. I guess Apple forgot that entire concept "Think Different" campaign they had going a few years back. - Coffeedemon, on 07/07/2008, -3/+16No man. Its Apple showing how much they love us all. They are the bestest company in the whole wide world.
- MarrowMan, on 07/07/2008, -3/+16What did Rogers think would happen? That we'd all just bend over and take it up the ass, while giving fellatio? I don't ***** think so.
- WillyWonka, on 07/07/2008, -0/+11They're just moving them to a location that will buy them. Apple will make more money.
- 2Deluxe, on 07/07/2008, -0/+11.. speak for yourself ;-)
- Azerael, on 07/07/2008, -6/+16You don't *have* to buy an iPhone...
- whiteyMcBrown, on 07/07/2008, -1/+11What makes it worse is that the government won't let other providers from outside of Canada come in and give them competition. AT&T or Sprint can't come here. HBO and Nickelodeon can't come here. The government won't let anyone outside of the government take care of local post, transportation, even liquor... That's right... in Ontario (and I think most of the rest of Canada) the government is our liquor supplier. Prices are about 30% higher than in Quebec, a province where mere shop owners can give each other competition and come to a price. I certainly wouldn't move over something as simple as a phone, but this reminder of how ***** this socialist business is might get me to.
- smacksaw, on 07/07/2008, -3/+12There's too many people making posts like yours, completely and obliviously ignorant to the fact that this isn't a free market, it isn't capitalism and it isn't choice. It's a racket. It's a gov't-sponsored monopoly, and if people don't like it, they have no recourse.
- Morghin, on 07/07/2008, -3/+12Bad press + retarded plan = fewer sales -> (same cash made ->?) less phones needed -> Divert to Europe -> ??? -> Profit!
- freediverx, on 07/07/2008, -0/+9" If you wait a while chances are prices will drop due to market forces alone. Its natural for a LIMITED supply product to start at a higher price and then drop over time. Life can continue without an Iphone."
The price of the iPhone is not the problem. Nobody is complaining about paying $199. The problem is Rogers' ridiculously expensive rate plans, which start as overpriced but are sure to get even more expensive after customers go over their allowed data limits. As Rogers has a virtual monopoly, there are no market forces at play to bring the rates down. - digginamish, on 07/07/2008, -1/+9It's funny to think that Apple would actually manipulate stock availability to punish someone who is overcharging for their products. This begs two questions:
Are the Scandinavian supplies going to be slashed even more for their outrageous plans?
Will Apple punish themselves for all of their pricing history? - kenvsryu, on 07/07/2008, -2/+10rofl sanctioned good one guys. apple is sending it to a market with more demand just to please canadians and not to make money.
- ColinCampbell, on 07/07/2008, -1/+9How thick are you? This is the way markets work. Why can't a company charge whatever they want? Because if companies got to charge what they want, we'd all be paying thousands for everything. It's not about what companies want, it's what companies can charge and what customers are willing to pay for it. Don't blame the customers for wanting the phone but not wanting to pay the price. Many people (and by many I mean the vast majority) have been priced out of the iPhone's market, and people shouldn't be happy about it.
- sirflibble, on 07/07/2008, -4/+11LOL all you people are whinging.. you should see what us Australians have to put up with.
I'm getting a $49 cap on Optus with a Whopping $300 voice call credit and a massive 250MB a month.
The TOP plan is 1GB a month.
http://www.optusiphone.com.au/getdoc/3727f208-955d ... - ZimbuTheMonkey, on 07/07/2008, -0/+7Yeah, that is pretty terrible for you guys. But it doesn't mean we'll quietly put up with slightly less ***** rates just because some other country in the world has it worse.
- DreKor, on 07/07/2008, -0/+7you'd have to be pretty damn flexible for that one.
- ramises, on 07/07/2008, -1/+8Actually, he was.
- punkcat, on 07/07/2008, -0/+7the story is a bit odd but i'd like to believe they are being punished.
- monkeyrun, on 07/07/2008, -0/+7It's just Econ 101 supply and demand.
With price like that, it doesn't take a genius to predict the demand. - diothar, on 07/07/2008, -1/+8Thanks for the disclaimer and for taking the high road.
- MacParrot, on 07/07/2008, -0/+6Apple made an exclusive deal with Rodgers to sell the iPhone in Canada. Just as Motorola, SamSung, RIM, etc make exclusive deals on cell phones expected to be big sellers. Apple has little to no say on what the plans for data will be after the fact. The worst Apple can do is express displeasure by reducing shipments.
This doesn't make Apple any better than Rodgers (or any other tech company you care to name), but Apple in this case sells phones, Rodgers sells access. That's as far as it goes. - czechsmola, on 07/07/2008, -0/+6I wrote a letter to Rogers complaining and this is what they replied.
Dear Filip
In your recent email, you have informed us that you are unhappy with the
pricing for our data packages for the Iphone. You think that the prices
for the plans are too high.
We do apologize for any inconvenience that this has caused you and
understand how this may make you feel.
We do appreciate your feedback because this is very important for Rogers
to hear comments, opinions and suggestions from our Valued Customers.
This feedback is used to create ideas for new products, services,
policies and procedures in the future.
We would like to inform you that each carrier has a different pricing
strategy. Rogers has designed a pricing structure that offers
high-value, flexible voice and data packages so that Canadians can make
the most of their iPhone 3G experience.
The majority of carriers offering iPhone 3G worldwide do not have
unlimited plans for this device. Some carriers have implemented a ?soft
cap? so the plan isn?t truly ?unlimited?. For example, in France the
soft cap is 500MB where we have a plan that includes 4 times that amount
in your bucket. Unlimited plans could end up costing you more for what
you don?t use.
As based on reports that the average usage for the first generation
iPhone was less than 100MB per month, our iPhone 3G plans more than
accommodate the vast majority of customers. Rogers and Fido customers
get 4 times the data on our $60 entry level plan (400 MB) and 20 times
the data on our most comprehensive plan.
Iphone 3G pricing is consistent with our recently announced data
pricing.
By bundling voice, text messages and data, we are able to offer the best
value and lowest pricing compared to our other voice and data options -
saving our customers up to 32%. All iPhone 3G plans include Visual
Voicemail - a value of $8 per month.
We certainly hope that this explains the rational behind our pricing
strategies for the Iphone. Please note that Rogers has specific
regulations and government pricing guidelines to follow and the Iphone
coming has provided us a great opportunity to provide you with
specialized pricing and plans for this phone.
For any further questions or concerns that you may have we encourage you
to make use of our online customer service at any time.
Thank you for choosing Rogers, we appreciate your business.
Regards,
Kathy G.
Rogers Online Customer Service
http://www.rogers.com - mal1964, on 07/07/2008, -0/+6"Rogers is not a great choice for them"
What did they have to choose from? - ZenFu, on 07/07/2008, -2/+8It's doubtful this is true.
After all, if apple WERE doing this, they'd be shipping iPhones with canadian plugs, rogers info on the back of the box and french instructions to the european market (where canadian plugs won't work...and yes, i know france is in europe but they don't count because none of the other EU countries speak french natively). That'd mean more money spent producing (or adding) EU plugs to the boxes and re-stickering them with EU telco info.
This is probably a fanboy rumor (or perhaps clever marketing by rogers) to make the iPhone crowd think rogers got bent over by Apple as punishment for doing the same thing to their consumers. Ergo, come launch day people won't feel so bad about purchasing from rogers cos they'll be thinking that they're sticking it to the man (or something to that effect).
Either way, i call BS.
Oh, and americans/canadians? My heart goes out to you. You guys are truly getting screwed over by the telcos out there. Thankfully, us brits got a pretty decent deal on contracts (i know right? I'm as amazed as y'all are) for the iPhone. Almost covered my screen in coffee when i saw you had to pay for incoming SMSs or take a text plan just to recieve. Now that's really *****. - exgiexpcv, on 07/07/2008, -0/+6Now if only Apple would do the same to AT&T. $20 for texting?!! Get bent.
- jordansampson, on 07/07/2008, -0/+6Does anyone else think giving them LESS units will somehow make DEMAND higher? We know there are people out there who are going to buy the phone no matter what the cost, so this just enables them to somehow justify the price. "Look almost every store sold out with those plans so why change them"
- Zoidberg, on 07/07/2008, -2/+8Less supply = Rogers' spin will claim that there an overwhelming demand for the iPhone, and those petitions were crazy.
It's simple - they are artificially creating a shortage for free PR. Remember the Wii? -
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