After some negotiation with Telus, I picked up a new phone last week and settled on the Razor V3c along with a bluetooth headset. I really like the phone except the battery seems to last barely a day and the belt clip is also poorly designed as you can't take pictures while the clip is attached. But the most disappointing part of this whole process was Telus Client Care. (So yes Andrea, I'm still having trouble “turning it on“)
On the first day of shopping for a new phone, I stepped into the Telus store and explained my situation and even said I would be willing to sign up on a new 3 year contract. But unfortunately, I was told that my contract doesn't expire until 7 months later and they usually can't do anything until it is within 6 months of expiry. I would have to pay the full price of the phone.
Me: If I have to pay the full price, I will be better of switching to another provider.
Telus staff shrugs
Me: Are you sure there is nothing you can do?
Staff: No, I'm sorry.
Me: Should I try phoning Telus directly?
Staff: You can try that.
So I called the Telus Client Care and was told I would qualify for a discount despite having 7 months left in my contract. There are two ways they give discounts:
you can either choose the third year contract price or discount the full cost of the phone by the third year contract price.
I went back to the store and told the same staff member the discount I want and without checking the computer to verify my claims, he hands the phone over. Clearly, there was nothing preventing the staff member to give me the discount in the first place. Why do I have to run around finding the right person to talk to when the staff member had the power to give me the discount? If Telus really did care about their clients, I would have been told of this program on the first day I stepped into the store. Yes, it's nice they have a program like the Telus Client Care but the whole secrecy around it and their lack of real purpose makes it seem like nothing more than a formality. Next time I need a new phone, I'm just going to lie and tell them the discount I am entitled to.
Telus Razor