I have to pay for a wireless router that is free to new customers?

Originally Posted by cook1984

I will phone them up and demand one. The cheek of it! Making loyal customers pay. I was thinking of getting Be installed to see what sort of speed I get anyway, I'm that fed up with VM. The traffic shaping is really starting to annoy me.

Can the VM router be set up as just an access point? I already have a wired router that I'm happy with and which is undoubtedly 100x better than the VM one. I just want wifi too...

You are the kind of free loader VM need to get rid just want stuff free and if you don't you stomp your feet and demand stuff or escalate the call to a manager which I tell you from now will not help when you want free things

[TheOne]

What brand is the wireless router there giving away ?
How are people finding it? Is it reliable ?

Originally Posted by cook1984

Just been checking out the VM web site and it looks like I have to pay for a wireless router if I want one (on XL), but if I'm a new customer it's free?

Is that right? Seems like a bit of an insult!

New Customers Only policies are ridiculed/mocked openly by professional companies - but VM is run by a bunch of chimpanzees

It is an insult & blatant comtempt to existing customers - and considering alllllll VM's customers are 'existing' ones it's quite a risk to take with your business - hence why professionals dont do it - it's potentially financial suicide

Originally Posted by Maggy J

...think they should put the loyalty of their long term customers more to the forefront...

Vm don't give a monkeys about existing customers and this is reflected in their prehistoric New Customers Only practices

VM are playing russian roulette with their whole business and they don't realise it - that's why New Customers Only policies points to people that don't know what their business is or who their customers are - it suggests VM have basically lost their way

Originally Posted by darthlinux

I dont get the whole loyalty thing ...

it's not rocket science - it's about "keeping" customers - y'know, so they dont go play with Sky instead

.

Originally Posted by darthlinux

I dont get the whole loyalty thing why should you get free stuff just because you have paid the company for a few years for the service they have provided you with, any ways the router retails around £50 - £60 so your saving money already.

I would suggest you never open your own business with that attitude...What is the point in signing up new customers if your long term customers are bug....deciding to vote with their wallet and go elsewhere and get a possible better service.

Any firm that wants any kind of longevity needs to consider the long term customers from time to time...

The company provide the service the customer pays and uses the service simply as that free loaders is what gets companies in debt, I work in the eviorment where I see this day and day out until you have seen it you dont know how bad it is these days I agree yes exsiting customer do derserve some incentive which the free upgrades of bb speeds are and VM,Telewest,NTL have been know for

[JediMaster]

I phoned retentions the other week for the New "Sweet 16" deal. I asked about wireless router (FREE) & was offered it if I pay postage £7-8. I did not need it but wanted to see if I was able to get it.

Ring up 151 & get to Retentions & they will offer it to you I'm sure.

151 is faults not retentions you need to dial 150 and choose the option for leaving Virgin Media

[icsys]

Originally Posted by v0id

I thought the router remained the property of virginmedia, so how are you saving money?

If the router does remain the property of VM then the £40 charge is effectively payment for technical support.

Personally I would purchase the router from an outlet selling them for under £30 as previously mentioned. It will also not be tied to VM firmware.

Of course those who prefer to have technical support may consider the £40 charge to be reasonable.

[Axegrinder]

Originally Posted by TheOne

What brand is the wireless router there giving away ?
How are people finding it? Is it reliable ?

Its a Netgear WGR614v9, standard 54mbps router.

[moiraf100]

When I upgraded to L BB I phoned a fortnight later and asked for a free one - and got it.
And I've been with them a number of years.

[bonzoe]

A lot of companies eg insurance, offer "come on" deals to new customers, the practice is not restricted to VM.

Just have to watch out for special offers.

[moiraf100]

I must say though, that since replacing my year old D-Link 110 with it, I have had continuous connection and a download speed of never less than 8mb.

[LaineY]

you give people a sandwich with poo on it and they demand extra poo..

its a "you cant win" situation with the public... After all it is us.. who pay for a service which we rightly so should demand to get...

Virgin Media certainly isnt the worst company in the world .. Telewest Blueyonder to me was always fantastic in my mind... it was the NTHELL part of it that made it all DIRE.

I atmitt .. theres alot of problems iv had with them.. but it was generally things that would take time to resolve.. or things that will required waiting to be sent to me etc..

I see your point about the router for existing customers..
iv been with TW VM for erm.. 8-10 years i think... and i DID rec a free router .. which only supported up to 10MB and i was on 20MB..
i eventually gave the router away and found out that VM had introduced a Firmware Update to allow the Router to cope with 20MB lol

[xpod]

I must admit i got one of their routers for the cost of p&p when they first began providing them,even though i never actually needed the thing.In fact i`m quite sure a few people on here did the very same thing if i remember rightly.
I eventually put it on our spare 1Mb line but i never did try it on the 20Mb.

A lot of companies eg insurance, offer "come on" deals to new customers, the practice is not restricted to VM.

The Big Fat Juicy Worm Rate

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

I would suggest you never open your own business with that attitude...What is the point in signing up new customers if your long term customers are bug....deciding to vote with their wallet and go elsewhere and get a possible better service.

Any firm that wants any kind of longevity needs to consider the long term customers from time to time...

I think the point is you could take the router today and leave tomorrow. I do think they should offer the new customers deal if your prepared to be locked in for another 12 months.