How are you spending your Sunday funday? Forget about relaxing on the couch binge-watching Netflix, let’s go line up outside a Fido store!
That appears to the case at some Fido retail locations across Metro Vancouver. Ever since Fido launched their $40/4GB plan (to match Virgin—who matched Telus’ Public Mobile $38/4GB plan) for existing users, people are lining up in droves to sign up, as the offer expires tomorrow (it’s only available in BC and Alberta).
iPhone in Canada reader @ClaudeYJL shares this image of the line up at Guildford Town Centre in Surrey:
Here’s another line up outside the Fido store at Metrotown in Burnaby, shared with us by @Justrick2003:
Here’s another view of the Metrotown line up by @Itembox18:
The Fido $40/4GB plan—which goes until tomorrow—is available to new and existing users, in what appears to be a last ditch attempt to prevent customers from jumping ship to the $38/4GB Public Mobile plan, which expires today (people have been lining up for SIM cards in Vancouver and Toronto!).
Someone should tell these people to talk to online chat or go visit a Fido dealer to make changes to their plan. However, some readers have mentioned Fido customer care has been really busy with this plan, with some calls taking hours to complete the switch.
We normally see the ‘Big 3’ making wireless movies in unison, but Telus has played a slick card with Public Mobile’s $38/4GB promo plan. It has caused Rogers/Fido and Bell/Virgin to react accordingly, to the benefit of consumers.
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Big line-ups at Pepper Wireless – 1st Avenue Marketplace (Renfrew and E. 1st Ave)
7:38 pm. Still a lineup at the store. Usually closes by 6:00 pm on Sunday.
Whoa
Thanks Gary for this time and pls don’t forget to give Ontarions a heads up if a deal like this comes through in future from the Big3 ,Fido ,Virgin and Koodo. Thanks !!
Took at 40 minutes on the phone.
Does that include waiting on hold, or was that how long it took after you got hold of someone?
40 minutes of on hold
I’m on hold right now, we’ll see how long it takes. Why do I always leave these things until the last minute?
Been on hold an hour now. The stupid Hula Hoop song just came on for the fourth time. They really need a longer playlist.
lol… I switched as well from $67 max plan… did it via their Twitter support.. I didn’t have time to wait for an hour on phone after I saw ur comment here…
Oh, that works well. I didn’t realize the Twitter support people could do that. I figured they’d just be able to answer questions. I had a live chat window open as well the whole time and it never connected to a sales person. But Twitter would have been ideal, as I would have been able to play my own hold music! 🙂
yes, you can DM @FidoSolutions for any changes in your plan, but it did take them a while to respond as they were crazy busy because of all the craziness.
Finally got through. Was on hold for about an hour and twenty minutes and the total call was just over an hour and a half. The guy I talked to was fantastic though and walked through the switch really well reminding me of the differences in this plan from mine. I thought they’d be resistant to switch me over, but he even asked if I was sure I didn’t want to switch my wife’s phone over as well because it was such a good deal.
This is not available in Ontario?
I don’t get it. You can do this via phone or online chat even if it may take an hour or two, still beats waiting in lines at the mall. Also Bestbuy is right across the street and they wave the activation fee whilst fido stores don’t.
There’s no activation fee to switch plans. This also isn’t an advertised plan, so there’s a good chance Best Buy wouldn’t be able to do it. Is Best Buy even authorized to make changes to existing Fido accounts?
If you’re a new customer, there’s an activation fee and a SIM card fee. Any third-party retailer like Best Buy or Walmart can waive both. Yes, they are authorized to make changes… exact same access as a Fido rep.
Oh, okay. That’s good to know about the changes. Regarding the activation fee, I was under the understanding that this particular deal was for existing customers only, though it looks like some others are saying it’s also for new customers.
It was taking 90 minutes minimum on Saturday… never mind Sunday. Apparently, online chat and calling was closed down at around 9PM not taking any new calls.
Same lineups in Langley at Fido but no one at Virgin so I went with them. As a side note, their website says wifi calling is only available if you are a canada wide unlimited plan (which this one is not…) But it works for me…
Yeah, quite a few went with Virgin on this one.
It is available to NEW customers too. The stores have basically been telling existing customers to change their plan by calling customer care, and they are only signing up new customers at the stores.
For new customers, they will also ask for your existing carrier’s account number too. Just so you know.
Jesus imagine the commission they’re making !
there is the activation fee… which I thought was free before (or during promotional period). Guess some profit can be made from that too.
I hope the Big 3 so called unison and friendship ended for good with this distrusting move by Telus that led Rogers and Bell to react and match which ultimately helped desperate Canadians save a few bucks per month.
Hope this trend continues in our wireless market. They been in bed for far too long now.
Personally, I’m hoping Shaw can do some good things with their Wind purchase. It seems like they’re taking it slow, building out their network. Freedom Mobile looks like it will be decent if they work on their network… and then as time goes on they will have a “Shaw” brand mothership which will benefit early adopters of Freedom mobile.
I been on hold since 435pm Vancouver time and it almost 830pm hate big line up got cut off at 815pm by phone
Do they still offer the callback system?
No, unfortunately not.
Don’t forget Best Buy has access to all providers and rates. Walking in to my local BestBuy in Langley BC and was in and out in 10 min
For real? would have like to try that if I have seem your comment sooner.
They need to bring this to Ontario badly… Whoever does it first.. Jackpot for sure.
Yeah, maybe you just missed the jackpot from Public Mobile.
You’re correct on that matter with PM. I was also referring to fido and Virgin to bring that here. Surprise they didn’t try to ”compete.”
iPhone 8 is out at Fido!