Buyer beware
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Free technology deals may get you less than you paid for
by MICHAEL CITROME
Getting something for nothing is the holy grail of the consumer. Savvy shoppers can hit on a few good deals when it comes to technological toys, just keep in mind that getting something for free doesn't mean it won't cost you anything. There are always strings attached.
Free mobile phone
What you're promised: A free mobile handset and often some extras, like a leather case, car adapter or hands-free kit.
What you really get: The old get-a-phone-free trick has been running for a long time--how many people do you know who actually paid for their phone?
But the massive popularity of prepaid mobile phones has resulted in deals that give you free airtime when you buy a phone, rather than the usual get-a-phone-with-a-contract deal we've grown accustomed to.
Shop around for a pay-per-use package and you can pick up a good phone with a lot of airtime included. But be careful--while it may look like you're getting hours of talk time, prepaid minutes often have to be used within 30-60 days, leaving you with only a month to use up those 300 minutes.
The bottom line: Whether you're signing a contract or buying a phone with time on it, nothing's really free. The mobile providers expect you to stay loyal even after your contract is up or you run out of time, and most people do, so they make their money back in the long run.
Free Satellite Dish
What you're promised: Bell ExpressVu is offering a $200 rebate on its $299 digital satellite system model 2700. Certain retailers, including Chapters.ca, have been offering the package for $99, making it free for the consumer after rebate.
What you really get: The model 2700 package doesn't include installation hardware. You have to buy a self-installation kit (available at Wal-Mart or Radio Shack) for about $100 to install it yourself, but ExpressVu has a $100 professional installation offer, which includes the cost of hardware, until Jan. 30.
The rebate is also not exactly as advertised. A hundred is a real cash-back rebate, which ExpressVu sends you after activation, but the other $100 is a programming rebate, only applicable to the first two months of "the Works" programming package, at a cost of over $50 a month. You can, however, change programming packages or cancel after those two months. Both rebates expire after Jan. 30.
Multiple-TV-owning subversives will want to buy two $99 packages, because a satellite receiver, sans-dish, sells for $250 on its own. Each dish can have up to two receivers attached, so both TVs can watch different shows at once. Even without the rebate, it's less than half the regular price.
The bottom line: Even at the regular price of $299 plus rebates, it's as good a deal as digital cable with a better channel selection.
Free Internet Access
What you're promised: Free, unlimited access to the Internet from your home computer.
What you really get: The most popular free ISP, NetZero (www.netzero.com), offers free dial-up access to the Internet from almost anywhere in Canada and the USA.
The service is dial-up, so forget the blazing speed of DSL or cable. Also, because it's a free service, expect busy signals caused by clogged connections.
But the main downside to free ISPs is the constant advertising you're bombarded with while on the Net. To use NetZero and its competitors, you have to download special software that displays ads on your screen either in the corner or on a navigation bar.
The bottom line: Unless you do a lot of travelling with a laptop and need somewhere to dial in to wherever you are, or really can't afford the $10-15 a month for a regular ISP, you're better off with a paid service--unless you're the most casual of casual Net users.
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