Customers vs. Investors

This distinction is lost here.  We allegedly have a free market system in place.  Supposedly we are a quasi-capitalist country.  However, I can't help but notice that as Canadians, we don't properly excercise our power as consumers.  Sadly, not excercising that power allows companies to view us as "investors"

 Consider:

I go to Bell Sympatico, because well, I don't trust Rogers.  I am told there that I need to sign up for a year contract.  I am also told that it will take 8 business days  to get my service installed.  The only way that I would accept this would be if I were to get a share of the profits from Sympatico's business.  That way , I would promise to provide funds for some period, expecting that I would get a return on my money.  In other words, an "investor". 

What I expected, and in fact demand, is that i get the same deals I got in Red China, damnit!  As a "customer" the unspoken agreement with any sort of service, especially the service offered by a former monopolist, is simply this:

"Every payment period, we will evaluate the service I was provided.  If I am satisfied, then I shall continue to use said service.  If I am unsatisfied, or moody, or want to try some better service, or don't like how I am treated, or just to be crazy, I will stop payment.  It is incumbent upon you, the service provider, to ensure that none of the above happens.  In return, you may keep all the profits accruing from our compact."

That is how a customer should think.  Service!  I don't care if you go out of business, that's your problem.  Service!  You want to make poor business decisions, then your investors should feel the sting.. not I.  Service!  You sure as hell don't tell me that it's going to take 8 business days to get the service that everyone else in say, Sierra Leone gets in 2-3!

Pfft!  Don't worry... I am developing a plan to free the canadians ;)