I open my inbox today to a suprise. An email from Rogers Communication. Not sure why, or how, but I received a "Exclusive Screening of the New Rogers.com"

So, I'll follow up to my previous entry regarding Rogers and their lack of focus (with regards to existing customers) on their website.

Here is a copy of the email I received.

As a highly valued customer, we would like to invite you to a special pre-release of the new Rogers.com.

You'll still find the same exciting products and services from Rogers, but in a fresh new look that's easier to use and designed with your needs in mind.

Here are some of the improvements to customer experience and functionality Rogers is currently working on in preparation of the final release

• Improved navigation making it quicker and easier to find what you're looking for
• Regionalized content and a simpler way to verify products available in your area
• New tools to help you decide what products and services are right for you
• A better shopping cart experience

But don't take our word for it - go ahead and see for yourself!

OK, I won't kid myself in saying that they heard my cry; because I'm sure there are a thousand other people like me who are crying about similar situations and who have received this 'invite' as well.

So, I headed over to the New Rogers.Com, to check things out.

I'll break down my experience bullet by bullet.

• Improved navigation - Umm, Sure, it means moving the menus from the left side, to the right side, and chaning some graphics.. then sure, it's new, but not so improved. But to test it out subjectively, I again tried to find the section that would tell me how much adding the data plan to my existing plan would cost. This time it only took me 2-3 minutes, but it maybe because I knew the structure of the site from my prevous experince, and with the new version, that hasn't changed much. Same expensive plans as well.
• Regionalized content - Yes, and simpler way to verify products that are available... That's not new or different. That was available before as well.
• New tools to help me decide what services are right for me - (Read - Sell me more stuff than I really need.) We've all but to a website where they have their 'Lets us help you find the product that best suites your needs!'. After you fill out pages and pages of info, they propose to you some outrageous service that isn't even close to what you were looking for... Same story here.
• A better shopping cart experience - Uhh, I wouldn't know, didn't want to buy anything from them, especially online. I'd rather talk to a person in store, get their name, and go back to them if i got screwed.

Can you guess what else was in the email? Ads, big huge colourful ads, selling me every one of their services - Homephone, Internet, Tv, and Wireless. How shamelss can they get... Haha.

The email also said "Be one of the first to visit the new site and rediscover all the great offers you can only get online!" - Yeah, I'm sure that's the case.

Sorry Rogers, nice try, but the site is still catered towards sell, sell, sell and not about retain existing customers by enhancing their experience.