Some people get their cables crossed

[Evan]

Suggestion from a dtv forum

Not trying to be difficult or anything, just save some fellow buckeyes some time.

According to dbstalk.com while deals like what you mentioned were available in the past, in recent weeks, they have all dried up. Multiple people called 15+ times trying to get deals with no such luck. With the BTN and NFL Ticket monopolies (to an extent), the new HD satellite going live and giving dtv users more HD channels than cable companies could ever dream of, and the current specials they offer, dtv isn't giving out any other major discounts.

Best of luck to you if you wanna try.

 

[suza271]

Whoever said Comcast Internet is $49.99 is wrong. I just signed up for it for $42.95.

Sorry if you're getting screwed. Thats what I'm paying.

Also, anyone in the DC/VA area can get Comcast, Verizon, or Earthlink (dry) internet.

And, if you're smart about what you sign up for, you really don't have to pay that much more for Directv.

Those who are saying that HD is much more on Directv are just plain wrong. If you want it on 2 TVs, it's MUCH cheaper. Also, if you call Directv, they'll give you a bunch more deals than whats on the website.

As for the HD DVR, even if it is $100, you still get a $50 gift card when you order, basically bringing it down to $50.

 

[jwinslow]

Not trying to be difficult or anything, just save some fellow buckeyes some time.

According to dbstalk.com while deals like what you mentioned were available in the past, in recent weeks, they have all dried up. Multiple people called 15+ times trying to get deals with no such luck. With the BTN and NFL Ticket monopolies (to an extent), the new HD satellite going live and giving dtv users more HD channels than cable companies could ever dream of, and the current specials they offer, dtv isn't giving out any other major discounts.

Good points. From perusing that forum, it seems like the 'new customer' deals are limited, probably for the reasons you state. It seems like some are still having luck with the retentions dept as far as upgrading affordably.

Of note in this DTV discussion

If you are getting an HR20 for $0 to $200, thats a good deal. Those things cost $800. Keep that in mind if getting another one on lease.

edit: it also seems that Dtv will offer you deals to not cancel premium packages, like NFL Sunday Ticket. One guy got a free HR-20 HD DVR. Again, this is not overly relevant to new customers trying to avoid the BTN blackout, but interesting nonetheless.

 

[matcar]

Who said you could get an HDDVR free? They will either give you an HD receiver for free or a DVR for free. They will not give you an HDDVR for anything less than $199 no matter what.

Thank you. But ya know what, I DID get a free HD-DVR from Comcast AND a free HD receiver when I made the switch to the triple play and left the sat behind. This was yet another reason I backed away from the sats...they charge for equipment that you "lease" from them. Comcast, because they didn't charge me for hardware, was significantly cheaper. But, alas no BTN. Fast internet: check. Better picture quality...wow, much better. All Buckeye games. Well...two outa three I guess.

I'm not counting on BTN next year either. Perhaps I won't have it ever...we'll see.

 

[sandgk]

Not trying to be difficult or anything, just save some fellow buckeyes some time.

According to dbstalk.com while deals like what you mentioned were available in the past, in recent weeks, they have all dried up. Multiple people called 15+ times trying to get deals with no such luck. With the BTN and NFL Ticket monopolies (to an extent), the new HD satellite going live and giving dtv users more HD channels than cable companies could ever dream of, and the current specials they offer, dtv isn't giving out any other major discounts.

Best of luck to you if you wanna try.

Evan - I read BDSTalk - daily.
Those deals were always for existing customers, also, they have not dried up.
For you as a new customer the better place to exact leverage is at the time of their sale to you. The likelihood being that you would not still get an HD-DVR for free - reduced rate I bet you could have obtained. Sadly, as you tell us earlier in the thread that you signed up for D* on Sunday it appears that option is behind you. Still you say you got an HD Receiver - apparently for free - so I'm guessing that your household has two HDTVs. Hope so, otherwise that makes your deal that much more galling.

 

[Evan]

The HR20 HD-DVR allows you to receive HD and view it in real time as well recording HD broadcast for later viewing...you do not need both an HD Receiver and an HD-DVR. I know because I just got on 10 days ago.

That is very true...if you only have one HDTV. In my case I needed both. The HD-DVR for my media room (main viewing area), and the HD Receiver for my HDTV downstairs (overflow/casual viewing area).

Of note, you can only get 1 HD-DVR from DTV when you first sign up, even if you wanted 2 or more.

 

[nikonosis]

Whoever said Comcast Internet is $49.99 is wrong. I just signed up for it for $42.95.

Sorry if you're getting screwed. Thats what I'm paying.

Also, anyone in the DC/VA area can get Comcast, Verizon, or Earthlink (dry) internet.

And, if you're smart about what you sign up for, you really don't have to pay that much more for Directv.

Those who are saying that HD is much more on Directv are just plain wrong. If you want it on 2 TVs, it's MUCH cheaper. Also, if you call Directv, they'll give you a bunch more deals than whats on the website.

As for the HD DVR, even if it is $100, you still get a $50 gift card when you order, basically bringing it down to $50.

Wow just wow! Can't you read? COMCAST INTERNET IS $42.95, THEN THERE IS A MODEM LEASE FEE IF YOU DON'T OWN YOUR OWN MODEM. IT IS $3 MORE ON TOP OF YOUR $42.95! Then there is a $15 charge if you don't have CABLE TV! Your total is now up to $59.95 IF YOU DON'T HAVE CABLE TV AND OWN YOUR OWN MODEM! Jesus Christ, teach this person how to read! I bet you haven't received your first bill yet, have you?

"High Speed Internet 44.95 including modem lease
Includes: Comcast High Speed Internet
And Cable Television Service. Includes
$15.00 Discount For Comcast Cable
Subscribers.
Cable Television"

QUOTE FROM COMCAST!


Now lets get to the 2nd part that you can't read. $199 is not $100, you must be one of those people that see in a store something for $1.99 and actually thinks its $1 instead of $2!

On top of that, YOU ONLY GET A $50 VISA GIFT CARD IF YOU ARE A BRAND NEW SUBSCRIBER, PREVIOUS SUBSCRIBERS AND CURRENT DO NOT GET THIS OFFER!

Please let me know if you still don't understand this...

 

[Evan]

Evan - I read BDSTalk - daily.
Those deals were always for existing customers, also, they have not dried up.
For you as a new customer the better place to exact leverage is at the time of their sale to you. The likelihood being that you would not still get an HD-DVR for free - reduced rate I bet you could have obtained. Sadly, as you tell us earlier in the thread that you signed up for D* on Sunday it appears that option is behind you. Still you say you got an HD Receiver - apparently for free - so I'm guessing that your household has two HDTVs. Hope so, otherwise that makes your deal that much more galling.

Good clarification on that deal being for existing users, it was mentioned earlier in this thread as if new users could get them.

I didn't feel like hassling with a rep if it wouldn't get me much so I took their NFL Ticket + All Movie Channels + Sports Pack for $69.99 a mo deal and ran with it.

Yes, two HD tv's, FPTV upstairs, RPTV downstairs.

 

[jwinslow]

If they don't get it the first time, YELL LOUDER! YARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

This was yet another reason I backed away from the sats...they charge for equipment that you "lease" from them.

When I first went to DirecTV a few years ago, the told me I could take the equipment with me if/when I moved, and when I asked them if the receiver boxes were "mine", the phone rep said "yes". And when the installer came out a couple weeks ago to install the dishes for the HD set-up and bring the HD-DVR, I asked him if he wanted the old standard receiver back, and he said "No, that's yours."

Since I wasn't a new subscriber they charged me the full $299 for the HD-20...even though it probably only works with DirecTV I'll be damned if I'm giving it back to them if for some reason I should cancel DirecTV down the road.

 

[jwinslow]

From what I read (skimming, so I can't speak definitively), the policy on receiver leasing has changed a bit, so that may explain the discrepancy between the old and new 'ownership.'

The standard going rate for a HR-20 is 199, or 299 - 100.

 

[Evan]

When I first went to DirecTV a few years ago, the told me I could take the equipment with me if/when I moved, and when I asked them if the receiver boxes were "mine", the phone rep said "yes". And when the installer came out a couple weeks ago to install the dishes for the HD set-up and bring the HD-DVR, I asked him if he wanted the old standard receiver back, and he said "No, that's yours."

Since I wasn't a new subscriber they charged me the full $299 for the HD-20...even though it probably only works with DirecTV I'll be damned if I'm giving it back to them if for some reason I should cancel DirecTV down the road.

DTV is all lease all the time now. If you buy their HD-DVR it costs $800+. You paid $299 and agreed to keep DTV for the next 1-2years with a minimum level of channels (I think it's like the $39 plan) to cover the $500 you didn't pay for the DVR.

It seems like crap to me too, but that's how it's done. If you don't return the DVR and/or cancel your service early, they will charge you an early cancellation charge equal to $15 per month you agreed to keep the service and charge you an equipment charge on top of that.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

DTV is all lease all the time now. If you buy their HD-DVR it costs $800+. You paid $299 and agreed to keep DTV for the next 1-2years with a minimum level of channels (I think it's like the $39 plan) to cover the $500 you didn't pay for the DVR.

It seems like crap to me too, but that's how it's done. If you don't return the DVR and/or cancel your service early, they will charge you an early cancellation charge equal to $15 per month you agreed to keep the service and charge you an equipment charge on top of that.

So, after two years it's mine...

 

[matcar]

When I first went to DirecTV a few years ago, the told me I could take the equipment with me if/when I moved, and when I asked them if the receiver boxes were "mine", the phone rep said "yes". And when the installer came out a couple weeks ago to install the dishes for the HD set-up and bring the HD-DVR, I asked him if he wanted the old standard receiver back, and he said "No, that's yours."

Since I wasn't a new subscriber they charged me the full $299 for the HD-20...even though it probably only works with DirecTV I'll be damned if I'm giving it back to them if for some reason I should cancel DirecTV down the road.

I don't blame you one bit...I wouldn't either. And the $299 charge you refer to was part of the reason I left. After being a long term customer, I wasn't going to pay that. So I left. I've been asked before to get on the roof and remove the LNBs as well. Naturally, I said no, you get on my roof if you want 'em.

 

[Oh8ch]

After reading 33 pages I think the consensus is -

Although with Comcast you can get an extra parrot and the butterfly is optional.