Can I ask some dumb questions?

[shinner]

Last year about this time (pretty sure it was June....mighta been early July) I upgraded to HD. At the time, there were no HD locals for Harrisburg, PA but I believe they were on a list scheduled for the fall of '06 (which didn't happen). When I upgraded, I specifically asked if I would be able to receive the HD locals once they were added. Absolutely, sure, no problem, I was told.

So...last month when I was paying my bill online, I threw my zip into the availability page and boy howdy, congratulations, I can get Harrisburg HD locals. So I go to the account options and add the HD locals (not entirely sure that was necessary since I already get the SD locals, but I did it anyway). Turned on the TV, looked for the HD locals. Not there. Did some digging (here I believe) and found out that the 10-250 receiver can't get the new HD locals as it's not mpeg4 (not to mention I have the 3LNB dish, not 5).

So...I log into my account and see what the upgrade path is. They want $200. Huh? Pay $200 for equipment I lease? I understand that correctly, right? I don't actually own the receiver...if I cancel my account, it must be returned to DirecTV, right?

Not only that but isn't DirecTV adding a ton of HD channels (including many that will be premiums)? Doesn't seem to make much sense to make me "buy" hardware that will enable you to "sell" me more programming. Isn't it in DirecTV's interest to get the hardware into my house that will entice me to buy more channels/packages? And I get to pay for that privilege on top of it?

I'm not at all happy about not getting the HD locals after being told a year ago that the new equip that was being installed, would allow me to. Been with DirecTV over 10 years, have had Sunday Ticket & Center Ice every year as well as HBO, Showtime & Cinemax at various times. Comcast send offers every couple of weeks; Dish just sent one....both companies offering free HD DVRs. Dish of course doesn't have HD locals yet and neither have Sunday Ticket....but I don't like being jerked around (which is why I gave cable the boot and went to satellite). I see all these great offers for new customers but it seems the long-time customers get crapped on (kind of like the cellphone business). I hate to call up and threaten to leave once my contract is up, but what else can I do?

 

[iceturkee]

i hate to say this but welcome to directv has (expletive deleted) support group. a few years ago when i upgraded to hd, i was told i would have my hd locals in 3 months. because of that, i was advised not to install an ota antenna.

well, it was almost a year before my dma was turned on, i got mad and went back to cable.

back to you.......it sounds like you have a legitimate gripe to talk to retention. and since you have the hr10-250, you should be able to get either a free upgrade to the hr20 or a lower price then what was quoted.

i understand people are frustrated about an upgrade cost for something you lease. here's what i tell folks..........that hddvr you are supposedly getting ``free'' every month from cable, is hardly free. it isn't uncommon for cable companies to charge up to 20 to 25 dollars a month for that ``free'' box.

also, since the unit is leased, if it goes bad, you'll get a new unit with no upfront cost. in the past, if your unit went south and you didn't have the protection plan....guess what, you had to buy a new unit.

hope this helps!!

 

[Brewer4]

10 years with Directv. Call ask for retention as iceturkee mentioned and ask for free 5 LNB dish and free HR20. Also see if they throw in any free programming. You also keep your HR10-250.

 

[iceturkee]

yeah, you can probably sell your hr10 and recoup some costs.

 

[shinner]

i hate to say this but welcome to directv has (expletive deleted) support group. a few years ago when i upgraded to hd, i was told i would have my hd locals in 3 months. because of that, i was advised not to install an ota antenna.

well, it was almost a year before my dma was turned on, i got mad and went back to cable.

I'm ok with that, really...it takes however long it takes. I can be patient if there's no alternative, just don't tell me I'm good for the near future and when it rolls around, it turns out, I'm not.

back to you.......it sounds like you have a legitimate gripe to talk to retention. and since you have the hr10-250, you should be able to get either a free upgrade to the hr20 or a lower price then what was quoted.

I hope so....I sort of expect to get a "we never told you that" or "well, whoever told you that, was wrong". Fat lot of good that does me now, eh?

i understand people are frustrated about an upgrade cost for something you lease. here's what i tell folks..........that hddvr you are supposedly getting ``free'' every month from cable, is hardly free. it isn't uncommon for cable companies to charge up to 20 to 25 dollars a month for that ``free'' box.

is that cost figured into the monthly programming? what I mean is, if the cable company advertises it as "free", then I wouldn't expect to see a charge for it on the bill. They must be hiding it in some other cost, is that it?

also, since the unit is leased, if it goes bad, you'll get a new unit with no upfront cost. in the past, if your unit went south and you didn't have the protection plan....guess what, you had to buy a new unit.

Though, to be fair, in the past I could go buy a new receiver (with dish and lnb) at Walmart for $50. But I get what you're saying.

10 years with Directv. Call ask for retention as iceturkee mentioned and ask for free 5 LNB dish and free HR20. Also see if they throw in any free programming. You also keep your HR10-250.

Hmmm...so I own the receivers I currently have? Even though they're "leased"? Seems like what they call a lease isn't really a lease at all. Seems more like a purchase with a usage fee (called a lease fee) tacked on top of it. Weird.

Well, if they'll make me some sort of deal for the HR20, maybe I'd just move the HR10-250 into my bedroom which has the SD receiver. Eventually I'll get an HDTV there.

 

[bonscott87]

If you have an HR10 now you are pretty much guarnteed a free (or nearly free) upgrade to the HR20 and 5 LNB dish and you can keep the HR10 for continued use or sell it while it still has decent value (assuming you own it, leasing started around March last year).

Just call, you can't get a deal like that online. May need to talk with retention.

 

[bonscott87]

is that cost figured into the monthly programming? what I mean is, if the cable company advertises it as "free", then I wouldn't expect to see a charge for it on the bill. They must be hiding it in some other cost, is that it?

On most cable bills it's right up front monthly fee. Around here it's $5-7 for a digital cable box per month. For an HD cable box it's $13 a month and for an HDDVR cable box it's typically $17-20 per month.

This does not include any programming.

So DirecTV charges you the up front fee and no monthly fee other then the $4.99 programming mirror fee which you get charged even if you owned the box. And if it's your only receiver then there is no monthly fee.
DirecTV does charge a $5.99 a month DVR fee but that covers as many DVRs as you have on your account (say 5 of them). Cable will charge you for each box.
Cable typically doesn't charge you anything up front (although I've seen many are now charging a $40 initial charge for an HD DVR) and then get you with monthly fees which never go away.

If you're with DirecTV for more then 2 years you're already ahead of what you'd be with the cable fee structure.

 

[iceturkee]

is that cost figured into the monthly programming? what I mean is, if the cable company advertises it as "free", then I wouldn't expect to see a charge for it on the bill. They must be hiding it in some other cost, is that it?


)

no, actually, it isn't figured into programming. when i had hddvr's from brighthouse, i had these costs: $6.99 for a digital box (which i never had but i was required to pay the cost) plus an additional $9.99 a month (plus tax) for the hddvr times 2. many cable companies will advertise the box is free but you pay for it. my argument is you can either pay the money upfront or you can pay an additional cost each month. in the long run, its cheaper to pay upfront....at least, that's my opinion.

 

[shinner]

If you have an HR10 now you are pretty much guarnteed a free (or nearly free) upgrade to the HR20 and 5 LNB dish and you can keep the HR10 for continued use or sell it while it still has decent value (assuming you own it, leasing started around March last year).

The HR10 I have now is leased...got it last June or July.

Just called directv....they offered the 5LNB dish and the HR20 for $99, nothing more, no credits or free programming, etc. I asked them to document the offer and I would think about it.

My contract is up in Aug of 08. I'm might let it run out and cancel then. I'm not thrilled about paying for equipment that allows them to sell me more programming.

Will be very tough to lose the NFL package but I can watch games at the sports bar around the corner. Whether I go Comcast or Dish at that point, I'll be able to get Center Ice, so no loss there. Comcast will have HD locals from day 1 and hopefully Dish will by then (if not, no great loss over DirecTV).

Chaps my ass that I'm even considering Comcast. Looking at their website it looks like there's an HDTV equip charge of $5/mo. Tivo service is $12/mo. Not a great option, I think. I can see where 2 years of cable would exceed the cost of the HR20. EDIT: Actually, that's bad math....I forgot to take into account DirecTV's monthly lease fee. Would take many years to make up the DirecTV equipment fee if Comcast truly only charges $5/mo for their cable box.

DISH didn't give me the option of a HD DVR....do they not have that? Otherwise, I didn't see any charges for equipment.

Decisions....decisions! I may call back in a week or so and see if they'll give me some free programming to offset the hundred bucks.

 

[iceturkee]

So DirecTV charges you the up front fee and no monthly fee other then the $4.99 programming mirror fee which you get charged even if you owned the box. And if it's your only receiver then there is no monthly fee.
DirecTV does charge a $5.99 a month DVR fee but that covers as many DVRs as you have on your account (say 5 of them). Cable will charge you for each box.
Cable typically doesn't charge you anything up front (although I've seen many are now charging a $40 initial charge for an HD DVR) and then get you with monthly fees which never go away.

.

not totally true.....i am currently paying a $4.99 fee on a tivo unit which has been on my account for over 2 years. i also paid the same fee for my h10, which i had activated for a month before upgrading to the h20. they will identify as either a. an additional receiver fee or b. an additional leased receiver fee.

 

[bonscott87]

not totally true.....i am currently paying a $4.99 fee on a tivo unit which has been on my account for over 2 years. i also paid the same fee for my h10, which i had activated for a month before upgrading to the h20. they will identify as either a. an additional receiver fee or b. an additional leased receiver fee.

Right. Every receiver beyond the first is $4.99 a month no matter leased or owned. If leased they call it a "lease fee". If owned they call it an "additional receiver fee". Same fee, different name.

DVR fee is a separate thing.

 

[bonscott87]

The HR10 I have now is leased...got it last June or July.

Just called directv....they offered the 5LNB dish and the HR20 for $99, nothing more, no credits or free programming, etc. I asked them to document the offer and I would think about it.

My contract is up in Aug of 08. I'm might let it run out and cancel then. I'm not thrilled about paying for equipment that allows them to sell me more programming.

Dish is the same way. It's just the way everything is now. Dish signs you up for an 18 month contract and the HD DVR costs more up front then the HR20 (or about the same). However as a new customer you might get a good deal.
$99 for the HR20, with 5 LNB dish and the new multiswitch installed is a pretty good deal.

Chaps my ass that I'm even considering Comcast. Looking at their website it looks like there's an HDTV equip charge of $5/mo. Tivo service is $12/mo. Not a great option, I think. I can see where 2 years of cable would exceed the cost of the HR20. EDIT: Actually, that's bad math....I forgot to take into account DirecTV's monthly lease fee. Would take many years to make up the DirecTV equipment fee if Comcast truly only charges $5/mo for their cable box.

I highly doubt Comcast is just $5 a month for their HD DVR. I have yet to see a cable company less then $13 a month. But maybe you're lucky and your Comcast franchise is trying to be competitive. Of course with cable you gotta watch out big time for what it will really cost you after your initial deal runs out in 6 months or a year. Be ready for a shock, believe me. I mean I can get Charter's "triple play" tomorrow for $80 a month. Sounds great. Until you find out it costs nearly $150 a month after a year. OUCH!

 

[ShadowEKU]

surprised you didnt get a good deal... I called the other day to inquire about the free hr20 and dish upgrade and without any trouble they jsut charged me the 20 dollar handling fee and its being installed sat.

and for the record, you are paying to lease an advanced product... those receivers you can actually buy them for a much higher price.... really its the same as leasing a car... pay a bunch of money up front... pay them each month... at the end you give it back or buy it from them...jsut on a smaller scale.

As for the argument about you paying so they can sell you on othe rprogramming... how do you figure? Ive had HD since I got direct... I keep HBO, there are absolutely no cost changes when my locals go live, and as weve seen there wont be a cost change when the new hd goes live... so what are they trying to sell you on? it seems they are trying to sell you on a high cost piece of equipment at a lower price for lease...

many cable companies now for new customers are charging a deposit (non refundable) for HD and HDDVRs.. both Time warner and the local affiliate are trying that.

I would call back and ask about the free HR20 with Dish upgrade and jsut paying for "shipping" I currently have a H10, HR10-250, R10, and HDVR2 (older D* tivo) so if thats any indication on what you need to have to get the deal then there ya go, and also Ive been with direct for 3 years give or take... so you being a ten year shouldnt be a big deal. Ide even jump on the 99 dollar deal...

 

[shinner]

I highly doubt Comcast is just $5 a month for their HD DVR. I have yet to see a cable company less then $13 a month. But maybe you're lucky and your Comcast franchise is trying to be competitive. Of course with cable you gotta watch out big time for what it will really cost you after your initial deal runs out in 6 months or a year. Be ready for a shock, believe me. I mean I can get Charter's "triple play" tomorrow for $80 a month. Sounds great. Until you find out it costs nearly $150 a month after a year. OUCH!

I don't know if that was an introductory deal or not...website didn't say. I just went about going through the ordering process as if I was going to get them to come out. It very well might have been a 6 month thing...I'd want to know that up front, and you're right, if it was, it was no deal at all.

As for the argument about you paying so they can sell you on othe rprogramming... how do you figure?

All of these 100 new HD channels they are advertising will be provided to me without additional costs? Great! I didn't know that. I was under the impression that they were adding HD channels to entice me to buy more premium services. Guess I was wrong.

I would call back and ask about the free HR20 with Dish upgrade and jsut paying for "shipping"

Thanks...I'll definitely be doing that.

 

[clrntsqueak]

Actually, you can get an HD-DVR from Dish Network for ABSOLUTELY free. We got the HD-DVR ViP 622 and a SD-DVR DishPlayer 625 for $0. So DVR for all four TV's for no upfront costs (one box connects to TWO TVs for only ONE receiver fee and both TVs have independent viewing). You can't beat that.

 

[ShadowEKU]

the line so far is that al this HD will not cause a price raise... if its marketing BS or the truth we have to wait to find out.

 

[iceturkee]

Actually, you can get an HD-DVR from Dish Network for ABSOLUTELY free. We got the HD-DVR ViP 622 and a SD-DVR DishPlayer 625 for $0. So DVR for all four TV's for no upfront costs (one box connects to TWO TVs for only ONE receiver fee and both TVs have independent viewing). You can't beat that.

was that during the special promotion earlier this year?

as it stands now, there won't be a price increase when the new hd channels are launched in a few months. however, next year might bring a different story. i'm sure there will be a price increase in march as there was one this year!

 

[Jhon69]

Actually, you can get an HD-DVR from Dish Network for ABSOLUTELY free. We got the HD-DVR ViP 622 and a SD-DVR DishPlayer 625 for $0. So DVR for all four TV's for no upfront costs (one box connects to TWO TVs for only ONE receiver fee and both TVs have independent viewing). You can't beat that.

If you knew that you were going to be #2 in the HD channels race.Wouldn't you offer your product for Free?.So you could lock in as many customers as you can into an 18 month contract.

 

[Voyager6]

If you knew that you were going to be #2 in the HD channels race.Wouldn't you offer your product for Free?.So you could lock in as many customers as you can into an 18 month contract.

As opposed to 24 months for D*? The OP is locked into a long term contract and won't be able to see the new HD that has been promised since 2005. Sounds like D* has really been taking care of their customers.

 

[harshness]

If you knew that you were going to be #2 in the HD channels race.Wouldn't you offer your product for Free?.So you could lock in as many customers as you can into an 18 month contract.

Versus $99 and an extra $3 or so a month in fees for the privilege of a 24 month commitment with the company that is currently in last place in the HD race?

The point is that each household needs to look at their scenario and decide what their needs are and how much they can afford. Depending on what you're looking for, that may involve a provider other than D*.

Up to the point where they get another 20 or so national HD channels, D* is kind of a one trick (sports) pony with a gimp leg (DVRs).