I'm not paying for the new HD DVR

[FlyingJ]

bbd24, if you read my past posts you will see that I am in no way all knowing or think of myself that way. Technically I don't know half of what alot of the posters here do. What I am though is a consumer. I investigate purchases if I think that there needs to be research done. I try to look into what may happen next etc... but mostly I just ask myself, Do I want the thing, do I want it now etc...and then I live with my choice. If a company tells me that changing it will cost this or that than I either accept it or try to negotiate a better deal period. What I don't do is go ahead and make a statement like, "I'm not playing with Joey anymore!" Your initial statement was simplistic and yup, boring, that is what the yawn was for. Now I admit that later you you explained yourself, kudos to you. But your reasoning in my opinion was still very short sighted and as I have said before, when someone posts that I am not doing this or that or I am leaving this company or that company, who cares. The company doesn't and either does anyone else. Keep posting and learning.

 

[HDTVFanAtic]

The HD DVD and Blu-Ray manufacturers are actually very sensitive to the early adopters who paid loads for their HDTVs and are now potentially up a creek because they don't have HDCP compliant digital inputs. Therefore, you can indeed play HD quality video via the analog component inputs and it is up to the individual studios to allow this for their movies. So far, most say they will allow it. To me, this is more like the HR10-250 owners who paid a lot of money and probably spend a good deal of money on programming. D* won't want to lose them to cable, FIOS etc. and will most likely offer something good to upgrade to the HR20.

lol...the only reason they haven't done it yet was the rush to get these things to market. Keep watching. Older sets will be SOL shortly. It has nothing to do with the reasons you posted.

 

[HDTVFanAtic]

Totally different thing dude............I've upgraded TV's 3 times in 3 years, didn't complain though cause it's a different scenario. when D* was advertising their 1500 HD channels (LOL) they said nothing about needing New Equipment or New Dishes. I agree, I paid for HR 10-250 and should not have to pay for another DVR. It's the principle of the thing, why can't you people understand this. 299.00 and you still don't own it??? come on now. You can't compare it to a friggin car lease either, gees. But let's compare it to something more reasonable, say a cell phone company. They will give you a high dollar phone for a 2 year agreement, at the end of those 2 years you either re-up or change carriers..........but the phone stays with you. I'm not talking a junk phone either, some as high as 300.00-400.00 but that don't ask for it back. Yes the maintenance is yours, I'm fine with that.

Again, as pointed out, with virtually every lease there is an upfront fee. If you paid $1000 for it outright would you be any happier?

Everyone that bothered to read any forum during the time of D* 1500 new channels knew in 3 minutes there were different dishes and equipment to buy. Sorry you didn't spend several minutes to investigate what you were getting into - but since you are crying over a the state of a lease, why does it not surprise me.

 

[HDTVFanAtic]

i'll laugh when they tell me I have to pay them for the two years I owe them on the agreement I made to extend service. Good luck, i'll just send that letter to the credit agencies saying I don't know what they are talking about and with my rating no cretidor will care.

I'm laughing now. You clearly are clueless if you believe the above.

 

[geaux1]

Yeah whatever HDTVFANaddict, you obviously have a crappy credit rating or no cojones in dealing with consumer providers, I was told that thing would be swapped out when it came out for free and it will be at my sub of 140 plus a month plus my sports packages which I get all of them except NBA or I will be gone and won't pay my recent HD 2 year to get the HR10 with Dish upgrade and all for free commitment, period end of story. That's why there are two other forms of competition out there, Dish and digital cable my man, wake up.

 

[bill94]

It's nice to see people have a complete understanding of the D* business model. (Not that D* does, based on how they're bleeding with Sunday Ticket).

So, the argument is that the DVR must be vastly more costly than $299 to $399 and we should all be very thankful for D* for being kind enough to lease us one?

Horse hockey.

Let us set aside the cost of customer acquisition and the profit margin D* makes from your programming packages, the sports stuff and so on (all of which, btw, is the key part of the revenue stream — or why an XBox 360 is only $399, when its parts/software are probably closer to $500 in costs).

I have a pretty good idea of the cost of the components involved — the tuner chip, the drive and MPEG-4 chip and it's ballpark for $300. So, basically, if you "lease" an HR-20, you're largely covering their build costs right then and there or will after the first month's bill is paid. So, yes, it's a scam. If Dell can sell a PC with arguably more chips and elements for $299, an HD PVR for the same price is very doable.

It is any worse than what cable does? No.

Me, I'm waiting to see a couple of things: when/if FIOS (and yes, I have the Internet service already) gets a deal for the pro sports packages (other than the NFL) and/or when D* forces me to switch to MPEG-4, new dish, new receivers. I've been a customer since 1996 — not to mention a product reviewer — and as much as I'll miss about half of my NY Giants' games, I'll be just fine if I have to pull the plug once and for all on D* and switch to Verizon.

But if I do stay, I'm not paying $299 or $399 for an HDR. Considering the cost of churn — I seriously doubt they'd let me cancel over that issue.

Of course, those of you willing to happily bend down before Uncle Rupert's throne and, uh, accept it like good school boys, you're all entitled. I'm sure the rest of us can take up a collection for a tin of Vaseline.:

Nicely put. :up :clap

 

[srs913]

You know what, I hear this every day, why do exisisting customers have to pay for equipment? Well to let you know why its because dish gets reimburst for new customers only, if dish gave exisisting customers all the new equipment they wanted, there would be no dish cause they would have to eat the cost for every piece of equipment they gave out which would put them under. So as for people saying that they are not paying for a HD upgrade, thats great just enjoy your mpeg 2 and not your mpeg 4 hd programming.

 

[herdfan]

I can see that very few here have ever leased a car as you do have to pay an upfront fee that is always a big hit in addition to the first month payment.

Those are teasers to get you in for the low monthly payment.

Almost all of my leases are just first payment down leases. I haven't "owned" a car in years and don't plan to anytime soon.

One reason I wanted to "own" my HR10-250's was I was going to crack them open and install an additional drive almost as soon as I got them. Don't want to do that with a leased box. With D*'s new DVR not yet having been proven upgradable, then leasing will be fine with me.

 

[Madtown HD Junkie]

You know what, I hear this every day, why do exisisting customers have to pay for equipment? Well to let you know why its because dish gets reimburst for new customers only, if dish gave exisisting customers all the new equipment they wanted, there would be no dish cause they would have to eat the cost for every piece of equipment they gave out which would put them under. So as for people saying that they are not paying for a HD upgrade, thats great just enjoy your mpeg 2 and not your mpeg 4 hd programming.

This is flawed thinking IMHO. Any compnay whether they be TV or telephone or what-have-you should take care of their existing customers with the same level committment they pursue new customers with or they will be doing nothing but chasing their tail. I thought it was nuts I should pay for the H20's when they offer them free with a rebate to new customers as I have been with D* for years. I called D* stated my case and got the 2 H20's at no charge but did require a 2 year committment, which I have not problem with. Again IMHO if a new customer wants to get a new HR20 and they get it for free when they sign up for 2 years, an existing customer, especially an HD customer who has been patiently waiting for more HD for sometime , should also be offered the same deal or a BETTER ONE (IMHO).

 

[FlyingJ]

This is flawed thinking IMHO. Any compnay whether they be TV or telephone or what-have-you should take care of their existing customers with the same level committment they pursue new customers with or they will be doing nothing but chasing their tail. I thought it was nuts I should pay for the H20's when they offer them free with a rebate to new customers as I have been with D* for years. I called D* stated my case and got the 2 H20's at no charge but did require a 2 year committment, which I have not problem with. Again IMHO if a new customer wants to get a new HR20 and they get it for free when they sign up for 2 years, an existing customer, especially an HD customer who has been patiently waiting for more HD for sometime , should also be offered the same deal or a BETTER ONE (IMHO).

Oh crap, are we dating now? Yup, I hate it when there are so many goodies for "new subs only", but in defense of D* they do throw you the bones....if you ask!

 

[Madtown HD Junkie]

Oh crap, are we dating now? Yup, I hate it when there are so many goodies for "new subs only", but in defense of D* they do throw you the bones....if you ask!

agreed and I will send over my HS ring if you want

 

[HDTVFanAtic]

Yeah whatever HDTVFANaddict, you obviously have a crappy credit rating or no cojones in dealing with consumer providers, I was told that thing would be swapped out when it came out for free and it will be at my sub of 140 plus a month plus my sports packages which I get all of them except NBA or I will be gone and won't pay my recent HD 2 year to get the HR10 with Dish upgrade and all for free commitment, period end of story. That's why there are two other forms of competition out there, Dish and digital cable my man, wake up.

lol...I guess you have the commitment in writing - as we know CSRs always verbally give you the correct information.

As you have paid your bill up until this point, by law, you have legally commited to their terms.

Write all the letters you want. The FICO score is what is used and letters on file have no effect on it - in fact, there if you get someone to look at a letter after a low FICO score (and you do hit take a 150 point hit or so with something turned over to a collection agency) they still will hit you with much higher rates than normal or higher security deposit upfront as you are still a risk and again, its the FICO number they go by. As you cannot find the formula as to how exactly a FICO score is determined, as they used to say, there is no way to put Humpty Dumpty back together again, even with a letter.

 

[geaux1]

Higher security deposit???? LOL, see, you definitely are not in my league son. I haven't paid a security deposit on something in what...20 years. Newsflash, I have a "hit" from some asswipe I got in a fight with to the tune of 6 grand I refused to pay, I sent a letter saying dude did not live up to his end of the bargain so I just refused to pay, period, and I still get ZERO interest loans, under 10% cerdit cards and one and 2 point over prime credit. Yes, fromt ime to time somone does reject me give me a higher credit rate for it, but the next one does not or a phone call resolves it. You are wrong and still live in the pay security deposits world, so there you have it. It's not fair, but it's true.

 

[Mtnmike]

Higher security deposit???? LOL, see, you definitely are not in my league son. I haven't paid a security deposit on something in what...20 years. Newsflash, I have a "hit" from some asswipe I got in a fight with to the tune of 6 grand I refused to pay, I sent a letter saying dude did not live up to his end of the bargain so I just refused to pay, period, and I still get ZERO interest loans, under 10% cerdit cards and one and 2 point over prime credit. Yes, fromt ime to time somone does reject me give me a higher credit rate for it, but the next one does not or a phone call resolves it. You are wrong and still live in the pay security deposits world, so there you have it. It's not fair, but it's true.

Have you looked in the mirror lately Pinnochio I think your nose is growing again.

 

[rkr0923]

Again, as pointed out, with virtually every lease there is an upfront fee. If you paid $1000 for it outright would you be any happier?

Everyone that bothered to read any forum during the time of D* 1500 new channels knew in 3 minutes there were different dishes and equipment to buy. Sorry you didn't spend several minutes to investigate what you were getting into - but since you are crying over a the state of a lease, why does it not surprise me.

Only a Few people read these forums......if you will notice the posters are the same people over and over. So your saying all D* users should read a forum to Really find out whats going on??? LMAO...what a idiot! Maybe D* should say "Please see internet forums for more info" for we are not sure what were doing but these guys do!
Most of the crap on here is not reliable info anyway. But anywho, I had D* years before the 1500 HD announcement so who knew.........And yes, I would prefer to pay the full amount over a lease

 

[geaux1]

This HDFAN and his buddy who called me a liar whatever is clueless, I paid nothing for this "lease", nothing. But he is right on one thing, who cares if it's a lease anyway. What are you going to use this stuff if you leave DTV? Who cares if they come get it, come on. I'm not paying for it anyway and I can't use it if I leave the service which I never plan on doing unless for some reason I can't geta signal or they don't swap me out for the MPEG4 DVR for free like they said they would. If they don't, like I said,l I won;t pay them, it WILL have zero effect on me and they are welcome to come get the equipment anytime it is convenient for me and me only they like.

 

[vurbano]

ty


why always the car reference?

Because he refferred to a car lease.

 

[vurbano]

You want to talk about renting a house? Then you have first and last month rent, security deposit and deposits for utilities.

All of those deposits are refundable except utilities which not part of the rental deal and rent which you USE. If you dont get back your security deposit and last months rent with interest youve been had. D* doesnt refund. If anything you have proven that D* should refund the upfront fee at termination.

 

[vurbano]

lol...I guess you have the commitment in writing - as we know CSRs always verbally give you the correct information.

As you have paid your bill up until this point, by law, you have legally commited to their terms.

Write all the letters you want. The FICO score is what is used and letters on file have no effect on it - in fact, there if you get someone to look at a letter after a low FICO score (and you do hit take a 150 point hit or so with something turned over to a collection agency) they still will hit you with much higher rates than normal or higher security deposit upfront as you are still a risk and again, its the FICO number they go by. As you cannot find the formula as to how exactly a FICO score is determined, as they used to say, there is no way to put Humpty Dumpty back together again, even with a letter.

LMAO. You really need to join the real world. I could give a rats ass what anyone puts on my score at my age. And I do have a friend who bought a very large house after a bankruptcy and has good credit now. I just dont see a dissagreement with a boob tube satellite service having much of an affect on a long established credit rating. I think most lenders would laugh.

 

[vurbano]

Those are teasers to get you in for the low monthly payment.

Almost all of my leases are just first payment down leases. I haven't "owned" a car in years and don't plan to anytime soon.

Thats correct. That payment upfront fee is just to get the monthly lease payment down.