Just $10 off my bill??! Hmm . . .

[jwgreen68]

Unfortunately, many forget that E* is a multi-billion dollar corporation. They didn't get to where they are now by giving everything away for free. Those Sats cost plenty. And think about how much $$$ must go into R&D for receivers, for E* to turn around and give them to you for free or at a greatly discounted price. There's no way that they turn a profit on receivers. To break even on you, as a customer, probably takes 2 years, hence the 24 month commitment. And that's probably with subbing to the middle tier and above packages.

I agree, that they should try to keep customers happy. But, there has to be limitations. Getting a $10 credit for 12 months is a good deal. The price increase won't affect me for another year. Getting PPV coupons or free movie channels is a good idea too.

And before you say that they make a killing off of programmimg, research what they pay per subscriber.

Clearly, E* has the best chance to succeed by signing up as many customers as possible while keeping as many existing subs as they can.

Perhaps, there should be a loyalty reward system. Base it on time, $$$ spent, and so on.Wait, there already is! Compare your Dish N It Up costs to others!

 

[8bitbytes]

I gotta think that a lot of people who are posting on this thread are either stockholders in Dish Network, or personally related to Charlie Ergen.

Sucks being the redheaded stepchild doesn't it.

 

[Laddyboy]

Unfortunately, many forget that E* is a multi-billion dollar corporation. They didn't get to where they are now by giving everything away for free. Those Sats cost plenty. And think about how much $$$ must go into R&D for receivers, for E* to turn around and give them to you for free or at a greatly discounted price. There's no way that they turn a profit on receivers. To break even on you, as a customer, probably takes 2 years, hence the 24 month commitment. And that's probably with subbing to the middle tier and above packages.

I agree, that they should try to keep customers happy. But, there has to be limitations. Getting a $10 credit for 12 months is a good deal. The price increase won't affect me for another year. Getting PPV coupons or free movie channels is a good idea too.

And before you say that they make a killing off of programmimg, research what they pay per subscriber.

Clearly, E* has the best chance to succeed by signing up as many customers as possible while keeping as many existing subs as they can.

Perhaps, there should be a loyalty reward system. Base it on time, $$$ spent, and so on.Wait, there already is! Compare your Dish N It Up costs to others!

I don't really disagree with what you said but here is why people get pissed at E*. I've been with E* since August 1998 and have always paid annually or by autopay. I received no $10 per month offer nor did I get any coupons for free PPV. When I called E* to see about a "free" dishmover for which they charged me, I asked about these offers and was told they aren't noted for my account. I asked why not and they didn't know or wouldn't say. What are those of us in this position supposed to think? I've never ever been offered anything I would consider a loyalty bonus in all these years. I've paid for every upgrade so far. I've always had the AT200 package.

 

[jwgreen68]

I don't really disagree with what you said but here is why people get pissed at E*. I've been with E* since August 1998 and have always paid annually or by autopay. I received no $10 per month offer nor did I get any coupons for free PPV. When I called E* to see about a "free" dishmover for which they charged me, I asked about these offers and was told they aren't noted for my account. I asked why not and they didn't know or wouldn't say. What are those of us in this position supposed to think? I've never ever been offered anything I would consider a loyalty bonus in all these years. I've paid for every upgrade so far. I've always had the AT200 package.

I feel for ya. Have you thought about sending an email to the CEO and let him know how disrespected you feel? Couldn't hurt anything to try that. Also, I think those offers were a mistake. They weren't supposed to be there. Or possibly put up too soon. Cause most subs offers page has been down for awhile. Any upgrades I've gotten, I had to go thru the CEO cause every CSR would tell me a different price, then argue every little detail with me. Dish CSR's have never heard or understand that "The customer is always right!"

 

[mitchflorida]

I don't really disagree with what you said but here is why people get pissed at E*. I've been with E* since August 1998 and have always paid annually or by autopay. I received no $10 per month offer nor did I get any coupons for free PPV. When I called E* to see about a "free" dishmover for which they charged me, I asked about these offers and was told they aren't noted for my account. I asked why not and they didn't know or wouldn't say. What are those of us in this position supposed to think? I've never ever been offered anything I would consider a loyalty bonus in all these years. I've paid for every upgrade so far. I've always had the AT200 package.

You must have not heard of the expression, "The Squeaky wheel gets the grease." To get the $10 monthly credit (Dish and DirectTV are both giving $25 monthly credits to new customers), you have to commit to a new 2 year contract, which you may not want to.

I am really enjoying my new HBO/Starz free trial. I also have Cinemax but haven't watched one movie on that service in the last year.

Cinemax is really quite bad. . . the B and C movies that never made it to the other channels. Plus the tacky soft core porno at night .. Is that their main selling point?

 

[nothing0]

btw... the $25 off is for 6 months.

 

[Laddyboy]

You must have not heard of the expression, "The Squeaky wheel gets the grease." To get the $10 monthly credit (Dish and DirectTV are both giving $25 monthly credits to new customers), you have to commit to a new 2 year contract, which you may not want to.

The point was that the offer wasn't even extended. Some got the offer, some apparently did not. Some got coupons for free PPV, some did not. That's a pretty crappy way to treat subs. You must have also missed the part that I asked about it and was informed that my account wasn't noted for it, whatever the heck that means.

 

[mitchflorida]

The point was that the offer wasn't even extended. Some got the offer, some apparently did not. Some got coupons for free PPV, some did not. That's a pretty crappy way to treat subs. You must have also missed the part that I asked about it and was informed that my account wasn't noted for it, whatever the heck that means.

Actually, that's a very smart way to treat the subscribers. It rewards those who take the time to read these message boards and keep up to date. Why should they offer you a discount if you are satisfied with the pricing?

When you fly on a jet across the country, everyone on that plane has paid a different amount for the same service . .. that is how the airlines can be the most efficient.

 

[Laddyboy]

Actually, that's a very smart way to treat the subscribers. It rewards those who take the time to read these message boards and keep up to date. Why should they offer you a discount if you are satisfied with the pricing?

When you fly on a jet across the country, everyone on that plane has paid a different amount for the same service . .. that is how the airlines can be the most efficient.

Uh no. E* has established prices that don't publicly fluctuate from day to day and hour to hour. E* doesn't give a different rate if I agree to purchase service 2 months for now today. It also doesn't allow me to bid for service from a wholesaler. It doesn't have limited seats, etc. Lots of differences. We're talking about bonus offers being extended to some subs and not to others, not the price being paid for service in the first place. The existing subs are paying a higher price for service to make up for the new and returning sub promotions, but that's a different issue than the $10 per month and free PPV coupons.

 

[Stargazer]

You may not be considered a new customer but you will be able to get the same promotions that new customers do as long as you left in good standing paying your bill in full and returning all of the hardware to them.

Charlie has how many billions of dollars? He didn't get that by charging a small amount. Look at what we pay per month and how much our bills have went up. Maybe if our programming was not so expensive and all these additional stupid fees that are being charged we would not be looking at ways to decreasing our bills so much and looking for any way to save money. Tv is just too expensive these days.

 

[aperry]

TV is just too expensive these days.

I have been thinking the exact same thing lately...

 

[Stargazer]

When the price of programming keeps going up $2-3 each year on top of additional fees for this and that, eventually it gets very expensive. Over a 10 year period you end up paying $20-30 more PLUS the additional fees they tacked on. I used to only pay $30-35 per month now its about triple. Yes I get more channels now than I used to but a lot of it is "junk" that most people do not watch that the force us to buy to keep the good content. I don't feel that there is anymore to watch today than there was 10 years ago.

 

[Laddyboy]

When the price of programming keeps going up $2-3 each year on top of additional fees for this and that, eventually it gets very expensive. Over a 10 year period you end up paying $20-30 more PLUS the additional fees they tacked on. I used to only pay $30-35 per month now its about triple. Yes I get more channels now than I used to but a lot of it is "junk" that most people do not watch that the force us to buy to keep the good content. I don't feel that there is anymore to watch today than there was 10 years ago.

:up +1

 

[MikeD-C05]

When the price of programming keeps going up $2-3 each year on top of additional fees for this and that, eventually it gets very expensive. Over a 10 year period you end up paying $20-30 more PLUS the additional fees they tacked on. I used to only pay $30-35 per month now its about triple. Yes I get more channels now than I used to but a lot of it is "junk" that most people do not watch that the force us to buy to keep the good content. I don't feel that there is anymore to watch today than there was 10 years ago.

You're RIGHT. Especially when most "new" Channels are nothing but places to rerun old network content. I see the same tired programming I saw 10 and 20 years ago rerun on the newer networks. Look at the new hd Crimes channel they just added. It is nothing but a place to rerun A& E channel programming that is nothing but old network shows from Cbs etc.

 

[8bitbytes]

That's why I'm looking for the right time to go to the DTVPal DVR for OTA and a Netflix subscription. There's just not enough compelling reasons to pay for 10% content and 90% waste.

 

[AdamGott]

Lets see... Dish spends millions of dollars on satellites and other technology to bring you the best programming in SD and HD.
Millions on training of CSR's and installers.

This is one area in which they could cut costs if they truly are spending millions on customer service. They could just let the phones ring and we would get better customer service!

 

[james dahlke]

Million or so on nice vans for installers?



Where do those exist?

 

[catnap1972]

You're RIGHT. Especially when most "new" Channels are nothing but places to rerun old network content. I see the same tired programming I saw 10 and 20 years ago rerun on the newer networks. Look at the new hd Crimes channel they just added. It is nothing but a place to rerun A& E channel programming that is nothing but old network shows from Cbs etc.

+1 :up

(same for the post above yours).

Majority of the "niche" channels of years past also decided that mainstream content would get them more eyeballs so they abandoned whatever made them different and made themselves #6 on the list to get those network reruns we didn't watch in the first place!

 

[mitchflorida]

I really don't know what you guys are talking about. There is so many choices on TV content today . . . almost too much choice, too much variety.

 

[MikeD-C05]

IF you have lived any length of time and are over 40 years old ,and I am 46, you will notice that there is really little original programming out there. Most cable channels are re running the old network programming from the main 3 or 4 network channels:Abc/CBS/NBC/FOX. Do I need to watch older CSI Miami reruns on A& E ?

Right now at 9:00 am Life channel in HD is showing Fraiser episodes from 2004 followed by WIll and Grace from 2000 and followed by Desperate Housewives from 2005. Sci-Fi is showing Friday the 13th the Series from 1989. Oxygen is showing a marthon of Roseanne from 1995 and the WE channel is showing Hope and Faith form 2004. Tnt is showing ER from 2007 followed by Las Vegas from 2003. Chiller is showing Twin Peaks from 1990 for God's sake. Now what do all these shows have in common?

They are all reruns from the big 4 networks that we saw years ago and already paid for back then to watch the first time. Now I am paying more money to be able to watch the reruns that I already watched or passed on back then. This is why I wanted Ala -carte programming. It would cause many channels to go off and the rest to use new programming that would attract actual viewers . It would encourage the best in new programming or they would go off the air due to lack of viewership ,instead of the forced bundeling that we all have to pay now to be able to sub to the few channels we actually watch.