Making the Switch to E* - My First Cust Svc Exp

[Pakbackr]

I have been a D* customer for about 10 years, but have finally made the decision to switch to E*, primarily because of their HD content advantage and their 622 HD DVR. Last night, I talked with E* cust svr to set up my install...after Feb 1st to take advantage of the free HD DVR deal. At first, rep asked if I wanted Sat, Feb 3rd as my install date, and I said yes. We proceeded with registration process, and she then started confirming my info. She said, "and you are scheduled for install this Sunday, Feb 4th." I said, "Wait...I thought we set it up for Sat, Feb 3rd". She said she did, but looks like someone else confirmed the date before she completed the reg process, so it pushed us to Sunday. I reluctantly agreed. After I got off the phone, my wife reminded me that Feb 4 is Super Bowl Sunday, and she said "Do you really want to take the risk of having something go wrong and not being able to see the Super Bowl". I decided she was right (aren't they always?) and I called E* back to reschedule. The new rep I got on the line, said "But our records show you as having a Sat install date". Good thing I called, or I could have been out all day Sat...then pissed on Sunday when they didn't show. I hope this is not a sign of things to come w/ E*. On a more positive note, I can't wait to make the switch.

 

[bderouen]

I have been a D* customer for about 10 years, but have finally made the decision to switch to E*, primarily because of their HD content advantage and their 622 HD DVR. Last night, I talked with E* cust svr to set up my install...after Feb 1st to take advantage of the free HD DVR deal. At first, rep asked if I wanted Sat, Feb 3rd as my install date, and I said yes. We proceeded with registration process, and she then started confirming my info. She said, "and you are scheduled for install this Sunday, Feb 4th." I said, "Wait...I thought we set it up for Sat, Feb 3rd". She said she did, but looks like someone else confirmed the date before she completed the reg process, so it pushed us to Sunday. I reluctantly agreed. After I got off the phone, my wife reminded me that Feb 4 is Super Bowl Sunday, and she said "Do you really want to take the risk of having something go wrong and not being able to see the Super Bowl". I decided she was right (aren't they always?) and I called E* back to reschedule. The new rep I got on the line, said "But our records show you as having a Sat install date". Good thing I called, or I could have been out all day Sat...then pissed on Sunday when they didn't show. I hope this is not a sign of things to come w/ E*. On a more positive note, I can't wait to make the switch.

Oh geez. I know i had some issues with dates when i first got set up with E*. I can tell you, from my expereince anyway, it does get better. But even with the confusion on my initial set up date, it was SOOOO much better than I had with D*. I had been a D* customer but had moved to a new house. D* took 3 weeks beofre they could give me an install date, and then when the date came around, the bum showed up at 9PM!!!! Then he started claiming No Line of Site. I got p**sed and called Dish and was set up in 3-4 days.

It's probably kind of late to suggest this, but I do kind of wished i had been in contact with a local retailer of dish. I am in contact with one now and have become his customer, but I found it easier to have a person local to talk to if I have any issues or questions.

But you're right...you'll love Dish, especially compared with Direct! I know I do!

Bruce

 

[mecro]

And just the opposite for me! My first D* install was relatively simple, two basic receivers (many years ago) and the installer even got into my crawl space (1 story ranch house) so that I didn't have any wires visible anywhere on my house.

E* was a different story, and a little more complicated. We upgraded to a split level house, and went for the 4 receiver (1HD, 1DVR, 1SD). I wanted the DVR unit an upper bedroom, and the TV2 output to a downstairs office.

First off, the guys were not very confident in their installation, and they fed me false information about my programming, and HD with the then current 811. Thanks to SatelliteGuys, I knew what I was doing. I showed them where I wanted my DVR, and I left them alone for about 20 minutes.

They mounted the dish behind my chimney on a very tall roof, and I was quite happy because it wasn't visible from any side of the house. My dream was crushed when I walked out front and saw that they had installed the DVR on the front outside wall of my house, and I now had a black dual coax cable running parallel along my white vinyl siding. Yes, that's right, they drilled a hole in my siding, instead of the other wall (corner room) which would have been invisible. I was pissed.

To this day, I love DISH's service, but my installation has scarred my house. I don't even know how to patch vinyl siding so that I could move the cable myself. Great service, scary installations...

 

[minnow]

There is no patching to vinyl siding. However if you've got any spare pieces or can take the damaged piece off and get to Lowe's or Home Depot they can probably match it up(especially if it's white). Replacing the damaged siding is pretty easy as each horizontal piece locks into the piece above and below it and then is nailed to the sheathing of the house. Just take claw hammer and insert between where the two pieces interlock and gently pry apart. A screwdriver will help in this endeavor. After you have the two pieces pried apart, remove the nails holding the damaged piece to the sheathing and remove. When replacing, snap in the bottom first, make sure the new piece in level and then nail to the sheathing, but not tightly as the siding needs to be able to move from temperature changes. Then snap the top of the new piece into the bottom of the piece above it and your done. Really pretty simple to do and any do-it-yourselfer can do this.