What can I expect?

[pinkcookies26]

I am currently a Dtv customer and have been for the last 9 long years. I've never missed a payment and have had NFL Sunday ticket every year on the auto renewal (BIG STEELERS FAN). I have two tivos, dvr 40 and 80 but have recently bought plasma tv and want to go hd. If I to call Dtv and try to work my best deal for an existing customer what could I reasonably demand or expect as far as the hd dvr and programming? I know this has been posted before but I wanna realistic picture before I call. Thx.

 

[Brewer4]

Real simple. Ask for retention when calling. Be nice as possible. Here is what I would say.

Looking to go Dish Network or "fill in" cable company. They are offering free HD DVR's. Ask for this.

2 HD DVRs Free (HR20)
Free 5 LNB Dish installed
Free installation
HD Package for 6-12 months free
Free NFL Sunday Ticket Super Fan
Free HBO or Showtime for 3-6 months
$10 per month credit for 6-12 months

Anything around that should be good. If dont get, try again or have them alter a bit to make it work. 9 years and Sunday Ticket deserves that. Good luck.

 

[Bob Nielsen]

I am currently a Dtv customer and have been for the last 9 long years. I've never missed a payment and have had NFL Sunday ticket every year on the auto renewal (BIG STEELERS FAN). I have two tivos, dvr 40 and 80 but have recently bought plasma tv and want to go hd. If I to call Dtv and try to work my best deal for an existing customer what could I reasonably demand or expect as far as the hd dvr and programming? I know this has been posted before but I wanna realistic picture before I call. Thx.

Worst case - $299 upgraded
Best case - free

Others seem to have paid $20 shipping, $99 plus shipping, etc. Sometimes there will be a discount over several months, reducing the total price. Free H20 (non-DVR) is very common.

I paid $199 (no shipping charge) for my HR20 upgrading off the web site (I might have done better playing CSR roulette) in late December.

Having Sunday Ticket is definitely a point in your favor. Mentioning that Dish will supply a free DVR sometimes can help.

 

[jcrandall]

Real simple. Ask for retention when calling. Be nice as possible. Here is what I would say.

Looking to go Dish Network or "fill in" cable company. They are offering free HD DVR's. Ask for this.

2 HD DVRs Free (HR20)
Free 5 LNB Dish installed
Free installation
HD Package for 6-12 months free
Free NFL Sunday Ticket Super Fan
Free HBO or Showtime for 3-6 months
$10 per month credit for 6-12 months

Anything around that should be good. If dont get, try again or have them alter a bit to make it work. 9 years and Sunday Ticket deserves that. Good luck.

At $200 waived for the HR20s you told him to expect $800 in net discounts. I'm all for going for alot, but that may be over the top?

I would ask them to waive the HD-DVR upgrade fees, the dish install will be free anyway.

I would ask for them to waive the superfan charge given your long term ST use.

When I asked for free superfan I ended up getting free HD for 1 year - which was slightly better than a wash.

I would say BE NICE - but reasonable too.

 

[Brewer4]

Didnt say he would get that but to shoot for it. I got that in the past 3+ years in credits and free hardware. So it is possible. I got free H10, free H20, free R10, free HR10-250, $150 for HR20, $400 credit offsets, free NFL Sunday Ticket Super Fan free every year, etc. in past 3 years. Better to just ask and see what they say.

Forgot to add, free AT9 5 LNB dish and 8 line multiswitch install too.

 

[Jimbo]

Didnt say he would get that but to shoot for it. I got that in the past 3+ years in credits and free hardware. So it is possible. I got free H10, free H20, free R10, free HR10-250, $150 for HR20, $400 credit offsets, free NFL Sunday Ticket Super Fan free every year, etc. in past 3 years. Better to just ask and see what they say.

Forgot to add, free AT9 5 LNB dish and 8 line multiswitch install too.

Yes, but lets remember that it's much easier to do this over the course of several years.
They like to give you what you need , if you want addl. stuff wait 6 months and ask again.

pinkcookies26,
Go over your account (programming) with them, tell them what you would like to do (accomplich) and see what they will do for you, if they come back and are a little short on what you want, ask again for the specific item.
You should do ok seeing you've been with them awhile.

I would expect to pay $200 for the HR-20's and probably get some programming or an account credit , maybe both. Programming (movie channels) are cheap for them to give you for awhile.

Jimbo

 

[dsclark]

Here's a post I made lasts week about my experience:

" I just got a new H20 PVR yesterday for free. I have been with them for 23 months (term is up next month) and my monthly bill is $80 for that time.
I called up CSR, they told me that they would sell me a H20 for $129 and give me free HBo for three months.
SCREW THAT!!!!
Here's what I did, try this to the letter:
I called the (tues)next day and said I wanted to CANCEL!. I was transferred to a guy who said that they were sorry to lose me and wanted to know why. I told him that I was going to DISH. I said that they would give me a free HD PVR , and one year of HBO/Showtime, whereas Direct wanted me to pay $129 for the reciever.
He said that the Direct CSR errored in her offer. He said that they could give me a free HD reciever, free DVR/HD access fee for one year and free HBO/Showtime/Cinemax for six months. I said that I could care less about the Cinemax, but Dish offered me HBO/Sho free for one year. He said they could do that.
So, I moved my H10 Tivo into the bedroom, got Free installation of H20 PVR, free hbo/show for one year, free pvr fee, free hd access for one year! Heck, my bill will be less each month. So, try this, it worked for me. Write down the stuff I got, stick to it. Don't even negotiate, just politely demand it and you will probably get it. The day after I called them, my new unit and dish was installed (yesterday)."

 

[paulman182]

Here's what I did, try this to the letter:
I called the (tues)next day and said I wanted to CANCEL!. So, I moved my H10 Tivo into the bedroom, got Free installation of H20 PVR, free hbo/show for one year, free pvr fee, free hd access for one year! Heck, my bill will be less each month. So, try this, it worked for me. Write down the stuff I got, stick to it. Don't even negotiate, just politely demand it and you will probably get it. The day after I called them, my new unit and dish was installed (yesterday)."

I'm afraid the OP needs to plan for some flexibility. Unless his account is identical to yours and he gets the same CSR, what he will get if he "demands" these exact conessions is questionable. There are too many variables.

 

[dsclark]

I'm afraid the OP needs to plan for some flexibility. Unless his account is identical to yours and he gets the same CSR, what he will get if he "demands" these exact conessions is questionable. There are too many variables.

Poppycock! The OP has been with Direct for way longer than me and has spent more $ than I to boot. He his a valuable subscriber to them and they won't blow him off.

 

[cred0021]

I bought a Sony 50" KDF50E2000 HDTV this weekend - so I needed to call D* today to upgrade to an HD receiver. I've been a customer since 2/2005 and purchased Sunday Ticket every year plus HBO/Sports.

Following the recommendations of previous posters:

Dialed the main number and said 'Cancel Service' as the reason for the call. This took me to Customer Retention, I assume.

I told the CSR that my contract was going to expire in a couple of months, I had just purchased an HDTV, and that I saw that competitors were offering free equipment/programming.

He asked me to wait while he looked up my account. He said that equipment is available for upgrade every 6 months and since I had not done that, he could give me an HR20 for free (19.95 shipping) plus free install.

He asked if had any other questions about service. I said that since I purchased the Sunday Ticket for the last three years and the price continues to rise, I would like the Superfan package for free. He said he could add the Superfan and then credit the $99 on my bill.

I really wanted free HD programming too but decided to not push it today since I didn't have to pay the $199 upgrade for the DVR. I thanked him and set up the install date (this Thursday).

It looks like if your account is in good standing and you haven't called in alot to get upgrades (this is my first call to Customer Retention), you should be able to free equipment and/or programming. You have to ask for what you want, though.

 

[ClevelandRob]

My dad has been with DirecTV for 2 or 3 years (currently month-to-month). He's moving and we called to "cancel" to see what we could get. He didn't currently have HD or DVR service but wanted to add them as well. After about 20 minutes I had a DirecTV install date at the new house on Saturday. He got...

1 HD/DVR
1 HD Reciever
Free 4 room "move"/installation
$10/month credit for 12 months
DVR credit for 6 months
HD credit for 6 months

Not bad I think... It works out that after credits he'll be paying about $7/month more for both HD and DVR service for the 2 year contract. PLUS all the free equipment!!

 

[paulman182]

Poppycock! The OP has been with Direct for way longer than me and has spent more $ than I to boot. He his a valuable subscriber to them and they won't blow him off.

I didn't say they would "blow him off." In fact, the OP may get more concessions than you did. I am just saying, it doesn't make sense to have your demands set in concrete, because they do not always offer the same thing. The OP should go with the flow and negotiate depending upon what is offered.