DirecTV's customer retention department last night asking for the price quote for a Directv/Tivo HD-DVR. The price they are currently offered is $299 with no rebates. After one call I received it for $299 less $100 rebate and on top of that $150.00 credit and HBO & Showtime for $2.00 for six months.
Here is the thread over at AVS Forums with my post from there below (kenkobra63)
This is what I did to make it work. I canceled my account back in FEB of this year and planned on coming back once the NFL season started. I called and was offered the following:
$299.00 DVR
-$100.00 MIR
-$30.00 ($5.00 per month for HD channels)
$169.00 (after rebate)
$19.00 (after $150.00 credit*) *see below
(six months of showtime and hbo for only $2.00)
(The first rep would not give me the $150.00 credit so I did the following below.)
Called back 5 hours later and received a $150.00 credit towards programming. (Stated I spoke with Bryce) and the nice CS rep told me not a problem and added the credit to my account.
It pays to be nice on the phone. While I was waiting for her to enter in the info to my account I heard in the background other reps just ripping on other customers who called in. The were talking about how other customers called and lied about how long they had service and what a bunch of dumb fu*ks they were. Yes, this is what I heard in the background. Just be nice and you will get what you need.
Is it possible they are doing this because they have cancelled their contract with TiVo? Did you ask what will happen to your TiVo when they change over to their own DVR system?
TheKobra
08-17-05, 08:27 AM
Reply to Pip:
My SAT-T60 DirecTV w/ Tivo is still working strong. No problems at all.
Deftones
08-17-05, 09:44 AM
Shit. This is a smoking good deal. I'd love to jump on this.
Jeremy517
08-17-05, 01:17 PM
$249 for HD-DVR, triple LNB dish, OTA antenna, installation. :drool:
No hassle getting the deal here. First person I talked to found the deal and gave it to me.
Thanks :up:
TheKobra
08-17-05, 01:33 PM
I just called back and complained about how long the install took. They gave me the NFL superfan pass for free. So, that is another 99.00 savings. I think I will stop there. :)
Deftones
08-17-05, 02:03 PM
I just called back and complained about how long the install took. They gave me the NFL superfan pass for free. So, that is another 99.00 savings. I think I will stop there. :)
You want to call up for me and try? :lol:
I just called for the 2nd time. This time got offered the $299 deal, $100 MIR and the $2/2 Showtime/HBO deal. The CSR said they are not offering any more service credits as of yesterday. I explained that I've seen people posting on certain internet sites still getting the credit, but she didn't bite. I want to get something more out of this, as it is a good deal, but it sucks that it's not universal as it varies from CSR to CSR.
TheKobra
08-17-05, 02:57 PM
Reply to Deftones:
Yes, call back and you will get it! And no I am not kidding!
Jeremy517
08-17-05, 03:05 PM
Deftones, be sure to call the retention department at 1-800-600-8977.
Deftones
08-17-05, 03:15 PM
Reply to Deftones:
Yes, call back and you will get it! And no I am not kidding!
Nope, strike 2.
Just tried again. They are only offering me $5 off per month for programming for the next 6 months. Guy wouldn't budge on getting me service credit or anything else free. This is getting frustrating. :mad:
Deftones, be sure to call the retention department at 1-800-600-8977.
I have been. Talked to 2 CSRs, and no dice. This sucks that it's such a crap shoot. :(
kevin75
08-17-05, 03:18 PM
i have tried to sweeten my deal a few times to no avail. i think it's total crap how DTV has no set plan for who gets what. it all has to do with what kind of CSR you talk to and how lucky you get.
Deftones
08-17-05, 03:25 PM
i have tried to sweeten my deal a few times to no avail. i think it's total crap how DTV has no set plan for who gets what. it all has to do with what kind of CSR you talk to and how lucky you get.
Exactly. It's a total crapshoot. Why some CSRs are able to give better deals and others aren't is ridiculous for this.
TheKobra
08-17-05, 04:09 PM
What one of the CS reps told me is "it all depends on how long you have been with DTV" don't know how true this is but that is what he said. I also checked over at the AVS forums (link posted above) and they are saying the same think about the service credits. It appears they (DTV reps) had a meeting this morning and can not offer any additional discounts. :( Sorry for those who missed out on the deal.
Deftones
08-17-05, 04:14 PM
I've been with them for just a bit over a year. I think it'll be a year and a half in November. Yeah, that sucks. I think that's the case, no more service credit. But, I am still going to try and weazel some freebie HD months from them, or at least a discount.
gabeon
08-17-05, 05:10 PM
What kind of recording options does the DVR have?
I am trying to sell my wife who is in love with the TIVO software. I need to know if you can record by name, time, genre, etc...
Does the DVR allow you to choose the quality to record in? For example, my wife watches All My Children and TIVO's them all the time, and she wouldn't want/need that recorded in HD to take up space.
Is the DVR software as intuitive as the TIVO software?
I was offered the deal, but I told them I would check with my wife first....You know how it is.
Also, do they include the OTA antenna, or could I the Zenith one I already have?
Deftones
08-17-05, 05:18 PM
This is a Tivo DVR. It's just the HD version. It comes with a 250 GB HD which can do some ungodly amount of SD (like 180 hours) and 30 hours of HD or some combination of both.
I may just keep my other SD tivo active, use it to record all my SD shows, and do only HD with this beast.
OTA antenna isn't included, but you can get from them for $49 with this deal. If you have an existing HD antenna, it'll work.
Y2K Falcon
08-17-05, 05:28 PM
Well, that's easy.
Just say you are calling back after "checking with your wife" who you finally got to approve your HD upgrade, and act shocked (though not angry) as to why the CSR you had spoken with did not note the generous offer on your account.
;)
Deftones
08-17-05, 05:34 PM
Well, I did the deal. I would've liked to have received a credit for HD channels or something else, but, alas, they just wouldn't budge no matter how many different CSRs I called. I think it has to do with how long I've been a customer.
Still, getting a HD-DirecTivo for about $235 after tax, shipping and MIR is fantastic. Plus, getting $5 credit for 6 months on my existing bill and $2 Sho/HBO for 6 months is also good.
Damn you DirecTV for doing this now. I guess this'll be my early Christmas present to myself.
TheKobra
08-17-05, 07:48 PM
Well, I did the deal. I would've liked to have received a credit for HD channels or something else, but, alas, they just wouldn't budge no matter how many different CSRs I called. I think it has to do with how long I've been a customer.
Still, getting a HD-DirecTivo for about $235 after tax, shipping and MIR is fantastic. Plus, getting $5 credit for 6 months on my existing bill and $2 Sho/HBO for 6 months is also good.
Damn you DirecTV for doing this now. I guess this'll be my early Christmas present to myself.
Well Merry X-Mass to you!:)
Deftones
08-17-05, 07:55 PM
BTW, thanks for posting the deal Kobra. I usually read AVS but I never check the hardware section. I am sure I would've totally missed this deal. :up:
Pip
08-17-05, 08:54 PM
Reply to Pip:
My SAT-T60 DirecTV w/ Tivo is still working strong. No problems at all.
My DirecTivo is working great as well - that wasn't what I meant. I'm talking about the future - they just cancelled a little while ago, I'm sure it isn't going to happen in the next month... but I wonder if sometime in the next year or so there will be trouble. People getting new equipment could be in for a rude surprise if DTV drops Tivo support. Mine is several years old and I love it, but if they kill it at least I got my money's worth.
TheKobra
08-18-05, 01:09 AM
My DirecTivo is working great as well - that wasn't what I meant. I'm talking about the future - they just cancelled a little while ago, I'm sure it isn't going to happen in the next month... but I wonder if sometime in the next year or so there will be trouble. People getting new equipment could be in for a rude surprise if DTV drops Tivo support. Mine is several years old and I love it, but if they kill it at least I got my money's worth.
If they drop Tivo support they will upgrade your current box for free. They will be doing this with the HD-DVR when the make the change to MPEG-4 in the next 4-6 months. So, we will all be getting new HD boxes again in a short time period. :)
BadlyDrawnBoy
08-19-05, 01:05 AM
What a bargain. Ordered mine, install scheduled for Wednesday, now to figure out if I get OTA or waivers. I have ABC waivers.
Jeremy517
08-19-05, 02:46 AM
Newbie question time:
We can use OTA HD locals without paying for the HD package, right? The seven HD channels that the package provide aren't worth the price per month to me.
There is no <i>technical</i> reason why we couldn't, but that doesn't mean they won't arbitrarily add the restriction...
Jeremy517
08-19-05, 03:13 AM
Oh, and if you get locals via satellite and OTA (I need satellite locals for non-HDTivo in other room), can you still choose to watch the satellite locals (if, for instance, your OTA locals are out for some reason).
Chew
08-19-05, 07:44 AM
To answer Jeremy517: During set-up, it will ask you if you have two satellite inputs and if you have an OTA antenna. It will complete set-up based on your answers. If you have everything (including SD locals from DirecTV), the channels will appear as 2 (for SD) and 2-1 (for HD). So, yeah, you can watch whichever one you want.
I don't have the HD package from DirecTV, it's a lot of money for very few channels and even less programming. I have a CBS waiver (due to my area being a O&O). All my local HD channels come from the antenna. In other words: no, you don't need the HD package to get OTA HD.
RockStrongo
08-19-05, 09:00 AM
I don't have the HD package from DirecTV, it's a lot of money for very few channels and even less programming.
I think Discovery HD is worth it.....when nothing else is on, Discovery HD always keeps me entertained....they have ALOT of great specials and the HD is amazing. They really know how to film in HD.
Deftones
08-19-05, 09:52 AM
ESPN 2 is being added on Sept. 8th. TNT-HD is also supposed to be added very soon, possibly before year's end.
pyro383
08-19-05, 11:28 AM
Ordered mine yesterday. Deliver date is Sept 15th. The guy stated they are being swamped with this deal. With that I believe Tivo is not hurt by DTV dropping them.
Deftones
08-19-05, 11:45 AM
Well, DirecTV is still going to continue to support Tivo units through 2007 or 2008. There was a thread about it at AVS. It's just the hardware they won't sell anymore.
For me, this is win/win. Since I'm in the #15 market, I won't be able to get the HD locals very soon, probably for about a year. So this way, it gives me the opportunity to watch HD content for all the shows for that year. Plus, they'll likely switch the box out or give credit when they do switch out to MPEG-4, so this can't hurt in any way.
Jeremy517
08-19-05, 02:07 PM
Thanks Chew :up:
Jeremy517
08-19-05, 02:10 PM
ESPN 2 is being added on Sept. 8th. TNT-HD is also supposed to be added very soon, possibly before year's end.
The thing about ESPN, though...
ESPN-HD isn't even HD a lot of the time. With the type of programming they show on ESPN 2, I'd guess that it is going to be HD even less.
But at least it is a start. The sooner they add channels, the sooner I'll pay the $10.99 (unless they raise it...). But for now, I'll be satisfied with HD OTA locals and HBO HD.
Deftones
08-19-05, 02:22 PM
Actually, supposedly there is going to be alot more HD content on both ESPN and ESPN2 this fall. Also, ESPN is finally going to be doing DD 5.1 on their broadcasts. :up:
Pip
08-20-05, 10:30 AM
Well, DirecTV is still going to continue to support Tivo units through 2007 or 2008. There was a thread about it at AVS. It's just the hardware they won't sell anymore.
Well, that's great news - thanks!
Draven
08-21-05, 12:56 AM
I called in on Friday and got the Tivo for $299 with the $100 rebate and 6 free months of Showtime and HBO. I went ahead and signed up for the HD package and I did ask the rep about the transition to MPEG-4 and he assured me that I'd be taken care of, so that was good enough for me.
I'm having it installed next weekend - finally, I'll get to watch HD on my HD-ready TV I've had for over 2 years. I never wanted to get a receiver because I couldn't live without my Tivo. And I ALMOST paid $500 for that thing this week. Glad I waited!
Buy: