Thread: DirecTv HD DVR Question

I've only been a part of this site for about a month or two, and I have searched the forums for an answer, but no luck. My question in is:
Why does DirecTv not lease an HD-DVR instead of selling it for $200? Dish, Time Warner, Comcast all do it and seem to have success with the program. I understand the HD-DVR is with Tivo, but I think DirecTv and Tivo could stand to make more money with the HD-DVR if they leased it instead. When peolpe are on a budget, $200 really is an amount that is kind of hard to pay upfront. I also know some people who although realize DirecTv has the most HD channels, will not switch becasue of the $200 DVR. If I know a couple of people like this, I'm sure there are thousands out there who feel the same way about switching.

Anyways, please enlighten me on the subject please.

Boy you are new. The HD-DVR's are leased, you pay the $299.00 down payment and lease it from there. Also they are NOT TIVO's, the HR-20/21's, & R15's are D* own version of DVR's.

If you don't want to pay the $200-300 for the LEASED NON-Tivo HD-DVR, keep calling back to see if you can get a deal. There are all kinds of threads on the subject. I got one for free about 3 months ago.

Dish no longer offers receivers for purchase or Tivo receivers if you didn't already get that message.

It's only leased if you get the box from D*, right? If I can buy it from Costco isn't it mine outright?

Also, with a HR20, can I record 2 HD shows at the same time? Or can I only do 1 HD and 1 SD simutaneously? I saw something about it having 1 HD tuner and 1 SD tuner and got a bit confused.

1. No
2. Yes,any 2 shows.

how would you go about getting a free one? is there something you would say to directv, or is it just a matter of continuously asking and waiting?

Originally Posted by ltrinidad

how would you go about getting a free one? is there something you would say to directv, or is it just a matter of continuously asking and waiting?

There are lots of varying experiences discussed at length in many threads. I just called and asked about upgrading. It took 3 calls for me to get an answer of "free". The first 2 offered $199, and I politely told them I'd think about it. Others "threaten" to leave, etc.

I'm not sure how successful people have been with free upgrades since the new channels were launched though.

Originally Posted by ltrinidad

how would you go about getting a free one? is there something you would say to directv, or is it just a matter of continuously asking and waiting?

yes, some people have called back 10 times if needed.

What about new customers--I need to try to get the standard DVR (R15) free, as I already pay $200 for the HR 20--how could I get such a deal?