New DishHD $29.99 HD Only Package Details

[jsanders]

Here is what my account shows when I login.

Notice that it has the DVR Service fee, but it does not show an HD Enabling fee.

I'm not a new customer, and I own my VIP622.

[wyattg]

Is anyone out there having problems trying to sign up for HD only if you are currently already a dish member? Is this package supposed to be for everyone, or new customers only?

Thanks,
Mark

I had a little problem with two chat agents. I called in and stated I wanted to remove my basic package and add the stand-alone DishHD package. I explained I wanted to keep my local channels and my $.01 Cinemax promotion. They attempted to charge me a downgrade fee that I simply asked them to waive. They also attempted to charge me to lease fee but I pointed out that the DishHD package includes the first lease fee.

I hope that helps expedite your order.

For people being charged the lease fee I have argued with Supervisors the point that the fee is included and have been told that it is only included for newer customers and when I signed my contract this fee was not included. I finally won the battle but it took a hour and a half to convince the supervisor I was right.

[markhallii]

I had a little problem with two chat agents. I called in and stated I wanted to remove my basic package and add the stand-alone DishHD package. I explained I wanted to keep my local channels and my $.01 Cinemax promotion. They attempted to charge me a downgrade fee that I simply asked them to waive. They also attempted to charge me to lease fee but I pointed out that the DishHD package includes the first lease fee.

I hope that helps expedite your order.

For people being charged the lease fee I have argued with Supervisors the point that the fee is included and have been told that it is only included for newer customers and when I signed my contract this fee was not included. I finally won the battle but it took a hour and a half to convince the supervisor I was right.

Update: After arguing for over 30 minutes with the online chat CSR, quoting many people on this board, I respectfully disagreed with him that this package was not available to existing customers, and disconnected.

I then promptly called the 800#, was connected to a CSR, and within 3 minutes was signed up for a $29.99 All-HD (only HD) package. Before I could get to my TV, the change had taken place. So much for that 30 minutes of arguing online...

Thanks for the advice!
Mark

[TalonDancer]

Dishbuilder asks for your zipcode, and based on that, I get SF locals.

I captured the dishBuilder image using a program called grabber, it comes with Mac OS X.

I don't know how you got dishBuilder to show you an HD Enabling fee. The CSRs didn't charge me one on my bill. They know I am an existing customer, and we went over all of the charges - I am being charged $40.97.

Thanks for the follow up.

I think I discovered why some people are seeing the HD Enabling fee and others are not. There are two different versions of DishBuilder. The most recent one requires your zip code. The older one does not. Worse yet, they produce different answers, and the older one can be cached by browsers

See the examples below. They were captured by using the screen dump function of Mac OS X (to get the pop-up). Note the differences in the overall appearance (e.g. tab and phone number locations, etc.). The one with the wrong answer was run using FireFox with the DishBuilder in cache. The other one was using Safari after clearing the cache completely.

So if DishBuilder does not _require_ your zip code. Flush your cache and try again.

Talon Dancer

[FitzAusTex]

No enabling fee charged here.

[JH1949]

Unless someone can tell me a way around the BS HD enabling fee, That should not be there in the first place since this is an HD package.

No enabling fee charged here.

I have tried searching through Hemi 6.1 posting history and I am hazarding a guess here:

#1: he subscribes to both D* and E* because each has some lower priced options for certain packages or equipment

#2: back when he first signed up for E*, he used a package and combination of receivers that forced an "enabling fee", now he's stuck with it whenever he tries to change, even though some of the newer E* packages don't have this fee

#3: or when Hemi6.1 tries to use DishBuilder, Hemi6.1 is having a problem on his computer with the OLD cookie or ??? stuck in his Cache that causes the ERROR mentioned in TalonDancer's previous post

#4: and lastly, he has his own business, where every penny counts and he would like E* to be as good as his business and not "fee" the customers to death

[AdamGott]

OK, answering my own questions:

1. Looks like .01 Cinemax is preserved
2. Sirius cannot be added a la carte, but DishCD can be ($5/mo)
3. Altitude HD is included, but not the SD counterpart (unlike the other HD/SD channels)...is Altitude considered a RSN?

I did not notice my Altitude still being available and blocked it out. I think it was listed as not subbed to me.

Strangely enough, one of my 622's was 'hit' right away with the new channel package but the other one seems to be unchanged. I figured that this would be corrected during the daily reboot but it was not...

[CouchGuy]

I just used the online chat to make the switch. Was quoted $40.97 +tax.
I have one VIP622, so it was 29.99 +5.00 locals + 5.98 DVR fee. Also got the cinemax for a penny deal without any problems, even though I had cinemax up until late November or early December. Took a screen capture of the chat session, so if I get billed something different I have some proof of what I was quoted!

One interesting thing I've noticed is that not all of the sd channels are gone. Right now I'm still getting IFC and AMC, maybe others, I haven't gone through it all. The other sd channels are not available, so I'm sure it's not just because the change hasn't gone through yet. Hope it stays that way.

I also asked if new HD additions would be included as they become available. I got an answer that was not entirely clear, but I think it was a yes. The rep told me that it depends on if they rework their packages. If the packages stay the same, they would be added at no charge. If they decide to break things up into new packages, then I would have to decide which I wanted. Not really sure what she meant.

Anyway, I'm pretty happy with the switch. 90% of what I watched was HD. I'm giving up a few channels, but my savings make up for it. And it will only get better as the year goes by and more channels are added.

Edit: Seems that in addition to IFC and AMC, I'm still getting Oxygen, CCTV9 (which is nice since my wife is Chinese!) and ... wait for it .... ALL of the shopping channels!

[at40fanforlife]

One interesting thing I've noticed is that not all of the sd channels are gone. Right now I'm still getting IFC and AMC, maybe others, I haven't gone through it all. The other sd channels are not available, so I'm sure it's not just because the change hasn't gone through yet. Hope it stays that way.

Edit: Seems that in addition to IFC and AMC, I'm still getting Oxygen, CCTV9 (which is nice since my wife is Chinese!) and ... wait for it .... ALL of the shopping channels!

I believe those 5 channels are on a Free Preview for the month of Febuary. Check your channel 102. The usual channel 280 free preview is now on channel 102 (info channel). The only difference is that they can now be viewed on their original SD slot channel instead of usual 280 range.

[sammy4041]

I have to say this package is a winner in my book. Sure I would like more HD, but I am able to watch the HD that is out there for a very good price.

This package will keep me with dish. I didn't ever think I would see another bill below 50 bucks.