Dish discounted program packages.

[whatchel1]

I got this from the Morning Bridge. Would like to hear more about what is going on with these. Maybe DIRT knows more. New subs only or are they also for existing customers as well?
DISH Network, the nation's #2 satellite provider, has revealed a suite of new discounted programming packages aimed at OTT fans, movie lovers and cost-conscious consumers. Significant in the news is that DISH had locked its prices for 2012 during a one-time multi-year increase in Jan. 2011.

DISH's promo pricing offers several tiers of discounts as high as $30 per month including three free months of Blockbuster @Home; three free months of HBO, Cinemax, Showtime and Starz; free HD; three free HD receivers including one free HD DVR. Bernstein Research's Craig Moffett said while the price cuts are "roughly in line" with previous discounts, the scheme is "aggressive nonetheless... suggest(ing) DISH will continue to pursue its aggressive price-based strategy from the previous year."

According to Bernstein's calculations, the following promos reflect price cuts of 17% to 30% across the board. (Editor's note: Most of these packages require a new 2-year contract and are available through May 20th.)

• America’s Everything Pak: $104.99/month is being offered with a $30/month discount (28.5%).

• America’s Top 120: $49.99/month is being offered with a $15/month discount (30%).

• DISH America: $34.99/month is being offered with a $10/month discount (28.6%).

• America Silver: $49.99/month is being offered with a $10/month discount (20%).

• America Gold: $59.99/month is being offered with a $10/month discount (16.7%).

• DISH Family: $24.99/month is being offered with a $5/month discount (20%).

[MattG@ DISH NETWORK]

The offers are for new subs only. On top of the upfront discount, which varies by package, customers must go online to mydish.com to get the Online Bonus Discount. Customers must agree to a new 24 month commitment when signing up (DHA24 or Flex24). Here is some more info on the offer:

-Customers has 45 days from the time of activation to redeem online
-Online Bonus Discount begins upon redemption and extends for 12 billing cycles
-Customer must remain in good standing and maintain minimum qualifying programming to receive Online Bonus Discount
-Customer will forfeit all remaining credits if they:
*Remove AutoPay
*Opt out of marketing emails
*Go on DISH Pause
*Disconnect their account

[HanoverPretzel]

Customer will forfeit all remaining credits if they: *Remove AutoPay *Opt out of marketing emails

What ever happened to just providing a service without sending spam mail and letting the customer decide how and when to send the payment in (So long as it's on time)?

Also, I note here that they listed the regular price for AT120 as $5 higher than the current price....

[MattG@ DISH NETWORK]

AT120 is $44.99, AT120+ is $49.99.

[Scherrman]

What ever happened to just providing a service without sending spam mail and letting the customer decide how and when to send the payment in (So long as it's on time)?

Also, I note here that they listed the regular price for AT120 as $5 higher than the current price....

What's wrong with a business wanting something from their customers when they give something away? Why do you think any business does giveaways? They are promoting their business and at the same time collecting info from potential customers. It's how business works.

[dare2be]

-Customer will forfeit all remaining credits if they:
*Remove AutoPay
*Opt out of marketing emails
*Go on DISH Pause
*Disconnect their account

From a purely business perspective, this makes logical business sense. They are able to lure customers in with the offered discounts, and mitigate some of their lost revenue by saving money with autopay, and building a cheap potential revenue stream with email marketing. The customer has the choice whether the trade offs are worth the discounts.

[steve4810]

What ever happened to just providing a service without sending spam mail and letting the customer decide how and when to send the payment in (So long as it's on time)?

Also, I note here that they listed the regular price for AT120 as $5 higher than the current price....

Nothing.

You want to pay regular price then you can pay the regular way. Me, I like to save a buck so I'll opt to pay a special way in exchange for a special price.

It's called freedom of choice. And I bet you can opt out of promotional email if you want.

[Dishman1978]

Why complain about extras?????

[HanoverPretzel]

What's wrong with a business wanting something from their customers when they give something away? Why do you think any business does giveaways? They are promoting their business and at the same time collecting info from potential customers. It's how business works.

I may have been a little more harsh than I should have been there. I am not questioning that they have the right to ask for those type of terms if they want to.

Having said that, though, I don't like it. As a consumer, I am starting to lose control and choice with a lot of things. So many companies are asking for long-term contracts now with heavy penalties for opting out. Now we have Dish saying they have to be able to spam you and won't let you choose when and how to pay your bill- assuming you want a standard new customer discount that used to be available without you being forced to agree to get spam messages or being forced to select auto-pay.

I guess choice and the ability to make my own decisions year to year, month to month, and even day to day are things I place a premium on.

Now, it's true, a lot of times if you back up a Brink's truck full of money, you are allowed to forgo these requirements. But, like a lot of people right now, I don't have a Brink's truck full of money. So, it's important that I snatch up promos when I can because of quality of life issues. And those type of promos used to not come with too many extra requirements. Now they do. So, relative to the way things were for new Dish customers who signed up last month, new Dish customers who sign up this month are in a worse position (Either agree to extra restrictions, or don't get the typical new customer first year discount).

[Yespage]

What ever happened to just providing a service without sending spam mail and letting the customer decide how and when to send the payment in (So long as it's on time)?

Also, I note here that they listed the regular price for AT120 as $5 higher than the current price....

A person complaining about spam email via derailing a thread. That seems a bit ironic.