People believe it because...
Sorry about the vent.. but here goes...
I signed up with a local retailer (Sam's Club) on Sunday who told me there was a 30 day guarantee at the time I ordered. I mean more than once by more than one sales person at the kiosk. Apparently this is being told by a lot of retailers out there. And I believed it since every single piece of paperwork I've seen from Dish has slightly different terms on it. No one, including a lawyer, can understand all of the nonsense in most of the small print.
I'm starting to wonder, since there isn't that guarantee if I shouldn't cancel before activation. I tried to tonight but was defused and probably will be defrauded later...I'm glad I found this thread.
I am starting to think that the amount of confusion that goes into a Dish install, equipment, and terms of install is on purpose. I did a lot of research before deciding to order and I'm still having issues. No local dealer had a fully working HD receiver with all channels for me to check the service out first and none could give me an actual list of channels (with channel numbers) one gets with the TurboHD packs. What kind of crapola is that? Why have dealers at all?
I had a "12N-5PM" appointment today for probably one of the easiest installs they will ever see...
I was supposed to get installed tonight, took off the 1/2 day of work, called at 12N asked if they were coming because we had some snow in the area. Yup, we are on schedule. Left work, got home at 1 PM (wife was home and I knew they wouldn't be here on time anyway). Snow was happening but until about 3 PM we had < 1/2"
At 3:30 PM the installation company calls and said they are still coming but are delayed because of weather. OK.. at this point I could have worked the whole day, but crap happens. Snow starts coming down heavier. Note: If they would have been on-time, snow would have been non-issue. I asked installation company if we should reschedule since it would be dark out and they said that that is not a problem. I was worried at that point about quality of the job.
Oddly enough installer is from 75 miles away, when two larger cities are <30 miles away. Apparently this is normal for Dish installs in our area.
At 5:30 PM I get a call for directions. Give directions. They "are not from the area and have no clue how to get to my house". Ask again if they were sure they were coming. No problem..yes.. They were 35 minutes out. 45 minutes later I get a call saying the installer was literally 3/4 mile away from my house (by the street name he read off) but they decided that since they had an hour left to drive back to Cedar Rapids (where their hotel room was apparently) and my install should take three hours that it was too late for them. I think I literally saw their headlights. I live in the country. And they said they didn't want to work that late so they were turning around and I had to call and reschedule. And was that alright with me? I said no at 12N and 3:30 PM that was alright but not when they were 3/4 miles from my house at 6:15PM -- and they hung up.
Total snow: 2.5" Not earth shattering.
I can install a full arc C-band dish once the pole is set in less than 3 hours. Well maybe not after dark but if they were on time it wouldn't be dark. All they needed to do is drop off two receivers and mount/align the dish and hook to existing cable runs in the house. Phone lines are even ready. It should not have to be a roof install and it won't.. trust me it wont..
I bet I could have it all working in an hour and a half if I installed it myself.
I called Dish and told them that according to the paperwork I signed (in writing in black and white) that I could cancel and get 100% back until I'm activated and please would they cancel. They said, wow, you should have been activated by now, what happened? Told them the story.. Got offered $20 credit. I took it-- mainly because I foolishly still want to do it. I also got offered a Saturday install that strangely was not available when I signed up last Sunday.
I probably shouldn't have taken the credit and washed my hands of them.
Anyway, I'm NOT starting off well. They better hope that they are on-time next time and bring the right equipment (two 211's or 211k's WITH ATSC) or they will get a cancellation. They better bring the two required HDMI cables and >6' long phone cables as well.
By the way, last week the same install company showed up at a friend of mine for some service work on an existing install at 7:30 PM for a 12N-5PM appointment and... well the weather was just fine that day.. and didn't get the job done. He was out of contract and now is with DirecTV..
What does the group think my odds are of actually getting the $20 credit? Of the installer showing on time? Of the right equipment being here?
From 1995-2002 when I had DirecTV I never had problems (until I moved into a NRTC zip code which is why I went back to C-band).. too bad they are so bloody expensive by comparison... But so far Dish makes the old cable company look good.
Fred