I don't cover programming or recurring fees with customers. I do the install in accordance with the terms arranged between myself and the retailer. I don't install phone lines as part of a standard install, that is custom labor. When I call to activate, it's done through the IVR and I always press 2 for no phone line connected, whether it is or not. Once it is activated, I do a call out to verify if the phone jack is working. That call out will get the fee waived and it saves me from having to call back for a phone line bypass. If you ask me about your monthly fee or programming, you are getting referred to the salesmen. I am an installation subcontractor, I put in the system on the work order in a manner mutually acceptable to all parties involved. Running free phone jacks is not acceptable to me so if that is a condition of the order, you can call some HSP hack and hope you don't have fifty holes in your roof by the time he's done.
If you had two separate receivers, your price would be no different than a dual tuner without a phone line connection. Hooking up a phone line is a courtesy to you to get you a discount off the second outlet fee. Does the cable company offer you a way to get digital in a second room with no charge?
I take good care of my customers and go out of my way for them all the time. Someone like you would be the kind of person that gets sent straight to voice mail. I've had customers who loved my work and wanted to hire me back for another project, but I just don't want to deal with that particular person so I'm always busy.
I understand your point and agree with a lot of what you are saying. I am in the service business too, fixing computers is my business. I get a lot of bizarre requests for non computer/network related things, and I will help in any way I can depending on whether I know something about it and how much time I have. I bill by the hour, so if they want to play checkers with me it is on them.
Anyway, having that said. There is a huge difference between installing a new jack and putting in a two way splitter to an existing phone line and connecting up the 622 or 722. My biggest complaint wasn't the installer, it was the fact that nobody along the way (sales, installer,etc) explained that I would need a phone line hooked up to avoid $5. I feel that they should make it a point to stress that at all levels. Because really, you may not care but a billing cycle or two later the customer is going to think, "what a jerk, why didn't that installer tell me this."
Now, I have just recently inquired about consolidating my 211 and old standard boxes, and getting a second 622. They advised me that it would be $149, and explained the monthly fees as I would be losing the $5 and $6 for the boxes I have now, and would only be hit with a $5.98 fee for the second 622,
as long as it is hooked up to the phone line (or Ethernet) That is right. Customer service is finally on the ball with the $5 fee if you aren't hooked up via phone or Ethernet. He must have told me three times. When I had my initial install last spring there was no mention of the $5. I was never billed for it but after plugging in Ethernet and removing it to change my room around, I started getting popups threatening to charge me the fee if I didn't hook it up to something.
Hey guys... as long as the Dish sales people mention this fee like they should, it is all good. Think about it. I know how to hook up my own phone lines but if I didn't, and if I needed a phone jack in the room with the 622, I could plan on having it installed prior to the Dish install, if I knew it was required to waive the fee. Right? So it is all good as long as sales stays on top of their responsibility and speaks up about this issue. They must have had a big push in a sales meeting to mention this to the customer. because at least that one guy was better about it.
Thanks.