Dish One of my worst financial decisions ever

[griz_fan]

But doesn't the language seem a bit over the top? "One of the worst financial decisions I ever made"? Its not as if going with Dish wiped out your retirement account or will put your family on the street. Heck, depending on the packages, it might actually be a GOOD financial decision because Dish might be slightly less than the comparable D* package.

But, I'm really getting tired of seeing this forum get bogged down posts filled with righteous indignation over the fact that Dish doesn't yet carry a certain HD channel, or Dish won't lease a 3rd or 4th HD DVR. People seem to forget, these are luxury items, indulgences. And yet, when these luxury items fail to live up to some people's often unrealistic expectations, they come to this forum looking for a sympathetic ear. Its like complaining that your gold-plated bidet is running low on Evian Water.
Even though you might not have ALL the HD channels you want, or your 3rd HDTV is suffering without its own HD DVR, or you're still stuck watching BSG re-runs in SD, try to keep a little perspective, which, in turn should give you some patience, which ultimately might help you make more informed decisions next time.

Sorry for the rant, and I don't want to unload on the OP, but with D* adding all those channels lately, the number of posts in this forum with people complaining about one injustice or another has gone up a lot, and it seems to have really drug down the quality of discourse. At least that's my take...

 

[KAB]

Dish wiped out his paper route savings!!

 

[cosmo_kramer]

If a few hundred dollars is "the worst financial decisions" you ever make........consider it a successful life!

+1

 

[jmjunkin]

I don't agree with this statement, I am more comfortable with Dish Dvr Interface, but am getting used to the HR20 and it has many features I like and am getting used to, my thoughts and I have both active, It is like Apples and Oranges...

Sorry, you do not agree. I have seen and used both and in my opinion the 622/722 is a lot better than the HR20/21. To each his own.

 

[darrencp22]

Dish wiped out his paper route savings!!

I work for a top commercial bank as a business & planning analyst. Yeah, what is a few hundred in the grand scheme of things.. Perhaps my topic was a little over dramatic. I still feel like I was misled and trapped because of it.

 

[tsduke]

I work for a top commercial bank as a business & planning analyst. Yeah, what is a few hundred in the grand scheme of things.. Perhaps my topic was a little over dramatic. I still feel like I was misled and trapped because of it.

I think anyone who make a huge deal about D* having more to this extent needs to get a grasp on reality. Sure I wish E* had all the channels D* is adding, but I can wait.

E* will have most every channel D* does at some point in 2008. If your too impatient to wait it out, pony up the cash and pay the early cancel fee and switch to D* already!

 

[ddgtomahawk]

Man the OP is getting tore up sorry buddy!

 

[thedamaja]

I work for a top commercial bank as a business & planning analyst.

Apparently you didn't plan this personal business decision very well......

 

[darrencp22]

Apparently you didn't plan this personal business decision very well......

Aparently not. Thanks captain obvious.

 

[darrencp22]

I think anyone who make a huge deal about D* having more to this extent needs to get a grasp on reality. Sure I wish E* had all the channels D* is adding, but I can wait.

E* will have most every channel D* does at some point in 2008. If your too impatient to wait it out, pony up the cash and pay the early cancel fee and switch to D* already!

I will after the NHL season is over. I won't pay twice for Center Ice.

 

[nlk10010]

I work for a top commercial bank as a business & planning analyst. Yeah, what is a few hundred in the grand scheme of things.. Perhaps my topic was a little over dramatic. I still feel like I was misled and trapped because of it.

I think you probably realize, especially now, that if D* proves to be the worst financial decision you make in your life you will be one lucky SOB.

I do understand what you're saying except that you really can't "blame" anyone but yourself, and in fact at the time it seemed to be the correct decision.

When the finances even out you can certainly go back to D*; there's nothing preventing it. So you're really not "trapped", don't panic.

Who knows what E* will have in the future. Don't bet on anything. Just do what seems right now.


=NLK=

 

[Stacy A]

darrencp22, these guys do have a point but I'm not jumping down your throat. I feel your pain, because I have been there. I'm happy as a clam with Dish because I know this is a temporary loss of leadership in HD programming. But what I hear from you is that you are very frustrated. That's okay. I just want you to take a deep breath and take the long view. Trust me, you will be happy, just not today. Understand that Charlie Ergen is a very shrewd businessman. I met him at the Team Summit last year in Dallas at a satguys sponsored get together. He sat and talked with us candidly for about an hour and I think we all walked away with a better understanding of what he's trying to accomplish and a lot of respect for his business acumen. Hang in there with us. We'll get to a place we all are happy with.

 

[paulzzz]

Actually, most of these guy's are like the people at the bank. They keep changing lines because the other looks better and never get it right.

 

[MikeD-C05]

darrencp22, these guys do have a point but I'm not jumping down your throat. I feel your pain, because I have been there. I'm happy as a clam with Dish because I know this is a temporary loss of leadership in HD programming. But what I hear from you is that you are very frustrated. That's okay. I just want you to take a deep breath and take the long view. Trust me, you will be happy, just not today. Understand that Charlie Ergen is a very shrewd businessman. I met him at the Team Summit last year in Dallas at a satguys sponsored get together. He sat and talked with us candidly for about an hour and I think we all walked away with a better understanding of what he's trying to accomplish and a lot of respect for his business acumen. Hang in there with us. We'll get to a place we all are happy with.

Do tell. What were his plans that he discussed with ya'll last year? I would love to hear your take on what CHarlie said he is trying to do with his company.

 

[thedamaja]

Aparently not. Thanks captain obvious.

No thank you for providing me with a good laugh this morning.

Hope your future Business & Planning analyses work out better.

 

[stuckingoo]

I was very angry at Dish last spring when they pulled the plug on EI. Didn't see it coming and I had been a customer for only a few months at that point. They had in fact continued to advertise the package on their website after the '06 season. I finally pulled the plug on E* in mid-September with the NHL season coming (I subscribe to CI too) and knowing that I was going to switch to D* anyway for EI. (And also knowing that the NHL and MLB seasons overlap a bit.)

I split the early termination fee with E* because I convinced them they misled their subscribers by advertising EI when they didn't have a contract with MLB. All the HD stuff coming up on D* was icing on the cake.

 

[FitzAusTex]

I think the OP should suck up the $ penalty and switch to D*, and so should the rest of the eternally unhappy E* subs. E*is never going to make some happy. OP has been whining about E* for months.

 

[haertig]

At the time I could not see my fav team on either service in HD (the Rangers).....I've ordered NHL center ice which is non-refundable as well. We're talking 100s of dollars.....

If the Rangers lose a game - like they WILL tonight, against the AVs! - do they refund your money? We've got tickets to all the AVs games, and one hockey game costs me quite a bit more than the entire Center Ice package would. At least going to the AVs/Rangers game tonight we'll get to see Chris Drury again. We loved him when he was with the AVs, but now you have him. You're still going to LOSE tonight though!

 

[Van]

I work for a top commercial bank as a business & planning analyst. Yeah, what is a few hundred in the grand scheme of things.. Perhaps my topic was a little over dramatic. I still feel like I was misled and trapped because of it.

Are you as lax with your job as you are with your personal afairs that you wouldnt do the research specialy with signing a contract for service? I'm no financial analyst, just a blue collar grunt but when it comes to getting the best deal for my dollar I research all my options and when it comes to a contract I really research them.

Now you said you were told that dish was the hd leader and that was %100 true at the time you were told this so the sales rep or whomever it was that said it was correct. Your in the north east and this is an area that from my understanding is heavily cable service friendly and telco friendly with some of the big companies coming from there and execs having homes and alot of clout.

Take a breather, do some more research about the company and its owner before you cast it aside, and as a financial analyst and planner you should know that high stakes moves take time right so 7 months shouldnt be out of the ordinary in your world.

 

[mattopia]

In the words of Artie Lang...

"WAHhhhhhhhhh....."

Dish does not *require* an 18 month commitment. I signed up about a month ago and could leave today with no financial impact other than loosing out on the $49 install fee.

I'm guessing E* actually saved you in up-front equipment costs, and the monthly fees are probably pretty similar. The "huge financial loss" is that you're ready to jump ship and pay early termination -and- DirecTV's huge up-front costs.

And, since the HD game is so young, in 6-12 months you'll be ready to jump to someone else who has it slightly better... U-Verse, FiOS, maybe even back to E*, whoever happens to have a few more channels that day.