Final Comments and Outcome from 7/7/05
Thank you for all of your comments and insight. This was an extremely wierd occurence yesterday punctuated by some magnificently poor customer service from Dish.
I didn't realize that this site includes functionality to view and post to the alt.dbs.echostar usenet group. I've followedup on the majority of responses I received to my original post to alt.dbs.echostar; the thread can be viewed at that "alt.dbs.echostar" portion of this board under the "URGENT: MLB Extra Innings Package "Issue" titled thread.
But, just so don't have to click around here is the conclusion to the issue:
I spent about 2 hours in all talking to Dish about this issue. Here's some of the junk they tried to feed me (repeatedly!..each rep basically repeated the same crap (except the last guy I spoke to who was knowledgable, helpful, and actually LISTENED to what I was saying)):
1) There is no game today.
Even though I saw it listed next to Comcast Sportsnet Chicago in my program guide (but blacked out since I live near Madison, WI and am not in the Cubs DMA) and even though I was holding the official Cubs schedule in right in my hand which stated there WAS a game and it WOULD be broadcast.
2) You don't get the game because it is blacked out.
Since I don't live in the Cubs DMA I know that the game would be blacked out in my area. This is, as you might imagine, SPECIFICALLY why I purchased E.I. I tried explaining that ALL of the previous Cubs game that Comcast owned the rights to I had viewed w/ one of the E.I. feeds/channels but to no avail.
3) Fox/ESPN owned the rights to the game.
Again, I explained that Comcast owned the rights and that my guide showed Comcast as broadcasting the game.
4) E.I. is only supposed to be used to view in-market games
WTF?? Hardly deserving of a response. However, I repeatedly indicated that E.I. is for watching OUT-OF-MARKET games. That's how the package is marketed and that's specifically what the package if for.
5) I can't view the game because I'm in the Cubs DMA.
Again, hardly deserving of a response. If I was in the Cubs DMA the Comcast Sportsnet Chicago channel (channel 429) wouldn't have the broadcast blacked-out for my area.
The bottom line is that my financial resources are limited and my fiance' and I greatly scrutinized our E.I. purchase. And, when I pay for services, I'm entitled to those services and will fight tooth-and-nail to get what I paid for.
Here's the really crazy thing. After I wrangling for about 2 hours with reps and, supposed, "supervisors", I was placed on hold but didn't get the usual hold muzak (you know, piano versions of "Rider on the Storm" and the like..lol)
which gave me the district impression that she was just making me wait for
no other reason than to mess with me. The poor fellow that got the call
next wasn't provided w/ hardly any relevant info on the situation and I had to
repeat the same story I had already told 4 or 5 other reps once again. After actually listening to what I was saying, he verified that there was something funny going on. Grasping at straws he asked me to review my E.I. channel as displayed in my program guide one more time (he had me review the offerings at the beginning of the call at which time I was still unable to locate the game) and, low-and-behold. There it was! But, here's some more wierdness...the program guide entry was not consistent w/ the way E.I. games usually look (it wasn't the usual block of time that is typically scheduled in the guide). AND, for a cherry on top, the game suspiciously went out right as the 9th inning started. I received a screen that indicated Dish Network was "experiencing some technical difficulties". These "technical difficulties" magically cleared up right after the game had ended. I missed the whole 9th inning and, therefor, the outcome of the game.
Well, I'm not sure how I want to pursue this issue at this point. I need to, at the very least, talk to someone in a position to take appropriate action against the horrible Reps. I spoke to yesterday. They need to be, at the very least, reprimanded. And, the person that finally actually helped me (John..I have his employee ID or something at home) needs to be commended and compensated appropriately for the service he provided to me last night. Ultimately, Dish needs to do something to regain my confidence or I will have to consider alternatives to their service.
Thanks Again Everyone! Any additional comments, advice, and information is greatly appreciated.
J.P.