Any way to get a better deal?

[northgeorgia]

Hi Dish folks!

I'm writing this on behalf of my parents. They have been loyal Dish customers for around 15 years or so, but have really gotten sticker shock from the latest price increase (about $30 more a month). This was also partly due to the fact that they had a couple of premium channels that were discounted, and the discount has ended.

They have:
America's Top 200 @ 69.99
+ HBO & Max @ 26.00

They know if they drop the premium channels, they can save $26 a month, but were wondering if there were any other alternatives to savings? Any recommendations/suggestions?

Thank you!

 

[harshness]

You have to pay to play.

Reducing services is the only practical way to get long-term savings.

Temporary relief may be available by begging (maybe a few months of discounts) or switching to a different provider, but in the end, the price will be comparable or more than it is now.

HBO is overpriced unless your addicted to their original series.

 

[Scherrman]

All they can do is call and get the loyalty department. Looks like they have already been receiving discounts so I'm not sure what will be available to them now. If Dish is not willing to offer any discounts all that's left to do is drop programming.

 

[Tampa8]

I can't speak for what they like, but since you asked I would drop Cinemax if I have HBO. Of if they don't watch the series on HBO keep Cinemax and drop HBO.

If they don't watch the series on HBO another avenue to get movies though not as new movies, would be to get the BB package and drop HBO and Cinemax. Saves something like $15 or so and gives lots of channels.

OR - drop the movie channels, get the Top250 which has the Encore channel in HD, and several theme movie channels in SD, and of course would give them more of other channels to watch. Would also save something like $15 a month.

 

[harshness]

If they don't watch the series on HBO another avenue to get movies though not as new movies, would be to get the BB package and drop HBO and Cinemax. Saves something like $15 or so and gives lots of channels.

I second this recommendation. The Epix and Plex channels cover a lot of bases and I find myself watching channels in the BB package (Pixl, Sony, MGM, Hallmark) more than movies from the mainstream services. Some may characterize the fare as "sappy", but there's a lot of good entertainment to be had. I would even go so far as to characterize a lot of the move fare on the mainstream services as tired.

I remember my first time subscribing to Showtime (late 1970s) when they promised they wouldn't play any movie older than two years. Now, older movies make up quite a bit of their lineup (and they play the hell out of each title).

 

[Teehar]

All they can do is call and get the loyalty department. Looks like they have already been receiving discounts so I'm not sure what will be available to them now. If Dish is not willing to offer any discounts all that's left to do is drop programming.

I second what Sherrman says.Loyalty is the best bet,they may be able to save them a little.They have sure been very helpful to us in the past.

 

[ctrenkamp]

You can get $5 off a month for 6 months for premiums. Just ask

 

[SomeDishGuy]

You can get $5 off a month for 6 months for premiums. Just ask

Won't save them much if they choose to keep both. HBO regular price is $19, $5 off is $14. Cinemax is regularly $14, so $5 off is $9. And $14+$9=$23, which is $3 less than the bundle they're getting for having 2 premiums.

I second what others have said, if they call and raise a fit and get some money off the bill, that is a temporary solution, and when that credit rolls off, they're in the same boat. I'd suggest taking a look at the programming, see if the AT200 would give them the channels they want, and decide if HBO and Max are really necessary.

 

[northgeorgia]

Thanks for your advice. My mom made the decision to drop the premium channels for now.

 

[ClarkGable]

I understand that Sirius/XM will deal if you want to cancel because of cost. In our area, Time Warner will cut you a deal if you try to cancel service. I wonder why satellite TV providers don't do this.

 

[cpdretired]

Maybe one of the DIRT team can answer this question. Does Dish give a senior discount?

 

[Bobby]

I'm not DIRT, but I can say no to the question about senior discounts.... I am a card carrying old fart and there is no discounts for us...

 

[abfabguy]

I have been a Dish subscriber for 17 years. We long time subscribers see deep discounts given to new subscribers while we pay full price. Dish does grant on request from time to time a small discount, but nothing compared to the ones given to new subscribers. I understand that the discounts to new subscribers are part of marketing strategies and costs, which we subsides. I am suggesting to Dish that perhaps for us loyal customers to grant a discount during a major anniversary year (e.g. every five years) and granting a much bigger discount during milestone anniversaries (e.g. 10, 25 yrs.).

 

[Bobby]

Dish is operating on the thought that when you first started you got a deep discount. Yeah, I know, we who have been with Dish for well over a decade paid the whole freight when we signed up. I, myself, have gotten quite a few receiver upgrades over the years at no cost. I don't really feel cheated at all...

 

[MikeD-C05]

I think that satellite tv should operate like insurance companies do ; a loyalty discount that goes up with time. So If you have 5 years you get a discount on FEES that DISH makes up and charges. Ten years your discount goes up again. Fifteen and 20 so on. Eventually your discount would wipe out all the FEES that you have on your bill. But knowing DISH, they would come out with new made up charge it, because we can, FEES that would add back to your bill wiping away the discounts.

 

[KAB]

Dish is operating on the thought that when you first started you got a deep discount. Yeah, I know, we who have been with Dish for well over a decade paid the whole freight when we signed up. I, myself, have gotten quite a few receiver upgrades over the years at no cost. I don't really feel cheated at all...

Yep. Even though I have NEVER had the protection plan, I have not spent a penny on upgrades, replacements or returns. In 2012, I got a free Roku, $50 instant credit and another $10 off for a year. THEN, the three or four times I've gotten HBO and Showtime free for three months. So, from where I sit, Dish has been VERY fair to me. AND, I'm enjoying the best DVR tech out there.

 

[navychop]

I'm not DIRT, but I can say no to the question about senior discounts.... I am a card carrying old fart and there is no discounts for us...

Well if you quit scarfing down all that cabbage and bean soup and stopped using the smellophone they might be nicer to you!

 

[ZachS@DISH]

Maybe one of the DIRT team can answer this question. Does Dish give a senior discount?

DISH does not offer a senior discount.

 

[dare2be]

I think that satellite tv should operate like insurance companies do

That is the last thing Dish should do...insurance companies are some of the worst crooks out there. If they did, then Dish would have fees as high or higher than many of the cable companies out there.

 

[KAB]

I think that satellite tv should operate like insurance companies do ; a loyalty discount that goes up with time. So If you have 5 years you get a discount on FEES that DISH makes up and charges. Ten years your discount goes up again. Fifteen and 20 so on. Eventually your discount would wipe out all the FEES that you have on your bill. But knowing DISH, they would come out with new made up charge it, because we can, FEES that would add back to your bill wiping away the discounts.

Just because one insurance company (which is one of the most expensive to begin with) runs commercials about such, does not mean they all do.