If I buy my own equipment, will I still have the commitment?

[miguelaqui]

I called D* and the CSR said that even if I purchase a DVR and install it myself, I would still have a commitment for 1 year.

Is this true? That makes no sense to me because they are not doing the install and I am not taking part in any sort of promotion.

 

[hdtvtechno]

Yes, all recievers, dvr's you add to your account, directv will allways ask to sign the contract, even if you install it yourself.
Sorry.

 

[miguelaqui]

How can they make you commit to programming when I am not getting anything free from them, not even an install?

If this is the case, what happens if I get them to install it, get the $100 rebate, then disconnect after one year?

 

[shocker510]

New one on me too.

 

[hdtvtechno]

Your are only signing a contract for Directv Programming.

So you can deactivate the DVR at anytime.

 

[KingsFan]

I think even without the rebate you are getting the DVR below DTV cost. They are subsidizing the price of the DVR hence the 1 year commitment.

 

[miguelaqui]

I think even without the rebate you are getting the DVR below DTV cost. They are subsidizing the price of the DVR hence the 1 year commitment.

I thought that was what the $5.99/month was for.

 

[shugo77]

I thought that was what the $5.99/month was for.

The $5.99/month is the fee you pay to use the dvr service, that's what allows you to use your dvr for recordings and program guide. If you buy a stand-alone TIVO, the fee is $12.99/month, so D* fee is a bargain.

The money you paid for the DVR ($100 or whatever they cost now) is not making D* much money (they might be losing money or breaking even). So they make you sign a 1 yr contract for programming to make sure they make back what they lost on the DVR sale. The commitment is regardless of whether you purchase a dvr or non-dvr. The commitment is what makes the initial sales price so cheap or free. A standard receiver is free, but they charge a small amount for dvrs, because they are higher end receivers.

 

[boba]

The $5.99/month is the fee you pay to use the dvr service, that's what allows you to use your dvr for recordings and program guide. If you buy a stand-alone TIVO, the fee is $12.99/month, so D* fee is a bargain.

The money you paid for the DVR ($100 or whatever they cost now) is not making D* much money (they might be losing money or breaking even). So they make you sign a 1 yr contract for programming to make sure they make back what they lost on the DVR sale. The commitment is regardless of whether you purchase a dvr or non-dvr. The commitment is what makes the initial sales price so cheap or free. A standard receiver is free, but they charge a small amount for dvrs, because they are higher end receivers.

Current price is $99 for a DVR with a $100 rebate for new and existing customers 1 rebate per account. On 8/1/05 the contract on advanced receivers went from 1 yr. to 2yrs. :

 

[jpn]

They won't activate any new access card without a commitment regardless of who paid for the equipment. Even if you're replacing existing equipment, the new access card cannot be activated without a commitment.

 

[vurbano]

Current price is $99 for a DVR with a $100 rebate for new and existing customers 1 rebate per account. On 8/1/05 the contract on advanced receivers went from 1 yr. to 2yrs. :

probably because it may take 2 yrs before they add a significant amount of HD channels. Did the termination fee double to $300 dollars?

 

[vurbano]

The money you paid for the DVR ($100 or whatever they cost now) is not making D* much money (they might be losing money or breaking even).

So they raped early $1000 HD DVR adopters for about $800 dollars in profit per box. Isnt that box less than 1 year old? This price gouging thing sounds criminal to me. I cant think of anything thats depreciated in value that much in such a short period of time. Early HD DVR owners should be pissed.

Current price is $99 for a DVR with a $100 rebate for new and existing customers 1 rebate per account. On 8/1/05 the contract on advanced receivers went from 1 yr. to 2yrs. :

probably because it may take 2 yrs before they add a significant amount of HD channels. Did the termination fee double to $300 dollars?

 

[Beavis]

So they raped early $1000 HD DVR adopters for about $800 dollars in profit per box. Isnt that box less than 1 year old? This price gouging thing sounds criminal to me. I cant think of anything thats depreciated in value that much in such a short period of time. Early HD DVR owners should be pissed.



probably because it may take 2 yrs before they add a significant amount of HD channels. Did the termination fee double to $300 dollars?

Yeah cause D* really held a gun to everyone's head to buy a HD-DVR. Anyone with a shred of intelligence knows that when new products come out they are extremely expensive. If they choose to buy it the first month, then that's their choice. They're accepting the risk that it's going to be lowered. If some people don't do their homework, it's their loss.

 

[fkostyn]

If i am correct - the HD DVR was about $800 cost to most retailers... (when it was selling at 999)

Thats not a lot of profit in the end- considering shipment cost, the rest of the bills, etc.

 

[Purogamer]

How dare directv try to make money, shame on them...

 

[miguelaqui]

How dare directv try to make money, shame on them...

Of what use is this comment?

 

[shugo77]

So they raped early $1000 HD DVR adopters for about $800 dollars in profit per box. Isnt that box less than 1 year old? This price gouging thing sounds criminal to me. I cant think of anything thats depreciated in value that much in such a short period of time. Early HD DVR owners should be pissed.

I paid about $770 for my HD DVR (after rebate) 7 months ago, and I don't feel like I was raped, I feel like I paid a lot of money for a very high end piece of equipment. If you factor in the price of all the individual components, the price seems fair to me...

1)250GB Hard Drive ( a year ago, this was at least $200 by itself easy, though hard drives are cheaper now.)

2)HDTV receiver (try finding a quality one for under $300)

3)Dual tuner Tivo (at least $150, not including Hard drive or HD tuner)

4)Box includes HDMI Cable ,DVI cable, Component cables and composite cables(gotta be worth at least $60)

That makes cost of HD DVR at least $710. There isn't much profit left, heck now they are almost giving the things away. I don't mind someone making a profit when I buy something, how else would they be able to stay in business and develope new products? When i look at it this way, I only signed a one year commitment, I got a huge bargain. I don't necessarily think it has depreciated in value, I think D* is trying to unload their stock in a hurry and get whatever they can for them, because soon (hopefully) new products will be out.

 

[miguelaqui]

Everybody who says that DTV's receivers are such a good deal, then let's compare....


If you compare their deals to Bell ExpressVu, a Canadian company.
They do not have DVR fess, at all!

Their dual tuner, can also work on 2 tv's watching different shows at the same time, 2 UHF remotes, 250 gig HD, OTA tuner

$507

No, I'm not blaming DTV for making money, I'm just pointing out how much they are making.

 

[shugo77]

Everybody who says that DTV's receivers are such a good deal, then let's compare....


If you compare their deals to Bell ExpressVu, a Canadian company.
They do not have DVR fess, at all!

Their dual tuner, can also work on 2 tv's watching different shows at the same time, 2 UHF remotes, 250 gig HD, OTA tuner

$507

No, I'm not blaming DTV for making money, I'm just pointing out how much they are making.

Canadians are Socialists
Americans are Capitalists

You can't compare Apples and Oranges

 

[Mtnmike]

So if you don't like DTV and you are upset about a 1 year commitment, then it would seem logical you should go to a service you like and a commitment or non-commitment you like. Why come in here and bitch about things like that? Seems to me there are other choices that should make you happy. Or maybe you have nothing better to do than troll. (Maybe)