Loyal customer for 9 years and still can't get a deal!

[JimiMoore77]

My grandmother has been with Dish for 9 years and upon visiting her this weekend decided that the 9 year old receiver she has and the outdated programming package need to be upgraded...

Since joining Dish myself a month ago I figured I would be able to get her something very similar to the package I received since she is under no contract and has never upgraded anything in her 9 years of having the service.

After calling and explaining the situation and firmly telling that there is no way we will pay a fee to upgrade her receiver as she is more than overdue for a free upgrade. Finally I threatened to cancel and just switch her to DirectTV. Suddenly they are listening and give me something close to what a new subscriber would get.

I signed her up for the CLASSIC SILVER 200 + HD + DVR. Pricing it out as a new customer on the website this comes out to $52.99 (for the first 12 months). However, they would only give me a $10 promotional credit instead of the $15 (making her total $57.99) and they would only give me a 622 and not the 722k that I can get as a new customer.

They tell me I can't just cancel and then come back as a new customer (that I have to wait 6 months)...

Currently the account is under my now deceased Grandfather's name. Should I just sign her up as a new customer under her name?

I would understand their unwillingness to give me a deal if I were just months into an 24 month commitment but 9 years of being a faithful customer and they still can't give her a newcomer type deal?

Any suggestions?

P.S. I did actually call again and talk to an account specialist and threatened to cancel again if they did not give me the new customer deal and the lady would not budge and kept trying knock down DirectTV and tell me how bad they were.

 

[KAB]

The deals you were being offered are in line with recent current sub promotions. Is your grandmother going to know or care about the difference between a 622 or a 722K? I think not. And BTW, there are NO guarantees to new subscribers about which receiver they will get. In short, she will be getting a free DVR...just like all new subs.

 

[JimiMoore77]

Indeed she knows not the difference. I wanted her to have exactly what I have so I can help her maneuver through it better. And the 722 learning remotes would be especially nice.

I wouldn't care so much if I living next door and could come over and help her whenever but I am states away and telling her to press 6, 1, 3 or something like that will be much easier than having her try to find this or that within the system Menu.

Also there is the 5$ a month...

Perhaps I am being nitpicky.

But I guess the point is that I had to barter and threaten for almost two hours just to get her to that point...

 

[bobvick]

Not to be mean, but is grandma really going to care about HDTV vs. STDV? Also will she care about a DVR? If she has to call you for help, perhaps it would have been best to leave here where she was.

 

[KAB]

I wouldn't care so much if I living next door and could come over and help her whenever but I am states away and telling her to press 6, 1, 3 or something like that will be much easier than having her try to find this or that within the system Menu.

Menu interface is the same for 622 and 722K.

 

[harshness]

Menu interface is the same for 622 and 722K.

It looks much the same, but the ViP722K has some additional menu items related to the two-way remote that won't appear on the ViP622 for a while.

 

[KAB]

It looks much the same, but the ViP722K has some additional menu items related to the two-way remote that won't appear on the ViP622 for a while.

My point is, he should not have problems "on the phone" with Grandma. BTW, the OP is going to regret it, the same as I regret getting my then 78 yr old father a computer. Biggest mistake of my life. Thank God for rollover minutes.

 

[Roxor]

Most grandmothers I know can't tell the difference betweeen SD and HD on their 19" Philco that they have to watch Matlock 24/7.

 

[empiretc]

regardless!! they should be doing a better job with their customers!!

 

[bobvick]

regardless!! they should be doing a better job with their customers!!

I suppose it comes down to which CSR that you get when you call (CSR roulette), how hard you want to bargain, and how much you are willing to spend to upgrade programming or equipment.

 

[Poke]

I would use the Dish chat it seems I had better luck with them on there than over the phone.

 

[yomama]

Had similiar situation with Directv. I was a customer for nearly 6 years with original equipment from 2003 that included a Tivo. I asked for the same deal as a new sub...a free HD DVR, and they wouldnt budge. The lowest they would go is $79. After 10 days of talking to numerous CSRs and a dozen emails, I had enough, so I went with Dish. Directv didnt even try to keep me as a customer. I dont understand it at all.

 

[Mr Tony]

Most grandmothers I know can't tell the difference betweeen SD and HD on their 19" Philco that they have to watch Matlock 24/7.

I thought it was Law and Order

 

[Slamminc11]

regardless!! they should be doing a better job with their customers!!

So Dish should just be giving everyone free upgrades whenever they ask or threaten to leave?
There would be a hell of a lot more complaining about high prices of the monthy bills if that were the case.

 

[empiretc]

So Dish should just be giving everyone free upgrades whenever they ask or threaten to leave?
There would be a hell of a lot more complaining about high prices of the monthy bills if that were the case.

This is a case of better deals to new customers and methodically screwing loyal customers of several years.

There are a lot of people that try to extort deals out of providers by threatening to leave- even though they have only been a customer a short while. This is obiously not the case.

Get off your horse, man! 9 YEARS not days..... And it has to go to csr roulette....

 

[Slamminc11]

This is a case of better deals to new customers and methodically screwing loyal customers of several years.

There are a lot of people that try to extort deals out of providers by threatening to leave- even though they have only been a customer a short while. This is obiously not the case.

Get off your horse, man! 9 YEARS not days..... And it has to go to csr roulette....

She (he) was offered current customer upgrade which is what I (as an 8 year customer) would be offered as well. Seems fair to me. "Latest greatest" receiver Dish has at what $100-$150. Seems fair to me. Or is it just because she is old that she shouldn't have to pay for an upgrade?

 

[r424chevy48II]

So Dish should just be giving everyone free upgrades whenever they ask or threaten to leave?
There would be a hell of a lot more complaining about high prices of the monthy bills if that were the case.

Always have a stupid remark to peoples posts or am I just imaginings things? Are you one of the guys dish pays to belittle everyone. Ive read alot of your posts and it sure seems so. really getting old man!!!!

 

[Slamminc11]

Always have a stupid remark to peoples posts or am I just imaginings things? Are you one of the guys dish pays to belittle everyone. Ive read alot of your posts and it sure seems so. really getting old man!!!!

There is nothing in my post belittling anyone. One was a question to his statement(So Dish should just be giving everyone free upgrades whenever they ask or threaten to leave?) and the other was a statement saying that if that is what he meant then (There would be a hell of a lot more complaining about high prices of the monthy bills if that were the case.) would happen. Nice try though!

 

[KAB]

There is nothing in my post belittling anyone. One was a question to his statement(So Dish should just be giving everyone free upgrades whenever they ask or threaten to leave?) and the other was a statement saying that if that is what he meant then (There would be a hell of a lot more complaining about high prices of the monthy bills if that were the case.) would happen. Nice try though!

Nicely played.:up:up:up

 

[Scherrman]

Being a business that sell appliances, TVs, and satellite, it gets extremely repetitive listening to people complain. Majority of people think everything should be free. I want a free upgrade, I want free delivery, whats your bottom dollar? It's crazy how bad people have gotten. I know times are a little tougher but this is getting old. Getting harder and harder to make people happy. Maybe it's just me.