Should I move to Comcast?

[six172]

I have been a customer of Dish for over 3 years now. I subscribe to the Dish 120 w/locals and the HD package. I currently have an 811 receiver that is my primary receiver. I am interested in upgrading to the Vip 622 and I have called Dish a couple of times to see what they can do. Dish keeps saying that I have to pay the full price to get the new receiver.. I told them that I would be willing to lease the box as well as trade my current 811 in. They still say that I need to pay full price.

So I called Comcast to see what they could do for me. They are willing to upgrade me for free, to a DVR and HD receiver as well as their 200 channel package and I will be saving about 20 bucks a month over all. I enjoy Dish and I don't really want the hassle of having to switch, but at the sametime, I am pretty frustrated that Dish isn't willing to work with me. Suggestions anyone?

In an unrelated question, I have a Toshiba widescreen TV and the stretch option kinda sucks with the 811, is it any better with the 622?

 

[Frostwolf]

I have Comcast for internet and basic cable (cheaper than not having basic).

Interent is finally fixed, after 4 trips over the last year. They called me Sunday, said they would be out Monday or Tuesday to bury the cable. Well I can't take off for a two day window. and they finally came today, buried the cable and killed my TV line. Now I have no Cable TV (had to have a seperate line for the TV and Internet). I' sick and tired and out of Vacation days dealing with these People.

Picture is horrible on the basic channels, and teh Tunning on the HD reciever they gave a friend of mine is very slow.

Now I've had my problems with Dish to, but when they actually show up to do the job, its fixed right each time. The repair people dish send out are 2 hours away, I don't get it. An Installer is two blocks away.

Well Good luck with your Choice. Better see if a nieghbor around you has service with them and see what there picture looks like.

Sorry for the Rant, I've got more about the lawnmower repair man that hasn't shown up yep too (two appointments missed), I'll spare everyone more detail....

 

[Jeff_R]

I currently have Comcast, and am going to switch in the near future to E*. I've had them before and am comfortable with my decision to switch.

Here's my take on Comcast:
1. Depending on your area, the selection of HD channels is comparable to E* or D* 3 years ago. Here in Sacramento, we still have no TNT-HD and no Universal HD. I'm not holding my breath for ESPN2HD when it finally comes, either. They are out of bandwidth, and don't have a near-term plan to migrate some analog channels over to add more HD. They have the plan long term, but that doesn't help right now. Not all areas have the big bandwidth issues that we have, so you might be better.

2. HD channels on Comcast do look fantastic. The HD locals, InHDs and Discovery are great. The premiums look great. The analog SD channels on the other hand don't look good when viewed through the 6412 that I have. There is an unacceptable amount of snow in the picture. I've got a child who watches lots of Nick and Disney, and my wife watches many of the HD channels, so it's a big point in my house. The digital SD channels are clear but soft. I don't personally have any problem with those channels.

3. You will most likely get a promotional rate for the first 16 months of having Comcast. That's a good deal since you can cancel at any time. If you don't like Comcast, you're just a phone call away from disconnecting.

 

[abricko]

Yes, go to comcast... they are by far the cheapest cable co... and their 3 month / intro rates are cheap and never go up...

ok enough of that... they are by far the most rip-off company (dish is moving up the pole though, but I like their hardware the best)

 

[ScottChez]

Yes it all depends are your City and even your Neighboor hood. So do the research and ask the neighboors.

For me, I live 2 1/2 miles from the Cabel head end so the SD channels lookd better than the Dish Digital.

I still have some club dish credits and I am waiting to see what Dish has to offer in any NEW HD channels like (National Geo HD) and others before switching.

If you like HD, I would wait and see, but start doing the research now.

 

[berck]

I did. I couldn't pass up the cheaper upgrade path to get the DVR. I'm not willing to pay Dish $299 for leased equipment.

Some notes:
1) Comcast digital PQ is a little below that of Dish. I have a 3412, so all channels are coming as Digitial. I see no snow in the picture, but others people using different receivers do have some snow with the analog channels.
2) Wow, the TV guide is why superior to what I got with my 6000u. I couldn't go out more than two hours sometimes with the 6000. Newer Dish models may not experience this issue.
3) Comcast HD PQ is excellent. They do have fewer HD channels in this area than Dish, but they have my locals. Which is what I really wanted in the first place.

Don't get me wrong. I've liked Dish for many years (9). I still find them superior in SD broadcast, and would have stayed had it not been for HD. I'm not looking for Voom channels. Primarily my locals. Dish doesn't provide that, and when they do, I need new equipment. When I did a cost comparison at regular prices (with HD), Dish and Comcast were within $2 of each other. The differences were $299 leased equipment, and Dish will have a stronger HD line-up after you can get your locals.

 

[wied]

have you tried the satellite guys numbers?

 

[berck]

have you tried the satellite guys numbers?

Why buy first generation equipment. I've been bitten by that before and had to purchase again after a couple of years. I may come back when they work out the kinks with the current equipment. I'll give it another year or two.

 

[six172]

Decision Made

After reading what you guys had to say, I contacted Dish to let them know that I would be leaving. The CSR then pushed me up to an account specialist. After explaing that I wanted to cancel my account he immediatly offered to upgrade me to a VIP211 for $49. So I decided to stay, it doesn't have the DVR function, but then again neither did my 811 so I don't really know what im missing . Thanks for all of your help and advice guys. Your great!

Now on to the second part of my post. Does anyone have a 211 with a 16x9 TV? Is the stretch mode as bad on the 211 as it was on the 811?

 

[Claude Greiner]

I have been a customer of Dish for over 3 years now. I subscribe to the Dish 120 w/locals and the HD package. I currently have an 811 receiver that is my primary receiver. I am interested in upgrading to the Vip 622 and I have called Dish a couple of times to see what they can do. Dish keeps saying that I have to pay the full price to get the new receiver.. I told them that I would be willing to lease the box as well as trade my current 811 in. They still say that I need to pay full price.

So I called Comcast to see what they could do for me. They are willing to upgrade me for free, to a DVR and HD receiver as well as their 200 channel package and I will be saving about 20 bucks a month over all. I enjoy Dish and I don't really want the hassle of having to switch, but at the sametime, I am pretty frustrated that Dish isn't willing to work with me. Suggestions anyone?

In an unrelated question, I have a Toshiba widescreen TV and the stretch option kinda sucks with the 811, is it any better with the 622?

The question is for how long? 3 months, 6 months, 1 year?

I have been a retailer for years and everyday I see customers switch services over a few dollars. The question is what are you really saving? So lets say Comcast is saving you $20/mo over DISH Network for 1 year. After the year the rates expire and your now gonna spend more than what you where paying with Dish. The actual savings over 12 months is only $120!!!!

I can think of several ways I can easily spend $120 in a matter of a few minutes going to the computer store or going out on Friday night.

The savings are just not there, considering Dish has more HD content and way better equipment and hardware.

Now on the other hand I have SBC phone service, and I play the game every year because the savings are $800/mo on a $5000 phone bill. Makes a big difference!