You didn't anger me in any way. Like I said in the post you quoted me on I also don't think that the tech should not have do any of this without payment of some sort. I would be OK if D* gave progamming discounts to cover their promises as well.
The trades you mention are not quite the same. Do I call Hunter to schedule time for a electrician to come and install my fan? NO I don't. I call the electrician on my own if it is more than I can handle. Can I order D* and get them to ship the equipment to me for my own installation? No, they now force you to use an installer for their equipment.
On the ceiling fan /trades issue....You are correct..But why should we as technicians be punished for a system that we had nothing to do with setting up?..The work still has to be done and someone has got to pay..BTW you CAN indeed buy your own EQ and install it. Look on here at the plethora of EQ companies that will be more than happy to sell you the EQ and you can self install.
There are always alternatives to the staus quo.
The bottom line is you asked us to come to your home to work. We did not ask you (collectively)..The work must be done. We are being forced to work at set rates if we want the work at all. But the satellite companies do draw the line so that there is free standard work and chargeable non standard work..The underlying issue here whether an $8 an hour clerk had the right to tell you the tech was going to work pro bono. That clerk was way out of bounds. That said, you nor anyone else would even bother to discuss this issue had that clerk not overstepped their authority.
As time passes many good people are leaving the contract end of this business and settng up shop on their own. When they do that, they can rightfully charge what the market will bear. I am workiong toward that goal myself. Left behind will be inexperinced ,uncaring, sloppy, schulbs who don't give sh*t about your home or their job..If you think I am being dramatic, ask around..Find out what type of people the satellite companies themsleves are hiring. The pay rates are so low, you have to scratch your head trying to figure out how they get these guys in the door..It's easy, they hire people as long as they have a pulse..
There are some very good company techs oput there and I in no intend to impune their work or character. But you can ask them, they too will tell you the above is not far from the truth..At the end of the day, you get what you pay for..If you want a discounted or free of charge job, that will be the quality of the work.