Upfront fee

[kslick]

Just got done with chatting with a CSR and was wanting to upgrade to 722k. They want $100 upfront fee and a 24 month agreement. I have no problem (well not really) doing the 24 month but $100 no thanks. Is this the common practice or do I need to do something different.

Thanks.

 

[whatchel1]

Just got done with chatting with a CSR and was wanting to upgrade to 722k. They want $100 upfront fee and a 24 month agreement. I have no problem (well not really) doing the 24 month but $100 no thanks. Is this the common practice or do I need to do something different.

Thanks.

Most likely it is. D* wanted 300 for my brother to upgrade. So he went to E*, don't know what they ask now.

 

[MattG@DISH]

Receiver upgrade charges are normal. If you want to PM your account number or phone number, I can confirm it for you.

 

[stardust3]

I can say 1st hand from working retail that I see many customers fall into this plan "B" category. A $100.00 & 24 month commitment, this is very common. Some go for it, some don't. My own opinion is, "why pay anything for an upgrade"? If you're going to sign a 24 month agreement it is my opinion to switch providers & upgrade all your equipment, jump on the new customer promos, & get a free standard install.
This an arguable subject, but both sat providers are so close in price & equipment that the playing field imo is pretty much even.

 

[whatchel1]

Dish retention dept might help but not sure. You would have to talk to them to find out. The real reason is they have to put in an entire new dish & peak it up along w/ the new HD DVR. You might go w/ what Matt G suggested in another thread. http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-network-forum/241313-hd-programming-sat-129-required.html Thought he would give you the same advice here.

 

[garys]

Once you are a subscriber, upfront fees are normal. Unless your receivers are outdated and must be placed out of service (like the old 921 receiver) you need to pay the fee to get a new(er) HD receiver.

 

[kslick]

Thanks everyone. I get that they have to come out and switch boxes but when I signed up I got all that waved and the good prices for 12 months. Now that I'm a customer all that goes away. Meaning if I have to sign a new 2 year agreement and not get the good rates then the 100 fee should be waived for staying a customer for 2 more years. Does this make sense?

 

[navychop]

They are in business to make money. They provide a far better box than you're likely to get from a cableco. AND- they have sometimes charged $200, so $100 is not unreasonable. If they did not charge some upfront fees for people wanting to upgrade their equipment, I'm sure they'd have to increase monthly rates. Charge people wanting more, or charge everybody. One way or another, they need to bring in the money.

 

[kslick]

They are in business to make money. They provide a far better box than you're likely to get from a cableco. AND- they have sometimes charged $200, so $100 is not unreasonable. If they did not charge some upfront fees for people wanting to upgrade their equipment, I'm sure they'd have to increase monthly rates. Charge people wanting more, or charge everybody. One way or another, they need to bring in the money.

And they are by having me sign another 2 year agreement.

 

[garys]

If you don't sign on for two years, the cost of the receiver would be a lot more than the $100.

 

[Sundown]

"why pay anything for an upgrade"?

Is your existing receiver HD? If it is not then Dish will most likely need to send someone out for the upgrade.

If you now have an HD reciver, then they could simply ship a 722k and you could set it up yourself, and then send back the old reciever. Either way, call dish back and ask to speak with an“account specialists” they are much more accommodating than the usual CSR’s we deal with. That’s what I did when I upgraded and the account specialist I spoke with waved that $100 charge when I agreed to a two year comitment.

 

[kslick]

Is your existing receiver HD? If it is not then Dish will most likely need to send someone out for the upgrade.

If you now have an HD reciver, then they could simply ship a 722k and you could set it up yourself, and then send back the old reciever. Either way, call dish back and ask to speak with an“account specialists” they are much more accommodating than the usual CSR’s we deal with. That’s what I did when I upgraded and the account specialist I spoke with waved that $100 charge when I agreed to a two year comitment.

Thanks for the advice, it worked great!