[VOOM/DISH/OTA] Re: "Activated" Voom Box, how do I verify?

[Steven Rogers]

On Jul 6, 2005, at 9:54 AM, VOOM@yahoogroups.com wrote:

> A new Voom receiver will have
> "receiver not authorized", once you subscribe, it is "activated"; at
> this point, the receiver is offically "activated", even later the
> service is cancelled, no matter what, it is activated (it still
> receive
> and decode signals, but you can't watch it),

If you want to use activated to mean "has the ability to be turned
on" then fine, but I think its pretty clear that all the rest of us
mean by "activated" that it has the ability to actually display OTA
signals.

> it is called "locked" -
> some receivers will have a message, like "Please call Voom to
> subscribe...", you need to call Voom to unlock it. It is confusing,

Not really - we all know that we are talking about being able to
watch OTA with the box, since that the *only* thing that matters.
Whether its called "unlocked" or "activated" is unimportant.

> if you saw one on ebay says "activated", remember to inquire further
> information; technically, the seller is not lying to you.

Yes, technically the seller *is* lying to you, because he is trying
to create a false impression while withholding key information.
Withholding important information that a buyer would use to evaluate
the transaction (like BTW, you can't watch anything on this box) is
lying both legally and morally. If you're writing an engineering
specification, maybe the difference between "activated" and "locked"
matters, but not on this forum, and not with regards to the
legitimacy of a transaction on eBay.

SR





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[david1978]

Look at this definition from AVS HDTV Moderator Ken H, (I'd like to believe a Mod has better idea about it.)
"As long as you can get past the initial activation screen, into the main Voom page, it's been activated."

Debating words does not help. Bottom line is, if you want to buy a Voom for local OTA, ask seller the right question.

 

[Tony N]

Any eBay Seller that represents in any way that the VOOM receiver can receive local stations, and the buyer finds it comes on and says "not activated call VOOM", must refund the purchase price and shipping. If seller refuses the buyer MUST notify eBay and the Federal Trade Commission. It is fraud to sell something for a use it cannot perform. We all must act to stop on-line fraud. It constitutes "Wire-Fraud" and is a serious crime. Just because it is wide spread does not diminish the seriousness.

Some sellers may claim they were not aware of the problem, because they did not test it. However a seller has a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to assure the item selling will work for the intended use unless he states only that it is sold "as-is".
Private sellers may well not be held to as high a standard as commercial sellers, but they still must deal honestly, and that means full refund if the buyer cannot use the item. eBay may only be able to yank the guy off eBay, but even that is worth going after.

 

[thegrod]

All that makes sense but we are talking about a $50 item, do you think the
FTC is going to jump on it? With Ebay, the victim can leave negative
feedback, if the seller is unresponsive in offering a refund, but the
shipping costs are not normally refunded so it's a poor exercise for
everyone. It is much more prudent to thoroughly querie your seller and
check his feedback. Make sure you ask the right questions, etc.
----- Original Message -----
From: <satguys2004@yahoo.com>
To: <VOOM@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 10:13 PM
Subject: [VOOM/DISH/OTA] Re: "Activated" Voom Box, how do I verify?


>
> Any eBay Seller that represents in any way that the VOOM receiver can
> receive local stations, and the buyer finds it comes on and says "not
> activated call VOOM", must refund the purchase price and shipping. If
> seller refuses the buyer MUST notify eBay and the Federal Trade
> Commission. It is fraud to sell something for a use it cannot perform.
> We all must act to stop on-line fraud. It constitutes "Wire-Fraud" and
> is a serious crime. Just because it is wide spread does not diminish
> the seriousness.
>
> Some sellers may claim they were not aware of the problem, because they
> did not test it. However a seller has a legal obligation to take
> reasonable steps to assure the item selling will work for the intended
> use unless he states only that it is sold "as-is".
> Private sellers may well not be held to as high a standard as
> commercial sellers, but they still must deal honestly, and that means
> full refund if the buyer cannot use the item. eBay may only be able to
> yank the guy off eBay, but even that is worth going after.
>
>
> --
> Tony N, Posted this message at http://www.SatelliteGuys.US
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>






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[david1978]

A buyer better asks percise questions, no matter how common sense or law are suppose to be. If a seller lies to you regarding a percise question, then, there is no grey area. But, practically, Voom is not in business any more, activated or non-activated mean nothing - how do you gonna to prove a receiver does not receive Voom stream? Voom stream simply does not exist any more; yes, Dishnetwork is sending it out, you then need to prove Dishnework is sendng exact signals, and you need to subscribe Dishnetwork to verify your receiver is not working correctly. Do you really prepare to do so? If you asked "does it currently receive local HDTV?", someone lies to you, it is obvious. Some ebayers still sell NEW Voom receivers, and give 800 number to subscribe Voom service. How do you pursuit this situation? It was outdated information, does a seller obligated to tell "Voom is over, you are buying a doorstop." I think so, but I doubt it will be a easy task to prove a seller knows (or, not knows); there is also a chance, a seller really does not know Voom is gone. You come to this forum, now you know what to ask and what to avoid; don't buy it when it is uncertain - seller is the one to be blamed, if you STILL bought it, you the buyer is just _______ (you fill the blank).