Why a $40 Fee to Enable External HD???

[Race]

Does anyone know why there is a $40 fee to "enable" and external HD on the 722?

Oh - and why would there be an HD Enabling fee of $6-per-MONTH on the 722, if you don't get the HD channels?

Thank you.

 

[RandallA]

Because there's a new pig in town, Dish Network. They charge it because they can.

 

[volkodav]

they have to make living some how

 

[NightRyder]

Like any fee any company charges - Because they can.

NightRyder

 

[Tyralak]

Does anyone know why there is a $40 fee to "enable" and external HD on the 722?

Oh - and why would there be an HD Enabling fee of $6-per-MONTH on the 722, if you don't get the HD channels?

Thank you.

The same reason a dog licks his balls. Because he can.

 

[KAB]

It cost to develop EHD support. Got to pass it along. Business 101.
As for the HD fee, if you want an HD receiver, you pay it or get you the HD package.

 

[Peter Parker]

there are no technical reasons for it and no particular tie in to a specific cost. As others have said it si just there.

 

[aperry]

It sucks, but they just do... Dish gets more like the cable company every year.

 

[drdr]

The same reason the bank charges ATM fees. Because they are the bank and you are not.

 

[Minac]

The same reason a dog licks his balls. Because he can.

:haha
:haha

 

[Voyager6]

Because there's a new pig in town, Dish Network. They charge it because they can.

And I'll wait until it is something more reasonable before I activate my EHD.

 

[jokeworm]

And I'll wait until it is something more reasonable before I activate my EHD.

+1 !

 

[SKrueger]

Does anyone know why there is a $40 fee to "enable" and external HD on the 722?

It's not really a fee for enabling, it's the fee you pay to be a beta tester 'cause there are still bugs in the feature.:haha

Saying that, I paid for the feature because I wanted it. Somewhere down the road, I sure Dish will offer it for free (or should I say as a built in hidden cost?) because someone else will start offering the feature without charging for it with their service.

 

[goaliebob99]

It's not really a fee for enabling, it's the fee you pay to be a beta tester 'cause there are still bugs in the feature.:haha

Saying that, I paid for the feature because I wanted it. Somewhere down the road, I sure Dish will offer it for free (or should I say as a built in hidden cost?) because someone else will start offering the feature without charging for it with their service.

Somebody already is. They offer external esata usage instead of usb, but the only thing is, is you loose the internal hard drive all though that might be fixed in the future.

 

[bgsmallwood]

+1 !

+2

 

[Smith P.]

Somebody already is. They offer external esata usage instead of usb, but the only thing is, is you loose the internal hard drive all though that might be fixed in the future.

Actually other two players: cable co and directv; FireWire and eSATA disks allowed w/out fee.

 

[KAB]

And I'll wait until it is something more reasonable before I activate my EHD.

I've long forgotten about spending the $40 because it was worth it!!!

 

[Race]

The same reason the bank charges ATM fees. Because they are the bank and you are not.

There's a difference, though. I don't like ATM fees, but they're charging for a service. Activating a feature in an electronic device and charging $40 for it, is scalping. It's a switch in existing software. $40???

As for the HD enabling fee, the HD service is not being purchased, they are charging a punishment fee for using the DEVICE, not the service. It's because they can. They're taking advantage of us.

The fees really add up.
$6/mo lease fee (and still paying $100 for the receiver after a $100 rebate)

$6/mo HD "enabling" fee (even though HD is not enabled, nor purchased)

$6/mo DVR fee

$6/mo Locals

$40 EHD "enabling" fee.

$53/mo Top 250 package

$20/mo (if you do buy the HD package)

I've had Dish for a long time, but these fees are nickeling-and-diming you to death. Especially since DirecTV charges $9.99 for HD vs. Dish's $20.

The ONLY reason I haven't switched to DirecTV is, they don't have Name-Based-Recording. When they do (hopefully in Jan/Feb), I'll switch.

(I also noticed each time I called Direct asking about packages, etc., it was ALWAYS an English speaking American on the phone. Dish is always in India when I call. Strike two...)


(Guess this ended up being a rant... Sorry to come as a new member and start off on a negative note.)

 

[RandallA]

Not to worry! A lot of us don't agree with the nickle and dime fees either. Some people see a justification for the fee, most of us don't.

 

[steve4810]

I've long forgotten about spending the $40 because it was worth it!!!

Me too!

But I hope they get done with the beta version of the software soon! When compared to the regular DVR management functions it's a kludgey load of crap.

But, hey, it gets the job done so I'm still a happy camper!