Getting through to Charlie

[shilton]

The chat is tonight. Does anyone know the secret or have any tips for getting through to Charlie? I tried calling twice before and always got operators, but never actually got to talk to Charlie. I always get a "hey, we are sorry Charlie could not take your call but I can help you". If I thought the CSR's could always help me, why would I want to call Charlie in the First place? Even tried emailing the chat before and my mail never seems to get picked. Does anyone know something I don't???

[Scott Greczkowski]

Wish I had an idea for you but I dont. While we would all love Charlie to answer our power user questions one thing we must accept is that the Charlie Chat is a marketing show, not a customer support show. So when they reject your call its because your question does not help them market anything.

BTW we always have a contest in our Live Chats, call and get on the air and mention DBSTalk.COM and win any DVD you want (up to $30 value)

So far no one has made it on the air and the only time DBSTalk.COM has been mentioned on the air was one time Marc Jackson mentioned us (and he didn't want a DVD) :D

[STXJim]

It worked for me once so I know it might possibly work for you.
Its the old 'bait and switch' routine.
Tell the operator you have a (lame) guestion about something you know he won't mind answering. Maybe to clearify something he has already mentioned.
If you get through; then clobber him with your REAL question.
Remember its live TV and you are on the air.
PS> I don't think Charlie will take any questions about Credit Card AutoPay so I would avoid that subject.:D

[John Corn]

I think the Charlie Chat does provide some customer support, just not much for the most of us here.

[Jacob S]

If we all figure out the 'secret tricks' then we would all figure it out and then it would not be secret tricks anymore. I think what was mentioned above about bait and switch is your best bet, that is what I thought about doing before. Or maybe actually ask the question then ask another one because some go 'i got another question for ya' intead of asking because then it would look bad on their part to tell you 'now you cannot ask another question'. Think about it.

I would mention dbstalk for nothing, just to get some more people on this site to advertise it and say that I am a member of it. Has anybody been successful mentioning this site yet? Why can't we get Dish to mention this site on channel 101 before the Charlie Chat airs, saying that there is a live chat online during this chat like they did with the retailer chat - on the webtv dishplayers (do they still do that?) and why not have Dish put up our link right before and after the chat (those are the people we should target, those that want to keep up on this stuff) and post it on channel 101 often.

[Bob Haller]

Well a sure way to NOT get on is to have complaints on your account oir any mention of the DP. Both sure death to getting on the air. Now ask about CC auto pay and zing them:)