View Full Version : Is it true what I have heard or been told
good morning, i purchased my 5 lnb and reciever in 11-2005, ok, but have seen it, been told that,""directv no longer allow customers to own their equipment, (unless you buy it yourself) they now only lease-rent the equipment to you so you can see their programming packages.
is IT TRUE.?
If it is think I'll be leary of buying new exuipment or upgrading hardware from DTV.
and i have the HD package,with the converter.:(
Michael D'Angelo
10-01-07, 09:05 AM
As of March 2006 DirecTV started leasing their receiver's.
You are still able to buy them still but it is a lot more.
The $299 price for the HR20 is a leased price. If you would like to buy it you would have to pay DirecTV I believe it is $749. I am not sure of the price on the other receiver's to own them.
As of March 2006 DirecTV started leasing their receiver's.
You are still able to buy them still but it is a lot more.
The $299 price for the HR20 is a leased price. If you would like to buy it you would have to pay DirecTV I believe it is $749. I am not sure of the price on the other receiver's to own them.
:eek2: :nono2: the hr 20 is the the one that does the recoring also right?
is that per month, geeze i hope that at that price, it would included free copying or d/l.
Michael D'Angelo
10-01-07, 09:20 AM
:eek2: :nono2: the hr 20 is the the one that does the recoring also right?
is that per month, geeze i hope that at that price, it would included free copying or d/l.
Yes the HR20 is the HD DVR.
As far as per month fee it is the same as it was before with any receiver after the first one on the account. It is just called leased fee now instead of mirror fee.
The first one is free and than it is a $4.99 fee per month on all other receivers on the account. The only difference is you have to pay your state sales tax on leased receivers.
Now the difference between owned and leased is if you deactivate the receiver you have to send it back to DirecTV. It is not yours to keep or sell. If it is not returned it to DirecTV you will get a bill for the price of the unit to own it.
playboy1972
10-01-07, 09:22 AM
Why would you want to buy them? These things will constantly get replaced every 2 or 3 years with the technology progressing the way it is. Plus with the 5.99 service contract you can always replace both if they are damaged. I know ownership seems good, but with D* you will always see change.
Stuart Sweet
10-01-07, 09:24 AM
Really, it's all accounting magic. For the most part DIRECTV receivers have no residual value, with the exception of HR10s which, although they've depreciated 90%, still fetch $100 or so. Most other receivers end up in people's closets or garages after they update.
Leasing is beneficial for three reasons:
(1) The accounting benefit helps DIRECTV's bottom line. I'm no accountant but I'm sure someone else can explain it.
(2) They can refurb the unused/unwanted equipment and it will still work. AT&T did this for decades and it must have saved them a ton.
(3) The benefit to the consumer is, there is no electronic waste to dispose of. In California it's illegal to put electronic waste in landfills and when you purchase you have to pay a disposal fee to cover recycling. Then you have to figure out where to recycle, and that's the big problem right now.
Also with a lease your upfront cost is usually lower. The only downside I can think of is, you can't "customize" your receiver. Big deal, I say, I'm fine with it as is.
The HR20 is $299 up front for a lease. That's a 1-time fee.
I guess my question would be this, if I do not have the $5.99 service contract and one of my receivers take a dump, since it is leased equipment, will D* replace it @ "no cost" or will I have to pay the $99 or $199 depending on which one it is?
Thanks,
Jon
Michael D'Angelo
10-01-07, 10:34 AM
I guess my question would be this, if I do not have the $5.99 service contract and one of my receivers take a dump, since it is leased equipment, will D* replace it @ "no cost" or will I have to pay the $99 or $199 depending on which one it is?
Thanks,
Jon
You will have to pay $19.95 for shipping and sign a new 2 year contract.
With the protection plan it is free and no new contract.
DishCSR
10-01-07, 10:37 AM
As of March 2006 DirecTV started leasing their receiver's.
You are still able to buy them still but it is a lot more.
The $299 price for the HR20 is a leased price. If you would like to buy it you would have to pay DirecTV I believe it is $749. I am not sure of the price on the other receiver's to own them.
lease own
standard 69.00 149.00
hd 99.00 349.00
dvr 99.00 349.00
hd-dvr 299.00 749.00
if you pay full price to own , then there is no committment
if you lease then it's 1 yr for standard and 2 yrs for hd,dvr, and hd-dvr
You will have to pay $19.95 for shipping and sign a new 2 year contract.
With the protection plan it is free and no new contract.
this in my opinion is a scam. directv charges you $200 to *lease* equipment that they own, requiring you to pay the monthly fees and sign a 2 year contract. if it breaks 1.5 years into the contract, they won't replace it for free even though they own it. instead they want you to pay for buy a new one and get a new 2 yr contract. ...the only way around this is paying $6/mo for "protection" of the equipment? gimme a break. i don't see this flying for too long.
and yes they're "only" charging you $200 for the ability to lease the equipment, but do they really think people are going to upgrade them every 2-3 years and pay that? i don't, and think they'd have to be nuts to think so. it's not a computer, most people don't even upgrade computers that often. ...if they force customers to upgrade that's just another reason to switch to cable, where there aren't any equipment costs (except maybe a $5-10/mo rental fee, that directv also charges) ...
this in my opinion is a scam. directv charges you $200 to *lease* equipment that they own, requiring you to pay the monthly fees and sign a 2 year contract. if it breaks 1.5 years into the contract, they won't replace it for free even though they own it. instead they want you to pay for buy a new one and get a new 2 yr contract. ...the only way around this is paying $6/mo for "protection" of the equipment? gimme a break. i don't see this flying for too long.
and yes they're "only" charging you $200 for the ability to lease the equipment, but do they really think people are going to upgrade them every 2-3 years and pay that? i don't, and think they'd have to be nuts to think so. it's not a computer, most people don't even upgrade computers that often. ...if they force customers to upgrade that's just another reason to switch to cable, where there aren't any equipment costs (except maybe a $5-10/mo rental fee, that directv also charges) ...
Yeah, I was glad to have been able to sell my HR10 online. Now with a lease, you can't do that. Their upfront least fee is not very fair IMO, when the cable companies give you their rentals without for free.
alwayscool
10-01-07, 10:52 AM
this in my opinion is a scam. directv charges you $200 to *lease* equipment that they own, requiring you to pay the monthly fees and sign a 2 year contract. if it breaks 1.5 years into the contract, they won't replace it for free even though they own it. instead they want you to pay for buy a new one and get a new 2 yr contract. ...the only way around this is paying $6/mo for "protection" of the equipment? gimme a break. i don't see this flying for too long.
and yes they're "only" charging you $200 for the ability to lease the equipment, but do they really think people are going to upgrade them every 2-3 years and pay that? i don't, and think they'd have to be nuts to think so. it's not a computer, most people don't even upgrade computers that often. ...if they force customers to upgrade that's just another reason to switch to cable, where there aren't any equipment costs (except maybe a $5-10/mo rental fee, that directv also charges) ...
Dude I pay $130.00 per month on my subscription. I got my HR20-700 for free! ( Actually I had to pay $21.00 shipping, but they gave me a $60.00 credit.) So they ended up PAYING ME $39.00 to upgrade!!!:D The lease fee has replaced the additional receiver fee, so you come out even.
this in my opinion is a scam. directv charges you $200 to *lease* equipment that they own, requiring you to pay the monthly fees and sign a 2 year contract. if it breaks 1.5 years into the contract, they won't replace it for free even though they own it. instead they want you to pay for buy a new one and get a new 2 yr contract. ...the only way around this is paying $6/mo for "protection" of the equipment? gimme a break. i don't see this flying for too long.
and yes they're "only" charging you $200 for the ability to lease the equipment, but do they really think people are going to upgrade them every 2-3 years and pay that? i don't, and think they'd have to be nuts to think so. it's not a computer, most people don't even upgrade computers that often. ...if they force customers to upgrade that's just another reason to switch to cable, where there aren't any equipment costs (except maybe a $5-10/mo rental fee, that directv also charges) ...
Forgive me for sounding stupid....but this sounds exactly like a car lease, with the exception of extending the contract. It is what it is. I guess you either pay for it the way they want, or you do without.
hilmar2k
10-01-07, 11:04 AM
this in my opinion is a scam. directv charges you $200 to *lease* equipment that they own, requiring you to pay the monthly fees and sign a 2 year contract. if it breaks 1.5 years into the contract, they won't replace it for free even though they own it. instead they want you to pay for buy a new one and get a new 2 yr contract. ...the only way around this is paying $6/mo for "protection" of the equipment? gimme a break. i don't see this flying for too long.
and yes they're "only" charging you $200 for the ability to lease the equipment, but do they really think people are going to upgrade them every 2-3 years and pay that? i don't, and think they'd have to be nuts to think so. it's not a computer, most people don't even upgrade computers that often. ...if they force customers to upgrade that's just another reason to switch to cable, where there aren't any equipment costs (except maybe a $5-10/mo rental fee, that directv also charges) ...
If they didn't charge the upfront cost (e.g. $299), then the monthly fee would be much higher. D* can't just "give away" $750 receivers. And the bottom line is this, since they eliminated the mirror fee, you are leasing for free, if it isn't your only receiver. Also, if it breaks, they do replace the receiver, they just ask that you pay for shipping. I guess since I plan to have D* forever, the new 2 year contract is not a big deal to me. I guess it might be for some, however. For those people, they can shell out the $749 and own their HR20. If they cancel with D*, they can sell it on eBay.
It is what it is. I guess you either pay for it the way they want
..you can't compare a car lease industry to the cable/satellite industry. they're not the same. also, if i lease a car and it breaks 2 years in, it is under warranty and i'm not paying them to repair it. directv isn't providing any sort of warranty on leased equipment and if it breaks you're SOL.
or you do without.
..or go to any number of DirecTV's competitors which don't have such practices (and given the amount of competition, won't)
Stuart Sweet
10-01-07, 11:08 AM
True, cable companies don't itemize the cost of the equipment so it seems free, but you can bet you're paying somehow.
D* can't just "give away" $750 receivers. Also, if it breaks, they do replace the receiver, they just ask that you pay for shipping. If they cancel with D*, they can sell it on eBay.
....is comcast able to get HD DVRs for less than $750? how so? how does tivo do this? neither have nearly the cost of directv's upfront, but the product is relatively the same.
if it breaks, directtv doesn't replace it for just $20....i've gotten calls from directv CSRs trying to sell protection plans for my leased equipment, telling me if i didn't pay $6/mo to protect it there was no warranty whatsoever on the leased equipment. so whether or not this is true, directv is calling and telling it's customers this, and i'm sure some are paying for it with this expectation. i've heard others on this board confirm that this (no warranty on leased equipment) is true.
selling on ebay... basically directv has made the boxes useless, since people buying them have little to no incentive anymore. if i buy an HD DVR on ebay it will cost me relatively the same cost (including a 2 year contract from what i gather) just to activate it and keep it active. ... i have a non-hd DVR sitting in a closet because of this. it has no value ($20 maybe?), and directv doesn't even want it back.
True, cable companies don't itemize the cost of the equipment so it seems free, but you can bet you're paying somehow.
Great way to look at it Stuart. Cable companies are getting their money from you for their equipment too, they just don't make it public or display it to the customer.
hilmar2k
10-01-07, 11:14 AM
....is comcast able to get HD DVRs for less than $750? how so? how does tivo do this? neither have nearly the cost of directv's upfront, but the product is relatively the same.
if it breaks, directtv doesn't replace it for just $20....i've gotten calls from directv CSRs trying to sell protection plans for my leased equipment, telling me if i didn't pay $6/mo to protect it there was no warranty whatsoever on the leased equipment. so whether or not this is true, directv is calling and telling it's customers this, and i'm sure some are paying for it with this expectation. i've heard others on this board confirm that this (no warranty on leased equipment) is true.
selling on ebay... basically directv has made the boxes useless, since people buying them have little to no incentive anymore. if i buy an HD DVR on ebay it will cost me relatively the same cost (including a 2 year contract from what i gather) just to activate it and keep it active. ... i have a non-hd DVR sitting in a closet because of this. it has no value ($20 maybe?), and directv doesn't even want it back.
I have not heard of anyone having trouble getting a HR20 replaced outside of the 90 day warranty.
As far as eBay, how has D* made the boxes useless? It seems you are clammoring to own one. Seems to me that if you found one on eBay for $200 you would and should be all over it.
I have not heard of anyone having trouble getting a HR20 replaced outside of the 90 day warranty.
As far as eBay, how has D* made the boxes useless? It seems you are clammoring to own one. Seems to me that if you found one on eBay for $200 you would and should be all over it.
re the warranty... this is troubling given what D*'s CSRs are calling people up and saying. i'm a pretty educated consumer and if I didn't think it was complete bullcrap, probably would've paid the $6/mo to "protect" my equipment so I wasn't stuck paying for it if the hard drive crashed 1.5 years out. luckily i can smell bull*** and regardless of what they said I wouldn't be paying D* to fix equipment i don't own. but others i'm sure do. probably thousnads. it reminds me of the little old lady who is still paying $15/mo to rent her rotary phone from the telephone company simply because she doesn't know any better.
from another thread on the subject, if you call to activate a box you own, they're making you extend your contract 2 years. i have heard others claiming this too. don't know the credibility of it, but it's been said numerous times on other forums too.
i have nothing against directv trying to make money, but their policies on leasing are very confusing and i think almost purposely so. and i can't imagine the average consumer has any leverage when negotiating since it takes HOURS of research to really learn what they do and how to get a decent, fair deal. as far as cable companies hiding the cost of the box somehow, maybe it's a better tactic. i really shouldn't have to spend 6 hours negotiating how to not get ripped off just to watch TV. i'd much prefer it masked into the cost somehow. (though how is it masked in the cost of cable? my monthly at comcast would be nearly exactly the same $ as directv with a $50 up front installation cost).
I think they are confusing policies and you don't always get the straight answer when you have to have something replaced. I had to have a regular DVR replaced and they did try to charge me full price for it again even though I was returning the one that they had sent me. Eventually and several calls later all i paid was $19.99 shipping which IMO is still a rip. Cable companies do not charge for theirs at all. I don't mind the up front cost since it's a one time fee, but I shouldn't have to pay the shipping on it also if it goes bad later on down the road. That and making me extend a contract is upsetting to me. I already have a contract and your equipment broke so why do I have to extend my contract? Not that I plan on leaving...it just doesn't make sense to me.
Slip Jigs
10-01-07, 11:56 AM
When I first called to order D*. I asked about the leasing plan and after the explanation, I still didn't understand it. What didn't make sense at the time was the term of the lease - in other words, I pay 299 now and that parys for the lease for how long? What happens after that time is up?
But it doesn't work like that - basically, the 299 is a one time fee, and technically if for an indefinate term.
So no matter how you cut it - you have service, equipment and maintenance. It just makes no sense to own the equipment that uselesse without the service and be responsible for all maintenance and repair at the same time.
It would make more sense to just build in the cost of the lease and service into the monthly HD access fee = but that would be about 10 - 15 dollars more a month. My guess why they don't do it that way is it would seem less competitive to advertise it that way - 9.99 appears much more competitive!
mckeemike505
10-01-07, 11:58 AM
The way that I own one of my 3 HR20's is that they had to replace my HR10-250 under protection plan and they sent me a HR20 so I called and they sent me to the access card division I believe it was called and turned it into an owned HR20 so yes it is possible but only under cases like this. The other 2 HR20's are leased. Really no big deal or difference as far as I am concerned other than I wouldn't have to return if I ever decided to leave D* but it would be worthless except for maybe selling on ebay or something. But I have had D* or many a years and have been extremely happy with them.
Milominderbinder2
10-01-07, 12:04 PM
Dude I pay $130.00 per month on my subscription. I got my HR20-700 for free! ( Actually I had to pay $21.00 shipping, but they gave me a $60.00 credit.) So they ended up PAYING ME $39.00 to upgrade!!!:D The lease fee has replaced the additional receiver fee, so you come out even.
Here is how people are getting the $99 - $199 deals on the HR20 (sometimes $19):
What the Deals are, and what are you being told by CSR? (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=1174192#post1174192)
Here is the math on Buy vs. Lease. Even if you don't know the trick, you only pay $300 for the front-end on the lease. You also have a 24 month buyout at $12.50 a month. So if a year from now you want out of your contract you pay a $150 buyout. That's $450 total. Or you could pay $750 and not have a lease buyout.
Hmmm... Pay $750 or pay $450?
Say it instead dies after 12 months. On the lease plan you pay $19 for the replacement, $319 total so far. On the purchase plan, you pay $749 again for a total of $1,498 so far.
At some point the HR20 will become obsolete just like the old SD receivers. So you are only renting it no matter what you do, just ask an HR10 owner. They paid as much as $1000 to buy HR10's that turned out to be 3 year rentals.
I think Archie Bunker would say buying a satellite receiver is like buying beer:
Beer: you can't buy it. You can only rent it.
- Craig
Milominderbinder2
10-01-07, 12:09 PM
It would make more sense to just build in the cost of the lease and service into the monthly HD access fee = but that would be about 10 - 15 dollars more a month...
Please be careful what you ask for.
I just got my second HR20 for free. On top of it they gave programming credits.
Why would I want to pay an extra $10-15 a month instead of getting it for free?
Even after the new HD Channels launched people are routinely still getting the HR20 for $99. You are asking that they pay that amount every 6 months, not just once.
If you get your wish it could hurt a lot of people.
- Craig
I have NOTHING AGAINST leaseing equipment for a "'RESONABLE fee, but The $299 price for the HR20 is a leased price, don't you think thats kinda steep for a leasing fee,
I mean your paying a rent our equipment fee, then your paying a program package fee,
as far as value, I still have my H10 in a box, when i upgraded to the 5 lnb & H20, as a courtsey, sent it back to DTV & in 2 weeks they sent it back to me saying i owned the equipment so doubt IF i would put out $300.00 that I'll never own just to watch a programing package that I am paying for.
clato,
thanks for all the great insight/ info
MizzouTiger
10-01-07, 12:57 PM
Okay, I still don't get why some people are having issues with "leasing" the receiver over owning it. To me, it's really just semantics. There is no additional "lease" cost per month for the 1st receiver. If you have 2 or more receivers, they still charge the same amount per month for each additional receiver -- they just changed the name from "Mirror Fee" to "Lease Fee".
Tell me, what do you see the benefit being of "owning" the receiver over "leasing" it? If you own it and there is a problem with it and you don't have the protection plan, what is it going to cost you to get it repaired or replaced? Quite a bit more money, right? From the other posts, if you lease your receiver and don't have the protection plan and have a problem with the receiver, it appears it's only going to cost you about $20 to get it repaired/replaced. Okay, let's say you have the protection plan for your "owned" receiver. You're covered now -- no additional money out of your pocket to repair/replace it. Same thing if you leased it and had the protection plan.
Okay, now, let's look at the cost of leasing versus buying. I myself had been wanting to get an HR10 for the last few years, but there was no way I was going to spend the kind of money they were selling for to get one -- wasn't worth it in my opinion. I mean, they orignally started out around $1000 and were slowly coming down, but not far and fast enough for me. So then, in January I saw I could get an HR20 for $300. I decided to take the plunge into HiDef DVR'ing. Now, this was before I found this forum and if I had found DBSTalk before ordering my HR20, I'm sure I could have gotten it for a lot less than the $300 I paid - but I still felt $300 was better than I had seen in the past for the HR10. In fact, I just ordered my 2nd HR20 yesterday for $99 plus $20 shipping but with free HD Access for a year with the net effect of getting it for free. So, if you want to "buy" your HR20, as has been posted, it will cost you upwards of $750. If you have multiple receivers, you're still going to have to pay $5 per month for each additional receiver. So what's the benefit of owning your receiver other than your wallet is now quite a bit lighter?
Well, now you're going to say you don't like the 2 year committment. Why not? Are you afraid of committments? What is your concern? That D* is going to raise their rates over that 2 year period? I'm sure they will. Almost commodity and service goes up in price over time. The services of the company I work for (a construction company) raises it's labor rates every year, if not more often, to account for wage, fuel, and material increases. So what if D* raises their rates - do you think you will find a better deal elsewhere like with E* or cable? You probably will - for now. But you can bet that they are going to have rate increases as well. And what are you going to do then - just keep jumping around from provider to provider? I guess that's okay for some people, but I don't care for that. And when you change providers, what are you going to do with the D* equipment that you know own? Can't use it with E* or cable. Guess you could try to sell it, but you're going to take a loss on it from what you paid out of pocket because people know they can currently get it for $300 max and more than likely for a lot less if not free.
I'm not sure why I'm ranting about this - I just get tired of people complaining about the whole lease thing when I really don't think they have thought everything through completely. You know, do what you want. If you want to own the receiver, then buy it for what it costs. Oh, by the way, I think I remember a post up above asking something about "how does Tivo do it". Well if you look on Tivo's website you will see that their HD DVR with 2 tuners still runs about $600. Not that far off of what you need to pay D* to own an HR20.
I'll get off of my soapbox now. Have to get back to work.
CCarncross
10-01-07, 01:03 PM
To all of you not happy with the pricing/leasing structure, go with another provider and quit complaining already. Either you want the services/equipment from D*, or you get your tv service from someone else. Its that simple. They have decided that the lease for an HDDVR is $299 upfront, you can buy for $750, its your choice.
Milominderbinder2
10-01-07, 01:16 PM
I have NOTHING AGAINST leaseing equipment for a "'RESONABLE fee, but The $299 price for the HR20 is a leased price, don't you think thats kinda steep for a leasing fee...
Clato,
Please take a look at the prior post:
Here is how people are getting the $99 - $199 deals on the HR20 (sometimes $19):
What the Deals are, and what are you being told by CSR? (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=1174192#post1174192)
No one using those tips from that thread is paying $299.
I think you will be pleasantly surprise if you look at that thread.
- Craig
Well, now you're going to say you don't like the 2 year committment. Why not?
Wrong, I did the 1 committment. in the beginning then 5+ more,and now (in November) i'll be done with the 2 yr committment. plan, thats doesn't mean, i'am going to leave DTV, if i find something good or i like I stay with it & forsaken all others,[/B]
And what are you going to do then - just keep jumping around from provider to provider?
explained above.
HD DVR with 2 tuners still runs about $600. Not that far off of what you need to pay D* to own an HR20.
thats just the reason i went out & purchased a stand alone, DVD player-burner/ VCR player-recorder for just under what the Tivo unit cost.
and i would think that is just the reason dtv or anyone else has UP ed the cost of leasing cost because so many have gotten the equipment from DTV & said bye bye to DTV without paying a bill.
so the bad people hurt everyone else,
another example, when swbell/sbc just started with dsl service for a 2 yr committment, they gace you a FREE compaq desktop computer with w98se,(yea i got one & its still be used by neighbors daughter) but thats stopped after 3 months, people got the computer & said bye bye swbell,..
from another thread on the subject, if you call to activate a box you own, they're making you extend your contract 2 years. i have heard others claiming this too. don't know the credibility of it, but it's been said numerous times on other forums too.
I recently reactivated an owned H20 and she starts into the 2 year commitment but I remind her I own this box and she looks up that it was active previously and says ok no commitment. They did get a new 2 year a month later as I just got an HR 20 :D
primetime
10-01-07, 02:17 PM
Mizzou Tiger I think you hit perfectly on this leasing complaint. It really isn't that big of deal to lease vs. own.
I used to own an HR10 for my living room TV, the hard drive died. I call D*, went through all the checks and reboot attempts with the CSR and they said they would replace it with an HR20 for 19.95 shipping if I gave them the HR10 I owned. I said sure because why wouldn't I trade a broken piece of equipment I owned for a working one even if I now didn't own the new one. My bill didn't change I just now pay a leasing fee instead of a mirror fee but it is the same $ amount.
When I upgraded my theatre room from another HR10 to the HR20 I was able to get the new 5 LNB dish and HR20 for $99 shipped and installed. Not a bad deal in my book considering that if I switch to cable the install charges they come up with are about $100 and my monthly fees would be higher for running 3 DVR's in the house. D* only charges the DVR fee once no matter how many DVR's are running. I never seem to see anyone mention the install fees that cable companies charge when complaining about the upfront cost of D* receivers.
I still own a couple old SD non DVR RCA receivers for DirecTV, owning them isn't doing me a whole lot of good. My guess is that in the near future the final HR10 I own will be just as worthless unless I can get D* to let me trade it for an HR20 again. If they do I will gladly give up ownership of an obsolete piece of equipment for a leased current piece of equipment in a heartbeat.
spunkyvision
10-01-07, 02:26 PM
At first I was a little agitated with the whole "lease vs Own" deal but I don't really care anymore.
I had Cox and Directv at the same time because I couldnt get locals in HD except on Cox.
I was fortunate I guess because the First HR20 I "leased" cost me $0.00 and the 2nd one 8 months later cost $199 but I got $221 in credits so i came out ahead.
With Cox, yes there was no up front fee but I was paying $9.99 for DVR Service + I had to upgrade from Analog to Digital was $9.99 x 2 (2 receivers) + DVR Receiver fee of $5.95 and extra some other bogus charges.
The cost ended up being over $50 a month more than my previous analog service.
With DTV I pay $9.99 for HD and $4.99 for each receiver.
I dropped Cox (hd and others) after a month and only have Basic cable now.
I recently reactivated an owned H20 and she starts into the 2 year commitment but I remind her I own this box and she looks up that it was active previously and says ok no commitment. They did get a new 2 year a month later as I just got an HR 20 :D
did you have to put the $$$$$ upfront for it,(lease) also when you turn the equipment back in do you get the $300.00 back.
Stuart Sweet
10-01-07, 02:59 PM
You don't get the money back when you return it, just as you don't get the money back when you end a lease on an apartment or car.
MizzouTiger
10-01-07, 03:10 PM
Maybe we can get D* to change it from "leasing" to "temporarily owning". That may make the people complaining about having to pay a lease upgrade fee more comfortable thinking that they "own" the equipment for as long as they have D* service. And if they ever leave D*, they have to turn the equipment back over to them -- because, what else are they going to do with the equipment if they don't have D* service?
WOW!!! A lot of passion on both sides of this issue. RELAX PEOPLE.
morgantown
10-01-07, 07:09 PM
WOW!!! A lot of passion on both sides of this issue. RELAX PEOPLE.
+1.
If you have been a decent customer (CSR roulette not withstanding) you in actuality do much better than $299 -- as mentioned before. As far as the commitment, time your purchases if you are thinking about leaving. Heck, getting most cell phone contracts are a two year commitment.
The biggest reason for all of this is as Stuart pointed out a page of posts ago -- DIRECTV's accounting and making their books look better. By the way, when their books look better they can get credit much cheaper to by more satellites and invest in other goodies that we all like :).
I used to care a bunch especially when the lease program kicked in. Now, it is just what it is... The only result of getting all worked up about it is you are all worked up.
They are not going to change back to owning, the financial impact would be too great and cause The Street to have such a hissy fit-our consternation would be trivial in comparison.
..you can't compare a car lease industry to the cable/satellite industry. they're not the same. also, if i lease a car and it breaks 2 years in, it is under warranty and i'm not paying them to repair it. directv isn't providing any sort of warranty on leased equipment and if it breaks you're SOL.
Well, I think they're actually quite similar. You are responsible for buying new tires, gas, oil, insurance (similar to the 5.99 protection plan.) People don't complain about cars nearly as much as they complain about equipment and programming as they do on this site.
..or go to any number of DirecTV's competitors which don't have such practices (and given the amount of competition, won't)
Which I'm sure has their own sets of criteria and problems. I don't think there is one company out there who pleases everyone.
You will have to pay $19.95 for shipping and sign a new 2 year contract.
With the protection plan it is free and no new contract.
What???
I have the protection plan and when I had to get my HR20 replaced I was told I had to pay the 19.95 shipping. This was just this summer too.
You don't get the money back when you return it, just as you don't get the money back when you end a lease on an apartment o.
so your giving DTV $300.00 to rent their own equipment,plus the cost of the programing pack.
just as you don't get the money back when you end a lease on an apartment not critizing, but
don't know where your from but heree it is in most any least, for machinery,equipment, or even apts. if you return the equip or apt in clean good condition ,except for normal wear & tear you get part or most of your deposit back..
aramus8
10-01-07, 08:27 PM
I read somewhere recently that it costs D* over $600 in total equipment and labor expenses to get a new HD customer up and running. Maybe they should just charge the full install price up front. When they charge you $299, it still takes them several months to recoup the install costs. If they don't meet expenses, we don't get signal!!
racermd
10-01-07, 09:46 PM
It appears to me (as just a customer) that leasing has two consequences:
1: If the box needs to be replaced for any reason (except user-induced damage), a refurb unit will be sent. Might have to pay for shipping.
2: When canceling service, the box must be returned to D* or get billed for the replacement cost.
3: Minimum contract length.
Other than not being able to keep the box if/when I cancel and maybe getting hit with an ETF if I cancel early, I don't see much of a problem or a difference compared to owning.
paulman182
10-02-07, 07:14 AM
re the warranty... this is troubling given what D*'s CSRs are calling people up and saying. i'm a pretty educated consumer and if I didn't think it was complete bullcrap, probably would've paid the $6/mo to "protect" my equipment so I wasn't stuck paying for it if the hard drive crashed 1.5 years out. luckily i can smell bull*** and regardless of what they said I wouldn't be paying D* to fix equipment i don't own. but others i'm sure do. probably thousnads. it reminds me of the little old lady who is still paying $15/mo to rent her rotary phone from the telephone company simply because she doesn't know any better.
I keep the plan as much for the dish and cabling as the receivers. I have a total of about 600 feet of RG6, the multiswitch, 5LNB dish, and 5 active receivers.
They specifically mention that power surges are covered. Although one of my HR20s is on a UPS, this is a big deal for me. If I had no protection plan and all five of my receivers went out due to a power surge, what do you think D* would say?
vBulletin® v3.7.6, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.