Is there any hope that DirecTV would offer 'trial periods'

[bdowell]

Something that was discussed in the answers to the poll I put up recently (whether the HR20 is really inferior to the HR10 boxes) is the issue that DirecTV makes customers that get an HR20 -- even if they are existing customers -- accept a two-year commitment in order to get the box, in addition to that 'lease upgrade fee' that many customers (not all, but most) have to pay for the box.

There were a few comments that suggested that DirecTV would be well advised to offer a trial period for the HR20. That is something I'd love to see myself, but I just don't know if they could really pull it off. In order for most customers to get an HR20, those customers need a Dish upgrade and most likely also need a new switch. That's a few hours worth of labor that DirecTV will be giving away if they let customers back out of their commitment because they weren't happy with the HR20.

I could see where perhaps there could be some sort of trial period that let customers pay a much smaller 'restocking fee' and/or 'installation service fee' if they wanted to back out of a commitment. Not the full early termination penalty that the currently would face, but a much smaller, and more reasonable fee of something like $50 - $100 restocking fee that covers the installation work that was done.

At that point DirecTV could offer the opportunity to have the dish removed at the customers expense of say $29 - $49 for the tech to come out and do the work, or just leave the dish in place similarly to how the movers connection program works (leave the dish with the assumption that sooner or later a customer will want to use it).

I know it's not a money back guarantee, but something like this seems better to me than absolutely no refund, and a full two-year commitment or an early termination fee in the several hundred dollar range.

Would something like this ever come to pass though?

[jtn]

Something that was discussed in the answers to the poll I put up recently (whether the HR20 is really inferior to the HR10 boxes) is the issue that DirecTV makes customers that get an HR20 -- even if they are existing customers -- accept a two-year commitment in order to get the box, in addition to that 'lease upgrade fee' that many customers (not all, but most) have to pay for the box.

There were a few comments that suggested that DirecTV would be well advised to offer a trial period for the HR20. That is something I'd love to see myself, but I just don't know if they could really pull it off. In order for most customers to get an HR20, those customers need a Dish upgrade and most likely also need a new switch. That's a few hours worth of labor that DirecTV will be giving away if they let customers back out of their commitment because they weren't happy with the HR20.

I could see where perhaps there could be some sort of trial period that let customers pay a much smaller 'restocking fee' and/or 'installation service fee' if they wanted to back out of a commitment. Not the full early termination penalty that the currently would face, but a much smaller, and more reasonable fee of something like $50 - $100 restocking fee that covers the installation work that was done.

At that point DirecTV could offer the opportunity to have the dish removed at the customers expense of say $29 - $49 for the tech to come out and do the work, or just leave the dish in place similarly to how the movers connection program works (leave the dish with the assumption that sooner or later a customer will want to use it).

I know it's not a money back guarantee, but something like this seems better to me than absolutely no refund, and a full two-year commitment or an early termination fee in the several hundred dollar range.

Would something like this ever come to pass though?

With the leasing, you would only need to send back the receivers. DirecTV will not remove the dish once it's installed regardless of whether you cancel or move. This avoids damage to a roof if it's mounted that way, avoids liability. Remeber the Dish is installed on private property.

I think there already is an early termination fee, but they don't always implement it when there are cancellations, it appears to be a case by case basis.

[bdowell]

With the leasing, you would only need to send back the receivers. DirecTV will not remove the dish once it's installed regardless of whether you cancel or move. This avoids damage to a roof if it's mounted that way, avoids liability. Remeber the Dish is installed on private property.

I think there already is an early termination fee, but they don't always implement it when there are cancellations, it appears to be a case by case basis.
The problem is that most of the time that early termination fee isn't waived at all and customers are left on the hook the entire thing.

[jtn]

The problem is that most of the time that early termination fee isn't waived at all and customers are left on the hook the entire thing.

Exactly true, case by case basis, for instance if they move to an area that a signal cannot be obtained.

[Sirshagg]

Problem #1 - The HR20 is an aquired taste and Tivo converts would most likely send it back immediately.

People who want the new HD channels know they have no choice so they would not need a trial as they have no other option.

[smpjmp]

The early termination fee is also used to reduce back charges to the installers if the account is canceled