Reciever Cost Help Please

[omj]

I currently have an HR20 in my family room and one old standard receiver in my daughters room. I called directv because I wanted to add an additional receiver for my bedroom because I am considering buying a new tv to put in there. My original HR20 was free except for shipping. I spoke with a guy and ask him pricing for additional receivers. Another DVR was 199, an HD receiver was 99, and a standard was 69. 69 dollars for a standard receiver. That's crazy. Can someone tell me the cost for breaking your contract. I think it would be a better deal to pay the early cancellation fee and sign up new under my wife's name and receive all the special deals they offer new customers. I can't believe they want you to pay a monthly fee for HD service and pay for the receiver on top of that and then to beat it all you have to pay to lease the receiver. Unbelievable.

[Michael D'Angelo]

I know it was $12.50 per month for every month left on contract. But I think a few weeks ago it went up to $20 a month.

Plus if you did that you would have to return your HR20 because it is a leased unit. So you would need to get that HD DVR again on top of the other two units (whatever ones you want).

I don't even know what or how good the new customer deals are right now on hardware. The last I seen you were able to get an HD receiver or SD DVR and I think up to 3 or 4 SD receivers for free.

[LarryFlowers]

That's fairly normal pricing. You do not tell us how long you have been with D*, what package you have, etc.

My brother who has been with D* for about 5 yrs now, changed over to HD and got the DVR for $199 + a $100 billing credit, reducing the DVR to $99.

However, if you have been with them a long time and you are actually prepared to leave them, you can call back and ask for Customer Retention. State your case clearly and without anger(being nice goes along way to getting deals) and see what kind of deal Retention will offer you. You did not say if you were trying to get a DVR or a receiver and wether it would be SD or HD. Don't expect to get it for free, but you can probably get a better price with some additional programming credits.

Good Luck.

[omj]

I have been with directv over a year. I originally called and asked about the HD DVR but he told me it was about $200. I then asked how much for HD and it was 99. I just don't like the fact that I have been paying 5 dollars a month for dvr service, 9.99 a month for HD service, and 4 dollars a month for the receiver in my daughters room and ask for a receiver to watch HD in my room and they want you to pay more on top of that.

My bill:

Total choice- 47.99
HD Access- 9.99
DVR Service-5.99
Leased receiver-4.99

Total-$68.96

So they want to pay an extra 99 for an HD receiver, an additional 4.99 a month for leasing a new one on top of the lease fee I pay currently, and let's not forget the 9.99 I have been paying a month just to have HD.

[JLucPicard]

The $4.99 a month is a program mirroring fee to mirror your programming to the additional receiver and is - and always has been - charged whether your receiver is leased or owned.

My bill generally comes in from $1 to $20 over $100 a month. You know what it would cost me to add an HR20? Same thing as you. Same for a lot of people that pay even more than me.

The reality is it costs the subscriber to acquire equipment. Demand and philosophical changes at D* regarding all the deals they've been handing out has caused that ship to pretty much sail. You can call and see what kind of deals you can negotiate, but it is what it is.

[rambrush]

I purchased my hr20-700 from bb and then when activated I was able to get 120.00 knocked off over 12 months.
So yes they will work with you, I am a long time customer with a great track record. Be nice and be nice

[omj]

I just don't like having to pay for dvr service, hd service, then have to pay 200 for a dvr hd receiver that I have to lease for an additional 4.99 a month. Makes no sense financially. You are buying the receiver to lease. Buying to lease. Crazy.

[Michael D'Angelo]

I just don't like having to pay for dvr service, hd service, then have to pay 200 for a dvr hd receiver that I have to lease for an additional 4.99 a month. Makes no sense financially. You are buying the receiver to lease. Buying to lease. Crazy.

You can buy one to own if you want, but it will cost you $750. That is still cheaper the when the HD TiVo came out but a lot more than the $200 or $300 you will pay to lease it.

The way I look at it is, yea that is a lot of money to lease it. But If you pay $750 to own it or like the people that paid $1000 or $1200 for their HD TiVo and than were able to sell them because the owned it. What did they get $150 to $400 maybe for them? So they still lost a lot of money on them.

By leasing the unit you take your lose up front because you will not be able to get it back. But it is a lot less of a loss.

And the $4.99 lease fee is just a new name for mirror fee. All that does is allow your receiver to receive the programming.

[omj]

Maybe I should switch back to cable. At least when you pay for a service you don't have to pay for the equipment on top of a fee for leasing it and a fee for service. I am going to investigate their dvr service cost and equipment.

[TigersFanJJ]

Maybe I should switch back to cable. At least when you pay for a service you don't have to pay for the equipment on top of a fee for leasing it and a fee for service. I am going to investigate their dvr service cost and equipment.

Maybe you should. Most cablecos have much higher rates and less channels, but at least you don't have to pay the small upfront fee. Instead, you'll have to pay the etf to D*.

[Michael D'Angelo]

Maybe I should switch back to cable. At least when you pay for a service you don't have to pay for the equipment on top of a fee for leasing it and a fee for service. I am going to investigate their dvr service cost and equipment.

You will still have to pay $4.99 per receiver after the first one. It is that way will any company. Unless you don't want receivers on all your TV’s with cable. But you will only be able to receive basic cable.

Also cable companies DVR fee is a lot more a month than DirecTV. I believe it is $12.99 (may be different in all areas) instead of $5.99. That is where they make up the difference of not charging you up front for the unit.

[omj]

I guess another option would be to look for a used hd receiver on ebay. Are there any problems with doing that?

[Michael D'Angelo]

I guess another option would be to look for a used hd receiver on ebay. Are there any problems with doing that?

You just need to make sure the unit is owned and not leased. If it is leased you will not be able to activate it. You will either need to trust the seller or try to get the access card number from them and call DirecTV before you buy it to check.

[TigersFanJJ]

You just need to make sure the unit is owned and not leased. If it is leased you will not be able to activate it. You will either need to trust the seller or try to get the access card number from them and call DirecTV before you buy it to check.

You can also use the RID to verify if it is leased or owned.

[omj]

Is there any place on this site for buying and selling items? Kind of a trade forum? Sometimes Ebay makes me a little nervous!!!

[boba]

amj how cheap are you? To UPGRADE to a leased H20/21 it will cost you $99 that includes installation and any needed switches. Is that really that expensive if you are going to buy a HDTV for your bedroom.
Remember if you buy from Ebay you still have to pay $4.99/mo. for the additional receiver fee, how much can you save?

[TigersFanJJ]

Is there any place on this site for buying and selling items? Kind of a trade forum? Sometimes Ebay makes me a little nervous!!!

Yes, the buy, sell, trade forum.

Click here (http://www.dbstalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=97)

[Stuart Sweet]

You need to be a DBSTalk Club member to access that forum I believe.

[omj]

I don't think it's being cheap. I just don't understand why anyone would pay 200 dollars to lease something. I don't mind paying the mirroring fee each month. I don't mind paying the dvr service fee each month. I don't mind paying for HD service every month. I HAVE a serious problem giving them 200 more dollars on top of that for a leased box. I am paying for all of the services I receive I just think having to pay for another box is crazy. If you are going to pay that then they shouldn't charge you a lease or mirror fee.

[Michael D'Angelo]

You need to be a DBSTalk Club member to access that forum I believe.

To get full access whatever the means. I am not sure what you can and can't do if you are not a club member.

1) Full access to our private DBSTalk Club forums including:

....Buy, Sell, Trade
....Great Found Deals
....The Watercooler

[TigersFanJJ]

For me, the Watercooler and Great Found Deals show up as private. However, the Buy, Sell, Trade forum shows up as a public forum.

Am I special? Or just special ed. :D

[ChicagoTC]

I don't think it's being cheap. I just don't understand why anyone would pay 200 dollars to lease something.

I don't understand why people don't get this concept. When you lease a car you put X amount of money down and make payments every month. After 36/48 months you turn the car back in and have nothing.

A leased receiver is the same concept. You pay $99/$199/$299 up front and pay $4.99 a month.

[dbmaven]

I don't think it's being cheap. I just don't understand why anyone would pay 200 dollars to lease something. I don't mind paying the mirroring fee each month. I don't mind paying the dvr service fee each month. I don't mind paying for HD service every month. I HAVE a serious problem giving them 200 more dollars on top of that for a leased box. I am paying for all of the services I receive I just think having to pay for another box is crazy. If you are going to pay that then they shouldn't charge you a lease or mirror fee.

Not faulting you or anyone else, but this has been discussed (beaten to death?) an awful lot.

Before D* went to the "leasing" scheme, you had to buy your equipment. When they first came out, the HR10-250 (the 1st HD-DVR) cost $1000. Over time it came down to $700 and maybe even less.

You still have the option to buy the equipment from D*. An HD DVR will cost you about $800 if you choose to do that.

D* went to the leasing model for a variety of reasons - some of them financial/tax advantage based - but also to lower the "cost of entry" for potential customers. They (quite rightly, in my opinion) figured that if they went to a leasing scenario, they'd get more customers paying $299 (or less with rebates and special offers) than they'd get otherwise.

The problem you're seeing is that:
1 - you haven't been a customer that long (1 year, and still in the middle of a 2 year commitment). You have no "negotiating leverage". If you were closer to the end of that commitment, you'd have a bit more leverage
2 - Most people getting major discounts are paying much more on a per month basis than you - they have a higher level programming package and one or more sports subscriptions (Sunday Ticket, MLBEI, NHLCI, etc.). In short, the monthly programming 'profit' makes it more economically feasible for D* to reduce or eliminate the receiver cost for those people.

I'm not trying to convince you one way or the other what to do, or change your mind about the costs. Check out your cable provider, and see what it will cost you at today's prices over a 2 year time frame. It may be cheaper - it will probably be very close to the same, I suspect. And don't forget to factor in somehow the value of what you're receiving - you'll get less HD content on cable today than on D*. Over time, that will disappear, and certainly if you don't watch what's available it becomes meaningless.....but it's something else to consider that's not pure $ and cents.


Good luck with your decision !

[omj]

I don't understand the concept of why people even bother to lease an automobile unless maybe you own your own business. If you can't afford to pay for the car then maybe you need a cheaper model. Cars and Satellite receivers have nothing in common. Even if you don't agree I refuse to pay that much money down just to continue to make monthly payments on the reciever, dvr service, hd service. I know now why they tell you that the hd fee covers all tv's in the house and the dvr fee covers all dvr's in the house. They shaft you on the price of getting another receiver.

[JLucPicard]

Even if you don't agree I refuse to pay that much money down just to continue to make monthly payments on the reciever, dvr service, hd service. I know now why they tell you that the hd fee covers all tv's in the house and the dvr fee covers all dvr's in the house. They shaft you on the price of getting another receiver.
The way they can provide the programming that YOU choose to subscribe to, given all the programming options they have available, is by authorizing the content on an access card that is "married" to the box. Your primary receiver is set up with all your authorized content, then each additional receiver, by virtue of it's own access card, is authorized for the same content you have on your account. DirecTV put the price for doing that at $4.99 a month for each receiver you have beyond your primary one. It's been that way for as long as I can remember and I've been with DirecTV since 1996.

You can pick up an HD DVR (HR20/21) at Best Buy (it will be leased) or from DirecTV (it will be leased) or from eBay (it will likely be leased, but could be owned) or have someone come to your door and say, "Here - here's an HD DVR that you now own and don't have to pay a thing to get it" and it would STILL cost you $4.99 a momnth to mirror programming to it!

If you pay $299 or $199 to lease an HD DVR, or pay $750 to own an HD DVR, or get a free HD DVR as a replacement for an HR10-250 that you owned and is now dead, you're still gonna pay $4.99 a month to get programming to that box (if it isn't your primary receiver). Bottom line, you're not making monthly payments on the receiver. After whatever inital investment you make to acquire the receiver, you're done paying for the receiver. You are now just paying for programming as you would be under any other scenario.

[LarryFlowers]

I don't understand the concept of why people even bother to lease an automobile unless maybe you own your own business. If you can't afford to pay for the car then maybe you need a cheaper model. Cars and Satellite receivers have nothing in common. Even if you don't agree I refuse to pay that much money down just to continue to make monthly payments on the reciever, dvr service, hd service. I know now why they tell you that the hd fee covers all tv's in the house and the dvr fee covers all dvr's in the house. They shaft you on the price of getting another receiver.

Then dont pay it. I am sure that your local cable provider will be happy to cut you a good deal to get you to switch from D* to them.

Best of Luck to you...

[mattopia]

Maybe I should switch back to cable. At least when you pay for a service you don't have to pay for the equipment on top of a fee for leasing it and a fee for service. I am going to investigate their dvr service cost and equipment.

When I was with Adelphia and used their dreadful HD DVR, I had to pay $7.99 a month for the box, $1.00 a month for the *REMOTE*, and then a $7/mo DVR fee. The would have also charged me something similar to the "mirror" charge if they would have set up a DVR in the bedroom. I stuck with analog only channels, thus no box needed.

I now own a TiVo Series3 on a different cable system, and I pay TiVo's monthly fee, plus $2.50 per month per cable card in the unit (dual tuner). They classify it as two separate TV's since they had no way of assigning 2 cable cards to one TV location! They also charged me a one-time $25 per cable card, and a $69 overall install charge for the one TV hookup and cable modem install, even though I didn't get their box. And, I had to pay a deposit since I had never had service with them before.

My point is, cable dings you on those "little fees" here and there, just as satellite seems to. The only pro to me sticking with cable thus far is that I'm not under contract.

[Mark20]

I have a mental note that when I move on to HD (its no longer if but there are no immediate plans) I also need to budget $$$ for a new satellite receiver.

[moshpitv]

I don't think it's being cheap. I just don't understand why anyone would pay 200 dollars to lease something. I don't mind paying the mirroring fee each month. I don't mind paying the dvr service fee each month. I don't mind paying for HD service every month. I HAVE a serious problem giving them 200 more dollars on top of that for a leased box. I am paying for all of the services I receive I just think having to pay for another box is crazy. If you are going to pay that then they shouldn't charge you a lease or mirror fee.

My offer from DTV started exactly like yours did...$200 OOP and I said no way....after alot of help from the guys here at DBS and 4 calls to DTV, it worked for me! Look at my Thread for "How can I save $$$ for an HD Upgrade"

If you get a rep in a good mood, like I did...you might get lucky and get the best of both worlds. First off, be nice when you talk to someone and also be very patient and willing to keep trying. If it works for you like it did for me and several others, you will get a deal like this one:

Tell DTV, you don't want to wait for an order, that you can hook it up yourself. Get them to give you $100 credit for buying one. (once you active it they will see you bought it and give you your $100 bucks) Then give them a new 2 yr commitment, and get them to give you a $10 credit monthly for a year. That equals $220 bucks
Go to BB and buy one for $299,,,then you own it for $80 bucks...no lease, and no $200 bucks OOP....problem solved.

Actually this is only 1 small piece to my deal that I got, but it can work for you as well if you do it right!

[STEVED21]

I just don't like having to pay for dvr service, hd service, then have to pay 200 for a dvr hd receiver that I have to lease for an additional 4.99 a month. Makes no sense financially. You are buying the receiver to lease. Buying to lease. Crazy.

actually, you pay $200 up front and NOTHING per month. If you only have one there is no monthly fee. For each additional receiver it's $4.99 whether you own or lease. So the reality is there is no additional monthly cost between owning and leasing.

[ChicagoTC]

I don't understand the concept of why people even bother to lease an automobile unless maybe you own your own business. If you can't afford to pay for the car then maybe you need a cheaper model.

I agree with you here, I would never lease a vehicle. However, there are many people that do; either company cars, getting a new car every 3yrs, or driving a nicer car then they can "afford" seem to be the compelling reasons.

Myself, if I want a nicer car then I can afford, I'll buy one 2-3 yrs old and have the assest after 5yrs.

The point remains, D* is a business and it doesn't make sense for them to give away equipment. For 99% of their customers leasing makes sense and is less expensive.

[ChicagoTC]

Go to BB and buy one for $299,,,then you own it for $80 bucks...no lease, and no $200 bucks OOP....problem solved.


This is incorrect, when you buy it from BB, CC or anywhere else for $299, you are leasing the box. You have to activate it within a certain time frame or get dinged for the full purchase price.

[narcolept]

I agree with you here, I would never lease a vehicle. However, there are many people that do; either company cars, getting a new car every 3yrs, or driving a nicer car then they can "afford" seem to be the compelling reasons.

Myself, if I want a nicer car then I can afford, I'll buy one 2-3 yrs old and have the assest after 5yrs.

The point remains, D* is a business and it doesn't make sense for them to give away equipment. For 99% of their customers leasing makes sense and is less expensive.

Since people keep trying to compare leasing a receiver for 4.99 a month and leasing a car for $499 a month, It should be pointed out that at the end of both, you need a new one anyway. Much like an outdated DVR, a car is in no way an "asset". It loses value every minute that you drive it.

Atleast with a D* lease, you can get the newest available model swapped out 3 years later for almost no cost -- Try doing that with a Chevy Cobalt.

The worst thing with all these threads is that they're providing a service, and people seem to think that they need to complain about the cost of new receivers, irregardless of the fact that as you stated, D* is a business whose goal is to make money. If they didn't, they wouldn't be in business.

There's entirely too much whining about the price of recievers and what you're getting for the money on here these days. If you don't like what D* does, don't post here threatening to leave, you aren't affecting my life one way or another, just leave.

If they were that worried about the price, perhaps they would've upgraded a few months ago when D* was basically giving the receivers they are whining about away for free? Seems like it makes too much sense at this point. If you might want an H20/HR20 in the future, wouldn't it of been prudent to just swap out your D10/D11 whatever 6 months ago when you could get them for free and have the new box for the same monthly cost?

Of course, now that they can't it's a big to-do about how these people are being screwed by D* -- As their on the consumer end of the transaction, maybe they should look at it the way D* does, which is that this is the cost of doing business.

(the rant wasn't directed at the quoted poster, I just quoted that post to make my point that a used vehicle isn't an asset, as it doesn't hold value or become more valuable as you use it. Much like a standard def D* IRD) :sure:

[omj]

Maybe I have figured it out.

I bet the they want you pay for the box up front because watching TV with audio sync issues all the time is no easy feat!!!!!!!!!!!!

[omj]

Sorry about the last post. I couldn't help it, it was to easy!!

[narcolept]

Maybe I have figured it out.

I bet the they want you pay for the box up front because watching TV with audio sync issues all the time is no easy feat!!!!!!!!!!!!

If D* has been such a hassle for you to be a customer of, I think, as earlier posters said, your local cable company will welcome you with open arms. :D

Honestly though, I don't see the point of you dragging this thread out further by just taking shots at D*. Perhaps one of the mods will take notice and agree, thus helping us all out by closing this thread so it doesn't keep popping to the top of this forum. It's obvious that it's lived past it's usefulness, as you asked for help in the original post and then took every suggestion you received as another opportunity to wreck on D*'s service, pricing structure, and equipment.

[ChicagoTC]

Since people keep trying to compare leasing a receiver for 4.99 a month and leasing a car for $499 a month, It should be pointed out that at the end of both, you need a new one anyway. Much like an outdated DVR, a car is in no way an "asset". It loses value every minute that you drive it.

Atleast with a D* lease, you can get the newest available model swapped out 3 years later for almost no cost -- Try doing that with a Chevy Cobalt.


It most definitely is an asset just a depriciating one. "An asset is a resource controlled by the enterprise as a result of past events and from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the enterprise"

I was my own enterprise and my past decision to buy instead of lease left me with a future economic benefit.

The last truck that I bought and paid off was a 2001 Dogde Durango. I traded in the asset last year for a new car and received $14,000 dollars for my asset. If I leased that truck I'd have exactly $0 toward my most recent purchase.

[STEVED21]

The last truck that I bought and paid off was a 2001 Dogde Durango. I traded in the asset last year for a new car and received $14,000 dollars for my asset. If I leased that truck I'd have exactly $0 toward my most recent purchase.

And how much did you put down in order to end up with $14000 after 6 years?

[omj]

Lighten up folks. I was just having some fun with the last post. In all honestly, there used to be a good thread about what are the deals and what are you getting but I haven't seen it since the forums changed around.

[narcolept]

It most definitely is an asset just a depriciating one. "An asset is a resource controlled by the enterprise as a result of past events and from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the enterprise"

I was my own enterprise and my past decision to buy instead of lease left me with a future economic benefit.

The last truck that I bought and paid off was a 2001 Dogde Durango. I traded in the asset last year for a new car and received $14,000 dollars for my asset. If I leased that truck I'd have exactly $0 toward my most recent purchase.

That's fine, and it was just a statement by me. I prefer to lease things, especially automobiles, not because I couldn't afford to buy one, but because I'd rather have a new car every three years and never deal with a vehicle without a full warranty.

It's a personal choice, much like which company you choose to get pictures and sound into your television, which is one of the things that astonishes me how people will stay with a cable or DBS provider for 5, 10 or 15 years, yet still complain about them at every opportunity like they robbed their mother.

[narcolept]

Lighten up folks. I was just having some fun with the last post. In all honestly, there used to be a good thread about what are the deals and what are you getting but I haven't seen it since the forums changed around.

That thread was closed because people's deals are different, there is no set in stone "deal". It's still viewable in the Installation forum though.

[ChicagoTC]

And how much did you put down in order to end up with $14000 after 6 years?

$3000 so I "netted" 11k, which is much more then the difference between a lease payment and my full payment over the term. Also as far as I know, you need to also put money down on a lease.

It's relatively simple math, as long as your asset is worth more then the payment difference it makes financial sense to lease.

Like I said earlier most people don't lease b/c it makes financial sense.

Anywho...:backtotop if these still is one :)

[jbraden]

I currently have an HR20 in my family room and one old standard receiver in my daughters room. I called directv because I wanted to add an additional receiver for my bedroom because I am considering buying a new tv to put in there. My original HR20 was free except for shipping. I spoke with a guy and ask him pricing for additional receivers. Another DVR was 199, an HD receiver was 99, and a standard was 69. 69 dollars for a standard receiver. That's crazy. Can someone tell me the cost for breaking your contract. I think it would be a better deal to pay the early cancellation fee and sign up new under my wife's name and receive all the special deals they offer new customers. I can't believe they want you to pay a monthly fee for HD service and pay for the receiver on top of that and then to beat it all you have to pay to lease the receiver. Unbelievable.
I don't know if it's still in effect, but a few weeks ago I was able to order an R15 for my daughter's room for free, with free professional install. I just used the promo code "DVR4U2" in the online order form at DirecTV. It does require a 2 year programming commitment, but you're already paying the $5.99 DVR fee if you have an HR20.

[omj]

I guess I can use my old standard receiver that they never took when they installed the new one. It's not HD though.

[carl6]

I bet the they want you pay for the box up front because watching TV with audio sync issues all the time is no easy feat!!!!!!!!!!!!

While I agree it is annoying when it happens, please keep in mind that the ATSC committee allowed for 4 different 5.1 rates and the stations are changing the rate on the fly (in some cases). 192, 224, 384, 448kbps are all allowed. The network programming may be using 448 and then the station will switch to 224. It's also one of the causes of dropouts (watch MPEG4 fox when going from primetime to a local commerical).

So regardless of how well designed the decoder or receiver, there are some things you just can't overcome.

Carl

[JLucPicard]

I guess I can use my old standard receiver that they never took when they installed the new one. It's not HD though.
And will still cost you an additional $4.99 a month. :)

[omj]

Like I said before, I don't mind paying the 4.99 a month. I am not going to send them 200 dollars on top of that.

[jbraden]

Like I said before, I don't mind paying the 4.99 a month. I am not going to send them 200 dollars on top of that.
The R15 deal I mentioned earlier would also be $4.99/mo if you're adding a receiver, but at least it's a 100 hr. DVR rather than a plain standard def box, and no up front cost.

[CCarncross]

I don't understand the concept of why people even bother to lease an automobile unless maybe you own your own business. If you can't afford to pay for the car then maybe you need a cheaper model.



You answered your own question. In this analogy, whether you like the analogy or not, it has many similarities. You can always go a route with lower upfront costs, Cable, or maybe E*, or you can pay their asking rate....

[JLucPicard]

Like I said before, I don't mind paying the 4.99 a month. I am not going to send them 200 dollars on top of that.
I don't mean to sound like an a$$ (though I realize I sure could be interpretted that way :)), but unfortunately, for every one person who has the same view of it as you do, there are many, many people who really don't see this as any different than how it was before when you bought the equipment up front and paid for the service ongoing - just that it's much less expensive than it was before for the up front equipment cost. Ask any of us who paid four figures for the HD TiVo! :lol:

I hope it works out for you with cable or E*. I really do.

[Cable Lover]

Maybe I should switch back to cable. At least when you pay for a service you don't have to pay for the equipment on top of a fee for leasing it and a fee for service. I am going to investigate their dvr service cost and equipment.

Now you're talking!

[PicaKing]

I don't think it's being cheap. I just don't understand why anyone would pay 200 dollars to lease something. I don't mind paying the mirroring fee each month. I don't mind paying the dvr service fee each month. I don't mind paying for HD service every month. I HAVE a serious problem giving them 200 more dollars on top of that for a leased box. I am paying for all of the services I receive I just think having to pay for another box is crazy. If you are going to pay that then they shouldn't charge you a lease or mirror fee.

You are being cheap--or at the very least--unrealistic. Would you feel better if they gave yo the box for free and the monthly lease fee was $50? That way, you would not be paying to lease. Maybe that would work for you.It probably would cost you more in the long run, but think it would solve your problem.

[itguy05]

The last truck that I bought and paid off was a 2001 Dogde Durango. I traded in the asset last year for a new car and received $14,000 dollars for my asset. If I leased that truck I'd have exactly $0 toward my most recent purchase.

How on Earth did you get $14,000 for an 8 year old SUV who'se Blue Book in excellent condition is barely $10,000 even at a private party sale?

Not to mention how much did you pay over the life of the loan to have the privelage of ownership?

On an average 6% car loan over 60 mo for $22k with $2k down, you're looking at:

Loan payment: $412.17/mo or $26,730 (or $6,730 spent)

At the end of 5 years, your "asset" is barely worth $9,300 (http://www.ncbuy.com/auto/calc.html?show=1007)

So basically you have spent $8,730 ($2k + $6,730) to have an asset worth $9,300 and make $570 when it's all said and done.

Any repairs (tires, brakes, tune up, etc) over those 5 years will most likely put you in the hole.

Or you could lease, not have those repairs, have nothing to show for it, and have 2 new cars, assuming a 3 year lease each time.

It's all up to the individual to decide what works for them. I buy my cars, but I keep them until they are dead. The costs work out better, but I'm not under the illusion I have an asset - a car is not an asset at all.


Back to DTV - I'm looking to come to DTV from Comcast. They give you the box free, but charge $13.99 each month for it. After 2 years, you are better off with DTV's box:

Comcast - $13.99 for 24 months = $335.76
DTV - $199 + 5.99 * 24 months = $342.76

After the 24th month, you are ahead with DTV.

[dbmaven]

Back to DTV - I'm looking to come to DTV from Comcast. They give you the box free, but charge $13.99 each month for it. After 2 years, you are better off with DTV's box:

Comcast - $13.99 for 24 months = $335.76
DTV - $199 + 5.99 * 24 months = $342.76

After the 24th month, you are ahead with DTV.

+1 !! Somebody who did the math!!
You mean, that over the course of the 2 year commitment, the costs are essentially identical??

Say it ain't so.....

/sarcasm not intended for the person quoted in this post ;)

[PANCHITO]

OMJ, you are absolute right $299 or $200 is too much for a lease unit, for those that compare this with a lease car you don't pay $10,000 upfront for a lease car of $30,000. hd dvr purchase price is around $800 a fair lease price $80. the majority of people in this forum are paying this price because they don't have anything else to do with there money that's the reason there are flaming you.

[ChicagoTC]

How on Earth did you get $14,000 for an 8 year old SUV who'se Blue Book in excellent condition is barely $10,000 even at a private party sale?

Not to mention how much did you pay over the life of the loan to have the privelage of ownership?

On an average 6% car loan over 60 mo for $22k with $2k down, you're looking at:

Loan payment: $412.17/mo or $26,730 (or $6,730 spent)

At the end of 5 years, your "asset" is barely worth $9,300 (http://www.ncbuy.com/auto/calc.html?show=1007)

So basically you have spent $8,730 ($2k + $6,730) to have an asset worth $9,300 and make $570 when it's all said and done.

Any repairs (tires, brakes, tune up, etc) over those 5 years will most likely put you in the hole.

Or you could lease, not have those repairs, have nothing to show for it, and have 2 new cars, assuming a 3 year lease each time.

It's all up to the individual to decide what works for them. I buy my cars, but I keep them until they are dead. The costs work out better, but I'm not under the illusion I have an asset - a car is not an asset at all.



I said last yr and bought it in 2001. I had just paid off my loan when I traded it in. I got 14k and would have received more via private party I'm sure.

So even using your loan assumptions(which by the way are way off as I had 1.9% financing) puts over 5k in my pocket.

A new car, used car, boat, home, etc are all assets. I'm not sure where this belief that something has to be worth what is was new to be an asset. In very simple terms if something is worth more then you owe on it, it's an asset. My home is worth less now then it was last year even though I still have a lot of equity. Does that mean it's not an asset?

I said back on topic before but had to respond to incorrect facts. Having a new car every 3yrs or lower payments are both good reasons to lease, because it makes bottom line financial sense is not.

[dbmaven]

OMJ, you are absolute right $299 or $200 is too much for a lease unit, for those that compare this with a lease car you don't pay $10,000 upfront for a lease car of $30,000. hd dvr purchase price is around $800 a fair lease price $80. the majority of people in this forum are paying this price because they don't have anything else to do with there money that's the reason there are flaming you.

How do you figure that? Nobody's flaming him - the facts are right there - at $199 + the $5.99 monthly, you're at exactly the same price point as Comcast is at the end of a 2 year period.....
Each cable provider is different - and those of us who've been down the beaten path have encouraged him to find out what his local provider will do, then DO THE MATH. If he feels he's getting a better deal from cable - more power to him - go for it - vote with your wallet.

[JLucPicard]

Why is it that people figure that paying $199 to $299 up front for a High-Def DVR (HR20) - instead of paying $700-$1000 up front for a High-Def DVR (HR10-250) or $750 for the same HR20 High-Def DVR - translates to getting screwed over by DirecTV? And why do they feel that DirecTV should just hand them the equipment for free when DirecTV has never done that before (deals made on an individual basis not withstanding)? Their business model even before leasing was not that way.

Because you have to return it when you're done with it? Don't want to give it back? Pay the extra $470 non-return fee then you own it.

You lock in to a two-year commitment when you activate it anyway. Pay for the equipment up front, then you don't pay for it every month. I would prefer that to paying an extra $10 or $20 a month in equipment costs.

Me being done with a box would mean one of several things. I upgraded the box to a different unit and returned the old one - or - the box died on me and I needed to replace it - or - I've cancelled my DirecTV account and the thing just becomes a doorstop anyway.

I don't quite understand.

[PANCHITO]

Some people talk like they own share on directv, anyway you pay $299 for a lease and 2 year commitment,if for some reason (medical emergency,etc, etc) you leave within a year you have to pay early termination fee + the $299. NO THANKS, the 2 year commitment +$299 is too high for me. I work hard for my money just to give it to directv. I don't want it for free just a fair lease price.

[JLucPicard]

Fair enough. So it all comes down to what an individual believes is a fair lease price then? For me, I guess I've felt that over 50% ($299) and up to 75% ($199) or more is fair enough for me for a lease price. And trust me - I work dang hard for my money, too. I just had to look at whether DirecTV is an affordable value for me and it is. If it isn't for somebody I'll be the last to fault them for not subscribing. We all vote with our wallets one way or another.

[lflorack]

OMJ, you are absolute right $299 or $200 is too much for a lease unit, for those that compare this with a lease car you don't pay $10,000 upfront for a lease car of $30,000. hd dvr purchase price is around $800 a fair lease price $80. the majority of people in this forum are paying this price because they don't have anything else to do with there money that's the reason there are flaming you.

I believe that in many cases, leasing under D*s business model is a matter of pay me now (w/D*) or pay me later (w/cable). If you compare what a two-year deal on D* is with what your local cable provider charges, you may be surprised that the end price over those two years is remarkably similar. If it's not, you should certainly consider that factor -- along with other things like service levels, content, etc -- in what's important to you.

As was mentioned earlier, it's all a matter of what you think is fair pricing for what you get. (I don't think it's a matter of us not working hard for our money or having nothing better to spend it on. (You were kidding. Right?)