Best Deal Going

[secretone]

I am thinking about signing up for DirecTV but I must admit the upfront costs kind of scare me away! I have 4 TVs, 3 of which are HD and I want DVR for one of the TV's.

Pricing this package on Directv.com comes up with $400 (1 HD/DVR, 2 HD, 1 Standard) up front. Is there any better deals out there? Here are some questions I have:

If I buy the stuff on Ebay can I use it? Is it worth it?

Any older equipment on Ebay I should stay away from?

Do I still have to pay the $4.99 lease fee if I buy the equipment?

Will I need two dishes to get HD for the 3 TV's I have that support it?

Thanks for answering my questions.

[michaelyork29]

I am thinking about signing up for DirecTV but I must admit the upfront costs kind of scare me away! I have 4 TVs, 3 of which are HD and I want DVR for one of the TV's.

Pricing this package on Directv.com comes up with $400 (1 HD/DVR, 2 HD, 1 Standard) up front. Is there any better deals out there? Here are some questions I have:

If I buy the stuff on Ebay can I use it? Is it worth it?

Any older equipment on Ebay I should stay away from?

Do I still have to pay the $4.99 lease fee if I buy the equipment?

Will I need two dishes to get HD for the 3 TV's I have that support it?

Thanks for answering my questions.

1.) Make sure the reciever you get on eBay is new and not leased...which is pretty hard to find. (I wouldn't go with eBay if I were you...)

2.) You still must pay 4.99 for the additional reciever if you buy it

3.) You will need one 5-lnb dish (provided by DirecTV for free) and a multiswitch which is also provided.

And regarding the upfront costs..yes, it's a must, but don't let it scare you away..it's worth it. :)

[tumbleweed]

I got a flyer in the mail yesterday from Mailbox Merchants dated Nov, 29.

The DirecTV add in this flyer says:

"FREE professional installation of up to 4-room DirecTV System. No equipment to buy! No start-up costs!"

and

"FREE DirecTV HD Receiver or DVR upgrade! Ask how!"

There is some small print about the $4.99 lease fee and the DVR requires a Choice Xtra Package. It says offer expires 12/31/07.

The phone number is 888-999-7319.

I don't know anything else about it but it sounds good to me.

[d0ug]

If you are in the market for a new HDTV, I think bestbuy is still running their $100 off on an HR20/21 when you purchase an HDTV over $1000.

This is what I did when i finally made the upgrade last month, I also took advantage of the $100 off on an HD-DVD player as well.

[Sirshagg]

"FREE DirecTV HD Receiver or DVR upgrade! Ask how!"



That's a HD receiver NOT HD DVR.

[tumbleweed]

That's a HD receiver NOT HD DVR.

You are probably right but I wasn't sure if the "HD" applied to just the receiver or the receiver and the DVR. If someone is looking it wouldn't hurt to call anyway. I wouldn't hesitate to call and tell them I was a bit confused by the add and ask if I could get a better price. The worst thing they could say is no, I saved quite a bit on my DVR upgrade by asking.

[JLucPicard]

Do I still have to pay the $4.99 lease fee if I buy the equipment?

secretone,

A hearty Welcome to DBSTalk! :welcome_s

Just something to be aware of regarding the $4.99 a month charge. DirecTV sets up all your programming choices, etc. that apply to your account on your "primary" receiver. If you have any additional receivers (be they DVRs, receivers, owned, leased), the $4.99 a month is what DirecTV charges to mirror your account options to those additional receivers (without having to have an account for each of them). It is not an ongoing monthly equipment charge beyond what you pay up front to acquire the leased unit.

On your bill, these additional receiver charges (mirroring charges) show up one of two ways. If the charge applies to a receiver that you leased, it is referred to as a "Leased Receiver Fee". If the charge applies to a receiver that you own, it is referred to as an "Additional Receiver Fee". So bottom line, whether you lease or own, any units you have on your account beyond the primary receiver will incur a $4.99 per month program mirroring fee. That $4.99 monthly charge does not apply to your primary receiver.

If you have a DVR on your account, there is a $5.99 a month "DVR Service" fee. There are some programming packages (one or two?) that include the DVR fee. If you have a programming package that doesn't, you will be charged $5.99 a month. That charge is not a per DVR charge, just per account, so whether you have one, two, five or ten DVRs on your account, you would only be charged $5.99 period. Again, unless you have a programming package that includes that fee already.

Good luck with your decision!