View Full Version : Protection Plan?
Is the Protection Plan (PP) worth $5.99 a month?
First: Let me say that I've subscribed to Consumer Reports for many years and believe in their opinion of "extended warranties" or "replacement programs". Not worth the money. And I had come to that conclusion before I recall CR ever stating their opinions on the warranties.
But that is really "painting with a broad brush". There are always exceptions to opinions that are worth exploring.
Second: In this year of the HR20 and the new dishes and associated devices, I would have spent well over $500 in service calls and equipment. Well over.
Third: I've bought a lot of cars, three this year alone, and always get the extended warranty if I think I need it. I rebuilt a '78 Honda Accord, engine, transmission, etc. on an extended warranty that everybody told me was a waste of time. And I renewed it immediately when, shockingly, the warranty company offered to extend the warranty for a year after the original ran out.
I don't know how much the PP has saved me since 2002, but it paid the annual fees for all those years this year.
I admit that I think it is utter stupidity to buy an extended warranty on a TV or a refrigerator or a washing machine or a dryer. But I would not hesitate to buy an extended warranty on a dishwasher, for some reason they seem to breakdown at a higher rate than most appliances.
As I've said before, I'm an electrician by trade and I can fix most appliances myself and I know the CEs get a lot of equipment and appreciation from D* for doing their beta testing for them. If you have the technical experience or the spare parts to fix DVRs and dishes and are comfortable with circuitry, you probably don't NEED the PP. I don't NEED it, but I find it handy. And the PP techs seem to be a little better than the normal CSRs and you do get replacements quicker.
I realize $5.99 a month is an extra burden for some folks, but somehow I doubt we fall into that category, for the most part. I think the benefits far out weigh the cost.
clevfandad
12-07-07, 06:52 PM
I recently needed a dish realignment and some wiring changed because I previously had a diplexer installed for my OTA. The service call would have been $75, but was free if I purchased the protection plan. I did go for the plan. I feel I'm already ahead of the game. Besides, at my age, I don't do ladders anymore. Not to mention crawl spaces. Eeeeew!
SuperDaddy
12-07-07, 07:25 PM
I recently reverted back to D*, and signed up for the Protection Plan immediately. $72 a year is WELL worth the cost for peace of mind, in my opinion. I won't hesitate to call for service either.
jlancaster
12-07-07, 08:03 PM
Yes I signed up for it a month ago ... I think It is...Mother-in-law always buys these types of things and she always gets what she wants at no extra cost. I think I have a bad at9 calamp lnb and I know I can get it changed out as I need it.
If you pay extra you can often get much better service.
joe diamond
12-07-07, 08:37 PM
I would suggest...discover if the PP covers equipment after it is out of manufacturer warranty. If not........keep the installer's phone number and call him. Most HSPs are weeks behind on service calls. Pay the installer directly.
DTV has the equipment but they send reconditioned stuff for replacements. Hard to say where you will end up.
Just my bias,
Joe
morgantown
12-08-07, 06:29 AM
I would suggest...discover if the PP covers equipment after it is out of manufacturer warranty. (snip)
It does.
A working DVR reconditioned or not is better than a broken one. Not to mention swapping out receivers always leaves you with a surplus of remotes!
Funwith4kids
12-08-07, 08:12 AM
Folks-- Since I am paying D* a "lease fee" for each piece of equipment as it is D*'s equipment, why is a Protection Plan necessary? If the equipment breaks, D* owns it and should replace it.
TaylorJ
12-08-07, 10:23 AM
Folks-- Since I am paying D* a "lease fee" for each piece of equipment as it is D*'s equipment, why is a Protection Plan necessary? If the equipment breaks, D* owns it and should replace it.
It is true that we will replace the receiver for you. however if the receiver has been activated the receiver more than 90 days, you would have to pay the delivery and handling charge of $19.95. With the protection you do not have to pay that.
I get alot of calls from customers who believe that leasing the receiver also means that we can send a technician to their home at no cost that is not true. if you have to have a technician come to your home (and you haven't had a tech to your home in the last 90 days- for any reason) then it cost $70 dollars. If you have the protection plan, than you would be covered.
I would suggest...discover if the PP covers equipment after it is out of manufacturer warranty. If not........keep the installer's phone number and call him. Most HSPs are weeks behind on service calls. Pay the installer directly.
I believe the PP covers all equipment installed or provided by D*. At least that has been my experience. DVRs, multiswitches, dishes, LNBs, wiring, all covered. What else is there?
DTV has the equipment but they send reconditioned stuff for replacements. Hard to say where you will end up.
Just my bias,
Joe
Having gone thru so many HR20s in the last year, I do not believe that the replacements are "reconditioned" or tested. I assume that I am going to have to go thru at least 3 replacements before getting one that works correctly. I am firmly convinced that nobody tests them for full functionality. The advantage with the PP is that you get the replacements within a day or two or three.
It does.
A working DVR reconditioned or not is better than a broken one. Not to mention swapping out receivers always leaves you with a surplus of remotes!
And don't forget the wires and BBCs.
Rich
Funwith4kids
12-08-07, 12:22 PM
Is something amiss with this? I pay for the receiver that I don't own...I lease it ongoing forever....and pay for all repairs for someone else's product. If it breaks I have to pay to repair or I am in breach of agreement. :mad: It should be D*'s responsibility to provide adequate equipment they force me to use and lease.
Write this down as you heard here 1st (someone else may have already said it) Someday there will be a class action suit against D* regarding this.:lol:
It is true that we will replace the receiver for you. however if the receiver has been activated the receiver more than 90 days, you would have to pay the delivery and handling charge of $19.95. With the protection you do not have to pay that.
I get alot of calls from customers who believe that leasing the receiver also means that we can send a technician to their home at no cost that is not true. if you have to have a technician come to your home (and you haven't had a tech to your home in the last 90 days- for any reason) then it cost $70 dollars. If you have the protection plan, than you would be covered.
That handling charge for the up to 30 HR20s that I have had in the last year comes to quite a tidy sum. Over $500. And I have seen posts where the poster has waited over 3 weeks for a replacement. PP sends them out right away. I usually get mine the next day that FedEx delivers.
Rich
I recently reverted back to D*, and signed up for the Protection Plan immediately. $72 a year is WELL worth the cost for peace of mind, in my opinion. I won't hesitate to call for service either.
The cost of the PP is just nickels and dimes compared to the $2400 (at least) sat bill I pay yearly. And for me, well worth it.
Rich
Write this down as you heard here 1st (someone else may have already said it) Someday there will be a class action suit against D* regarding this.:lol:
If nobody filed a class action law suit against D* for releasing the HR20 last year without proper testing and with no disclaimers such as "might not work with some sets using HDMI", do you really think anyone will bother about the leasing program? I said we should sue last year and got little response and now am used to being treated as a fool by D*. The end result is a good HD picture and a DVR that works really well and if I had to suffer for a year, so what? I'm pretty well satisfied now. Better than Dish and a whole lot cheaper. Their DVRs cost almost $600.
Rich
lwilli201
12-08-07, 03:19 PM
Have PP. Sound shot on one of my HR20's. New one on the way at no cost. Less red tape on getting another receiver.
The PP works for me.
Have PP. Sound shot on one of my HR20's. New one on the way at no cost. Less red tape on getting another receiver.
The PP works for me.
What was D* like in '95. DVRs? Just receivers?
Rich
First: Let me say that I've subscribed to Consumer Reports for many years and believe in their opinion of "extended warranties" or "replacement programs". Not worth the money. And I had come to that conclusion before I recall CR ever stating their opinions on the warranties.
Consumer reports did an article about a year ago or so on when to buy a an extended warranty and not. While the NOT list was very large there was an list of situations where it's good.
One of which was with a Laptop Computer. They cited the Dell Accidental Warranty if I recall.
Consumer reports did an article about a year ago or so on when to buy a an extended warranty and not. While the NOT list was very large there was an list of situations where it's good.
One of which was with a Laptop Computer. They cited the Dell Accidental Warranty if I recall.
And how about cell phones? Be a fool not to take out the insurance on them. Been there, done that, learned my lesson. Got all three cells insured now, you betcha.
Pink Fairy
12-08-07, 04:12 PM
Is something amiss with this? I pay for the receiver that I don't own...I lease it ongoing forever....and pay for all repairs for someone else's product. If it breaks I have to pay to repair or I am in breach of agreement. :mad: It should be D*'s responsibility to provide adequate equipment they force me to use and lease.
Write this down as you heard here 1st (someone else may have already said it) Someday there will be a class action suit against D* regarding this.:lol:
And here is the problem with the fact that they call the additional receiver fee a leased receiver_additional fee.
Lots of people assume the $4.99 for each additional receiver is for the receiver itself. However, even if you owned ALL of your equipment, you would still pay the $4.99 per month.
The $4.99 extra for each additional receiver is a charge for them to mirror the programming on the primary receiver to all of your other ones. It has nothing to do with leasing the equipment - which is why I wish they would change the name of the fee as it shows up on the bill.
The $4.99 extra for each additional receiver is a charge for them to mirror the programming on the primary receiver to all of your other ones. It has nothing to do with leasing the equipment - which is why I wish they would change the name of the fee as it shows up on the bill.
It's an accounting thing. The way it was explained to me, D* claims the "leased" receivers as owned by them. That way their worth is greater than if we purchased the HR20s as we did with TiVos and were able to resell them. And they depreciate the value of the "leased equipment" and make more money somehow or other.
And if it helps them stay in business and be competitive with other providers, I'm all for it. Good business decision. A rarity with D*.
Rich
davring
12-08-07, 04:34 PM
I have had D* for over 12 years. One std tuner replaced N/C, one DTivo N/C and a dish put back up after a huricane(Wilma) blew it down N/C. I am now ahead about $900.00 Last week my father had his 2 year old AT9 dish replaced with an AU9 N/C. I can't see ever having the PP.
lwilli201
12-08-07, 04:36 PM
What was D* like in '95. DVRs? Just receivers?
Rich
Just receivers. My first setup was a single LNB dish and two receivers. Got it at Radio Shack for $1,500. Installed it myself. It kind of grips me that there are those that complain about the cost of of a DVR. Those $ 1,500 worth of receivers are just so much junk now. I have 3 HR20's that cost a total of $ 1,000. They sound like a very good value to me.
davring
12-08-07, 04:47 PM
Just receivers. My first setup was a single LNB dish and two receivers. Got it at Radio Shack for $1,500. Installed it myself. It kind of grips me that there are those that complain about the cost of of a DVR. Those $ 1,500 worth of receivers are just so much junk now. I have 3 HR20's that cost a total of $ 1,000. They sound like a very good value to me.
I still have my antique Opitmus on a shelf:)
mtnsackett
12-08-07, 05:03 PM
It's an accounting thing. The way it was explained to me, D* claims the "leased" receivers as owned by them. That way their worth is greater than if we purchased the HR20s as we did with TiVos and were able to resell them. And they depreciate the value of the "leased equipment" and make more money somehow or other.
And if it helps them stay in business and be competitive with other providers, I'm all for it. Good business decision. A rarity with D*.
Rich
well for those who want to own the equipment like the Hd dvr you can Buy it for $749 pluss shipping. then you can sell it on Ebay for alot less next year, and not be charged $470 Non-return fee
the wonderful thing about the Protection plan is if you have one service call a year it pays for itself and two if you own the equipment and ig goes out it is replaced with owned equipment I was told the protection plan was run by metlife insurance.
I just got an H20 replaced free, No shipping just the (2yr. reboot) :lol:
Funwith4kids
12-08-07, 06:03 PM
If nobody filed a class action law suit against D* for releasing the HR20 last year without proper testing and with no disclaimers such as "might not work with some sets using HDMI", do you really think anyone will bother about the leasing program? I said we should sue last year and got little response and now am used to being treated as a fool by D*. The end result is a good HD picture and a DVR that works really well and if I had to suffer for a year, so what? I'm pretty well satisfied now. Better than Dish and a whole lot cheaper. Their DVRs cost almost $600.
Rich
As a D* sub, I agree hands down when everything is working as planned, options and programming is the best. However, I still feel we are getting the shaft with poor releases and low quality in a captive environment and we fund it with high OTO (I understand the relativity points - my 1st HD receiver was $400 + 250 install and other standard receivers) and ongoing costs. The exit barrier is very high with the lease program as if you discontinue service all equipment is sent back. At least with my now obsolete HD receiver that I own I can use as HD OTA & cable tuner w/o the DTV service.
Given the quality and shipping charges for when there are defective receivers, I agree the Protection Plan is a cheap insurance policy against the cost of equipment issues. I am currently on a D* service sebatical and looking to jump back in. Will the Protection Plan cover my owned receivers, if I can find a use for them?
BTW - I still believe this supplier supreme model where D* is sticking it to everyone with the high OTO equipment charges, ongoing monthly lease/mirroring fees, making the customer pay for poor quality, and no customer equipment ownership will catch up to D*. However, first consumers will need choices or DISH folds up for that to happen. Give it time...........Until then, trying to figure best option for me to jump back in.........and give in........;)
Just receivers. My first setup was a single LNB dish and two receivers. Got it at Radio Shack for $1,500. Installed it myself.
So you just hooked up VCRs to the receivers?
It kind of grips me that there are those that complain about the cost of of a DVR. Those $ 1,500 worth of receivers are just so much junk now. I have 3 HR20's that cost a total of $ 1,000. They sound like a very good value to me.
Ya know, if you hold onto those receivers until the new law passes in 200? regarding only digital signals, those receivers might be worth something on eBAY.
My five HR20s cost me a tad over $300 in total. Gotta learn to take advantage of the deals D* offers from time to time.
Do you have the PP?
Rich
It is true that we will replace the receiver for you. however if the receiver has been activated the receiver more than 90 days, you would have to pay the delivery and handling charge of $19.95. With the protection you do not have to pay that.
I get alot of calls from customers who believe that leasing the receiver also means that we can send a technician to their home at no cost that is not true. if you have to have a technician come to your home (and you haven't had a tech to your home in the last 90 days- for any reason) then it cost $70 dollars. If you have the protection plan, than you would be covered.
Ah ha! Big Brother is watching. And has outed himself.
Will come back to you for questions regarding D* from time to time if you don't mind.
Rich
HDTVsportsfan
12-09-07, 12:33 PM
Hey Rich....I see you started your PP thread. :) :p ;)
Will the Protection Plan cover my owned receivers, if I can find a use for them?
The PP covers activated receivers. Nothing to stop you from activating your receivers and later using the PP to replace them.
Rich
Hey Rich....I see you started your PP thread. :) :p ;)
Yeah, why fight with the moderators? They are correct when they ask you to stay on the topic and I have a tendency to go off on tangents.
When I was teaching at a local college, I liked it when the students went off topic. They seemed to get more out of the classes. Had to be facilitated and I did that.
Teaching Word or Excel from a text book is pretty dry. And when I was doing an electrical safety seminar, I quickly learned that people are more interested in how to use electrical meters than in electrical safety and saved the meters for last.
Once they got on meters that was the end of the seminar I had prepared. Won awards for developing that seminar tho. Hard to believe the interest in meters. Anyone can use one, but interpreting the results requires a level of training that few laymen have. And yet, nearly every home in this great country is electrified. Curious...
Rich
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